Finale vs. Sibelius vs. Notation

[crazyox]

I am a total newbie just looking for a choice as soon as the cash flow dam breaks. I have no idea of the differences here. Please give advice.

Here is what I am looking for:

I plan to by GPO first, then the program when I can afford it (yes, cash flow is indeed slow enough to require months of delay between the two--laugh if you want,...I do...it keeps me from crying) So I will only buy something that can link with GPO.

Must be able to export midi with GPO midi cc's based on tempo/legato/crescendo choice made in the notation software

Learning curve that is justified by the features and not requiring 100 hours before any usable piece can be started.

Price is also a factor, but here's hoping that one be an issue by then.

Thanks for any suggestions!

[Kenny Long]

Hi Crazyox,

I can assure that you are not the only one here that has cash-flow problems.

I am no expert with notation programs. I usually only use them to get a score back from a midi file. I have Sibelius 3 and it is a great tool.

There are many threads with composers arguing about the pros and cons of their preferred notation tool. Here is one such thread:

http://www.northernsounds.com/forum/showthread.php?t=48611&highlight=Sibelius+Finale

Just search for "Finale SIbelius Notation" and you will find more.

There are also tutorials for using Finale and Sibelius with GPO. here is a link to the tutorial on Finale:

http://www.garritan.com/tutorial/Finale_GPO_tut.html

Here are links to two different tutorials on Sibelius:

http://www.garritan.com/tutorial/GPO_Sibelius3Tutorial.html
http://www.garritan.com/tutorial/sibelius_gpo_tutorial.html

I think that you can download demo versions of both Finale and Sibelius as well. So you see, having cash-flow problems can work out in your advantage. You have plenty of time to do the research to make a good decision.

Hope that helps,
Kenny

[crazyox]

Hi Crazyox,

I can assure that you are not the only one here that has cash-flow problems.

I am no expert with notation programs. I usually only use them to get a score back from a midi file. I have Sibelius 3 and it is a great tool.

There are many threads with composers arguing about the pros and cons of their preferred notation tool. Here is one such thread:

http://www.northernsounds.com/forum/showthread.php?t=48611&highlight=Sibelius+Finale

Just search for "Finale SIbelius Notation" and you will find more.

There are also tutorials for using Finale and Sibelius with GPO. here is a link to the tutorial on Finale:

http://www.garritan.com/tutorial/Finale_GPO_tut.html

Here are links to two different tutorials on Sibelius:

http://www.garritan.com/tutorial/GPO_Sibelius3Tutorial.html
http://www.garritan.com/tutorial/sibelius_gpo_tutorial.html

I think that you can download demo versions of both Finale and Sibelius as well. So you see, having cash-flow problems can work out in your advantage. You have plenty of time to do the research to make a good decision.

Hope that helps,
Kenny

Thanks, that is very helpfull.

[kadowser]

I use Sibelius 4, and I am convinced that Sibelius is way more intuitive to work with than Finale. However Finale has some nice features such as built-in sampler.

[Steve_Karl]

I use Sibelius 4, and I am convinced that Sibelius is way more intuitive to work with than Finale. However Finale has some nice features such as built-in sampler.

I've been looking also around also.
I've been using the free version of Finale and find it very hard to use.

I was trying to write up a simple 1 part chart in Finale and the frustration prompted me to download a demo version of Sibelius 4.
What I couldn't get done in Finale after a few hours I finished in Sibelius in less than a 1/2 hour.

[Nickie Fønshauge]

I was trying to write up a simple 1 part chart in Finale and the frustration prompted me to download a demo version of Sibelius 4.
What I couldn't get done in Finale after a few hours I finished in Sibelius in less than a 1/2 hour.
Not a reasonable comparison. Notepad is primarily for viewing and playing back scores created with the commercial versions. You cannot create much with Notepad - it has a lot of limitations and its editing features are only meant as a teaser to make you buy one of the commercial versions. A comparison between Notepad and Scorch would be more appropriate. Finale is actually quite easy to use - if you know what you are doing.

[Steve_Karl]

Finale is actually quite easy to use - if you know what you are doing.

Which reminds me of how seemingly poor I find the help (F1) in the program.

[Nickie Fønshauge]

Which reminds me of how seemingly poor I find the help (F1) in the program.
There's a manual available from the Help menu. Oh yes, you do have to use the mouse instead F1 - big deal. Or you can set up a keyboard shortcut to reach the manual. Plus the F1 Help has links to relevant sections of the manual, if you need more info, than F1 Help has to offer. And the manual is one of the best documentations I have ever seen.

Like I said: Finale is actually quite easy to use - if you know what you are doing.

[chambermusic]

I agree with Nickie. Finale is quite easy to use. It may be less intuitative than Sibelius if you expect that a music notation program be created to work like a word processor program.... if I am making the correct analogy. If you are willing to believe that someone might make a notation program that works on different principles and you learn how to use it, you will find Finale very easy to work with. And Finale gives outstanding results in regards to engraving perfection.

David