Well I've actually been looking for a good scoring program. It seems this one will onyl give me the 30 day free trial? (only 22 days left!) before it will lock me out.. don't know why that is!

But then again, I don't know if I really like this. Judging from the comments, most musicians seem to enjoy it, but I am just having a horrible time trying to rearrange pieces for the piano!

The bits that it "helps" you with are a pain - No, I don't need the full amount of beats in my first bar! (Please don't insert rests automatically, that can't be deleted!)

And how come every time I try to put a chord (playing several notes with the same hand), it just deletes the other notes!

Before I had these 2 sticky "situations" (the second one being huge! I can't write out a piece without it!), I was loving this program.

It is an excellent program with a lot of features, which can be used of even prof musicians. ( Easy to install etc.)

I look forward to se even more programs like that and also with use of midi files.

Thank you GOTD team

I tried for hours yesterday access your site. I started when I got home at 4:30pm eastern and tried through 8pm. I never was able to access at all. I got an site not available message on my firefox window. It is frustrating, when you know what the software is, to not be able to get to your website to download and install the software

#46: The previous version offered on GAOTD did not transcribe. Only transpose. I pointed this out to the authors, but they didn't seem to understand what I was talking about.
This version might be different though.

#56 This concept sounds interesting - very much looking forward to exploring your innovative program, hopefully on GAOTD!

Ditto re: Reg Key blank. Time will tell if it works.
Thanks GOTD

Here's my take on this one.

When I saw today's GiveAway I first played a bit with the previous version that was offered here which I had installed on my main computer. The main computer runs XP pro sp2 and it is the host of a VirtualBox guest running XP pro sp2 as well.

I have been installing all new software on the guest OS first just to check the installation procedure. This way I know what to expect ant it is less likely that I will make a mistake when I install on the host. Additionally I have Ashampoo Uninstaller Platinum installed on the VirtualBox which I got for free from the friendly folks at the forums so I can see all the changes made by any software installation.

The installation on the VirtualBox went without any problem. I don't understand why people are complaining about not getting a serial code or having trouble activating. The software is activated by running activate.exe first. You let it run until you get to the GAOTD window that says 'What Next?". After that you run setup.exe to install the actual software. I looked at the changes made by the install and it all seemed ok.

Since the installation on the VirtualBox went flawlessly I uninstalled the old MagicScore version and I installed the new one. After playing with the new version for a bit, I could swear that the old version of MagicScore had more options than today's version.


For example, I can't find the news pop up, even though I have the option to received the turned on. Also I remember being able to insert lyrics and I could also run the 'Using Guitar' lesson. Now those are only available on the Maestro or the Classic version. I can't test this theory anymore because the old version is gone. Maybe somebody still has the old one and can check this?

I read one the first few comments that stated that

(MagicScore School) Does not even compare remotely with Band In the Box, which does everything I need...

well 'duh' mister lobster, BIAB comes in different packages. The cheapest is $100, unless you want to buy an old edition, and the prices go all the way to a $550 'Audiophile edition'. Seriously, tell me how you can seriously compare a $30 product to a $500 one.

At any rate, even though I have Realtek's HD 7.1 in board sound, I can't (and couldn't on the previous version) get MagicScore to detect anything but the MIDI music playback. Upon closer inspection the MIDI playback is the 'Microsoft Wavetable' device and when I open the information of the Wavetable it states that it is using the RealTek card.

My surround sound card has never given me any problems. I keep the drivers up-to-date and I get great surround on all the games that support it, but when I run a playback on MagicScore the output comes out as stereo sound from the two front speakers only. The weird thing is that the playback of the same MagicScore files played on the version installed on the VirtualBox it uses all 5.1 speakers.


Other than that I have found no other problems running MagicScore. I tried some of the examples and everything that is not blocked works fine. I tried making a simple song and it worked without a glitch. The sound quality seems to be above par and the interface is easy and intuitive to use.

I hope I am wrong about this version having less features because I could have kept the older version installed on the host OS and the new one on the VirtualBox which didn't have the older version installed. Live and learn.

Also I want to find out what's wrong with the 5.1 channels because I think that it is possible to make use of them to create better music.
Meanwhile I will keep using the VirtualBox version.


