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#21
04-02-2008, 10:16 AM
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| Re: Notion, anyone tried it? OK folks, Here's part 2 of my review; a comparison of Schubert put in Finale 2008 and Notion 2.0. Attached are the mp3 generated from the scores put in both programs, the scores as they are printed and the score I used to put the notes in. I tried to keep as close as possible to the score and not put anything in that's not in the original. EASE OF USE. When it comes to ease of use to put in the notes both programs can match up to each other; in both cases it's highly recommended to use keyboard shortcuts (the one from Notion seemed more logic when it comes to note duration but Finale's shortcuts for accidentals and articulations are easier). Putting in slurs in Notion has the disadvantage that one cannot put a slur from any note to any note. It seems it wants to slur in the same voice only sometimes, but there is an occasional need to put the slur in from one voice to another as 2 voices in the same hand are not really 2 different things. Finale handles that better. Putting in dynamics in Notion has more possibilities than in Finale (you can put in a text "cresc." and it actually does that..this option is not available in finale unless I missed it completely. I have pu in a hairpin in stead) and different dynamics in different hands of the same piano score are played different. But, in finale 2008 (contrary to Finale 2007) too it seems. By the looks of it both programs are comparable in this aspect too. PLAYBACK Then playback; The playback of both programs is very nice. For Finale 2008 I used the Garritan Personal Orchestra Steinway piano that comes with the program with a standard playback setting and no ambience reverb tools. Notion is played as is as there aren't that many knobs to turn on to "spice" up the live playback. This to me is an disadvantage, even though the actual sound is already very nice. Compare the results for yourself and let me (us) know what you liked best. One note before we jump to conclude that Notion is as fab. or better than Finale: I'm sure I can make it sound better in Finale if I start playing around with the playback options, like automatic pedaling; I know from experience these option do tend to really do nice things. On top of that, my Windows Finale 2007 had something called Garritan Ambience reverb. Now this thingy really does nice things to the playback! Does Finale 2008 have that too (not for Mac and I have no Windows version of finale 2008 to test it witt) and if yes, who can work the playback and enhance to show Kyle here what I mean?? IM me and I'll send you the .mus One other note on the playback in general; compare both results to the live performance and you'll know why I'm constantly looking for a pianist to play my tunes live on a concert grand preferably. As an example, here's Aviram Reichart playing the same piece live: http://www.jmc.co.il/musicfile.asp?mid=15 (or direct to the mp3: http://www.jmc.co.il/music/15-1.mp3 ) What's missing (in both computer renderings) is the vibrations of the other snares not played and the interaction of the whole instrument on the music. Hell, even my own upright Petrof piano sounds so much richer in everything that any electronic playback I heard so far. I wonder if any electric piano, no matter how sophisticated, can match up to an acoustic one. Certainly not to a concert grand, I'm sure. Just hear those wonderful basses in Aviram's performance... Now Kyle, your picture shows you at a piano; Can you play it? And if yes, are you any good at it? and if yes, can you play me one of my own pieces live on that nice piano and record it? PLEASE, please, please ??? IM me and I'll send you a score, made in Notion if you wish). PRINTING To conclude this something on the score printing. I don't like Notion on this point; there is little or nothing you can do about how it looks when you're done inputting. No formatting, no choices how many measures to put on a system, nothing really. The result is, well, have a look for yourself. The notes themselves are beautiful to see but the score is nothing I'd put on my piano (too many pages for one...). Now the finale version isn't completely cleaned up either, BUT what you see on print actually originates from cleanup in the FREE Finale Notepad, which has already so much more options for this. Oh, and before I forget; the pdf created with Notion is almost 10x bigger in file size ??? And I did nothing to it, just print to pdf. Let me know your thoughts! Peter Last edited by PeterG : 07-04-2008 at 12:01 PM.  |
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#22
04-02-2008, 02:10 PM
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| Re: Notion, anyone tried it? 
Thank you so much for taking the time to run this comparison. One thing that I might mention in regards to NOTION is that there is an audio mixer which allows you to change the amount of decay or reverb (as well as volume, pan and mute/solo). The Finale mp3 is very dry and the NOTION is very wet (decay probably set at 100%). To get a more comparable sound from both I might bring the decay in NOTION down to about 60 or 70 percent (this is certainly a personal choice as some folks may really like more reverb). Once again thanks so much for running this comparison! As to your question about my playing.....I DO play piano, but it's not my primary instrument so I'm probably not the best person to play and record your piece  Kyle Poehling kyle@notionmusic.com |
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#23
06-02-2008, 01:31 PM
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| Re: Notion, anyone tried it?
I'm sort of guessing that you are still a whole lot better than I am at it. I'm still in the scales, and childrens books as I play for 2 yrs only. Unfortunately my musical mind is a LOT further than that and my pieces, though not super difficult I imagine, seems to keep ahead of my playing skills. Is there no way for you (a friend or collegue perhaps?) to help me out a bit? One tune perhaps? |
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#24
07-02-2008, 03:07 PM
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 Re: Notion, anyone tried it?
I'm sure if you look around your community you'll find someone with a piano (and some ability!!) that would be able to help you out. -Kyle |
