Encore has been my preference in computer
scoring programs for years, due to its intuitive use and flexible
power. Originally created by Passport Designs (and now supported
by GVOX), I use it for just about everything you see and hear
at Vision Music, from the charts themselves to the actual sound
files.
Within Encore I can
put together my own rhythm section, using 30 years of actual
bass experience, a fundamental understanding of drum machine
programming, and the acquired knowledge of the tunes themselves.
Despite my background,
it still takes a lot of work to turn out a satisfactory track
for Jam Central Station. I will usually go over and over the
parts, until my ear is basically happy with the result. Then
I'll pick up my guitar and both audition the melody over the
arrangement as well as jam on it. I'll consider the job complete
when I'm having fun and nothing causes me to "wince"
at the accompaniment.
When the arrangement
is done, including some of the cool "velocity fades"
that you hear on the JCS tracks, I'll export the result again
as a final MIDI file, eventually to be embedded in html code
behind the rhythm chart that you see on each page. By the way,
the rhythm chart is first created in Encore, later being exported
to Photoshop for cropping, and finally exported as a GIF file
for the web. Easy, eh?