| Tue, 4 Jun 2002, Atte Andre Jensen wrote: | > * free | > * stuff like my songbook (server generated pdf's in 12 keys) are AFAIK not | > really possible using Finale | > * runs on any platform | > * small file size | > * works on my Palm (and I typed quite a few songs during public | > transportation) | > * speed? I think I'm faster in abc than I used to be in encore, but I'm | > not sure... | Guido Gonzato added: | - very readable notation | - implementations are very compact (say "no" to MusiXTeX ;-) | - in many cases, it creates publication-quality sheet music.
Open Source. One of my favorite ways to test music software is to attempt to enter some of the better-known Balkan songs. For instance, Jovano, Jovanke, which wants a meter of 7/8 and a key signature of one sharp and two flats (^f_B_e). It's a simple little love song, right? So far, all commercial music packages have flunked this test. When I first tried abc2ps, I was duly impressed by the fact that it had no problems with M:7/8, and did the right thing wih it. I was disappointed that it wouldn't let me do a key signature of ^f_B_e. But I had the source code, so I could fix this. Granted, most of the other developers see no need for such capabilities, and despite a number of discussions of the topic (in which several people gave other good reasons for wanting such things), nothing much has happened. But I and a few others can get good-looking music with correct key sigs for non-Western music with abc. With Finale and other commercial packages, the discussion would be pointless. The code is owned by one corporation, and you must ask them for features that you want. With abc, any programmer can get the code to most of the software. If you need some capability that isn't there, you can add it. If other abc programmers don't see the point, well, you have software that does what you need. Jeff Moine can get nice-looking choral music. Someone else can get tablature for all sorts of instruments. Others can get songs with lyrics either aligned with the notes or printed below the music. Still others can get MIDI output with the voices specified in the abc. And so on. Well, at least you can if you're a programmer. ;-) To subscribe/unsubscribe, point your browser to: http://www.tullochgorm.com/lists.html
