-\input texinfo @c -*- coding: utf-8; mode: texinfo; -*-
+@c -*- coding: utf-8; mode: texinfo; -*-
@ignore
Translation of GIT committish: FILL-IN-HEAD-COMMITTISH
@node software
-@unnumberedsec What's wrong with music notation software
+@unnumberedsec What is wrong with music notation software
Computers have made music printing accessible to the masses, but they
tend to deliver mediocre typography. Apparently, programmers have
been doing a shoddy job on notation programs. To illustrate that, we
had an amateur user set a piece of music in one of the most popular
-‘professional’ notation programs sold today, Finale
+@quotedblleft{}professional@quotedblright{} notation programs sold today, Finale
2003. It was made with all of the default settings. The music is from
the Sarabande of the 2nd Cello Suite by J. S. Bach.
}
@divClass{float-center}
-@divEnd
@sourceimage{finale-sarabande-full,,,.png}
+@divEnd
This example far surpasses the previous one when it comes to
formatting errors: there are serious errors in literally
@emph{every} measure. The errors come in all sizes: a big one is the
-oddly s p a c e d   o u t last line. A smaller one is the flat in
+oddly s p a c e d @ o u t last line. A smaller one is the flat in
measure 13, which is covered by the note preceding it. Here is a
magnification of that measure:
@divClass{float-center}
-@divEnd
@sourceimage{finale-flat-detail,,,.png}
+@divEnd
The errors go down to the teensy details: below is a blowup of the
beam in that measure. Of course, in proper typography the beam should
lack thereof) with the underlying PostScript technology.
@divClass{float-center}
-@divEnd
@sourceimage{finale-beam-detail,,,.png}
+@divEnd
Now, one could refute that Finale has a graphical interface, and it
lets you easily move about elements to correct errors, or use plug-ins
Did it occur to you that the stem of the last eighth note is too long?
@divClass{float-center}
-@divEnd
@sourceimage{finale-flat-correct,,,.png}
+@divEnd
Unless you are an expert, typographical errors will irk you without
being obvious. Many of them will go uncorrected and will still be in the
@end itemize
@divClass{float-right}
-@divEnd
Next: @ref{problem-statement,How not to design software},
or: modeling music notation.
-
-
-
-@bye
-
+@divEnd