Has anybody found a cheap, or even free, piece of music writing software which allows you to write and print music on your PC ??
I know there are some well known software packages, some with names of famous composers, I think you know who I mean, I'm only looking for something simple and cheap which is easy to use etc.
Anybody got any suggestions ?

On another subject - I'm back, I was "Sparky" before but I've been "off line" for a while.

I use finale notepad - it's free. It does all I need it to do, but I suppose it depends what you need to use it for.... I know a lot of people here do use it, and has been recommended before.

I use cubasis notation - it was about £20. It took me a while to get to grips with some of the finer detail but I'm very impressed with what it can do

You may wish to look at the Noteworthy site. You can download the software free and it appears to do everything you would wish in notation software.

Norman

Arran

The free version I downloaded some months ago allows you to change and save a file up to 10 times which I have found to be more than sufficient for my simple needs.

Norman

I've been using Mozart for a number of years - not as cheap as the options already listed but handles what I want to do really well. Support through a Yahoo group is also outstanding.........often worth reading for the utterly off topic diversions into language and cultural differences alone.

Sacre Bleu! No one has mentioned Sibelius yet!!! I'm currently using Sibelius 3, does everything I want it to and I find it very easy to use, although I'm still not entirely sure what all the buttons do... hehe!
Its very expensive to buy, about £300 maybe? The Student package which is basically just the basic notation package without all the trimmings like playback options etc is a lot cheaper though.

1 of the criteria was cheap

The criteria said cheap. Maybe you have a different idea of cheap to me


Sorry couldn't work out how to undo 1 post completely & put the 2 together

hehe sorry! I missed that bit!
Well you never know you could've been a rich musician.......! Now theres two words that don't usually appear in the same sentence!!

We've got a saying in IT project management - "You can have fast, cheap or good. Pick two."

Hey I'm new to the forum greetings all!

I'm also interested in the composition software ... Doesn't anyone use cakewalk anymore? By the way did you know Sibelius 4 is out? That program is so expensive I bet a person could set up a home buisiness by loading it on a laptop and renting the laptop out to musicians who want to use it! Anyway in the words of the traditional Japanese greeting:

Youroshiku onegai itashimasu
Please accept me!

Welcome musiclife! The more the merrier!


PS. You could be onto something on that business plan...

lol

sometimes called the time, cost, quality triangle.....

Fen, I like it! Hehehehe!

Fen, I wonder which ones the astronauts pick!

Hmm, once NASA gets involved suspect it's irrelevant! NEVER cheap, probably good enough and alas all too quick for those poor souls on the previous launch...

Anyway - apologies for the diversion!

Not one of the cheapest but I'm very happy with Finale PrintMusic!. If you don't go for the latest version you can often pick it up for around £40. This is one of their lower level programs (they do version called Notepad which I think is free but rather limited) but it does everything that I'm likely to want...

Willobie

Sibelius is so cool!!!!

And so easy to use!!!

I would recomment it to anyone.

Maybe on a steinway buying budget but we're after cheap here!

You could look at this one

reasonably priced and easy to learn.

if you know anyone in the area, or, a postal service, you can buy Sibelius 3 for the equivalent of 20 euro in Kuala Lumpar (sp?)

I use Midinotate Composer (from Notation Software). If I recall correctly it is $99, but it can both be used for writing new pieces or editing midis. I like this because it produces such good printed output - everything is beautifully spaced.