Any Mac recording people out there...

Michael · June 29th, 2008, 06:06 PM

... in TDPRI land? I've recently been working with GarageBand, and I'd really like to get a notation/sequencing program that is easy to use and compatible with GarageBand `08. I have been trying Easy Beat, Inteum, and Aria Maestosa, but up to this point I haven't been able to find a smooth inputting method to place notes on the staff. It seems to me that a drop and drag method would be a no brainer for Mac OS, but I haven't been able to find anything anywhere near as easy to use as my old Yamaha QY-10. All of the above mentioned software seem to be well thought out and have complex features, but simple, intuitive music writing seems harder than it ought to be. I'd appreciate any suggestions. Thanks!

aznrambo481 · June 29th, 2008, 06:10 PM

I think you can do drag-drop stuff in garageband. I don't know how, but a friend wrote out a synth solo on one once. I'll need to ask him how he did it. I really like Garageband for being simple and coming with my computer :-P (no emoticon-free zone here!)

TelZilla · June 29th, 2008, 06:43 PM

look in the "Recording in Progress" forum. Lots of Mac guys there.

Big John · June 30th, 2008, 02:45 AM

Try Finale, you can download the free 'notepad' version here ...........

http://www.finalemusic.com/notepad/

octatonic · June 30th, 2008, 04:18 AM

Logic Studio has an excellent score facility- Garageband is based on Logic's core code.

Larry F · June 30th, 2008, 04:36 AM

I've found Sibelius a lot easier and more flexible than Finale, which I had used for years until recently.

bradpdx · June 30th, 2008, 10:10 AM

An excellent intermediate solution is Apple Logic Express. It can do lots more than Garage Band, but less than Logic Pro.

I have used Logic Express for extensive score editing in MIDI environments with great results. At $200, it's a good deal.

The first limitation of Garage Band that drove me nuts is the single tempo requirement - all songs must have the same tempo from beginning to end, which is great for hip-hop. In Logic Pro/Express you can create and edit Tempo Maps, essential for my work.

Bonneville Bruce · July 31st, 2008, 10:17 AM

I use the Sibelius Player G7 software. I got it through an educator's price on the web for $90 and it is written for guitarists. I like it. It is intuitive and does drag and drop editing very well. It also does a good job on chord charts. It was my first experience with writing music notation, but the learning curve wasn't too arduous.

I also bought an M-Audio Axiom 25 keyboard/MIDI controller for $150 at GC that can be used for direct input of notes into either GB or G7. I believe this is the easiest way to enter music, if one knows how to play the damn thing, which I don't. Play it in, then the editing is minor when compared to mousing it all in.

Good luck.

June 29th, 2008, 06:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
Michael Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: The Sunny Side of the Street Posts: 502	Any Mac recording people out there... ... in TDPRI land? I've recently been working with GarageBand, and I'd really like to get a notation/sequencing program that is easy to use and compatible with GarageBand `08. I have been trying Easy Beat, Inteum, and Aria Maestosa, but up to this point I haven't been able to find a smooth inputting method to place notes on the staff. It seems to me that a drop and drag method would be a no brainer for Mac OS, but I haven't been able to find anything anywhere near as easy to use as my old Yamaha QY-10. All of the above mentioned software seem to be well thought out and have complex features, but simple, intuitive music writing seems harder than it ought to be. I'd appreciate any suggestions. Thanks! __________________ "Help thy brother's boat across, and lo! Thine own has reached the shore".

June 29th, 2008, 06:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
aznrambo481 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: La Jolla, California Age: 17 Posts: 2,842 6 Photos	I think you can do drag-drop stuff in garageband. I don't know how, but a friend wrote out a synth solo on one once. I'll need to ask him how he did it. I really like Garageband for being simple and coming with my computer :-P (no emoticon-free zone here!) __________________ "Never age. Never die. Live forever in that one last white-hot moment, when the crowd screamed. When every note was a heartbeat. Burn across the sky."-Terry Pratchett, Soul Music.

June 29th, 2008, 06:43 PM	#3 (permalink)
TelZilla Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cleveburg, USA Age: 38 Posts: 1,833 6 Photos	look in the "Recording in Progress" forum. Lots of Mac guys there. __________________ Thanks,Nick Nec Aspera Terrent

June 30th, 2008, 02:45 AM	#4 (permalink)
Big John Friend of Leo's Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Suffolk UK Posts: 4,381 33 Photos	Try Finale, you can download the free 'notepad' version here ........... http://www.finalemusic.com/notepad/ __________________ If you are going to be a bear, be a grizzly !!

June 30th, 2008, 04:18 AM	#5 (permalink)
octatonic Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2007 Location: An Australian in London. Posts: 1,572	Logic Studio has an excellent score facility- Garageband is based on Logic's core code. __________________ "A jazz musician is a juggler who uses harmonies instead of oranges." Benny Green

June 30th, 2008, 04:36 AM	#6 (permalink)
Larry F Friend of Leo's Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Iowa City, IA Age: 55 Posts: 2,372	I've found Sibelius a lot easier and more flexible than Finale, which I had used for years until recently. __________________ larry

June 30th, 2008, 10:10 AM	#7 (permalink)
bradpdx Tele-Holic Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Portland, OR Age: 50 Posts: 765	An excellent intermediate solution is Apple Logic Express. It can do lots more than Garage Band, but less than Logic Pro. I have used Logic Express for extensive score editing in MIDI environments with great results. At $200, it's a good deal. The first limitation of Garage Band that drove me nuts is the single tempo requirement - all songs must have the same tempo from beginning to end, which is great for hip-hop. In Logic Pro/Express you can create and edit Tempo Maps, essential for my work. __________________ ---------- Tech Geek and Sensitive Artiste String bender ordinare!

July 31st, 2008, 10:17 AM	#8 (permalink)
Bonneville Bruce Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Caldwell, Idaho Posts: 553	I use the Sibelius Player G7 software. I got it through an educator's price on the web for $90 and it is written for guitarists. I like it. It is intuitive and does drag and drop editing very well. It also does a good job on chord charts. It was my first experience with writing music notation, but the learning curve wasn't too arduous. I also bought an M-Audio Axiom 25 keyboard/MIDI controller for $150 at GC that can be used for direct input of notes into either GB or G7. I believe this is the easiest way to enter music, if one knows how to play the damn thing, which I don't. Play it in, then the editing is minor when compared to mousing it all in. Good luck. __________________ "Let us issue, 'Live Music is Better' bumper stickers."