Encore, ENCORE!
Not long ago ...
Don Williams, the owner and developer of Passport Music (and Encore's original creator/developer) said that Passport Music may have the long awaited Encore 6 update available by 2025.
I hope this is true!
If an Encore 6 upgrade comes to to be, I will upgrade because:
• If nothing else, an Encore 6 upgrade would mean I could open and print my old legacy Encore scores—I have a few thousand legacy Encore scores I can't currently open, because Encore 5 was not a 64 bit app and it won't run on modern operating systems.
• I would no longer need to keep an old computer just to open and export Encore scores ... and then import and rework in MuseScore.
• In a pinch I could make minor edits, or even major ones. Though I'm sure I'd be inclined to XML export the scores on which I'd want to perform major edits, so I can perform the edits in MuseScore.
And regarding features:
• Encore's mouse-entry is snappy. As mentioned in another recent thread Encore allows users to click-enter notes on any beat without requiring prior notes or rests in place.
• Working with multiple voices is quite nice.
• Very importantly: Encore has a true, nicely functional real-time entry system that's quite similar to DAW recording. You set a tempo, make sure the metronome is on, press record and play along. It's the quickest way to enter notation for me AND it captures velocity, aftertouch, pitchbend, and the actual note durations. I dream of that in MuseScore someday.
• Encore exceeds MuseScore's ability in interpreting MIDI files to intelligent notation ... while preserving the play durations.
• I expect Encore will have improved/updates MusicXML export. That means, given its real-time entry I can use Encore as a scratch pad and handoff work to MuseScore via MusicXML. Additionally, with update XML export I'll get more out of exported legacy scores—currently Encore's XML omits lyrics, chords, and other stuff. So getting new and old scores into MuseScore should be easier than ever!
Regardless of what happens, I'm still bullish on MuseScore.
I'm very appreciative of the direction of MuseScore 4, which holds promise for me; and extremely thankful for the day-to-day functionality of MuseScore Evolution 3.7, where I do my production work.
scorster