Harmony Assistant

I'm updating my review to a '5'. This application is packed with features that I've learned to appreciate and use over the past several months. The developers have responsive to improvement suggestions ... --> http://www.myriad-online.com/en/docs/meloharmowhatsnew.htm I am very happy to see the Harmony improvements for MusicXML. I find Harmony works nicely to produce MusicXML for SeeScore on the iPad/iPhone.

Melody Assistant is the smaller sibling of Harmony Assistant (http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/5533/harmony-assistant) After reviewing the Myriad software demos and offering, I opted for the more featured Harmony Assistant. Works on Lion 10.7.3

I found the demo quite useful in determining the capabilities and limits of Harmony Assistant prior to purchase. The good: Nice, fun notation/midi app. The plus is the wide range of supported formats and the extensible scripting architecture. In particular, Harmony Assistant can properly put lyrics in midi file (for example karaoke .kar, rich midi and standard midi files) which can not be done by either Sibelius or Finale. The Virtual Singer add-on is also an interesting computer sing-along singer. The bad: Some edges could be improved like the support for chord diagrams on the import/export within MusicXML 2.0. The ugly: The UI could really use some visual polish. Switching out the icon set (as provided by the UI) did improve the look. Overall, I use Finale as a primary tool and Harmony as a nice adjunct for things that Final (and Sibelius) can not do.

Updating my review now that they have re-sizable tool buttons! That is really nice and modernizes the feel a lot. The old ones were too small. See my previous comments/review for other details

Free until they tire of no getting money and call Intel Macs a new "platform" like Windows an get you to cough up another 15.

I have used Harmony since the early 90s. Since I bought it I NEVER paid 1 more cent for upgrades: they are all FREE forever. That's service! An invaluable tool to composition and a recording studio, I have found Harmony excellent in every respect and the developers very responsive both to support and delivery. The new sound base (Gold) is worth buying too!.

Harmony assistant is simply awesome both for features and price. Documentation is excellent and so is the web site. Highly recommended. Get GBMidi and the score can be directly imported to Garage band as midi.

Great update! The interface continues to improve (still some minor cosmetic glitches). New installation process works great (No more installing into ~/Applications). Can't wait to see how I can use this with GarageBand!!

Purchased through Kagi and I got my license string the next day. Everything works as advertised under Mac OS X 3.2 This software is a GREAT value. It is packed with features at a phenomenal price. It is good for composing in the classical sheet music tradition. It is also great for practice exercises with complex rythms which can be hard to decern with some sheet music. It will loop play any number of notes or measures. It can be better than a metronome in getting those rythms just right. You can't go wrong trying their demo which has all the features except saving your work and printing.