Comparison of scorewriters
Appearance
This is a comparison of music notation programs.
General information
Name | Guitar tablature | WYSIWYG editor | MIDI entry[1] | Playback | File formats | Developer(s) | Stable release; review date | License | Cost (USD) | Operating systems | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Import | Export | ||||||||||
Canorus | No | Yes | MIDI | CanorusML,[a] MusicXML,[b] MIDI,[c] simple LilyPond[d] | MusicXML,[b] MIDI,[c] LilyPond,[d] PDF | Reinhard Katzmann, Matevž Jekovec, Georg Rudolph | 0.7.1; 21 April 2013 | GPL | Free | Linux | |
Denemo | Yes | Yes | Step-time | MIDI | Denemo,[e] limited LilyPond,[d] MusicXML[b] | LilyPond,[d] WAV, Ogg, PDF, PNG, | Jeremiah Benham, Richard Shann | 2.4.0; 18 May 2020 | GPL | Free | Windows, macOS, Linux |
Early Notation Typesetter | No | Yes | No | No | ENT[f] | ENT,[f] PDF | Samuel Gossner, Daniel West, Dieter Theuns | 0.9.6; 20 October 2020 | Proprietary | Freemium (single font), $6/mo for all fonts | Windows, macOS, Linux |
Frescobaldi | No | WYSIWYM | MIDI | LilyPond,[d] MusicXML[b] | MusicXML,[b] PDF | Wilbert Berendsen | 3.1.3; 25 December 2020 | GPL | Free | Windows, macOS, Linux | |
Impro-Visor | No | Yes | Step-time and real-time | MIDI | Impro-Visor[g] | MusicXML,[b] MIDI,[c] PDF | Bob Keller | 10.2; 1 August 2019 | GPL | Free | Windows, macOS, Linux |
LilyPond | Yes | No | No | MIDI | LilyPond;[d] using converters: ABC,[h] ETF,[i] MIDI,[c] MusicXML[b] | PDF, PNG, PS, SVG | Han-Wen Nienhuys, Jan Nieuwenhuizen | 2.22.0; 10 January 2021 | GPL | Free | Windows, macOS, Linux, FreeBSD |
MuseScore | Yes | Yes | Step-time and real-time | MIDI, SoundFonts, SFZ | MuseScore,[j] MusicXML,[b] Compressed MusicXML,[k] MIDI,[c] Karaoke,[l] MuseData,[m] Bagpipe Music Writer,[n] Band-in-a-Box,[o] Overture,[p] Capella,[q] CapXML,[r] Guitar Pro (versions 1–6),[s] PDF (experimental), ABC[h] (with plugin) | MusicXML,[b] Compressed MusicXML,[k] PDF, PNG, SVG, MIDI,[c] WAV, FLAC, Ogg, MP3 | The MuseScore developer community | 3.6.1; 27 January 2021 | GPL v2 | Free | Windows, macOS, Linux |
MusiCAD | No | Yes | MIDI | MusiCAD,[t] MIDI,[c] ABC[h] | MIDI,[c] ABC,[h] PDF, JPEG, PNG, BMP | Musys Software | 4.0 | Proprietary | Free,[3] license for €45 | Windows | |
Musink | No | WYSIWYM | MIDI | Musink[u] | MIDI,[c] PDF, PNG, XPS | Lee Reid | 1.2 | Proprietary | Free | Windows | |
MusiXTeX | Yes | No | No | No | TeX (incl. PMX and M-Tx),[v] MusicXML[b] (with converters) | DVI,[w] PS, PDF, MIDI[c] (for PMX input) | Daniel Taupin, Ross Mitchell, Andreas Egler | 1.30; 20 March 2020 | GPL | Free | Windows, macOS, Linux |
Philip's Music Writer | Yes | No | No | MIDI | PMW[x] | MIDI,[c] PS | Philip Hazel | 4.50; 1 December 2020 | GPL | Free | Linux (older versions for RISC OS) |
Power Tab Editor | Yes | Yes | MIDI | Power Tab,[y] MIDI[c] | MIDI,[c] ASCII tab,[z] BMP, HTML | Brad Larsen | 1.0.0.175; 26 August 2006 | Proprietary | Free | Windows | |
Rosegarden | No | Yes | Step-time and real-time | MIDI | Rosegarden,[aa] MusicXML,[b] MIDI,[c] Hydrogen[ab] | LilyPond,[d] MusicXML,[b] MIDI,[c] Csound,[ac] Mup,[ad] PDF | Chris Cannam, Richard Bown, Guillaume Laurent | 20.12; 9 December 2020 | GPL | Free | Linux |
ScoreCloud Studio | No | Yes | Step-time and real-time | MIDI, VST | MIDI,[c] live audio | MusicXML,[b] MIDI,[c] WAV, PDF | Doremir Music Research AB | 4.1 | Proprietary | Freemium (no file saving), $139/yr for full version | Windows, macOS, iOS |
TuxGuitar | Yes | Yes | MIDI | TuxGuitar,[ae] MusicXML,[b] MIDI,[c] Guitar Pro (versions 1–6),[s] Power Tab,[y] TablEdit[af] | MIDI,[c] Guitar Pro (versions 3–5),[s] LilyPond,[d] ASCII tab,[z] PDF | Julian Gabriel Casadesus | 1.5.4; 12 May 2020 | LGPL | Free | Windows, macOS, Linux, FreeBSD | |