I'm done,

AxCut

An access violation did occur in the program - but unlike other programs, it didn't crash. (This appeared to involve the registration screen when it was already registered. )

In any case, I have installed this. Even though I might not use it to it's full potential (since I haven't composed music), I feel it's usable. The only issues that I found appear to be minor, or otherwise resolved by reading the documentation or experimenting.

Some MIDI files played through this application sound a bit different then if the OS was playing it - this appears to be an imporation issue since some of the tracks were moved around by about a few seconds.

#69 - Thanks for that info on the registration process. It stopped me from pulling whatever little hair I had left on my head out.

I can't wait to try out the program - it looks like it might be another useful tool in my musical bag of tricks. If it works as it should, I may actually look into buying some of the other software that MagicScore has to offer. And after all, isn't that one of the main reasons that GAOTD exists?

BTW - I fooled around with this in the background while writing this. Keep in mind that while it seems to import MIDI files okay, it does seem to affect initial timbre and volume settings. Case in point - loading Abacab by Genesis into MagicScore lowered the bass to zero on playback. The same file played perfectly okay on VanBasco's Karaoke Player. (Which I highly recommend - it's freeware, has a player piano so you can actually see the notes as they play, and supports lyrics)

http://www.vanbasco.com/karaokeplayer/ for those of you who would like to try it.

THIS PROGRAM ROCKS!

OK, it has a learning curve and there are a lot of buttons and settings, but it is much more configurable than Finale Notepad, which is the only freeware music notation program. Our choir gets MIDIs of choral pieces and I can import them and mute all but the tenor part and learn that. The staffs are resizeable and you can add more staffs to a piece. There are several ways of entering notes. I will be playing with this for a long time. This might even be worth 30 bucks.

Can't wait for your music program, elfmans!

Apparently #67 has no musical knowledge whatsoever, or he
would never call this program "useless."

Personally, I'm find it extremely valuable. I just uploaded
a midi of Corelli's Opus 6 and changed all the violins & violas
to percussion instruments like Marimbas, Vibraphone, Xylophone,
Music Box, etc., then threw in Electric Piano, Voice Ahhs, Choir
Ohhhs, Harmonica, Guitar, and a few others. (I've always wondered how that would sound. It sounds great!)

You can do loads of things with this, add notes, remove notes,
make recordings, even create your own Midi files -- although
to play them on Windows Media Player or most others, you need
to click "Save As," and then "Save As Type," and then selecting
MIDI.

Thanks, GOTD, I'm really going to enjoy this.

I have a question for everyone: How does this compare to Finale?

Sounds cool elfman. I look forwards to seeing your program offered here sometime in the near future.

This program is great. I activated first, then ran setup and everything went fine, no problems.

I also got the box with the "Buy Now" button the first time I ran the program, but only the first time and all I did was clicked the other button, "Cancel" I think it was. Now when I open the program, that box doesn't show, it goes straight to the program. I think some people see that and right away panic because they don't think the program activated right and try reinstalling unnecessarily.

Also, I think the reason the Serial Key is blank because if there was something entered there, then everyone could save that key and possibly be able to register the program for real any time in the future and never have to pay for it. So the Serial Key is most likely left blank intentionally, but that doesn't mean the program isn't registered.

I am using Windows Vista 64 bit. The program did not work right when I first installed it. I uninstalled and reinstalled and it seems ot be working fine now...

Well, it's different. Really useless, but different.

Nice program.. I was hoping to see this one pop up for giveaway. Thx for not forgetting us starving musicians :D

Thx GOTD and devs. nice indeed.

I believe "Sibelius" is the serious software of choice.
But to help my ABC-level education this looks seriously enticing.
Thank you GAOTD and DG Software.

Am unable to get the download page to load for me. Anyone else having this problem?

I have tried and tried to figure out how to install this program, but I just cannot seem to figure out how to get it to register right. Could someone please tell me how? And don't just tell me to read the readme, because I have, and it's not helping. I'm on a Windows 98 operating system.

I installed an earlier version of this software when it was given away by this site and it works great!

