From Extreme, Winter 1998

Before Autoscore, I Was Clueless About Writing Sheet Music. With Autoscore, My Ignorance Remains Bliss

By Alistair

Autoscore smashes the barrier between getting that tune in your head out into a hardcopy format. Humming isn't the most efficient way to convey your masterpiece to others. This software allows you to input tunes into your computer using your voice or by playing an instrument. It automatically converts your idea to notation right onto your computer's screen. You can edit it from there or print it out if it only took one take.

I quickly discovered that I wasn't much of a singer. And I don't hum in the shower either. Recording from my guitar was just the ticket for me (and less embarrassing). The Program picked up everything I did the first time. It's accuracy is amazing and a bit humbling at times too. Though it's recognition doesn't digest chords very well, it records every note truly, just the way you meant it to be. If it ever does get to the chord level it would be a truly stunning evolution.

Everything you could possibly want for your editing purposes is at your fingertips. You can customize an instrument's filter to suit your recording needs. Use constrain mode to keep those wandering notes in line, or track the pitch bending of notes for the more confident singers. Autoscore Professional uses Cakewalk Home Studio 3.0 giving you a miracle of controls for your editing purposes. To put all your handy work together really can't get any easier!

As for the technical end, installation was a breeze (much to my delight). Autoscore's wizard took care of the entire job in under five minutes. Rebooting my machine was the longest part of the entire installation. My disadvantaged (by today's standards) Pentium 120 PC with 16 MB RAM was more than adequate in the requirements category. Autoscore uses up relatively little hard disk space and it got along with my SoundBlaster-compatible sound card like they were old buddies. It functions fluently under both Windows '95 and Windows '98.

What more could I ask for? Well, the program also came with a microphone, which was a nice touch seeing how I didn't own one up to that point. And a comprehensive manual is always a relief to see. One added and unexpected test was their technical support department. My shortcoming was quickly diagnosed my their adept staff and was humorously rectified. They even said they wouldn't tell anybody about my gaff...strictly confidential. Good things really do come in small packages, Autoscore is a powerhouse in the area of sound recognition and notation. It's a hands-down must for most any digital musician.

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