Services to suit your requirements
"I offer a professional creative service based on years of working extensively with professionals and enthusiasts alike. My flexible approach is combined with reliable working methods and the experience of working with a wide array of musical styles, to guarantee only the highest quality results... every time."
Stephen Begley - music engraver
The toolbox
Technology is central to the professional engraver's toolkit with Sibelius and Finale representing the industry standard. We can work with both systems but prefer Sibelius for the flexibility and speed it brings to the workflow. Sibelius 7 features advanced typographic functions, and a large professional sound library alongside the controls which allow a score to appear exactly as it was intended. Pre-press and audio production are handled in Adobe Creative Suite while the studio is equipped with Rokit near-field reference monitors for the perfectly balanced sound.
Core services
• Music preparation in Sibelius™ and Finale™
• Proofreading and correction
• Professionally printed and bound scores
• Artwork for publication
• Demo CD's and audio proofing.
• Professional project management.
Delivery
We offer a range of delivery solutions including courier delivery right to your door, first class recorded delivery down to supply by electronic mail and download.
The environmentally friendly option is to conduct all proofing up to final press-ready prints electronically. We operate in a paper-free environment during the drafting and proofing phase of a project and this is not just good for the cost of your project, it is good for the planet too.
All the digital files used in the construction of your project will be supplied to you on disk at the end of your project, and back-up copies are preserved on RAID protected computers in case you ever lose your copy.
Choosing the right production method for your work
Every work is as individual as you are and so why should you compromise your expectations? Instead, every project is managed around your requirements. We begin with the project brief. Some of the questions we ask and the guidance we offer, includes:
• What format would you like for your music setting?
• Would you require additional support in the form of audio proofing?
• Do you require a demo CD?
• Do you require printing and binding?
• Do you have artwork you would like to include in the design?
• What is your schedule?
When we have seen a copy of the manuscript and when we have a clear idea of the project outline, a quote will be offered and if you accept, work on the project commences..
Our clients come from all walks of life: some are tech-savvy and find electronic communication preferable, others prefer the process to be kept low-tech with the results being presented in hard-copy. With a wide array of communication options at our disposal you can choose the medium which suits you best. In some cases it may even be possible to arrange face to face meetings to discuss both the project outline and the subsequent proofs. With clients based all over the world, this may not be for geographically possible for you, but all of our clients report experiencing benefits from proofing sessions conducted in person.
So whether you are looking to self-publish, commission works ready for publication, for use within your organisation or simply for personal recreation we supply you with all the materials you need and more, and with technical support on offer once your project is completed, you will never be short of assistance when you need it most.
Flexibility is our mantra: SB Music Engraving offers the complete music preparation service.