Hey! I have a transcription I want to submit but I don't write in Finale so I don't have the file in .MUS
So... I can't submit it?
Unfortunately, yes. There is a free Finale version called Finale Notepad which can be downloaded on Make Music's website. Even though it does not have all the features, it can still be used to do basic musical writing and arranging. You can always ask someone with the full version to add things in here and there. I would be glad to help you if you wish.
Like Seabass said, Finale Notepad 2012 is free, but its uses are limited. It can still be used, but your sheets will need to be edited by others occasionally. Alternatively you could use it to open a MusicXML file, which whatever program you're using can prob make
Quote from: Sebastian on March 19, 2016, 01:33:24 PMUnfortunately, yes. There is a free Finale version called Finale Notepad which can be downloaded on Make Music's website. Even though it does not have all the features, it can still be used to do basic musical writing and arranging. You can always ask someone with the full version to add things in here and there. I would be glad to help you if you wish.
Dear Sir/Madam,
I work on sibelius 7 and I'm having problems with converting files. I'd like to submit two scores at the moment: a new 'Apple Woods (Piano Duet)' and replacement 'Eterna City' from the pokemon series. I've tried importing xml files onto Finale Notepad but it sucks and I can't really use it :P Assuming that you're willing to help, if I send you a .xml file and a pdf of the original score, could you make sure they match and then send me the files I need in order to submit?? Danke schön :)
Sincerely, confused person
Quote from: AmpharosAndy on March 31, 2016, 08:22:54 AMDear Sir/Madam,
I work on sibelius 7 and I'm having problems with converting files. I'd like to submit two scores at the moment: a new 'Apple Woods (Piano Duet)' and replacement 'Eterna City' from the pokemon series. I've tried importing xml files onto Finale Notepad but it sucks and I can't really use it :P Assuming that you're willing to help, if I send you a .xml file and a pdf of the original score, could you make sure they match and then send me the files I need in order to submit?? Danke schön :)
Sincerely, confused person
What you could do is important the xml file, then copy and paste the notes onto a template file (this only really works if the time and key signature remain the same). You might be able to just import it onto the template file itself, I'm not sure. In the future, you can use this thread (http://forum.ninsheetmusic.org/index.php?topic=685.0) for help on formatting and stuff. Here's a link to another thread containing template files you can choose from (http://forum.ninsheetmusic.org/index.php?topic=8093.0)
Also, welcome to NSM!
Quote from: Zeila on March 31, 2016, 09:24:57 AMWhat you could do is important the xml file, then copy and paste the notes onto a template file (this only really works if the time and key signature remain the same). You might be able to just import it onto the template file itself, I'm not sure. In the future, you can use this thread (http://forum.ninsheetmusic.org/index.php?topic=685.0) for help on formatting and stuff. Here's a link to another thread containing template files you can choose from (http://forum.ninsheetmusic.org/index.php?topic=8093.0)
Also, welcome to NSM!
looks very helpful, thank you, Zeila :)
Thank you! Maybe my time to work on Sibelius has come...
No
#Finaleorfuckoff
(jk ily)
I hope it's okay if I bump this - I have had problems with importing XML files from MuseScore into Notepad myself and tried copying them into a template file. But i still can't edit anything, besides the fact that it even changed the pitch and i don't know if i can fix that.
Is there any other way i can get actual .mus files that work?
Quote from: Gamma-Ray on September 15, 2016, 07:20:21 AMI hope it's okay if I bump this - I have had problems with importing XML files from MuseScore into Notepad myself and tried copying them into a template file. But i still can't edit anything, besides the fact that it even changed the pitch and i don't know if i can fix that.
Is there any other way i can get actual .mus files that work?
Well the number one way is to make an mus file from scratch using notepad. I know that notepad has editing limitations when importing files from other versions, but I don't know for sure what the specifics are on that. I would bet this is one of those cases, in which case your best option is to start from scratch- copying from you musescore file. Or there's a small chance it's just a bug. Either way, it would be helpful if someone more knowledgeable on finale importing details gave their opinions on the situation.
I don't have any experience in importing XMLs myself as I've never needed to. While I've never heard of pitches being changed in that process, it wouldn't surprise me if it happened. (Though I would most certainly be confused and want to know the reason)
Thanks for the reply. Although it seems that I can write down the notes and add dynamics and articulations, the version appears to not be able to edit sheet info such as Title, Composer and copyright. So I won't be able to make formatted mus-files with this Notepad version.
Oh. Well if that's all then just do what you can and we I can help you with the rest.
