Features
Music Composition Software Features
The table below lists most of the features of the program, and shows which version support each feature. The star next to each feature indicate features new in Version 3.
Operating Systems: Windows 98/SE/ME/2000/XP/Vista
| Program Levels | New Feature! | File Compatibility - Buy Now! | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PC-Pro | Imports MIDI, RIFF-MIDI, NIFF and Music-XML files. | |||
| PC-Pro | * | Exports MIDI and NIFF files. | ||
| PC-Pro | 16 | Imports RIFF-MIDI files. | ||
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Imports Type 1 Standard MIDI files. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Exports Type 1 Standard MIDI files. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | * | Copy a selected area and paste to a WP, DTP, or Graphics application. |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | * | Opens files from previous versions of program. |
| Document Display - Buy Now! | ||||
| PC-Proo | * | Intermediate barline symbol. | ||
| PC-Pro | * | Blank pages may be inserted into the score, for text or other uses. | ||
| PC-Pro | 16 | Restart page numbers and measure numbers anywhere. | ||
| PC-Pro | 16 | * | Hide secondary beams. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | * | Beams will cross barlines. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | * | Can use certain alternate music fonts. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | * | Text equivalents for Pedal marks. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | * | Use short staff names or none at all in systems after the first. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | * | Optional boxes or circles around measure numbers (square box, rounded box, circle). | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | * | Add rehearsal marks emphasized with rectangles, rounded rectangles, or circles. |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | * | Wavy, dashed, and dotted straight lines, optionally with arrowheads. |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | * | Automatically adjusts note spacing to accommodate accidental on first beat of a measure. |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | * | Note-owned fingering numbers, in vertical array. |
| Toolbars and Palettes - Buy Now! | ||||
| PC-Pro | Tool palettes can follow a movable main tool palette. | |||
| PC-Pro | Tool palettes can be reshaped. | |||
| PC-Pro | 16 | Tool palettes can be large or small (PC-8 palettes are large only). | ||
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Status Line identifies objects and their parameters. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Vanishing palettes provide a "cleaner" look. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Use a palette to select notes, accidentals, rests or articulations. | |
| Documentation and Online Help - Buy Now! | ||||
| PC-Proo | 16 | 8 | * | Comprehensive user manual on disk. |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Easy start-up instructions. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Illustrated Help file with links. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | On-screen messages identify tools and their uses. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Choose from pre-designed score templates, or easily create your own. | |
| Music Entry: Manual - Buy Now! | ||||
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Select rhythmic values with the computer keyboard or with the mouse. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Enter pitches and position them with the mouse. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Enter pitches and position them with the computer keyboard. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Select and position articulation markings, text, and dynamics. | |
| Music Entry: Real Time - Buy Now! | ||||
| PC-Pro | On-screen timer for recording and playback. | |||
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Notate as you play a MIDI instrument, following a program-supplied metronome. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Set rhythmic values with the MIDI keyboard, computer keyboard or from a palette. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Record and play with a resolution of 1024 parts per quarter note. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Record on one staff while playing back others. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Record on one staff while playing back others. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Preset note quantization. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Preselect MIDI controllers to be hidden or filtered out. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | In Step Time mode, enter pitches one beat at a time using a MIDI instrument. | |
| Music Capacity - Buy Now! | ||||
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Enter rhythmic values from a double-whole note to a 128th note. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Define up to four independent note streams of music (voices) per staff. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Define up to four timbres (channel and patch combinations) per staff. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Optionally enter as many notes in a measure as you wish, regardless of time signature. | |
| Staves - Buy Now! | ||||
| PC-Pro | Up to 128 staves per system, unlimited number of measures per file. | |||
| PC-Pro | Multiple staff sizes in the same score. | |||
| PC-Pro | Ossia staves, cue staves. | |||
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Choose from ten standard staff sizes, or define a custom size. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Set the number of lines in any staff from 1 to 15. | |
| Clefs and Signatures - Buy Now! | ||||
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Choose from 16 clefs. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Place a new clef or key signature at the start or within any measure. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Optionally hide a clef, time signature, or key signature. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Automatic courtesy clef at the end of previous line. Hide if desired. | |
| Key & Time Signatures, Barlines - Buy Now! | ||||
| PC-Pro | 16 | Restart measure numbers any number of times. | ||
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Hide a measure number. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Easily set up Key and Time signatures. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Use standard key signatures. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Use a different key signature in each staff. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Create complex time signatures. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Hide key and time signatures if desired. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Ignore the key signature on percussion staves. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Automatically place double barlines before key changes. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Easily place an end barline and trim empty measures. | |
