tabulature software programs

[billkilpatrick]

prompted more by curiosty than a consuming desire to spend more money that i don't have, i'd like to know if anyone could recommend a tabulature software program that works well with my i-mac computer?

several names have been mentioned in a similar thread on the lute list but it's too late to ask such basic questions as "what is it?" at this point.

- in general, does anyone know how do they work?

- can they be modified for different instruments and different tunings? mandolin to charango, 4c. to 5c. for example?

thank you - bill

[Asha]

For years I used a program called MusEdit (www.musedit.com), but got so frustrated with it crashing all the time I recently switched to TablEdit (www.tabledit.com). I've been pretty happy with it overall.

There are many more tab programs out there (some costing more, some less) but so far TablEdit seems to be the best and most stable and relatively inexpensive for my needs.

There is no perfect tab & standard notation program out there to my knowledge. This is apparently a difficult thing to program, combined with a relatively small specialized market for this type of software.

Let me know if you find something better!

[Dolamon]

Bill - I've used T-Edit for about five years and in the interim they have really developed a useful program (Windows version at least). Re voices ... if you want to work it out you can arrange and write for up to seventeen instruments at one time ... have it in notation, or tab or both.

Re specialized tunings, this gets complicated but ... the easy way is to import a tune (ABC or other) as a mandolin or guitar tune. Then ADD an instrument with the proper tuning (modifiable in the menu), then copy the original tune NOTES and paste it into the new instrument NOTES. You may have to massage the tune to get it to work "properly" but ... with the play menu you can adjust tempo, syncopation, pan or even click off the original tune and just listen to one voice at a time.

I've looked into NoteWorthy and Finale but one is too limited the other too comprehensive ... TablEdit has a lot of potential and a steep learning curve. But, the Help files have gotten a LOT better than they were four or five years ago.

Oh yes, my experience is only on the Windows Version ...

The preceding is my opinion from my experience ... your results may be heinous.

[billkilpatrick]

henious?...sharp learning curve?...massage the tune to get it to work?

sounds fab'!

i've used windows based software adapted for the mac before and it always presents problems. i haven't looked into mac designed tab soft ware yet - don't even know if it exists - but your comment's noted; very helpful.

many thanks - bill

[Chicago]

The thing that frustrated me when I started using Tabledit, and this may only be true on the demo version, was its learning curve. It could really use some more comprehensive help files and/or tutorials to help you learn the nuances when you're starting out with it. Great program when you know the buttons, but it can cause a few headaches trying to learn how to do with the software what you have in your head.

[Dolamon]

Chicago - one of the tricks with this program ... is to 1/ get the most recent version of the help file and 2/ go to the users forum. A ton of relevant (and two tons of inconsequential) questions are posed answered and commented on. When I finally got around to using the keyboard or the pallets rather than the drop down menus, I found I could convert an ABC file into both Mandolin and Mandola in about 8 minutes from start to finish. Learning this program just takes a little time, a lot of patience and the ability to think in French. Matthieu Leschemelle (the original programmer) will normally answer you in one day or refer you to one of the English (native speaker) correspondants who will answer the question you asked.

I asked for a few small modifications and within #three months, they were integrated into the program ... that impressed me. I've been waiting a year for MicroSoft to upload a legacy driver for a customized and ultra expensive keyboard for more than a year. Everytime they add a patch to WinXP the driver needs to be modified. So I sit, struggling with a physically uncomfortable and painful (but XP certified) keyboard.

Customer service is a reality with TablEdit.

[davestem]

I use TablEdit (inexpensive), Powertab (free), and Finale:Guitar (expensive). Finale:Guitar is, of course, the best of the bunch, but is geared toward making good-looking music to print; which it does well. Powertab and TablEdit are both nice, flexible tablature programs.

As to how they work--it varies. Generally, you'll select your number of strings (or courses), the tuning of the strings, and input fret numbers and note values (half note, quarter note, etc.). Then the program will generate the standard notation, and allow playback of what you've written. Some allow playback of the chords written above the bar. Finale:Guitar allows use of various fonts for text and music.

[davestem]

Oh, yeah: the learning curve is steep for all the above programs. Varying from half an hour to a few hours to get to the point where you can really do what you need to. Finale:Guitar is the hardest to learn, but also the most powerful. also, Finale:Guitar allows you to use a midi controller to enter data, or a microphone (for monophonic parts only).

[Martin Jonas]

For domestic purposes, TablEdit should do the trick for most of us, but for those who want to publish a professional score or tunebook, the criteria might be different. #Amongst the academic musicologists/composers I know, the preference is strongly for Sibelius (http://www.sibelius.com) over Finale, as being more powerful, easier to use and with much more professional output (for publishing music). #I see from the website that Sibelius also has guitar/mandolin tablature support, but I have never seen this and can't comment on how easy it is to use. #I've only just found out that Sibelius has a seriously cool web browser plug-in: check out this (http://www.maartinallcock.com/Crazy%20Man%20p1.htm) sample page from the new Fairport Convention songbook (great tune to play on mandolin, incidently). #I love the transposing option (note that it transposes the chords along with the tune!), although I seem to have some problems getting it to print.

Martin

[mando.player]

As a Mac user I have been looking into this also. I used to own TablEdit on the PC. The Mac version seems to be much harder to figure out. I'm not saying that it's buggy, just not intuitive.

I downloaded the Sibelius G7 demo yesterday and found it very easy to work with. At $110, it's more expensive than TablEdit but much easier to work with. For the price, you get a lot more features. The ability to scan in sheet music and hae it converted to tab is pretty cool. Also, transposing tab is a matter of cutting and pasting. The program is geared towards guitar, but takes to any fretted instrument very easily. They just came out with a new version that uses Kontact (software sampler) for playing back the music. It sounds very nice. Once retailers get this version in stock, I'll be buying it. I'll post a review at that point.

The only draw back is the HUGE archive of songs at mandozine.com. I'm sure there is a way to import those, but it hampers the exchange of files back and forth.

more to come...hopefully soon.


charlie

[levin4now]

I like the look of what tabledit produces, but I only own Melody Assistant. It works great. And it only cost 18 bucks to 'register'. It works great. And I've figured out the basics easily. I took a song I had, entered it into melody assistant, asked for guitar tab, and gave it to a friend (w/no experience in bluegrass, or even flatpicking) to give it a shot. We may end up playing "Fisher's Hornpipe" together soon!