Tech Shout!

MakeMusic Inc. has launched Finale NotePad 2006. Based on its Finale music notation software, it helps users to create, play back and print sheet music.

The software supports both Windows and Mac OS X, and can be downloaded for free at finalemusic.com/notepad.

NotePad provides a variety of powerful and timesaving features for educators, students and hobbyists including compatibility with Finale 2006 files. The software allows music educators to create assignments in Finale and share these creations with their students via NotePad.

NotePad users can set up a music score and enter clefs, time signatures, key signatures, notes, rests, lyrics, markings and musical instructions. The Finale technology automatically arranges the elements on the page and enables users to print the sheet music.

New features in Finale NotePad 2006 include:

- SmartMusic SoundFont: over 128 of the same professional-grade sounds found in the SmartMusic practice system are included for free.
- Full compatibility with Finale 2006: NotePad now reads any file created by Finale 2006.
- Textured Manuscript Background: provides pleasing on-screen appearance and reduces eye fatigue.
- Display in Concert Pitch Warning: NotePad now asks for confirmation before printing non-transposed parts.

MakeMusic said NotePad serves as a preface to the entire Finale family of music notation software. Since all Finale products can share files (including between Windows and Macintosh computers), music created in NotePad is fully compatible with the entire Finale 2006 family of music notation products.