I use it to enter my seven-year-old's practice pieces so he can hear them at tempo. It has done wonders to help him more accurately read music so he can play the pieces as written.

I can save off the files as MIDI, MP3, and WAVE files. I put the MP3 files on his MP3 player as a silent (to me) reminder while he practices.

I haven't played a musical instrument in years, so it helps me explain by example areas for improvement.

#16 & 17 - you don't get a registration key with this program, but if you followed directions when you installed it, it should be registered fine (no need to un-install/re-install). Go to 'help', then 'about', and it should say regestered to Giveawayoftheday. You're all set to enjoy a fun program!

another addition to my last post...

I think its important to mention-> that the autor claims "i havnt tried it yet thou"-> The user is able to load in kareokee files and "XML files-> which are kinda like a text version of a database file". The importance of this is that when the file is loaded into the software and played; the piano keys at the bottom light up and play like an automatic playing piano. This feature would teach students how to actually play the songs in real time! this is ver very cool, but seems to be for piano only. still, very nice. I kinda wanted this feature for my own software program, but it opens up a whole nother can of worms-> and i am already overwelhmed.

yesterday´s giveaway Wondershare Photo Story
tmd5.dll is definitely not a trojan horse

Avira wrote
Dateiname Ergebnis
Tmd5.dll FALSE POSITIVE

Die Datei 'Tmd5.dll' wurde als 'FALSE POSITIVE' eingestuft. Dies bedeutet, dass diese Datei nicht gefährlich und eine Fehlmeldung unsererseits ist. Das Erkennungsmuster wird mit einem der nächsten Updates der Virendefinitionsdatei (VDF) entfernt werden.

Very cool application here. Since I wasn't able to learn to read/write music in school this will be fun. I've always wanted something to help me learn the basics. ^_^

Installed and works fine for me in Windows XP Home, although I have the same problem as some others, Under the Help registration the name is there (Giveawayoftheday), the serial key is blank with the "Buy Now" option. I got this last year when it was given away but am on a different pc now, I don't think I had this problem last time.
However the Help/About option shows it is registered to Giveawayoftheday
No serial key listed in the readme.txt like the has been in some other giveaways. Guess only time will tell if it's fully functional.
Hopefully it is, this is a great tool for beginners and pros alike.
Thanks to DG Software and the GAOTD team for another great app.
I for one like the repeat giveaways, I'm waiting on Wirekeys to be given away again, probably the most useful program I got from here.

My review follows this personal statement. I am really happy to see music programs on GiveAway :*) I am double happy because I hope to release my music program in a week or 2-> and of course want to offer it here on giveaway. My program doesnt deal at all with music scoring thou. My program takes a whole different "NEW" approach to learning music "and has a US Patent on the method"; it kinda desolves the need to know music theory all together. Unfortunately, my program doesnt get into the music scoring side of things at all-> nor does it have record and playback. Its based on simplicity. I cannot post the name of my software-> because i dont want the search engines to pick it up just yet. But I hope to share it with you all soon. I am going to take a longer look at this software-> to see all the features that mine doesnt have. Perhaps,.. More enhancements to mine will come later, but at this time I am a one man programming team. By the way-> my program is actually pretty good as is-> and is for instruction... having every chord and scale for every instrument, and style of music found world wide. YUP, but in a way that a 5 yearold can master and play in minutes :*).


I downloaded this and it worked just fine on XP service pak2 2GHz, 2 Meg RAM. Install went just fine. I think that this program i basically for "scoring music" to sheet music-> as to the name magic score. Overall this is a Very Very detailed program, that uses MIDI, and has playback cababilities. It is kinda confusing at first, but confusion comes from music scoring being confusing-> having its own language. overall-> I think if some body wants to read and write music this is the trick.

Great software for not-so-hardcore musicians. Advanced but expensive alternatives include Finale and Sibelius. I personally prefer Finale.

I'm having problems of some sort, I go though the install and it comes up fine, acts like it's working, but I can not play any of the music scores. Perhaps I've missed something somewhere. During installation I get "Invalid device ID". Not sure what that means, but I do not have the ability to select any input or output devices. I'm running Vista Business. Other than being able to play a score, it appears to work fine. Sure looks nice would love to play but don't work here. I've followed all tips offered thus far.

