Re: evaluating the transposing software discussion

Moshe Braner wrote:
> using ABC has the big advantages that the format is:
> * plain text, can easily be moved between computer systems, and
> * non-proprietory, many software packages can handle it, forever.

What about midi format? It's very compact (a typical dance tune is about 
3KB) for storing and e-mailing, can be accessed by different computer 
systems, is non-proprietory, and virtually all notation software 
packages (as well as virtually all player programs (which most don't do 
ABC) will play.

I don't know how if the format will drift substantially in 10 or 20 
years to become inaccessible, but it seems to be one of those things 
where information gets "added" to rather than "changed" (similar to ABC).

Like ABC, there's software that converts midi into notation (actually, a 
LOT more software). While I'm not very familiar with ABC, my 
understanding is that it is fairly limited in recording range, timing, 
and multiple note stuff. Fine for traditional tunes, but can it handle a 
couple of staves with chords (like a typical piano rag)? How about a 
Sousa march with a dozen different instrument parts?

Midi can do all that and present instruments in there respective clefs 
and will sound like those instruments when played back. A full symphony 
even. OTOH, midi does transpose differently with different software.... 
This isn't a problem with things like dance tunes, but when you get into 
serious timing nuances with multiple staves, some strange things can happen.