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Transcription Software

Shovelbone

Shovelbone

Supporting Member
Oct 18, 2007
662
209
Yonderville Georgia
#1
I am writing this at work so I do not have time to do a TB search but could anyone recommend transcribing software? I have started transcribing bass lines and would like to have something to use other then a #2 pencil so that it will be neater and easier to read?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
 
#4
The two biggies are Finale and Sibelius. I couldn't afford Sibelius, so I went with Finale. The great thing about it is they have a free version, a $50 version, a $100 version, a $200 and the "real" $600 version. Any version can load files from the other versions, but can't edit the "advanced" features. They also to a 30 day demo on most versions...

I downloaded the free version, and found it overly crippled (no key changes, limited repeats, bass tab is buggy: hey it's free - don't knock it), so I downloaded the 30 day trial of the $50 version - OK but couldn't do double bars and a couple of other silly things, so I got the trail version of the $100 version (printmusic). I used that for a few weeks, and while it has a few bugs, it supported everything I needed, and I got the job I needed done. When the trial expired I was still able to make some minor fixes using the free (notepad) version.

The next time I needed it I dropped the $100 and payed for it, so now I have printmusic on my main machine, and the free version on a couple of other machines, so I can view/tweak files on them too. If you ever decide you need a better version you get to upgrade for the price difference (in fact if you register notepad you get $10 off the commercial versions).

It is buggy, and quirky but the results look great, and they make it very easy to buy, allowing you to trail and mix versions. Sibelius might be great but it's $1000, so it's not even in the game for me.

Ian
 
#5
I use a free version of Power Tab Editor 1.7
It shows notation and tablature for multiple basses and guitars. It allows you to print, set the font size and style, put in lyrics and tabs, set timing. It plays the instrument line at whatever speed you set (so you can learn to play difficult progressions slowly). You can hear the sound of the notes as it plays in the selected timing and highlights the note in red as it is being played. It will play from the beginning or from any designated starting point. You can select to hear or silence the metronome. For free software, it is not buggy and is very nice to use once you learn the tricks. It writes directly from MIDI, but otherwise, you have to put in the tablature tab by tab. By the way, as you put in the tabs, it puts in the correct note in the correct clef on a staff above the tab staff. Sebelius is cadillac, but pricey. Do check out Sebelius to see if it is more than you need, or if it will save you so much time that it is worth the price.
 
#7
+2 for Finale Notepad, although no longer fully free. (~$10 iirc) You can input from midi or mouse, and you can also hear the notes when input.
+1 Musescore. It is free, and you can use any midi device or mouse to input notes. The GUI isn't pretty, but not un-usable.


-5 3 year old thread? :rolleyes:
 

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