I finally got it to work on my second attempt to install. Second time I installed it on the C drive. I got another offer to register. CLosed program and restarted program. This time it seems to be working and looks like a great program.

Good and easy program. Not that useful, but easy downloading. no virus problems yet, although I did have to click save instead of run to get it.

I normally don't write comments, but this is a cool program to give away, good job!

I also get a Buy Now screen. I activated it twice, once before and once after installing it. I have XP Pro. I've check the comments but don't see a resolution to the problem. Giveawayoftheday shows up as the name but no serial number is listed. Please help. My daughter would really enjoy this program, but only if it works fully. Thank you.

Buddy, the music industry is in trouble when people who use that word "allude" come anywhere near it!

Does not load for me, Running Windows XP, I think there is a glitch with the helper window.

Installed MagicScore School 5 on my XP PC, but cannot figure out how to get it registered?? Pls help. It was installed during GiveAway of the Day. Thanks!

Will this transcribe the music into a different key? If not, can anyone recommend a free music transcribing program?

43 - I hope that it is just an artifact.

Even if it is though, there are some users who might not understand that and will pay for the program (not that there is anything wrong with that). The whole point of the GAOTD though is that the software is supposed to be free to those who download and install it on that day... The "Buy Now" option and all the internal links to buy the program shouldn't be left in on the giveaway program.

It is also possible that they left those in purposefully in order to pick up sales after the 24 hour window passes... Who knows?

I do see that it shows "Licensed to: Giveawayoftheday" when clicking on Help... About... Thanks.

I guess all we can do is try it and see if any limitations show up later.

Thanks again.

Add me to the list of people who don't have properly activated software after running the activating mechanism FIRST and then installing.

Installs and runs fine under Vista Ultimate x64. I ran both the activation and installation as admin. Can't imagine why some Vista users are having trouble. This program looks great, runs great, and has good built-in training. My kids are musicians and will love this.

Regarding the fact alluded to above, that the program does not seem to be registered: It is true and disconcerting that clicking Help shows Registration as an option, and there is a blank field for a key. I think that's just an artifact of how the program was written. If you dismiss the registration dialog and click Help... About... it clearly says "Licensed to: Giveawayoftheday".

did anyone get it to install and run without problems from a portable flash drive? My understanding is that the installer creates entries in the registry... ?

@#34 and others
Not sure if I'm having the same problem but for me it install and seem to register ok. Any action I try like starting a new project or clicking anything in the menu, even the help button it shrinks in increments to the top left and the program is not usable. It shrinks to a small tab to the top left and I try clicking on it and nothing happens. Also in the menu bar the program just sits there and clicking on that nothing happens. I have to use CTRL ALT & DEL to shut it down. Tried different display settings beside uninstall and installed 2 times. Being a guitar player for 40 years with tons of original music some needing to put down in composition form this would seem to have been a nice little program to try out.

Duel core Pentium D830 3.0 GHz
Windows Xp Mce Pro
1gb Ram
Intel 82945G graphic with 950 accelerator chips.

I'm sorry, I meant to say the "Serial Key" field is left blank. Thanks.

I'm using Windows XP and ran the Activate File as Administrator and I too have the "Buy Now" button and when I try to register, the username field says "giveawayoftheday" but the registration code is left blank. I cannot register because the "OK" field is grayed out.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Cool. Finally something useful besides silly screensavers.

#34 : Same here and almost same system (Vista Ultimate but 32bit). Reinstalling did not help either.

HAHA! That's cool! When I was in middle school, 5 to 6 years ago my music teacher made us do something like this! But I won't download this one. Thanks anyway.

Hmm, apparenly installed ok on Vista Ultimate x64, but when I run it, it puts up the splash screen and hangs there. I have to kill the process. Anyone else see this?

ooh i cant wait! =) my whole band is gonna download this,

This is an ok program i suppose. Though it does not handle MIDI files very good (it cannot syncronize the tracks proberly). I'm still going to use my old copy of cubasis notation, even though this program is kind of outdated. I'm hoping someday to find a program like Finale here GOTD.