Mosaic anyone?
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Discussions about composing, arranging, orchestration, songwriting, theory and the art of creating music in all forms from orchestral film scores to pop/rock.
Discussions about composing, arranging, orchestration, songwriting, theory and the art of creating music in all forms from orchestral film scores to pop/rock.
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Mosaic anyone?
I'd like to purchase the new Sibelious Professional 5 software. It costs $500 + bucks. Yikes! I don't qualify for the student discount. However I learned that the Sibelious company will sell me the S-5Pro product as an upgrade from Mosaic for half the price. But I have to verify.
The problem is I don't own Mosaic to upgrade from. Then, if I did, the only thing I'll require as proof (so they say) is the users manual
(preferred) or the software serial number. Can any of you Mosaic
owners sell me their old Mosaic? Or assist me with the users manual?
I'll certainly pay you for your help in this matter.
Thanks. MichaelJohnson Kissimmee, FL. 407-301-4400 mkj@kua.net
The problem is I don't own Mosaic to upgrade from. Then, if I did, the only thing I'll require as proof (so they say) is the users manual
(preferred) or the software serial number. Can any of you Mosaic
owners sell me their old Mosaic? Or assist me with the users manual?
I'll certainly pay you for your help in this matter.
Thanks. MichaelJohnson Kissimmee, FL. 407-301-4400 mkj@kua.net
Michael K Johnson
RE/Max Properties S W II
Orlando 407-857-7600 x 305
RE/Max Properties S W II
Orlando 407-857-7600 x 305
- FMiguelez
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Why go through all this trouble? Dude, just pay for the app. You want a professional program, right? Do you think 500 bucks is a lot for a pro app? I mean, you feel it's time for you to upgrade to something better, right? That means you are growing as a musician. Get used to the idea that the higher-end you go, the higher the prices.
Let that be YOUR way of contributing, to give something back to these software-developing companies that have MADE our dreams come true. I mean, just look at the things we CAN do already!!!
I suggest you just buy Sibelius for the full price, learn how to use it really well, and you will be able to recoup your investment in NO time. Hell, you'll even make money out of this later
Just my opinion.
Why go through all this trouble? Dude, just pay for the app. You want a professional program, right? Do you think 500 bucks is a lot for a pro app? I mean, you feel it's time for you to upgrade to something better, right? That means you are growing as a musician. Get used to the idea that the higher-end you go, the higher the prices.
Let that be YOUR way of contributing, to give something back to these software-developing companies that have MADE our dreams come true. I mean, just look at the things we CAN do already!!!
I suggest you just buy Sibelius for the full price, learn how to use it really well, and you will be able to recoup your investment in NO time. Hell, you'll even make money out of this later

Just my opinion.
Mac Mini Server i7 2.66 GHs/16 GB RAM / OSX 10.14 / DP 9.52
Tascam DM-24, MOTU Track 16, all Spectrasonics' stuff,
Vienna Instruments SUPER PACKAGE, Waves Mercury, slaved iMac and Mac Minis running VEP 7, etc.
---------------------------
"In physics the truth is rarely perfectly clear, and that is certainly universally the case in human affairs. Hence, what is not surrounded by uncertainty cannot be the truth." ― Richard Feynman
Tascam DM-24, MOTU Track 16, all Spectrasonics' stuff,
Vienna Instruments SUPER PACKAGE, Waves Mercury, slaved iMac and Mac Minis running VEP 7, etc.
---------------------------
"In physics the truth is rarely perfectly clear, and that is certainly universally the case in human affairs. Hence, what is not surrounded by uncertainty cannot be the truth." ― Richard Feynman
- mhschmieder
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You can also try Notion, which in many people's opinion is more geared to composers vs. publishers (not putting down the other apps; it's just that they have a slightly different origin and orientation, but they all do get the job done and once you are expert with any of them, the differences recede).
Encore has just made an, er, encore, after being dead for ten years. It is pretty cheap and easy to work with as well. And Notion has the entry-level starter notation app with an upgrade path, as well as cross-grades if I recall.
If you're settled on Sibelius, I think there may also still be some cross-grade entry-points for someone who buys a Garritan library?
Mosaic is dead AFAIK. It was a great notation app, but I don't think it made it to OS X land. There's speculation MOTU may revive it, but it's based strictly on Wishful Thinking vs. actual Rumours or Inside Information
.
Encore has just made an, er, encore, after being dead for ten years. It is pretty cheap and easy to work with as well. And Notion has the entry-level starter notation app with an upgrade path, as well as cross-grades if I recall.
If you're settled on Sibelius, I think there may also still be some cross-grade entry-points for someone who buys a Garritan library?
