Perfect Layout v1 - The ultimate plug-in for Finale released

[smw_brighton]

I too am interested in purchasing Perfect Layout, and - although I will eventually need the Silver version due to some of my works exceeding 400 bars in length - I plan to start with Silver400 to see how I get on with it.

Since I have Finale installed on 2 PCs I will need the 2 computers license - would I later be able to upgrade only 1 of these to either Silver or Gold?

[ebiggs1]

I can't answer your question entirely because I have Silver 400. The is a Gold version and it has more adjustable features than Silver does. If I had to give you a factual, truthful evaluation of PL Silver 400, I would call it Almost Perfect Layout. It gets 95+% of everything in the correct place.

I am not a big user of cues, I do but not a lot. I usually run PL and than go back and edit the cues that I want and where I want them. If you set up a cue category PL gets them pretty darn close. I just usually don't bother since my use is little.

Keep in mind after running PL you can still edit things if you want. Another thing, if you have a very busy score make sure you make enough space for PL to do its thing. Lately I have been reducing page size to 80% and PL has done beautiful work. I just did and put Overture for WInds by Carter in Smart Score for our kids to do at contest. I can't tell you how happy I am with the output PL did. You can just enter stiff in Final and don't worry about it. Let PL do that!

I use it on everything any more even brass quartet music. I argued with PL's developer for a long while saying it wasn't worth it for the stuff I do. Boy was I wrong. It has actually opened up more composing for me. I have done more charts this year than the last ten years combined. Part of it is COVID for sure but part is PL.

I think they will run a sample for you at least they did when I bought mine.

[ebiggs1]

...would I later be able to upgrade only 1 of these to either Silver or Gold?

I don't know you will need to ask the PL people. But I would seriously consider buying Silver 400 right off. The higher versions have more adjustable settings. Silver 400 probably has everything that the normal composer needs.

[bkshepard]

the normal composer

Is any composer really normal?

[ebiggs1]

Yes, normal was probably not the best choice of words. Perhaps the

average

composer's requirements.

[KennethKen]

Have other people had luck getting a response from Elbsound Studio? I tried emailing them last Wednesday through their website about Perfect Layout and still haven't heard back.

Ken

[ebiggs1]

No quite the contrary they respond quickly. Matter of fact I got an email this morning about the release of V2 update.

[smw_brighton]

I emailed them last week with a question about licenses, got a reply later the same day, and as a result bought a Silver400 license. When I later had issues installing it they were extremely quick/helpful (and polite - considering the solution to my problem was already available on their website, but which I had not read before starting!) in guiding me towards how to fix the issue. I'm therefore very impressed with their support service so far.

[KennethKen]

Weird. Jan replied to me later on the day when I first posted here about the lack of response I was getting. I replied to Jan's email and sent a file for examination and, again, didn't hear back. Waited a week and sent another email on Feb 16 and still haven't heard back.

Hmmm. Maybe Jan is working on a solution or maybe it's just me...