“Playing” with notation software, part 1 of 2

Scoring Notes

The applications we talk about on Scoring Notes have had playback capabilities since their earliest days. But because these programs are so attuned to the visual elements of music notation, layout, and page formatting, their audio components can often be overlooked. Philip Rothman, and David MacDonald have the first of a two-part conversation about playback and music notation software.

We first discuss why it’s important for programs like Finale, Sibelius, and Dorico to have good playback features in the first place, and how you can make use of playback when you work in the software as a composer, teacher, or music preparer. Then, we review the different types of sound options available in the software — everything from basic MIDI sounds to the most expensive studio libraries. Then, we conclude this part by talking about what you need to do when setting up your mix so that you get the best possible results, as well as how to export everything to a digital audio workstation for further fine-tuning.

More from Scoring Notes:

• “Playing” with notation software, part 1 of 2
• The “rite” way to copy old scores into new software
• Dorico and The Rite of Spring
• The [COMPRESSED] history of mastering