Avid Scorch, the new iPad application for scores

Posted by Marcel Soleda on June 14, 2011  |  Leave a comment

Avid has just announced the launch of its iPhone application Avid Scorch, a tool they claim will transform the iPad into a score library cum shop and music stand at the same time.

The application is based on the Sibelius music notation software technology, also by Avid, allowing seamless integration with the latter. There is also an integrated shop with over 150,000 titles.

The software is not only a viewer of scores but also contains additional functions: some of its most remarkable features include the ability to transpose pieces to other keys, introduce changes in their instrumentation, convert them to and from guitar tabs, and separate out the instrumental parts and play them on a virtual keyboard. It also boasts a music stand option that makes it possible to turn the pages quickly.

Its integration with the shop not only allows access to the entire catalogue of Hal Leonard and Music Sales but also the possibility of users uploading their own creations in Sibelius to sell them to the online community.

“We’re certain our customers will be excited to use Scorch, an innovative iPad application, to purchase, practice and perform sheet music wherever they go”, says Tanguy Leborgne, Vice President, Creative Enthusiasts’ Products and Solutions at Avid. “We’re focused on using our industry-leading technology in exciting new ways so musicians, teachers, students – all creative people – can achieve their artistic vision.”

The Avid Scorch application is available worldwide through the App Store at a limited time introductory price of € 3.99. As of 31 July 2011, the price will be € 5.99.

Further information at: www.hispasonic.com

Boosey announces its online score service

Posted by Marcel Soleda on May 31, 2011  |  1 Comment

The English publisher Boosey & Hawkes has just announced its new online service for viewing scores through the platform Boosey & Hawkes Online Scores, which currently offers just under 500 works for orchestra and large instrumental ensembles as well as some operas.

The service is free but only available to registered users. Display of scores is based on Adobe Flash, which allows interactive navigation throughout the score, searches (not very useful in the case of music notation) and zooms.

With the introduction of this new service I cannot help but wonder what exactly Boosey’s strategy consists of. A service that lets you view scores but not print or download them, and which offers no other options except “leafing through” them does not seem particularly tempting for the users of their website, especially when there is no direct route to buying the score in their shop. A search has to be made elsewhere.

Personally, I can only understand the service if Boosey’s long-term idea is to include its entire catalogue so that users are allowed a complete view of any work before buying it, rather like Google Preview with books. But, at least for the time being, the service is completely separate from the rest of the services offered by boosey.com and, for example, you cannot use the viewfinder to view the content of the work in the online shop product information file or in the rental information file.

As I said, I don’t know what their long-term strategy is, but in my opinion it would make more sense to integrate this new function with other services in order to offer complete views of the works before purchase / rental by users. Otherwise, it is just one more section in its global offer of online services, with no possibility of direct financial profit, and which requires users to register. Perhaps its strategy is in the registry.

Link to the news item and the Boosey online scores service.

Music Reader, the future of the score

Posted by Marcel Soleda on January 15, 2009  |  Leave a comment

It’s called Music Reader and it may be the format that definitively pensions off the traditional score and parts in paper. And there’s really no doubt it has many advantages:

The musical notes are visualised on a tablet PC type of screen that can be placed on the music stand while the pages are turned with an accessory pedal. Another advantage that also affects the publishing companies is that it permits the introduction of corrections in real time by the musicians, and also various annotations.

Naturally Music Reader is not the only initiative in this direction. Another device on the market with similar characteristics is MusicPad Pro.

We will have to wait and see what happens but what’s for sure is that the digital revolution is arriving everywhere and classical music is no exception.