sdd@aplcen.apl.jhu.edu (Steve Diamond x6584) (09/30/89)
I am about to purchase a music program of the ConcertWare+ (CW), StudioSession (SS), or Deluxe Music Construction (DMC) variety. I have played with a demo CW disk, seen SS demonstrated by a friend, but have no experience with DMC or any other music programs. An important capability is a printout of the music, which appears to NOT be supported by SS. Due to the limited descriptions in the mail-order catalogs, I am soliciting input on differences in packages capabilities in certain areas - some of which I assume are only provided by one of the "professional" packages (Music Publisher, etc) which are beyond my budget. The questions fall into two classes - hardcopy and sound production. CW appears to have a large selection of instruments and a reasonably powerful way of creating additional ones (although SS's instruments seemed to be more realistic). Does DMC provide an analogous capability as far as types and the number of voices which can be supported simultaneously or within a single piece? DMC appears to be more hardcopy than sound oriented. Does either package provide support for printout of more voices than can be produced with the sound chip, i.e., can you print more than you can play? (How do you get more than 4 voices out of the sound chip anyway?) Do the packages support multiple clefs, ties, slurs, single and double accidentals, tempo changes, crescendos, trills, repeats (simple and first/second), codas, grace notes, triplet rhythms. embedding of text (lyrics, Italian phrases), printout of music in a single voice vs. a "score" presentation, etc. (maybe I should ask for the kitchen sink too :^) ) Thanks in advance. Steve Diamond John Hopkins Univ. Applied Physics Lab. (301)792-6584