Mosaic is dead AFAIK. It was a great notation app, but I don't think it made it to OS X land. There's speculation MOTU may revive it, but it's based strictly on Wishful Thinking vs. actual Rumours or Inside Information

Mac Studio 2025 14-Core Apple M4 Max (36 GB RAM), OSX 15.4.1, MOTU DP 11.34, SpectraLayers 11
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Eugenio Upright, 60th Anniversary P-Bass, USA Geddy Lee J-Bass, Yamaha BBP35
Select Strat, 70th Anniversary Esquire, Johnny Marr Jaguar, 57 LP, Danelectro 12
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- FMiguelez
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Could that be why it's taking them so long to give us DP6? Perhaps they are replacing QS with an improved Mosaic in DP6mhschmieder wrote:
Mosaic is dead AFAIK. It was a great notation app, but I don't think it made it to OS X land. There's speculation MOTU may revive it, but it's based strictly on Wishful Thinking vs. actual Rumours or Inside Information.

Nah! Too good to be true...
yet...
Mac Mini Server i7 2.66 GHs/16 GB RAM / OSX 10.14 / DP 9.52
Tascam DM-24, MOTU Track 16, all Spectrasonics' stuff,
Vienna Instruments SUPER PACKAGE, Waves Mercury, slaved iMac and Mac Minis running VEP 7, etc.
---------------------------
"In physics the truth is rarely perfectly clear, and that is certainly universally the case in human affairs. Hence, what is not surrounded by uncertainty cannot be the truth." ― Richard Feynman
Tascam DM-24, MOTU Track 16, all Spectrasonics' stuff,
Vienna Instruments SUPER PACKAGE, Waves Mercury, slaved iMac and Mac Minis running VEP 7, etc.
---------------------------
"In physics the truth is rarely perfectly clear, and that is certainly universally the case in human affairs. Hence, what is not surrounded by uncertainty cannot be the truth." ― Richard Feynman
- ramadev
- Posts: 284
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Re: Mosaic anyone?
Finelytuned wrote:I'd like to purchase the new Sibelious Professional 5 software. It costs $500 + bucks. Yikes! I don't qualify for the student discount. However I learned that the Sibelious company will sell me the S-5Pro product as an upgrade from Mosaic for half the price.
If any of this is true that would be very good news. I have Mosaic and still use it occasionally on my ancient OS9 machine.mhschmieder wrote:There's speculation MOTU may revive it, but it's based strictly on Wishful Thinking vs. actual Rumours or Inside Information.
Nehalem Dual QuadCore 3.2GHz/8GB/828/MTP AV/10.6.8/DP8.0-DP7.22/Altiverb6.3.5/ChannelStrip2.2.23/T-Racks/AutoTuneEvo/GuitarRig4/Drumagog/bx_XL/FG-X,RC-Tube,VTM/EventideOmnipressor/MelodyneStudio-Cre8 3.2
MacBook Pro Intel Core 2 Duo 2.66GHz/2GB/Traveler/10.6.8/DP8.0-DP7.22/Altiverb6.3.5/ChannelStrip2.2.23/T-Racks/AutoTuneEvo/bx_XL/MelodyneStudio-Cre8 3.2
Neumann,AKG,Earthworks,Soundelux mics/ManleyVoxBox/Avalon737/Amek9098/Genelec1031As
MacBook Pro Intel Core 2 Duo 2.66GHz/2GB/Traveler/10.6.8/DP8.0-DP7.22/Altiverb6.3.5/ChannelStrip2.2.23/T-Racks/AutoTuneEvo/bx_XL/MelodyneStudio-Cre8 3.2
Neumann,AKG,Earthworks,Soundelux mics/ManleyVoxBox/Avalon737/Amek9098/Genelec1031As
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Re: Mosaic anyone?
HELP PLEASE!
I also need a copy of Composer's Mosaic. (Though not to beat the system - bad reason man)
I have numerous arrangements that I paid to have made and only have the mosaic files to work with. I Have no Mosaic program and MOTU refuses to help ( I find this unbelievable). I have set aside an OS 9 machine specifically for it and can't find it a single copy.
SO, Does anyone have any ideas where I should look to purchase a copy. Just a musician trying to have access to what I paid for.
Thanks,
Rick L
I also need a copy of Composer's Mosaic. (Though not to beat the system - bad reason man)
I have numerous arrangements that I paid to have made and only have the mosaic files to work with. I Have no Mosaic program and MOTU refuses to help ( I find this unbelievable). I have set aside an OS 9 machine specifically for it and can't find it a single copy.
SO, Does anyone have any ideas where I should look to purchase a copy. Just a musician trying to have access to what I paid for.
Thanks,
Rick L
- mhschmieder
- Posts: 11412
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Re: Mosaic anyone?
Sweetwater at one point still had some copies left; maybe Brad can chime in here.
There might be some software liquidators you could check, like megamacs.com, that specialise in leftover copies of old versions of software. Those companies wouldn't exist if there wasn't a need
.
