How to Use the MusEdit Demo
MusEdit is no longer developed or supported and the Web site has been gone for two years. Use TablEdit instead. Although TablEdit cannot import MusEdit files directly, if you own MuseEdit you can have it export file formats that TablEdit can import.
About MusEdit
MusEdit version 3.90.x is released to the public, free to registered users. This latest version includes(among other new things) easy insertion of high resolution graphics of the scores into word processing programs like Word 97, 2000, XP and any other applications that accept .bmp or png flles. This allows even better formatting of books, scores, etc., and it was excellent before. As a music editor, this is a very difficult program to beat.
MusEdit is a very powerful, reasonably priced (not to mess around, it's $79) music notation program which is especially useful for banjo, guitar, bass, and other stringed instrument players. MusEdit enables you to create and edit tablature, treble, bass, and many other kinds of music, including chords and chord diagrams and rhythm notation. You can also enter text practically anywhere in your score, in any font available on your system. The built in chord dictionary has nearly 9,000 (guitar) chords to choose from, or you can design any chord diagram in any tuning, with four, five or six strings spanning up to 7 frets.
Of special interest to 5 string banjo players is that the 5th string is handled properly in all respects, including translation and playback. The 5th string is even separately capo-able, both up and down from the normal 5th fret position. The MIDI playback can be selected to be one octave below the treble score, playing the correct pitches. This program does what a music editor needs to do and gives you great control over the printout, resulting in professional looking scores. The MIDI playback also supports chokes, slides, etc.
Why am I so sure about MusEdit's capabilities for banjo? It is because I have been consulting with the programmer to get it really right. I know the banjo and am very tab fluent; Doug Rogers is a very clever and responsive programmer. I have asked for some very ask for weird corners of tab writing, and have gotten them included in the program. In a way it has been like having a gourmet chef to make my breakfast sandwich. The result is a very flexible and complete program, and not just for banjo players.
There is a whole lot more to MusEdit. If you would like to learn more about the program, check out the MusEdit web site or send specific questions to (email address no longer available). The program may be purchased online there.
The MusEdit Demo program has only two limitations in respect to the full program. It is compatible with Windows 9x/ME and NT/2000 operating systems. Macintosh, W3.x, Linux and other O/S users will have to view the *.gif files.
Note: Some downloading software renames the MusEdit file to a *.exe extension. If the program refuses to open the file you may have to rename the file with a *.med (mus edit document) extension.
- It will not allow you to save files.
- Only 6 MIDI files may be imported.
How to Install
Download the MusEdit Demo here (1.57Mb). The download is about 12 minutes or less at 28.8k.
The MusEdit Demo is contained in a self-extracting file called meditdemo322.exe. Double clicking on this file will cause all the necessary files for the MusEdit viewer to be installed on your hard drive in a folder called:
C:\WINDOWS\Desktop\MusEdit-Demo
There will be 41 files installed in this folder which will be:
- MusEdit.exe
- 6 *.dll's to make it work
- 1 *.hlp Help file
- 1 *.txt text Read Me file
- 1 *.cnt
- 1 *.dat
and
- 21 *.med Sample arrangements
- 9 *.mid sample MIDI files
These last two groups can be deleted if you wish, as they are not necessary to the functioning of the MusEdit program.
Once the ME Demo is installed, I suggest you make a backup copy of the downloaded file on a 3 1/2" floppy disc. You can then either drag the MEditDemo327.exe file to the folder with the rest of the files or delete it.
How to Remove
To remove the MusEdit Demo program, first open the program. When you close the program, it will ask you if you want to delete the MusEdit Registry entries. Select yes. Then drag the entire folder to the Recycle Bin. All files associated with the viewer are located in this folder, and you have already removed the registry entries.
How to Use
After you have extracted the Demo onto your system you can go to the C:\Desktop\MusEdit Demo folder and find the MusEdit.exe file. If you double click on this icon the program will start. You can then use the File|Open command (or click on the open folder icon) to open MusEdit files, Navigate to the downloaded ME file and open it. There is a help file provided.
There are also sample arrangements in the folder.
The MusEdit Demo may be copied, distributed, or posted on web sites without any restriction.
Some material ©2000-2006 by Doug Rogers
Last Updated 15 Jul 2006 by PJH
Edited 11 Mar 2015 by WF