| Text Handling - Buy Now! | ||||
| PC-Pro | * | Rich Text box permits block text with style, formatting, and color options. | ||
| PC-Pro | 16 | * | Define up to 64 QuickFonts. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Create and position titles, copyright notices and other text. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Text on master page appears on all pages. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | A text macro can be placed on any page, to print on all following pages. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Automatic page numbering. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Stamp each page with file name, date and time. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Place large blocks of text with a built-in text editor. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Cut, copy and paste text. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Create and edit text blocks on any view. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Control text font, size, style and alignment. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Independently specify the alignment, position, and font for any staff name. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Change style of all selected text by pressing B, I, U on the keyboard. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Change fonts globally for text blocks, staff names, group names and lyrics. | |
| Lyrics - Buy Now! | ||||
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | * | Auto space hyphens in lyrics. |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | * | Auto melismas in lyrics. |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | * | Up to eight lines of lyrics. |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Type lyrics directly onto the score. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Automatically aligns lyrics with notes. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Align lyric lines globally or syllable-by-syllable. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Mix fonts, sizes and styles as needed. | |
| Chords and Guitar Notation - Buy Now! | ||||
| PC-Pro | * | Plays guitar chords. | ||
| PC-Pro | * | Permits user-defined chord types. | ||
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | * | Plays a Tab staff. |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | * | TAB clef auto-adjusts to staff height. |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Select and place chord names and/or chord frames easily. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Chord names can be user defined. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Automatically transposes chord symbols with changes in key. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Use positioning guides to accurately place chord symbols. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Guitar Tablature notation. | |
| Percussion - Buy Now! | ||||
| PC-Pro | * | Supports PAS percussion notation standard as well as the MIDI standard. | ||
| PC-Pro | * | Auto drum rolls. | ||
| Music Editing - Buy Now! | ||||
| PC-Pro | “Copy to end” selected staves, for pasting elsewhere, including another file. | |||
| PC-Pro | Define default music metrics - line widths, spacings of notes, accidentals, clefs, etc. | |||
| PC-Pro | Use scroll mouse for zoom. | |||
| PC-Pro | * | A barline can be moved with respect to notes, to reformat measures. | ||
| PC-Pro | 16 | * | Dynamics can be incremented/decremented (such as from f < > ff) in place. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | View a score in scroll view (continuous staff) or page view (In PC-8, page view only). | ||
| PC-Pro | 16 | Move between main score window and individual part views. | ||
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | * | Objects will snap to guide lines (optional). |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | * | Focused item is displayed in color (optional). |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | * | Auto grace notes. |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | * | Lock measures against positional changes by page refreshing or reformatting. |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | * | Each slur end can be "owned" by a note, and moves with that note. |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | * | When an object is focused, a dashed blue line connects to the owning note, beat, or measure. |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | * | When placing a hairpin or slur, cursor jumps to right end for faster editing. |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Use a scroll mouse for scrolling. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Enlarge or reduce a view between 33% and 2250% of normal working size. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Use on-screen rulers and non-printing guide lines to position score elements. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | View each window in any manner desired (view, magnification, etc.). | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Cut, copy, and paste between files. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Move immediately to a specified page or measure. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Number of files open at the same time: PC-PRO, unlimited; PC-16, 4; PC-8, 2. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Toggle ownership of objects between beat, note, and page. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Select any group of notes, including partial measures, for editing. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Insert, cut, copy, and delete music. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Double-click almost any item to immediately view its parameters. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Reposition any object or text anywhere on the page simply by dragging it. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Transpose, rebeam and apply other changes to music. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Select and position articulation markings, text and dynamics. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Apply articulations with automatic positioning and stem direction sensitivity. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Respace notes and rests within measures. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Adjust measure widths by moving barlines. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Control stem direction of individual notes or of selected groups of notes. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Add graphic repeat signs and text repeat markings. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Adjust the positions of beats in a measure. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Adjust positions of notes without moving the beats. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Adjust ties, slurs, crescendos and diminuendos. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Easily place a repeat barline and a repeat ending for any selected region. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Move all notes in a selected region upward or downward using the arrow keys. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Move notes from one "Voice" to another. | |