I had those issues, too, in he early days of my activity on here. But, I eventually got annoyed enough and started dealing directly with NP (although I don't know which was worse, NP or XML import)
Quote from: Gamma-Ray on September 15, 2016, 07:20:21 AMI hope it's okay if I bump this - I have had problems with importing XML files from MuseScore into Notepad myself and tried copying them into a template file. But i still can't edit anything, besides the fact that it even changed the pitch and i don't know if i can fix that.
Is there any other way i can get actual .mus files that work?
I use Musescore and Finale Notepad, and I transfer MusicXML files between them by exporting the full (not compressed) MusicXML from Musescore, then editing that file directly with a text editor (I guess WordPad is fine, although I like Notepad++ (https://notepad-plus-plus.org/)) before importing it into Finale Notepad.
Make sure to overwrite the <identification> section in the Musescore version of the MusicXML file with something like this or Finale Notepad will throw a fit:
<identification>
<creator type="composer">Composition by "Composer Here"</creator>
<creator type="lyricist">Arrangement by "Your Username Here"</creator>
<creator type="arranger">Arrangement by "Your Username Here"</creator>
<rights>"Video Game Development Company" © 20XX
http://www.NinSheetMusic.org/</rights>
<encoding>
<software>Finale NotePad 2012 for Windows</software>
<software>Dolet Light for Finale NotePad 2012</software>
<encoding-date>YYYY-MM-DD</encoding-date>
<supports attribute="new-system" element="print" type="yes" value="yes"/>
<supports attribute="new-page" element="print" type="yes" value="yes"/>
</encoding>
</identification>Natively exported MusicXML files will claim that their <software> section is from Musescore, so Finale Notepad will error out upon reading that.
It's probably smart to copy layout-related sections from exported MusicXML versions of our Finale templates, too.
You'll have to copy or overwrite stuff like this if you want page numbers and headers (and footers, etc.) to properly show up:
<credit page="1">
<credit-words default-x="666" default-y="1556" font-size="22.7" font-weight="bold" justify="center" valign="top">"Song Name Here"</credit-words>
</credit>
<credit page="1">
<credit-words default-x="1185" default-y="1471" font-size="11.3" font-weight="bold" justify="right" valign="top">Composition by "Composer Here"</credit-words>
</credit>
<credit page="1">
<credit-words default-x="1185" default-y="1442" font-size="11.3" font-style="italic" justify="right" valign="top">Arrangement by "Your Username Here"</credit-words>
</credit>
<credit page="1">
<credit-words default-x="666" default-y="1503" font-size="11.3" font-style="italic" justify="center" valign="top">"Game Name Here"</credit-words>
</credit>
<credit page="1">
<credit-words default-x="666" default-y="102" justify="center" valign="top" xml:space="preserve">"Video Game Development Company" © 20XX
http://www.NinSheetMusic.org/</credit-words>
</credit>
<credit page="2">
<credit-words default-x="148" default-y="1577" font-size="11.3" valign="top">2</credit-words>
</credit>
<credit page="2">
<credit-words default-x="666" default-y="1579" font-size="11.3" justify="center" valign="top">"Song Name Here"</credit-words>
</credit>I recommend overwriting the <part-list> section with this if you're writing for solo piano or you'll see "Pno." too often (the below is derived from Finale Notepad):
<part-list>
<score-part id="P1">
<part-name>Piano</part-name>
<score-instrument id="P1-I1">
<instrument-name>SmartMusic SoftSynth</instrument-name>
<instrument-sound>keyboard.piano</instrument-sound>
</score-instrument>
<midi-instrument id="P1-I1">
<midi-channel>1</midi-channel>
<midi-bank>15489</midi-bank>
<midi-program>2</midi-program>
<volume>80</volume>
<pan>0</pan>
</midi-instrument>
</score-part>
</part-list>To guarantee that measure numbers show up properly, put
<measure-numbering>system</measure-numbering> right after the </staff-layout> tag in the first <print> section.
This guide isn't all, but it should be a good start.
(Maybe I need to post a guide on transferring MusicXML between Musescore and Finale Notepad...)
Quote from: E. Gadd Industries on September 15, 2016, 06:20:59 PMI had those issues, too, in he early days of my activity on here. But, I eventually got annoyed enough and started dealing directly with NP (although I don't know which was worse, NP or XML import)
IMO, NP is significantly worse because you can't change clefs, key signatures, time signatures, and more mid-piece. I'm sticking with XML imports.
