Notation Software - If you prefer to compose in a standard music notation environment, notation software may be your first choice. Notation software is best for writing in full-score format and preparing scores and parts for conductors and musicians. Although you can use midi playback to hear different instruments - it is not the same quality as when high-end instrument samples libraries are used within a DAW. CompS offers four notation programs to choose from.
Note: Midi data from either DAW or Notation software can be imported and exported into each other. It is not uncommon for a composer to start in one composing environment to accomplish one goal and then move that data into another - to accomplish a different goal.
While we encourage you to try the more powerful notation software, we recognize that MuseScore is a popular choice as it is quite powerful and is open-source. Students can export the midi data from their MuseScore pieces and open them in another DAW or notation program.