TAXI.com

what is your opinion of masterwriter. do you own it or use it.

i am thinking of buying it to use as a tool for lyrics

thanks
steve

I use it, and like it. It isn't revolutionary nor are the available dictionaries particularly extensive, but it supports my writing with some structure. I've noticed I've been writing faster and better after I've been using it, but I can't really say if it's the software. I think it's mostly the orderly feeling I get from using it, so if you think that can help you, I think it may be worth a try.

I have version 1.0 and used it on my last couple of CDs. I thought it was a very helpful and worthwhile product, and have recommended it to others. I have not yet upgraded to the new version 2.0. As I recall, you can usually find a good deal on the program by shopping around; also, I believe discounts have been offered by the manufacturer if you are a member of organizations such as ASCAP. The manufacturer has recently offered some innovative pricing approaches to the product.

Love it! And I haven't upgraded to the latest version yet.

It's the best I have seen for lyrics. It's strongest suite imo is the rhymes. It has perfect rhymes, then you can move out to further to rhymes that are not quite perfect. I suppose you could buy a few reference books for less money, though it does a great job of organizing everything and increases productivity with the rhyme dictionary, dictionary, thesaurus, etc all in one computerized interface.
If you are writing lyrics to music you can import a stereo file and save as the chorus, verse etc. and loop and write at the same time. If you need something for the musical creation, with chords, chord progressions, melodies, scales, etc. song frame is pretty nifty, you also have lyric sheet and lyric writing tools but not as extensive as masterwriter.

I think the consensus is that it's effective, but overpriced. Nevertheless, there's nothing else out there as good, so I guess the market can bear it.

Some really love the software, some not.

Personally, I didn't like it at all. I downloaded a trial version (v 2.0 I believe), played with it for a while and felt it didn't go well with MY workflow process. I know plenty of people who love it so it's very much an individual preference thing.

One thing that bothered me was it didn't operate like a typical Windows application. The windows for rhymes, thesaurus, etc did not function separately, weren't "detachable". So I found myself flipping back and forth a lot in their menu when I would have preferred a bunch of windows open at the same time. But bear in mind that I am a software weenie geek and work with a lot of Windows based applications on the day job. But I would think that most of us use DAW software and expect multi-windows.

For me, I went back to Word or text documents for lyrics and on-line rhyming dictionary and thesaurus. Also, I found that Google is a great tool for everything-- just Google any phrase or idea and tons of stuff comes up.

Again, this is just me and I don't want to bias anyone. And given there is a free trial you can download, if you are curious about it, you should give the trial version a shot.

Also, the people behind the product are good folks. I had acutally purchased it, then realized I didn't like it and wrote to them about my concerns. They, in a very friendly manner, offered me a refund without batting an eyelash and I took it. That impressed me.

Casey

That's funny, Casey's reasons for why he didn't like it are the very reasons I like it. No windows strewn all over and in the way, just go from your lyrics, and if you need a thesaurus, click thesaurus, type in the word, find the word, then click lyric page and type it in. With all the windows of things in cubase I usually spend most of my time moving windows out of the way so I can see what's going on. It's probably the difference between having sheets of paper laying out all over the desk, or having one pile of papers, and bringing the paper you are working on to the forefront. The rhyming dictionary is one of the most complete and simple rhyming dictionaries I have ever seen. Most of them only have a few rhymes and you have to think of different phonetic endings and find them also. I believe there are demo videos also that would help you decide if it was worth it, because yes it's rather expensive imo, but if the workflow suits you well, it's a great organizer and keeps your thoughts and ideas more focused, without being distracted by flipping through books or screening google entries, or what have you, and I google stuff all the time,lol! When I get "inspired", there are times when I have to use the dictionary, quickly to the thesaurus, back to the dictionary, to the thesausus, find another word back to the dictionary,lol, or maybe I find a better word, so then I decide I might want to change the previous line, so I am jumping around again, and it helps me not lose my train of thought because I can do it rather quickly inside Masterwriter, those times really makes it priceless for me.

Yup, everyone's preference is different. I encourage people who are interested to download the free trial. Nothing to lose. If you decide to purchase it, look for discounts out there. I think ASCAP and BMI offer discounts and there may be discounts offered at the Taxi road rally. From time to time I've seen advertised specials.

Casey

I bought the downloadable one from the writers store. It is $219, amazon is $215, and another place I saw it for $199.