Music MasterWorks Reviewer's Comments

Our #8 ranked product is Music MasterWorks-music notation software at a great price for the novice, but probably doesn't offer enough features for the avid composer.

Ease of Use:  

We didn't need help to perform basic functions. A few palettes exist at the bottom of the page but most tools are in the top menu with the volume control.

Music MasterWorks doesn't have an edit pencil or an eraser, which makes inserting notes a little cumbersome.

Feature Set:  

You can't notate a large number of instruments using Music MasterWorks—there is no guitar notation option, no automatic chord option and no percussion option. However, you can play your score back using 128 different instruments.

Music Masterworks has a feature so you can sing into a microphone and the program records the notes you are singing and transcribes them into written notation. The program also takes any WAV file and transforms it into MIDI while notating the music.

Ease of Installation:  

We didn't encounter any problems while installing Music MasterWorks.

Input/Output Capabilities:  

You have to record the music before the notes are shown on the staff, this isn't quick as convenient as real-time notation.

We had to change the output settings when we wanted to hear our recording and then back again to input more music.

We found the metronome works during playback but not while recording.

Editing:  

Music MasterWorks' editing capabilities are average—the editing is limited to the typical mouse functions, such as drag-and-drop and note-scroll functions.

The program offers a wide variety of keyboard functions that aid in the editing process.

Help/Support:  

Music MasterWorks' tutorial is concise and to the point. The help section also defines what each button on the palette does, so there is no guessing. The program even has a beginner's music theory lesson.

The manufacturers offer an email address, FAQs page and a phone number for customer support.

Summary:  

Music MasterWorks is an ideal program for someone just getting started in music composition. It's easy to use and doesn't include so many features that it confuses the composer.