Capella | Yes | Yes | Step-time and real-time | MIDI, VST, SoundFonts | Capella,[q] CapXML,[r] MusicXML,[b] MIDI[c] | MusicXML,[b] MIDI,[c] BMP, JPEG, TIFF, PNG, Truevision TGA, PCX, HTML | Capella Software AG | 8.0-13; 28 April 2020 | Proprietary | $218 | Windows, macOS |
Dorico | Yes | Yes | Step-time and real-time | MIDI, VST | Dorico,[ag] MusicXML,[b] MIDI[c] | MIDI,[c] MusicXML,[b] WAV, MP3, PDF, PNG, TIFF, SVG | Steinberg | 3.5.10; 27 July 2020 | Proprietary | $559 | Windows, macOS |
Encore | Yes | Yes | MIDI | Encore,[ah] MusicTime,[ai] Rhapsody,[aj] Compressed MusicXML[k] | MIDI,[c] Cakewalk MIDI,[ak] Master Tracks Pro,[al] PDF | Passport Music Software | 5.0.4/5.0.7 | Proprietary | $280 | Windows, macOS | |
Finale | Yes | Yes | Step-time and real-time | MIDI, VST, AU,[4] Garritan library | Finale,[am] MusicXML,[b] MIDI[c] | MusicXML,[b] MIDI,[c] WAV, MP3, AIFF, PDF, TIFF, JPEG, PNG, EPS, BMP, GIF, PICT[4] | MakeMusic | 26.3.1.520; 30 June 2020 | Proprietary | $600 | Windows, macOS |
Forte | Yes | Yes | Step-time and real-time | MIDI, VST | Forte,[an] MusicXML,[b] MIDI,[c] CapXML[r] | MusicXML,[b] MIDI,[c] BMP, JPEG | Lugert Verlag GmbH | 12; 2020 | Proprietary | $229 | Windows |
Guitar Pro | Yes | Yes | MIDI, RSE | Guitar Pro (versions 1–7),[s] MusicXML,[b] Compressed MusicXML,[k] MIDI,[c] ASCII tab,[z] Power Tab,[y] TablEdit[af] | MusicXML,[b] MIDI,[c] ASCII tab,[z] PNG, PDF, WAV | Arobas Music | 7.5.4 | Proprietary | $70 | Windows, macOS, Linux | |
MagicScore | Yes | Yes | Step-time and real-time | MIDI, SoundFonts | SFD,[ao] MusicXML,[b] MIDI,[c] Karaoke,[l] WAV, MP3 | MusicXML,[b] MIDI,[c] Karaoke,[l] WAV, MP3, PDF, TIFF, JPEG, PNG, BMP, GIF, EMF, WMF | Maestro Music Software | 8 | Proprietary | $70 | Windows |
Mozart | Yes | Yes | Real-time and step-time | MIDI | Mozart,[ap] MusicXML[b] NIFF[aq] MIDI[c] Karaoke[l] ABC[h] | MusicXML[b] MIDI[c] ABC[h], BMP, EMF, GIF, JPEG, PBM, PNG, TIFF | Mozart Music Software | 15.0.3; 13 January 2021 | Proprietary | $130 | Windows |
Mus2 | No | Yes | MIDI | Mus2[ar] | MIDI,[c] AIFF, WAV, PDF, SVG, BMP, JPEG, PNG, | Utku Uzmen (Data-Soft Ltd.) | 2.1.5 | Proprietary | $60 | Windows, macOS | |
MusicEase | Yes | Yes | MIDI | MusicEase,[as] MusicXML,[b] MIDI,[c] ABC,[h] SongWright[at] | MIDI,[c] PDF | MusicEase Software | 9.0 | Proprietary | $250 | Windows, macOS | |
Notation Composer | No | Yes | Step-time and real-time | MIDI, SoundFonts | Notation,[au] MusicXML,[b] Compressed MusicXML,[k] MIDI,[c] Karaoke[l] | MusicXML,[b] Compressed MusicXML,[k] PDF, MIDI,[c] Karaoke,[l] PNG, BMP, JPEG, GIF, WAV, FLAC, Ogg, MP3 | Notation Software | 4.0.1; 2020 | Proprietary | $99 | Windows |
NoteWorthy Composer | Yes | Yes | Step-time and real-time | MIDI | NWC,[av] MIDI,[c] Karaoke[l] | MIDI[c] | NoteWorthy Software | 2.75a.2; 2017 | Proprietary | $49 | Windows |
Notion | Yes | Yes | Step-time and real-time | MIDI, VST | MusicXML,[b] Compressed MusicXML,[k] MIDI,[c] Guitar Pro[s] (versions 4–5) | MusicXML,[b] MIDI,[c] WAV | PreSonus | 6.5.470; 15 January 2019 | Proprietary | $149 | Windows, macOS, iOS (iPad) |
Overture | Yes | Yes | Step-time and real-time | MIDI, VST, AU,[4] | Overture,[p] MusicXML,[b] MIDI,[c] Score Writer,[aw] | MusicXML,[b] MIDI,[c] WAV, MP3 | Sonic Scores | 5.6.1.1; 2 December 2019 | Proprietary | $249 | Windows, macOS |
Sibelius | Yes | Yes | Step-time and real-time | MIDI, VST, AU,[4] Avid library | Sibelius,[ax] MusicXML,[b] MIDI[c] | MusicXML,[b] MIDI,[c] MP3, PDF, SVG, EPS, PNG, | Avid Technology Inc. | 2020.9; 13 September 2020 | Proprietary | $599, or $239/yr | Windows, macOS, RISC OS |
SmartScore Pro | Yes | Yes | MIDI | SmartScore,[ay] scanned images, MusicXML,[b] NIFF[aq] | MusicXML,[b] MIDI,[c] Finale,[am] NIFF,[aq] PDF | Musitek Corporation | 10.5.8; June 2015 | Proprietary | $399 | Windows, macOS | |
