Overture 4 has leaped past the competition and is the only notation program with full VST hosting, support for sample libraries, and on direct score MIDI editing.

Playback

Overture 4 has many new playback features not found in any other notation program. Articulations, ornaments, expressions, symbols, hairpins, dynamics, etc. can affect MIDI playback. The built in library defines how they affect the MIDI playback and is customizable for each score.

MIDI

Enter MIDI data mode and the notes appear as a piano roll above the measures. Note start times durations and velocities can be dragged. Above each measure is a small MIDI data area where controller data, pitch bend, tempos, etc can be entered, changed, or erased. You can choose the type of data to be edited as well as the density when entering the data. Extremely powerful for those using notation with sample libraries and want complete control over the MIDI data directly on the score.

VST Support

Your scores will now sound as if they were recorded in the studio. Any VST instrument or effect can be loaded, not just the small light library found in other packages. So you have a great string sample library but need a classical guitar. Overture is the only notation program that can load all VST instruments and effects. Overture has been tested with over 600 VST instruments and effects, so whatever you have, plug it in Overture and listen to your scores in CD quality. When you're ready, save your score to disk for burning onto a CD.

Overture 4 is now a full VST Host. Load up to 256 VST Instruments and 4 effects. Any track's output can be assigned to any VST instrument loaded into the rack. The outputs from the VST instruments are routed to a Pre Gain slider and then into the effects rack. Each output from each effect is sent to the next effect in the rack. The output from the last effect is sent to a Master Gain slider.

The VST Instruments rack has a CPU meter to display the amount of time the CPU is taking to process a buffer of audio data and a Disk meter to display the amount of time Overture is using while performing output to the hard disk while recording audio data. Overture's output can be saved to disk as a wave file for burning to a CD.

Page Layout

The Page Dimensions dialog was rewritten to show the new layout of the score as score staff sizes are reduced. As you move the Score Size slider the score is automatically reformatted and shown in the score view area. You can view any page in the score to make sure you have to correct size.

Score Editing

Overture’s intuitive interface puts powerful editing tools and symbol palettes at your fingertips, so you spend time composing music instead of searching through menus. For complete orchestral arrangements, lead sheets, individual cues or even simple notation examples, there’s no faster way to create professional notation than Overture. Overture's new features only add more power, not confusion as in other notation programs.

Score Creation

Overture's new setup dialog lets you build your scores in one main dialog. You can choose standard instruments or templates for your tracks, and then set the title page, starting meter, time signature, etc., all within the dialog. You can set the default font to the Jazz font.

System Requirements

PC

• Windows 2000/XP
• Pentium III/Athlon - Pentium 4 /Athlon 1.8 GHz or better when using VST instruments
• 128Mb application RAM - 1.5 GB or more recommended when using VST instruments
• Windows-compatible Printer
• Windows-compatible MIDI interface required for MIDI recording
• CD-ROM drive

Mac

• OS X
• Macintosh 68020 or Power Macintosh Native - G4 733MHz or better when using VST instruments
• 128Mb application RAM - 1.5 GB or more recommended when using VST instruments
• Macintosh-compatible Printer
• Macintosh-compatible MIDI interface required for MIDI recording
• CD-ROM drive