[Menvi-discuss] using freedots

[David Goldstein - Resource Center]

I just wanted to emphasize that many of the programs in the category of free 
utilities are either experimental or will produce output that may not be 
acceptable, or at least what you are hoping for.  I was able to use the 
online version of Freedots at http://musicxml2braille.appspot.com/
I was using JAWS, but it seems to me that this online version, at least, 
would work with other screen readers.  I put in a chorale, and was hoping to 
end up with an ensemble score format that would show all the parts aligned, 
a few measures at a time.  Instead, I got the full melody of each part, one 
after the other.  The braille music itself was accurate, and if I had just 
wanted to read the whole of one part, it probably would have been fine.  But 
if my success in a class was dependent on having score format, I wouldn't 
have had it.

I think all of these programs need to be aproached from a curiosity angle, 
with few expectations that they are going to give you what you actually need 
for work or a deadline.

Regarding the .pdf issues, for going from pdf to music xml there are a 
number of utilities people use, such as pdf2music, which could then be put 
through Lime and GOODFEEL.  As Marc says, a great deal of editing could be 
necessary to get it completely right.  Going the other way, again as Marc 
says, your notation program can either print it using a virtual printer and 
something to convert that output to pdf (I'm not clear on what you need to 
have that happen) or the music program itself will be able to do the 
conversion, as Marc explained with Musescore.  All this is coming along, but 
you will need to have a bit of computer knowledge, or a helper who knows 
both music and computers, to help you determine whether the programs you are 
playing with will be practical and workable for what you ultimately are 
trying to accomplish.

David