NoteWorthy Composer
Encyclopedia
NoteWorthy Composer is a scorewriter
application made by NoteWorthy Software.
NoteWorthy Composer (NWC) is a graphical score editor for Microsoft Windows
computers (from Windows 95
to Windows 7), and is also reported to work on PCs under Linux
with Wine
. Versions 1 of NWC was released in October 1994, and Version 2 in September 2008. The current version is Version 2.1.
NWC is intended for the creation of sheet music
, but it can also import and export MIDI and Karaoke files and can export graphical WMF
s. The user interface
works either from the keyboard or the mouse. Visual results are immediate, and audible results can be heard at any time. Notes can also be entered by playing on a MIDI device, when configured. In version 2, the notes can be heard as they are entered.
The NWC file format
is undocumented and facilities to convert it into documented formats are limited. Version 2 of NWC introduced a textual version of the files, NWCTXT. These can be used for conversion to many other formats, including LilyPond.
A feature of the user interface is that notation is displayed during editing. Each staff proceeds linearly from left to right, without being wrapped to the screen. Staff systems are visually broken to fit margins during page layout, allowing many possibilities at "print time", so solo instrument or full conductor can be produced with the same file. Many users prefer this editor layout over the so-called WYSIWYG
editors because slowdowns in note entry, as the composition becomes larger, are much less dramatic than in WYSIWYG editors. Print preview is available for adjustments to page layout.
The program lacks the more advanced engraving, graphic sophistication, playback and publishing capabilities of more expensive scriptwriting software such as Sibelius
or Finale
. It does, however, allow the rendering of custom key signature
s which do not follow the usual circle of fifths
order of sharps
and flats. It is also much less expensive (US $49) than Sibelius (US $599) and Finale (US $600). A free viewer is available. The otherwise fully functional demo version
imposes a limit of 10 saves per file name, adds a small footer to each printed page, and prints a registration form with each printed score. Besides the demo program, a downloadable plug-in for Winamp
allows Winamp to play files from NWC.
Because of the availability of a free viewer, Noteworthy has been adopted as the standard score distribution format by the large hymn
database, the Cyber Hymnal. An "unofficial" catalog of compositions and helpful files contributed by users (including a complete transcription of Handel's Messiah) is available from the NoteWorthy Scriptorium.
Scorewriter
A scorewriter, or music notation program, is software used for creating sheet music.A scorewriter is to music notation what a word processor is to text.-Comparison with multitrack sequencer software:...
application made by NoteWorthy Software.
NoteWorthy Composer (NWC) is a graphical score editor for Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
computers (from Windows 95
Windows 95
Windows 95 is a consumer-oriented graphical user interface-based operating system. It was released on August 24, 1995 by Microsoft, and was a significant progression from the company's previous Windows products...
to Windows 7), and is also reported to work on PCs under Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
with Wine
Wine (software)
Wine is a free software application that aims to allow computer programs written for Microsoft Windows to run on Unix-like operating systems. Wine also provides a software library, known as Winelib, against which developers can compile Windows applications to help port them to Unix-like...
. Versions 1 of NWC was released in October 1994, and Version 2 in September 2008. The current version is Version 2.1.
NWC is intended for the creation of sheet music
Sheet music
Sheet music is a hand-written or printed form of music notation that uses modern musical symbols; like its analogs—books, pamphlets, etc.—the medium of sheet music typically is paper , although the access to musical notation in recent years includes also presentation on computer screens...
, but it can also import and export MIDI and Karaoke files and can export graphical WMF
Windows Metafile
Windows Metafile is a graphics file format on Microsoft Windows systems, originally designed in the 1990s. Windows Metafiles are intended to be portable between applications and may contain both vector graphics and bitmap components....
s. The user interface
User interface
The user interface, in the industrial design field of human–machine interaction, is the space where interaction between humans and machines occurs. The goal of interaction between a human and a machine at the user interface is effective operation and control of the machine, and feedback from the...
works either from the keyboard or the mouse. Visual results are immediate, and audible results can be heard at any time. Notes can also be entered by playing on a MIDI device, when configured. In version 2, the notes can be heard as they are entered.
The NWC file format
File format
A file format is a particular way that information is encoded for storage in a computer file.Since a disk drive, or indeed any computer storage, can store only bits, the computer must have some way of converting information to 0s and 1s and vice-versa. There are different kinds of formats for...
is undocumented and facilities to convert it into documented formats are limited. Version 2 of NWC introduced a textual version of the files, NWCTXT. These can be used for conversion to many other formats, including LilyPond.
WYSIWYG
WYSIWYG is an acronym for What You See Is What You Get. The term is used in computing to describe a system in which content displayed onscreen during editing appears in a form closely corresponding to its appearance when printed or displayed as a finished product...
editors because slowdowns in note entry, as the composition becomes larger, are much less dramatic than in WYSIWYG editors. Print preview is available for adjustments to page layout.
The program lacks the more advanced engraving, graphic sophistication, playback and publishing capabilities of more expensive scriptwriting software such as Sibelius
Sibelius notation program
Sibelius is a scorewriter program, created by Sibelius Software for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, and RISC OS. It is used by composers, arrangers, performers, music publishers, teachers and students, particularly for writing classical, jazz, band, vocal, film and television music...
or Finale
Finale (computer program)
Finale is the flagship program of a series of proprietary scorewriters created by MakeMusic for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X. Finale is regarded as one of the industry standards for notation software....
. It does, however, allow the rendering of custom key signature
Key signature
In musical notation, a key signature is a series of sharp or flat symbols placed on the staff, designating notes that are to be consistently played one semitone higher or lower than the equivalent natural notes unless otherwise altered with an accidental...
s which do not follow the usual circle of fifths
Circle of fifths
In music theory, the circle of fifths shows the relationships among the 12 tones of the chromatic scale, their corresponding key signatures, and the associated major and minor keys...
order of sharps
Sharp (music)
In music, sharp, dièse , or diesis means higher in pitch and the sharp symbol raises a note by a half tone. Intonation may be flat, sharp, or both, successively or simultaneously...
and flats. It is also much less expensive (US $49) than Sibelius (US $599) and Finale (US $600). A free viewer is available. The otherwise fully functional demo version
Demo (computer programming)
A demo is a non-interactive multimedia presentation made within the computer subculture known as the demoscene. Demogroups create demos to demonstrate their abilities in programming, music, drawing, and 3D modeling...
imposes a limit of 10 saves per file name, adds a small footer to each printed page, and prints a registration form with each printed score. Besides the demo program, a downloadable plug-in for Winamp
Winamp
Winamp is a media player for Windows-based PCs and Android devices, written by Nullsoft, now a subsidiary of AOL. It is proprietary freeware/shareware, multi-format, extensible with plug-ins and skins, and is noted for its graphical sound visualization, playlist, and media library features.Winamp...
allows Winamp to play files from NWC.
Because of the availability of a free viewer, Noteworthy has been adopted as the standard score distribution format by the large hymn
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
database, the Cyber Hymnal. An "unofficial" catalog of compositions and helpful files contributed by users (including a complete transcription of Handel's Messiah) is available from the NoteWorthy Scriptorium.