Advantages/Disadvantages of Finale PrintMusic?

[chillowack]

I'm currently using the demo version of Finale Notepad, and now I'm thinking of upgrading to PrintMusic.

PrintMusic seems like it might be a cost-effective middle ground between the limited functionality of Notepad, and the bells and whistles of the higher-end products of the family.

Does PrintMusic have any significant drawbacks to speak of? Anything I should be aware of, in terms of what it lacks that the bigger two have?

Thanks for your help!

[miker]

I guess it depends on your needs. PrintMusic cannot:

Make mid-measure time, key, or clef changes.
Use more than one font in lyrics.
Remap the percussion maps.
Handle complicated coda/multiple repeat playback.
Change noteheads (to an X, for example.)
Let you set one time signature, but display another.

For the most part, I haven't found these to be limiting in my (mostly) choral work. I'd suggest you get the demo, and play with it.

I've been using it for years, and probably a few hundred pieces. It works for me!

[chillowack]

Thanks Miker, I appreciate your feedback and I will try the demo.

I've experimented with some choral work as well, do you happen to have a link to your work by any chance?

[miker]

No, sorry. I don't do any original work. All I do is renotating old, handwritten stuff for various choirs.

[TWW]

Miker's correct, but I would offer hope in a few categories:

PrintMusic cannot:
Make mid-measure time, key, or clef changes.

--but it can do 'em at measure breaks

Handle complicated coda/multiple repeat playback.

--but it can notate them; it's only the auditioning part that is lacking

Change noteheads (to an X, for example.)

--But you can set up a pseudo-percussion part, on a one- or five-line staff, with not only X-noteheads but lyrics as well, for example a spoken part. Bummer that you can't move easily from singing to speaking in one staff, however.

The only other thing I would have liked that PM doesn't provide is the option of notating a piano part as a grand staff with the middle C ledger line shared by both hands.

I've also found it to be plenty powerful for small vocal or instrumental ensembles, which is pretty much all I have done since college.

[miker]

Tom,
Thanks for taking the optimistic view!
You reminded me of something else PM can't do, though: cross staff beaming, occasionally useful for the accompaniments.

[chillowack]

Thank you both for your help!