Notation Composer Free Update: Version 2.6.3

The most recent version of Notation Composer that you can update to is version 2.6.3 .
This is highly recommended major update from prior 2.x versions of Notation Composer.

Do you need to update to version 2.6.3 ?

To determine what version of Notation Composer you are currently using, choose the About command in its Help menu. If the current version you're using using is between 2.0 and 2.6.3 , then you should you follow the instructions below to update to the latest version of Notation Composer. Review the new features in version 2.6.3 , listed at the bottom of this page, to learn why you will want to get the free update. In addition, there are many bug fixes in this version.

If you already have version 2.6, then read about the bug fixes in version 2.6.3 at the bottom of this page after the table of new features.

How to you update to version 2.6.3 ?

Method 1. You can get the free update by choosing Software Update in Notation Composer's Help menu. At the Software Update page, choose the Install Update option.

Method 2. If the above described automatic Install Update option does not work, then follow these steps:

Click the Start button at the bottom left corner of your Windows screen. It will display a menu.
In the Start menu, choose All Programs. It will list all of the software programs on your system.
In the list of software programs, open the list of options for Notation Composer.
In the list of options for Notation Composer, choose Update Composer.

Method 3. If neither of the two above procedures work, then you can redownload the latest version of Notation Composer, free of charge.

NEW FEATURES in VERSION 2.6		COMPOSER	MUSICIAN
	The world's best transcription of MIDI files to sheet music is even more accurate!

The innovative Rebar feature lets you reposition barlines and rhythms for MIDI recordings that have disoriented, unreadable rhythms.

Improved chord name transcription and editing.

Improved notation and performance editing integration.

Improved behavior when editing large files.

Improved Easy Notes (pitch name) display options

Tap-In delay (latency) detection for MIDI devices.

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Feature Enhancements and Bug Fixes in Maintenance Release Version 2.6.3

Fixed: Layout data-- such as system breaks, page breaks, 4 measures to a line, and keep measure with previous on same line-- worked when you first added them, but when you reopened the file, many of the changes were lost.
Fixed: Playback position incorrectly jumped around when you used the tempo percentage control during playback. Also, the blue playback line got stuck at the end of the song, and playback did not stop. These problems happened when there were repeats and endings in the song.
Fixed: Practice loops did not work correctly when they were inside a pair of begin- and end-repeat marks.
Improved: Metronome sound default is now drum sounds instead of the computer beep.
Fixed: Note selection. The 'Convert Region to Selection of Notes' command did not work if the file had been previously saved with some part other than the conductor's score displayed.
Fixed: Lyrics unattached to notes did not copy and paste to another location; nor would they merge with notes in another staff.
Fixed: MIDI files created by some smart phones did not open.
Fixed: Staff Setup sometimes did not allow the order of staves to be changed.
Improved and fixed: Note velocity (loudness). (1) It is now easier to set the note velocity value that will be applied to all newly added notes. (2) When a tie was removed between two notes, the second note was left always with a velocity of 64 rather than the velocity of the first note. (3) The velocity value displayed when you move the mouse over a note now behaves better.
Fixed: Recording into a one-line drum staff failed.
Improved: File Templates now includes one named "Melody", which is a single staff with a voice sound, that you can change to instrument sound.

BuFixes in Maintenance Release Version 2.6.1

Under Windows Vista and Windows 7, Notation Composer 2.6 incorrectly attempted to access directory \Program Files\Notation\BBPlugin.
Attempt to select an individual note incorrectly selected multiple notes in the same chord.

	Record freely at your MIDI keyboard without a metronome, and then easily add the barlines in the right place later with the new Rebar feature.
	Prepare sheet music from "metronomeless" MIDI files that previously no notation program (including Notation's before version 2.6) could transcribe correctly because metronomeless MIDI files do not have meaningful barlines and rhythms.
	All of the fine playback details of tempo and rhythms are preserved, even as you dramatically correct the barlines and rhythms with the new Rebar feature.
	Quickly and easily tap in the barlines as you hear the score play.
	Easily nudge a barline to come before or after a note, and the rhythms will be automatically re-adjusted for you.

	Major improvements in the entry and analysis of chord names give you more accurate results immediately.
	The simplified Chord Name Analysis dialog makes it easier to get the chord names you want for your song file.
	The new Chord Builder dialog lets you see and hear the notes for the chord names you are entering. You can also use your MIDI keyboard to enter chord names by playing them on your keyboard.
	The new Paste Chord Names command allows you to copy just the chord names from a region and then paste them to another selected region for quick chord name entry if you already know the chord names you want in the score.
	You can now change the Enharmonic Spelling of chord names, to give alternate chord names that might be more familiar to you or your band members.

	The main transcription engine has been improved for even better accuracy and musical readability of the transcribed score.
	Using MIDI files you find on the Internet, or your own MIDI recordings, the quality of the transcribed score is better in version 2.6 than ever before.

	The default behavior of Notation Composer is now that on opening a file, any adjustments you make to the notation will affect both the notation and the performance of the notes.
	You can still use the Piano Roll's "Edit only as-notated" or "Edit only as-performed" features to edit one without the other.

	Tap in beats as you listen to a test, to calibrate your MIDI playback device.
	Notes and the beats will then be highlighted exactly at the right time during playback.