I’m looking for an inexpensive software package for writing words and music to songs. A cursory examination of the internet reveals a product called ‘Finale’ which does everything I need (and a great deal more) but which costs $545.00. I’m looking for something much cheaper. Free would be perfect, but shareware that’s $20 or so is okay. I suppose the max would be $50.
Features that are important to me are: 1) multiple staves, so different instruments or voices can have their own staff; 2) good-looking printing; and 3) ability to incorporate lyrics with the music.
I’m assuming that a MIDI playback and reasonable editing capabilities are included as basic functions.
Features I don’t care about: 1) music capture; and, um, 2) I guess that’s about it.
Minor considerations: Guitar tablature would be a plus, but it’s certainly not required. And I’d like to avoid the Great Satan of Redmond if I can.
Anyone have any experience or sources they can point me to? I’d like to be able to download it rather than buy a CD if I could.
Thanks in advance.
Pluto