How do I print my Sonar 5 music files in PDF format?

[Larry G. Alexander]

Fellow Music Folks,

Can anyone tell me how I can convert my Cakewalk Sonar 5 music files to Adobe PDF format? I would like to make some of my music available in this form to forum members who would like to have it.

The music printing function of Sonar is not very good, to say the least. I can print my music files but only in the proprietary Sonar format and I don't know how to convert that format to PDF, if indeed it is possible.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Regards,

Larry A.

[danpowers]

I use Adobe Acrobat to create PDFs. When I first bought it, it was the only option, but I hear that there are now several free utilities available. I've never used Cute PDF (http://www.cutepdf.com/), but I've heard it gives good results.

Whatever you use, after you install it, it shows up in your print dialogue as an optional printer. In other words, you print your file as usual, but select your PDF program as the destination printer. The program then converts the file, and you can print it normally after that. Everything should be this easy!

[Larry G. Alexander]

I use Adobe Acrobat to create PDFs. When I first bought it, it was the only option, but I hear that there are now several free utilities available. I've never used Cute PDF (http://www.cutepdf.com/), but I've heard it gives good results.

Whatever you use, after you install it, it shows up in your print dialogue as an optional printer. In other words, you print your file as usual, but select your PDF program as the destination printer. The program then converts the file, and you can print it normally after that. Everything should be this easy!

Thanks, Dan, but I don't need to be able to print PDF files for myself. I would like to be able to actually convert my Sonar 5 music files to PDF format so that I could post them on the Garritan forum and other people could have my music for printing purposes.

I tried to make the "Cute PDF" program work but I couldn't get it to show up in my printing choices in Sonar no matter what I did.

Thanks and regards,

LGA

[Brian2112]

Possibly another option is to print to the Microsoft Office Document Image Writer (If you have Office 2003). Might not work though...I'm curious myself - gunna try it. Other than that, yea, a PDF solution might be best, a screen shot (tiring for large scores), or print it all out - scan it back in...
Good question...

...2112:)

[rwayland]

Fellow Music Folks,

Can anyone tell me how I can convert my Cakewalk Sonar 5 music files to Adobe PDF format? I would like to make some of my music available in this form to forum members who would like to have it.

The music printing function of Sonar is not very good, to say the least. I can print my music files but only in the proprietary Sonar format and I don't know how to convert that format to PDF, if indeed it is possible.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Regards,

Larry A.
Well, Primo ought to work. But it will still look just like Sonar.

http://www.primopdf.com/

Richard

added:

I just tested Primo on a Sonar 4 file. Works properly. There is a downloadable user manual. But the main idea is this: select print, then select which printer (primo) which will then allow you to print to a PDF file. But there is nothing you can do to change the appearance. To do that, you will need to save you Sonar file as .mid and import to Sibelius or something, which is not exactly simple if you have not used Sibelius (or whatever). All the pdf file will do is enable you to pass the score around easier.

[Poolman]

Larry,

Do you want to look at this?

http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20030714.html

But I don't think it will make you feel better.

[Larry G. Alexander]

Larry,

Do you want to look at this?

http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20030714.html

But I don't think it will make you feel better.

Cor blimey! This bloke doesn't like PDF, does he? :D

Thanks for the link.

Larry A.

[Larry G. Alexander]

Well, Primo ought to work. But it will still look just like Sonar.

http://www.primopdf.com/

Richard

added:

I just tested Primo on a Sonar 4 file. Works properly. There is a downloadable user manual. But the main idea is this: select print, then select which printer (primo) which will then allow you to print to a PDF file. But there is nothing you can do to change the appearance. To do that, you will need to save you Sonar file as .mid and import to Sibelius or something, which is not exactly simple if you have not used Sibelius (or whatever). All the pdf file will do is enable you to pass the score around easier.

I don't own Sibelius (or whatever) :) but thanks for the info anyway. I'll check out the Primo.

Regards,

LGA

[Larry G. Alexander]

Possibly another option is to print to the Microsoft Office Document Image Writer (If you have Office 2003). Might not work though...I'm curious myself - gunna try it. Other than that, yea, a PDF solution might be best, a screen shot (tiring for large scores), or print it all out - scan it back in...
Good question...

...2112:)

Brian,

Please let me know if you get some good results.

Thanks muchly,

LGA

[Wheat Williams]

I use the freeware package PDF995.

http://pdf995.com/

You'll have to read the instructions carefully to install it properly.

PDF995 shows up on your Windows computer as a printer. So when you use the File:Print command, in the Print dialog box you have to pull down the list under Printers and select "PDF995" instead of your usual printer.

Works great.

PDF995 is free, but every time you use it, your browser opens up and displays one page of advertising. Note that this is NOT spyware or adware as nothing malicious or hidden gets installed on your computer (believe me, I'm concerned about this stuff). If you like PDF995, you can pay $19.95 for a copy that will not display an ad each time it's used.

[MMOSC]

I use Adobe Acrobat to create PDFs. When I first bought it, it was the only option, but I hear that there are now several free utilities available. I've never used Cute PDF (http://www.cutepdf.com/), but I've heard it gives good results.

Whatever you use, after you install it, it shows up in your print dialogue as an optional printer. In other words, you print your file as usual, but select your PDF program as the destination printer. The program then converts the file, and you can print it normally after that. Everything should be this easy!

CutePDF does what you need it creates a PDF file that you can email, upload and print. You simply print the Sonar file selecting CutePDF as your printer. A dialog opens letting you specify the location and file name for the PDF file. It's free and works great

[danpowers]

Thanks, Dan, but I don't need to be able to print PDF files for myself. I would like to be able to actually convert my Sonar 5 music files to PDF format so that I could post them on the Garritan forum and other people could have my music for printing purposes.

Whenever you run any PDF creation program, it creates a PDF file, which you can then use like any other file. If you want to print it for yourself, you open it up with Acrobat or whatever you're using, and print it. If you want to post it anywhere, just post it like you would any other file.

I don't know why Cute PDF isn't showing up as a printer choice. Did you reboot after installing?

[Bob De Celle]

I'm not sure if this will help or not, but I just used a trial "Create Adobe PDF Online printer" and it printed out pretty good. I used a file I notated in Finale and it looks decent. After it's created you can save it to your desktop or wherever, and send it by email. But I don't know how to send anything to the forum. I would assume you can do the same thing with a Sonar file but it would still look like Sonar. I'm not very technical, but if I can do it, I'm sure you can.

[Larry G. Alexander]

I use the freeware package PDF995.

http://pdf995.com/

You'll have to read the instructions carefully to install it properly.

PDF995 shows up on your Windows computer as a printer. So when you use the File:Print command, in the Print dialog box you have to pull down the list under Printers and select "PDF995" instead of your usual printer.

Works great.

PDF995 is free, but every time you use it, your browser opens up and displays one page of advertising. Note that this is NOT spyware or adware as nothing malicious or hidden gets installed on your computer (believe me, I'm concerned about this stuff). If you like PDF995, you can pay $19.95 for a copy that will not display an ad each time it's used.

Thanks, Mr. Wheat, for the info. I'll check it out.

Regards,

Larry A.

[Larry G. Alexander]

Thank you Dan and Bob and mmosc. I'm sure that one of your suggestions will work for me. I appreciate it!

Larry A.

[Larry G. Alexander]

Y'all,

After jumping through several hoops and making a sacrifice to Odin the war god (I think) and cussing a lot, I was able to get Cute PDF Writer to work.

Thanks for your help and suggestions, everyone.

Regards,

Larry Alexander