Thanks a lot, that works out really well. Looks like an easy enough solution, so I am glad that i can stick with MuseScore.
Quote(Maybe I need to post a guide on transferring MusicXML between Musescore and Finale Notepad...)
That would be great, as there are likely more people using MuseScore that struggle with XML imports. Although the sections you mentioned were enough to correct the important formatting parts (besides from changing the text font).
Quote from: Dekkadeci on September 15, 2016, 06:50:37 PM(Maybe I need to post a guide on transferring MusicXML between Musescore and Finale Notepad...)
If you do end up doing this, I can help contribute to it. This is how I've been formatting my sheets for the last 6 months or so.
Quote from: Dekkadeci on September 15, 2016, 06:50:37 PM(Maybe I need to post a guide on transferring MusicXML between Musescore and Finale Notepad...)
Pleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease...Seriously though, please do. It'll make some people's lives a lot easier.
Is there any other way to get .mus files besides finale notepad? I can't download it without creating an account and it asks too many questions that I would rather not answer. I use musescore currently.
The MUS file is unique to the finale line of products. Sorry.
Why is the mus file necessary for NinSheetMusic? I highly doubt that many people use finale. And if they do, it's only because this website requires it.
I beg to differ. Although I am personally a MuseScore user (high five, by the way), Finale is easily the leading engraving software out there and used by the grand majority of people with musical aspirations. I'd need a good reason to believe that not many people use Finale, because plenty of people here do.
In addition to the above, here's a practical reason without saying "because it's always been this way": Using a Finale file as a master file allows us to keep everything in sync - that is, generate a .mid and a .pdf file off of the .mus so we know they're all up to date by checking against one file. Trying to incorporate files from other notation software would make our retention of multiple file types asynchronous, meaning that any small change in one would have to be made in the exact same change in the other, which is really bad because it's easily prone to error and causes more work for the arrangers and updaters, who would (and should) rather be checking an arrangement for its content and not having to deal with using multiple notation softwares. It's good practice to consistently offer the same file type for every arrangement, and also simplifies site maintenance for the staff (should anything need to be changed, a quick change to the .mus and a couple of exports is all that is needed).
All that said, there are people around here more than willing to help you iron out the kinks with file conversion. MuseScore arrangers still have potential to be successful here - just read some of the above posts. So don't worry too much.
Also, realistically speaking, it would not make sense to switch the standard now, 3000+ sheets in. It isn't practical to require everyone to learn two notation programs to submit one sheet. If finale isn't your first program, then it wouldn't hurt learning a few things about the engraving program that is considered the industry standard. Sorry guy : /
It's not a problem with finale itself, it's that to download it one needs to sign into the website. The process of making an account on the site asks for more information than i'm willing to give. I would gladly download finale under other circumstances.
I mean, as long as you give it a legit email address or whatever, you can lie about everything else. 'S not like the Special Finale Fraud Task Force is gonna bust down your door and play Bartók if you put in a fake name.
Quote from: ThatHiddenCharacter on December 25, 2016, 12:34:32 PMIt's not a problem with finale itself, it's that to download it one needs to sign into the website. The process of making an account on the site asks for more information than i'm willing to give. I would gladly download finale under other circumstances.
Well you had to sign into a website to submit sheets here too, so~ d;
I don't remember them asking for a whole lot of information that was outside the norm for a website like that though. It's also not like a site as big as theirs is untrustworthy or suspicious, at least in its appearance.
I just don't want to give my address to log in once just to download something like that. I'm fine with giving my name, I just have an issue with paranoia. I am extremely paranoid all the time. About almost everything. I trust no one more than 75%. I guess I might be willing. I just don't know if it will be worth it in the long run.
iirc, they require that because you have the option to order the hard copy of their program and have them ship it to you.
I have another question. Can anyone arrange and submit a song? I've been working on the super mario world medley from Super smash bros. 4.
Quote from: ThatHiddenCharacter on December 25, 2016, 09:35:12 PMI have another question. Can anyone arrange and submit a song? I've been working on the super mario world medley from Super smash bros. 4.
Of course! That's what the whole site is based on! If you've got an arrangement, feel free to submit it here. We'll provide feedback and critiques to make sure your arrangement meets our standard. Make sure to read the Formatting Guidelines™ (http://forum.ninsheetmusic.org/index.php?topic=481.0) first, though, as a well-formatted sheet allows us to skip the appearance of the sheet and straight to the arrangement itself.
I'll have to finish it and get finale first, but not now. I don't know about you guys, but it's almost 1 am where I am.