Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4352 in Software
• Brand: Fasttrak
• Released on: 2002-10-25
• Platforms: Windows 98, Windows XP, Windows Me, Windows NT, Windows 95
• Number of items: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
Beethoven had to use a quill and ink, McCartney a biro and exercise book: with Fast Trak Notation 2 all you need is a computer, a good mouse and a decent printer and you'll soon be notating your own music like a pro.

This software is very practical: the Fast Trak software writers have taken pains to make this package the ultimate home-composer's helpmate. With Notation 2 you can do anything you like with your crotchet and staves: enter notes with the mouse piano or MIDI keyboard, import and external MIDI files and put them on the stave too; even transpose your real-time music into notation with a simple click.

You can also add lyrics, change stave formats, change stave sizes, get 16 different tunes on each stave, add drum notation, change time sequence and use the special guitar tablature; you can even print individual notes in different colours and add in the lyrics once you've completed your Top 10 hit. And for the really ambitious you can combine the various stave sheets into one symphonic whole: next stop the Royal Festival Hall.

Of course, all this computer wizardry isn't going to make you the next Badly Drawn Boy, or even the next Harrison Birtwistle, but it makes the spadework a lot more fun. --Sean Thomas

Manufacturer's Description
Compose - Enter notes simply with the PC keyboard, the mouse piano, MIDI keyboard or step-by-step with the mouse - or even play in real-time. You can also choose to import directly any kind of external MIDI file composition. From classical to pop, the entire MIDI universe is open to you for editing, sampling or instruction. Needless to say, standards such as GM, GS and XG are supported.

Arrange - Easy presets and limitless editing possibilities, be it for bands, orchestras, choirs or for practicing your own songs. While playing, a preset mechanism transposes the notes into the score viewer. Convert drum notation, transposing instruments and guitar tabulatures for all string instruments into preset stave formats with a mouse click.

Edit - All types of notes, symbols and grace notes can be positioned as you like. A comprehensive matrix editor has been integrated for detailed reworking of individual sequences (including MIDI controller and SysEx data). For an optimal note display of the different stylistics, jazz symbols and import possibilities for external notations are at your disposal. Hyphenation for lyrics appears either automatically or can be customized.

Print - Individual notes can be printed in color to emphasize important passages or certain instruments. Whether for complete symphony scores, single voice excerpts or lead sheets, the various layout possibilities allow you to individualize your own notation pages. Within each score, the size of the staves can be adjusted. As an extension to the integrated print studio, you also have the option of exporting the notation as a completed graphic for further editing.

Speed, versatility and fantastic functional range makes MAGIX notation 2,0 an indispensable tool for novices and professionals - all the latest essentials for simple, yet perfect note printouts within one package.

Customer Reviews

Excellent for notation, long time user.
Let's start with the downside and the reason I'm not really giving this 5 stars but 4.5
The interface.
It's not as pretty as that of the competition. Also depending on the installation language you choose there are some translation mishaps present.
I do find it very easy and logical to navigate through the menu. (click on the tool category you need, and the rest of the menu below adjusts and gives a subselection of all tools).
What I love about Notation2 is that it has options I am very much missing in, say, Finale, Sibelius,...
I transcribe by ear (samples available, all made with Notation) but I'm not a great counter so i insert and then listen to check if I was right - you also hear realtime what you insert.
In Notation it's extremely easy to change the pitch of a note (grab it with the mouse, drag up or down), and it's very easy to change the duration of the note as well, AFTER you've entered it. Grab it with the mouse and drag to the left/right. The measure/rests auto adjust. This is impossible with Finale/Sibelius, and the reason I'm going for Magix Notation.

Avoid
I tried an earlier version of this software. It is based upon the notation section of an old version of Logic without the benefits of that excellent application. So it was originally designed as an add-on to a sequencer - not the ideal place to start if what you really want to do is write a score. I agree wholeheartedly with other reviewers who have been frustrated with it. Investigate other choices; the market front runners are Sibelius and Finale, both of which have cut-down versions if you don't want to splash out on the considerable prices they cost (well, they are professional level applications). Both apps have non-save demo versions downloadable and you can also download a free working but extremely limited version of Finale.

Worst software I have ever bought.
I sincerely wonder if the person who reviewed this for amazon.co.uk actually tried to compose with this, rather than reading the claims that are made on the box. Having tried to compose using it at intervals over the last 3 years, my heartfelt recommendation to other composers who might be thinking about purchasing this product is: don't. I'm going back to MIDI keyboard, pencil, manuscript paper and eraser - because it's quicker.
What's infuriating is that it could be excellent; but it is completely user-unfriendly. One example (I could list dozens): whatever instrument you try to enter a melody for, it always comes back as piano.
Don't waste your money. I would only exchange it for a free copy of Notation 3, where they've made it user-friendly and provided a manual which isn't (as the present one is) English As She Is Spoke, translated - to use the term loosely - from the original Dutch.
PS It gets one star only because amazon (amazingly!) won't let me give it zero.