Best (meaning fastest) notation software?

[PaulG]

Does anyone have any sort of recommendations for notation-based software that is fast to sketch out ideas (for non-piano players, too)?

I've stayed away from both Finale and Sibelius due to comments about both programming difficulty and sometimes a lack of sound quality, but I don't know of too many others.

Unfortunately I sold my Overture license before getting much use out of it.

I am looking for a notation-based software package that just lets you input and edit quickly and don't care as much for pristine accuracy as far as print quality goes. And beyond those three software packages I mentioned, I just don't know of any more!

Any more that people are happy with?

Thanks all,

- Paul

[bullshark]

I use GuitarPro for quickly sketching out ideas. Since I don't know the neck of a guitar all that well (play mostly by ears), I'll tab the notes in for guitar parts (and learn the notes at the same time), but for keys and bass guitar, as example, I'll enter the notes directly on the staff. Sounds that come with it are also a bit better than the Window GM synth, but nothing to write home about.

For more complex arranging I've found that I quickly ran out of steam with it thought(not really made for that either...), so I would typically switch to Overture LE when time was to arrange, but now I mostly do that by hand on staff paper.

Anyways, there's a demo so you can give it a try and the license is cheap (50 bucks) should you decide it fills your needs.

[mr]

Maybe buying Band in a Box 2007 just for the notation part is not a good idea, but the edit page, where you can edit position, duration and volume, with just a mouse movement, is unsurpassed.

[Dewdman42]

Overture is definitely easier than Finale or Sib. encore also. Another oddball one to check out is Harmony Assistant. I use Overture for this type of stuff because of its VSTi support.

[guitargeek9]

i've used sibelius, it works, great far easier than finale, i might look into Overture. My favorite parts of the software is hearing your compositions come to "life". a small feeling of accomplishment.

[dancerchris]

Try PowerTab it's free and you can get notation as well as tabulature. It's a quicker interface than finale and guitar pro from the tabulature side. I haven't checked it from direct note entry yet.