Name | Guitar tablature | WYSIWYG editor | MIDI entry[1] | Playback | Import | Export | Developer(s) | Stable release; review date | License | Cost (USD) | Operating systems |
File formats |
File formats and extensions
- ^ Canorus native format, .can
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am MusicXML, open standard XML-based music notation exchange format, .xml or (version 3.1 or later) .musicxml
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av Standard MIDI file format, .mid or .midi
- ^ a b c d e f g h LilyPond plain text native format, .ly
- ^ Denemo native format, .denemo
- ^ a b Early notation typesetter native format, .ent
- ^ Impro-Visor native format, .ls
- ^ a b c d e f g ABC plain text format, .abc
- ^ Finale Enigma Transport Format, .etf[2]
- ^ MuseScore native format, .mscz; uncompressed XML-based format, .mscx; style sheet, .mss; score album, .album
- ^ a b c d e f g MusicXML version 2.0 or later, compressed as a ZIP, .mxl
- ^ a b c d e f g Standard MIDI file format including standard MIDI lyrics, used for karaoke, .kar
- ^ MuseData project format, .md
- ^ Bagpipe Music Writer native format, .bww
- ^ Band-in-a-Box native format, .mgu or .sgu
- ^ a b Overture native format, .ove
- ^ a b Capella native format, binary file, .cap
- ^ a b c Capella native format, compressed ZIP containing XML, .capx
- ^ a b c d e Guitar Pro native format version 1–2, .gtp; version 3, .gp3; version 4, .gp4; version 5, .gp5; version 6, .gpx; version 7, .gp
- ^ MusiCAD plain text native format, .mc
- ^ Musink native format, .musink
- ^ PMX, preprocessor language for MusixTeX, .pmx; M-Tx, processor for PMX, .mtx
- ^ TeX device independent file format, .dvi
- ^ Philip's Music Writer native format, human-readable text, .pmw
- ^ a b c Power Tab Editor native format, .ptb
- ^ a b c d ASCII tablature plain text format, .txt, .tab, or .btab
- ^ Rosegarden native format, .rg
- ^ Hydrogen drum machine song XML file format, .h2song
- ^ Csound audio domain-specific language format, without orchestra data, .csd
- ^ Music Publisher Score file format, .mup
- ^ TuxGuitar native format, .tg
- ^ a b TablEdit native format, .tef
- ^ Dorico native format, .dorico
- ^ Encore native format, .enc
- ^ MusicTime (by the same developer as Encore) native format, .mto, .mus (different to Finale .mus)
- ^ Rhapsody (by the same developer as Encore) native format, .rhp
- ^ Cakewalk MIDI file format, .mff[clarification needed]
- ^ Master Tracks Pro (by the same developer as Encore) native format, .mts
- ^ a b Finale native format, .mus (2012 and earlier) or .musx (2014 and later)
- ^ Forte native format, .fnf
- ^ Maestro software family native format, .sfd
- ^ Mozart native format, .mz
- ^ a b c Notation Interchange File Format, .nif
- ^ Mus2 notation and tuning file format, .mus2, .mu2
- ^ MusicEase native format, .mez
- ^ SongWright native format, .sw
- ^ NoteSoft file, Notation Software native format, .not
- ^ NoteWorthy Composer native format, .nwc or .nwctxt
- ^ Score Writer (by the same developer as Overture) native format, .scw
- ^ Sibelius (scorewriter) native format, .sib
- ^ SmartScore native format, .enf
See also
- Comparison of MIDI editors and sequencers
- List of guitar tablature software
- List of music software
- List of scorewriters
Notes
- ^ a b When entering notes, "step-time" means one first selects the note duration then enters notes and chords one a time, while "real-time" means one plays the notes to enter with correct rhythm and the software recognizes the note durations.
- ^ "An incomplete description of the Enigma Transport Format". LilyPond.org. Archived from the original on 3 May 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
- ^ Prompt to purchase license appears when saving. See Tryware and Restrictions for full details.
- ^ a b c d Mac version only