| Part Extraction - Buy Now! | ||||
| PC-Pro | 16 | Extract one or more staves at once. | ||
| PC-Pro | 16 | * | Text macros for part-extract templates. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | Automatic condensing of empty measures and placing of multimeasure rests. | ||
| PC-Pro | 16 | Automatically creates end barline and trims empty measures. | ||
| PC-Pro | 16 | Extract part to a template with predefined setup and layout. | ||
| PC-Pro | 16 | Transpose part on extraction, or transpose it only on playback. | ||
| PC-Pro | 16 | Page-owned text on Page 1 and master-page items are copied to extracted part. | ||
| PC-Pro | 16 | Extraction copies original manuscript attributes such as measure numbering. | ||
| PC-Pro | 16 | Setup and layout of extracted part can be based on the original score or a template. | ||
| PC-Pro | 16 | Dynamics and MIDI controllers designated as "all staves" extract with each part. | ||
| Beams, Stems & Note Heads - Buy Now! | ||||
| PC-Pro | 16 | * | Secondary beams can be hidden. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | * | Cross-barline beaming is supported. |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Supports cross-staff notes and beaming, beam width, rests within beam groups. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Select standard oval notes or shaped notes. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Control stem direction of individual notes or of selected groups of notes. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Assign a playback meaning to any graphic. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Add Cue Notes - easily place cue notes on any staff. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Automatically places double barlines before key changes. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Change the sizes of note-heads of all notes in a selected region. | |
| Graphics - Buy Now! | ||||
| PC-Pro | Paste graphics from other applications. | |||
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Select any area and copy it as a WMF or BMP graphic. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | * | Place dotted, dashed, and wavy lines. |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Place ellipses, rectangles, perfect circles and squares. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Control line thickness and fill for rectangles and ellipses. | |
| Playback - Buy Now! | ||||
| PC-Pro | * | Auto trills, turns, and mordents using only the signs. | ||
| PC-Pro | * | Auto arpeggios over one or two staves. Just place a wavy line. | ||
| PC-Pro | * | Auto glissandos. Just place a straight or wavy line. | ||
| PC-Pro | * | Auto pitch bend for continuous instruments such as trumpet, violin. | ||
| PC-Pro | * | User-definable chords. | ||
| PC-Pro | * | Auto drum rolls. | ||
| PC-Pro | * | Plays guitar chords. | ||
| PC-Pro | * | D.S., D.C., Segno, al coda and al fine control playback. | ||
| PC-Pro | * | Stem slashes on notes effect repeats. | ||
| PC-Pro | * | On-screen timer for playback. | ||
| PC-Pro | * | Repeat signs (slashes) repeat playback of note groups and measures. | ||
| PC-Pro | * | Use a MIDI message symbol to set or change playback transpose. | ||
| PC-Pro | 16 | * | Fermatas will pause playback. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | * | User-defined default values for dynamics. |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Play your score through a MIDI instrument, Sound Module, or Sound Card. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Dynamics, octave marks, repeats and tempo marks control playback. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Place and edit individual MIDI events. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | MIDI controllers can be single events or transitions, linear or nonlinear. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | On-screen mixer adjusts tempo, volume of each staff; solo or mute staves. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Play selected staves or an entire score, start and stop at will. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | After playback, display returns to the starting measure. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Scrolls music on-screen during playback, in Page view or Scroll view. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Define playback sound of each staff. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Easily assign a MIDI channel or patch, and solo/mute setting for each staff. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Define playback of interpretive marks, text and shapes. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Play a score as notated or as recorded. | |
| Page Layout - Buy Now! | ||||
| PC-Pro | 16 | * | Insert blank pages into score. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Control the layouts of individual staff systems and page margins. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Move lyrics, chords, expressions, titles, text blocks and other elements. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Fit selected measures into staff systems. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Insert staff systems into your music while keeping the original systems intact. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Insert staff systems while reflowing measures across systems and pages. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Easily set the distance between staves. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Indent staff systems and adjust systems horizontally or vertically. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Simplify the conductor’s score by hiding the staff for resting instruments. | |
| Printing - Buy Now! | ||||
| PC-Pro | 16 | Print random pages. | ||
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Print on virtually any Windows-compatible printer. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | One-side or two-side printing. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Collate pages. | |
| PC-Pro | 16 | 8 | Print to a file that can be printed without Personal Composer. | |