d. collins wrote:
> David H. Bailey �crit:
>
>> Ideally, if this is to be a competition of software, there would be
>> people using the competing software as it comes out of the box,
>> changing those aspects of engraving only which require no additional
>> purchases or downloads.
>
>
> There are things that can't be done with the software out of the box.
>
> And I see you are ruling out plug-ins, which certainly fall under
> "additional purchases or downloads". Don't forget to add on a couple
> months for submissions, if contestants have to tweak the beams without
> Robert's plug-in!
>
In a true test of the software, yes I would rule out additional
plug-ins, unless all programs in the competition allow plug-ins. And
then I would restrict it to only those plug-ins which ship with the
programs.
If Sibelius allows tweaking beams easily out of the box with no
additional downloads (think of the millions of potential Finale users
who may be totally unaware of Robert's fine plug-in) then it deserves to
win in that category.
But if both programs suck at tweaking beams then THAT needs to be
apparent in the results of a true software comparison.
It all boils down to what sort of competition is being run -- a
competition between engravers or a competition between software. If it
is to be a competition between engravers using their favorite software,
then I am all in favor of allowing any and all fonts, any and all
plug-ins, and I think that there needs to be a time factor, then, so
that time from start to completion becomes a factor in determining the
winner. Again, only if it is to be a competition between engravers
using any and all tools they can amass. After all, anything a plug-in
does can be done by hand in Finale, it just takes more time. So if
plug-ins are allowed, then the time becomes a factor (just as it is in
real-world engraving work).
But if it is truly a competition between software and NOT users, then
all included software packages should be used ONLY as they come out of
the box, with all tweakings done by the users. And if Sibelius can
achieve a 95% emulation of a major house in 5 days but Finale can
achieve a 100% emulation of a major house but it takes a couple of
months, then that needs to be stated among the competition results.
And with each new "but if you hold that position then you are
disallowing this aspect as well" it becomes abundantly clear that there
really IS no basis for competition between the engraving packages
because they are so vastly different in operating methods.
We are back to where we started -- each person needs to try them both,
or to watch (in person) a competent user at work with each program to
see which would most likely work best.
--
David H. Bailey
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