Sibelius or Finale?

[Will]

A long time between posts...

I am currently in the market for notation software to use at my schools. I am more familiar with Finale (an older version) through my training in college. But I have heard so many good things about Sibelius and it's educational price is cheaper than Finale's.

So what's you're take. This will be used mostly for arranging and development of warm-ups and exersises.

Thanks!

[clagar777]

Doesn't Finale also have a keyboard entry feature?

[Shockwave]

Is Encore still around? That was my first notation program and I liked it a lot better than Finale. I've been using Finale for 8 years and to this day if I don't use it for a few weeks I end up forgetting how to do rather mundane tasks. Finale is the most poorly organized program ever. Sibelius is ok, but I prefer a scroll view. They both have a lot of fancy features, but nobody cares how pretty and detailed your written parts are, all they want is legibility and any computer program can handle that.

-Eric

[Anterux]

I recently switched from Finale to Sibelius. While I was a little wary at first, I've come to really like Sibelius because of the keyboard entry feature. Using the number pad and other keyboard shortcuts make entering notes and altering them a snap. A project that would take hours with a mouse in Finale is completed in minutes with the Sibelius keyboard shortcuts.

Good luck with your decision!

In fact, the great advantage of Finale is that same feature.

I think both are interesting. but if you start with one, you will never need the other. And they are very different in the way you work. So if you are good at working with one you wont bother trying the other.
They both are quick and easy. They both give you poor results if you dont have time to edit manually.

I prefer Finale because it is the one I understand better.

[Will]

...all they want is legibility and any computer program can handle that.

So there is other notation software out there? Allowing me to write multiple parts at the same time?? Perhaps cheaper???

Will Divers

[BVD Press]

If you have time, download the demos for both Finale and Sibelius and see what will work best for you.

One may offer you a better deal over the other.

I use Finale, but have Sibelius as well and have found they both get the job done!

[Bob Mosso]

So there is other notation software out there? Allowing me to write multiple parts at the same time?? Perhaps cheaper???

How about Print Music, $99
http://www.finalemusic.com/printmusic/Default.aspx
It should work fine unless you're writting more than 24 staves.

There is a simple comparison chart at
http://www.finalemusic.com/allegro/default.aspx
I can't figure out how to link to the pop-up.

Detailed comparison chart at
http://downloads2.makemusic.com/forms/p ... isons2.pdf

I use a very old version of Finale and have been thinking PrintMusic would be a cheap way to get newer/better software.

Bob

[porkchopsisgood]

In my humble opinion....

Sibelius, hands down.

Sinfully easy to use, powerfully adaptable, and if you already have finale you can get the competitive upgrade for 149.99....

[Chuck(G)]

Lilypond is another engraving package and is open-source (GNU license) and runs on *nix. Not a WYSIWYG type of package; more like TeX. All scores on the Mutopia project have been set with Lilypond:

http://www.mutopiaproject.org/

I've got both Finale and Sibelius. I'm usually in a hurry, so I use Sibelius becasue I don't have to think about the software as much.

What's annoying is that file interchangeability between notation packages ioutside of simple MIDI is pretty much non-existent. I really wish the vendors would embrace a common file format and allow me to make a judgement based on the quality of the package, not what I've been locked into.

So choose carefully. Both Finale and Sibelius (which has recently been acquired by another firm) are pretty much the big players and both offer educational discounts.

[BVD Press]

What's annoying is that file interchangeability between notation packages ioutside of simple MIDI is pretty much non-existent. .

I am curious if you have used the Recordare plug-ins? They are getting some very impressive results via XML moving files back and forth between Finale and Sibelius.

[BVD Press]

What's annoying is that file interchangeability between notation packages ioutside of simple MIDI is pretty much non-existent. .

I am curious if you have used the Recordare plug-ins? They are getting some very impressive results via XML moving files back and forth between Finale and Sibelius.

[Dennis K.]

If you are looking for software for a school setting, Finale PrintMusic will probably be fine. Its great for exercises, simple projects, simple score & parts.

I use the full Finale exclusively, but then again, I need all the extra stuff to make a living.
Realisticly, I could probably do 80% of all my work on PrintMusic.

[Chuck(G)]

What's annoying is that file interchangeability between notation packages ioutside of simple MIDI is pretty much non-existent. .

I am curious if you have used the Recordare plug-ins? They are getting some very impressive results via XML moving files back and forth between Finale and Sibelius.

I tried them in the very early days and was very disappointed. It's possible that they've got things more refined now--I haven't checked back in a long time.

[Dennis K.]

I learned on Fin. '97. That program produced something resembling, yet completely unlike, music.

Yes, they have become substantially more refined. From what I understand, Sibelius has some really nice libraries of templates. With Finale, I build my own templates. Its very intuitive, once you have a feel for the program.

[DonShirer]

So far I find that I can do anything I want in either Finale or Sibelius, but there are definitely some points where each has advantages. To mention just a few:
Note entry from typing or mouse is slightly easier on Sibelius. Both have convenient music keyboard entry.
Clicking on any object in Sibelius selects it for editing, and you don't have to specify a tool as you do in Finale.
Sibelius dynamic parts feature produce parts pages which are usually better laid out (automatically) than Finale.
But Finale makes it easier to alter the layout to improve page turns, etc.
Slurs and hairpins are easier to insert with Sibelius.
Entering dynamic markings or notes on every part at once or on a group of parts seems easier in Finale.
Setting up percussion staves seems easier on Sibelius.

I guess I have a slight preference for Sibelius, but since I don't have the latest version of Finale, this may be an unfair comparison.