Can anyone explain the basic differences between Guitar Pro and Powertab? Most people use one or the other, but I'm sure some of you guys know both. Thanks.

Just started messing around with Guitar pro yesterday. I need to learn a lot more as it seems to be pretty good in a lot of ways. I haven't played with powertab so I am also interested in any feedback you get also.

Just started messing around with Guitar pro yesterday. I need to learn a lot more as it seems to be pretty good in a lot of ways. I haven't played with powertab so I am also interested in any feedback you get also.

As far as what both programs offer, Guitar Pro is the better bet, and it has less bugs. I don't use either much at all though. I prefer Finale, but Sibelius is good as well for notation. If you're wanting to sequence, get DP or Logic and Reason for your samples, or ****, get Pro Tools.

If you're trying to sequence out what something should sound like with all the parts, I do that in DP. Then to present it to the people who are playing the parts, I go back and write the whole score out in Finale. If you don't own those, get them. If you want to print out TABs, Finale and Sibelius both allow you to make TABs.

Guitar Pro > Power Tabs.

Guitar Pro has drums, which is a nice thing to have.

The only upside to Power tab is that it is free. But guitar pro wins in any other category you could ever think of. My advice if you have the money right now, buy guitar pro. If not download powertab and in the mean time save up the money for guitar pro you definitely won't be disappointed.

I prefer powertab simply because it is freeware, and it totally serves my purposes. It is just not quite as feature rich or powerful as guitar pro.

Powertab is the cheaper version of Guitar Pro. If you can get Guitar Pro, there is literally no reason to get Powertab.

Finale.

If you can get Guitar Pro, there is literally no reason to get Powertab.

+1: You can open any Powertab file in Guitar Pro but you cannot open GP files in Powertab.

I have both.

I've always found Guitar Pro to lag on my computer, and doesn't keep consistant time, but overall it does have more options, sounds, drums, etc.

Powertab is more consistant, simpler, less memory intensive, easier to write in, and free.

I'd have to give it to Powertabs, because that's what I started using so many years ago.

+1: You can open any Powertab file in Guitar Pro but you cannot open GP files in Powertab.

THAT I did not know. Good info, thanks!


Also: Has anybody had any problems with Powertabs being slightly out of tune? Mine is consistantly about a quarter semitone flat. Is this a problem with my computer?

Powertab is the cheaper version of Guitar Pro. If you can get Guitar Pro, there is literally no reason to get Powertab.

While I agree, if you want to shell out for Finale or Sibelius there's no reason to get either.

I have both, though I downloaded a pirated version of Guitar Pro.

I've always found Guitar Pro to lag on my computer, and doesn't keep consistant time, but overall it does have more options, sounds, drums, etc.

Powertab is more consistant, simpler, less memory intensive, easier to write in, and free.

I'd have to give it to Powertabs, because that's what I started using so many years ago.



THAT I did not know. Good info, thanks!


Also: Has anybody had any problems with Powertabs being slightly out of tune? Mine is consistantly about a quarter semitone flat. Is this a problem with my computer?

Not sure if the forum rules say so, but it is not a good idea to go flaunting that you are helping distribute pirated software.

On the topic, get Tux guitar for reading all types of tab files - it can read anything I've come across. It's hopeless for writing music though - Very awkward indeed.

If you're just wanting to download tab files to learn tunes then I would say go with guitar pro. UltimateGuitar.com has a huge tab archive of various formats, and the majority are in guitar pro format.

Although I have to admit, when powertab hosted their own archive before being forced to take it down by the copyright monkeys, the powertab files we're generally more accurate. There's a lot of bad and wrong files floating arounf the wondernet.

While I agree, if you want to shell out for Finale or Sibelius there's no reason to get either.

You're right about that. I forgot about these two.

Not sure if the forum rules say so, but it is not a good idea to go flaunting that you are helping distribute pirated software.

On the topic, get Tux guitar for reading all types of tab files - it can read anything I've come across. It's hopeless for writing music though - Very awkward indeed.

Fixed.:ninja:

Any comment on the tuning issues with Powertabs anybody?

I've never used powertab, but guitar pro has the Realistic Sound Engine (RSE). The RSE uses sound samples from actual instruments. Instead is listening to midi, you can hear your song as if it were played through real instruments. You can still tell that its computer generated instruments, but its a thousand times better than listening to midi.

I used PT for a while, then switched to GP. I'd been looking at getting a drum machine, and decided that GP was a lot more flexible and less expensive. Having the ability to use a drum track is the key feature over PT.

Also, you can export the files from GP as MIDI, and import them into other software. So if you put some time into creating GP files, you don't lose your work if you move to something else.

Also, you can export the files from GP as MIDI, and import them into other software. So if you put some time into creating GP files, you don't lose your work if you move to something else.

Powertabs will do that too, if I'm not mistaken.
It also exports tabs to ASCII format I think, but I could be wrong about that.