What about file compatibility? Does nothing read the Mosaic format?
There might be some software liquidators you could check, like megamacs.com, that specialise in leftover copies of old versions of software. Those companies wouldn't exist if there wasn't a need

What about file compatibility? Does nothing read the Mosaic format?
Mac Studio 2025 14-Core Apple M4 Max (36 GB RAM), OSX 15.4.1, MOTU DP 11.34, SpectraLayers 11
RME Babyface Pro FS, Radial JDV Mk5, Hammond XK-4, Moog Voyager
Eugenio Upright, 60th Anniversary P-Bass, USA Geddy Lee J-Bass, Yamaha BBP35
Select Strat, 70th Anniversary Esquire, Johnny Marr Jaguar, 57 LP, Danelectro 12
Eastman T486RB, T64/V, Ibanez PM2, D'angelico Deluxe SS Bari, EXL1
Guild Bari, 1512 12-string, M20, Martin OM28VTS, Larivee 0040MH
RME Babyface Pro FS, Radial JDV Mk5, Hammond XK-4, Moog Voyager
Eugenio Upright, 60th Anniversary P-Bass, USA Geddy Lee J-Bass, Yamaha BBP35
Select Strat, 70th Anniversary Esquire, Johnny Marr Jaguar, 57 LP, Danelectro 12
Eastman T486RB, T64/V, Ibanez PM2, D'angelico Deluxe SS Bari, EXL1
Guild Bari, 1512 12-string, M20, Martin OM28VTS, Larivee 0040MH
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- Posts: 9
- Joined: Sun Nov 04, 2007 6:42 pm
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Re: Mosaic anyone?
Thank you for the suggestions. I will give it a try.
RE compatibility: No. Nothing converts Mosaic to a current program. The only thing that can be done is conversion to MIDI files, but too much info is lost. I find it appalling that MOTU doesn't at least provide copies of the old software if they refuse to support it in any other way. Shameful in my view.
Thank you for the input - all other suggestions are welcome.
best,
Rick L
RE compatibility: No. Nothing converts Mosaic to a current program. The only thing that can be done is conversion to MIDI files, but too much info is lost. I find it appalling that MOTU doesn't at least provide copies of the old software if they refuse to support it in any other way. Shameful in my view.
Thank you for the input - all other suggestions are welcome.
best,
Rick L
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Mosaic
If you have Mosaic files but not Composer's Mosaic and can't get your own copy, perhaps someone with it can convert the page output to pdf if you send the files.
I've never tried it myself but I've heard about editing notation inside a pdf editor, probably only realistic for very minor details.
If you need to make a change on one page of a multiple-page score, you could simply redo one page in a new notation app., save that page as pdf, split the original pdf file insert the page and recompile it.
I've never tried it myself but I've heard about editing notation inside a pdf editor, probably only realistic for very minor details.
If you need to make a change on one page of a multiple-page score, you could simply redo one page in a new notation app., save that page as pdf, split the original pdf file insert the page and recompile it.
DP10.13, OSX 10.13.6, Melodyne Studio 4.1, Dorico Pro 3.5, Sibelius 7.1.3, MOTU Mosaic 1.5, MOTU Traveler mk1.
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Re: Mosaic anyone?
Thank you for the suggestion. I was beginning to land on these new pdf converters as perhaps my best hope. Do you know if Mosaic is able to output the files as pdf files? That might be interesting. At least then, as you said, with some work I can convert them to a current program.
Thanks for working problem with me.
best,
Rick L
Thanks for working problem with me.
best,
Rick L
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Mosaic output to pdf
Mosaic can definitely output to pdf. I went through it all at least 3 year's ago to put scores on my website, so I'm slightly hazy on the exact details, but... Using the print function, save as file, there are some options to save as encapsulated postscript. I remember having to fiddle around with various settings to get it to work, but was eventually able to open the eps files in a pdf reader then simply save them. It did take a little perseverance to find the right settings.
Not really sure if this is useful info or not, but I just had a look at one pdf score done in originally in Mosaic under the method described above, and it says "Encoding software: PSNormalizer.framework"
Not really sure if this is useful info or not, but I just had a look at one pdf score done in originally in Mosaic under the method described above, and it says "Encoding software: PSNormalizer.framework"
DP10.13, OSX 10.13.6, Melodyne Studio 4.1, Dorico Pro 3.5, Sibelius 7.1.3, MOTU Mosaic 1.5, MOTU Traveler mk1.
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Re: Mosaic anyone?
Thank you again. I appreciate your help.
.....AND (STILL HOLDING OUT HOPE) - IF anyone does have a copy of Composer's Mosaic to sell please post here.
Best,
Rick L
.....AND (STILL HOLDING OUT HOPE) - IF anyone does have a copy of Composer's Mosaic to sell please post here.
Best,
Rick L