Finale 2009 Now Shipped

Is there really any reason for me to upgrade from my Finale 2002? Suits me just fine.

Originally Posted by EnigmusJ4

Is there really any reason for me to upgrade from my Finale 2002? Suits me just fine.

if you feel that it does, that's your decision.

I would never go back to using any version of Finale before 2006, and even then, I prefer the way 2008 works.

Just the change from '05 to '06 was a HUGE time saver, with context menus being accessible from anywhere in the score. With 2008, the new "selection tool" is an immense improvement over how things were before.

And now with '09, there have been more improvements to the way you work with score expressions. another time saver.

Since I work all day with Finale, saving time is a definate plus. I don't mind the $7 - 8 a month that the update ends up costing.

Yeah, even updating from 2003 to 2007 was massively worth the cost savings in time and the the additional functionality that it gave me. I mean, how did I live without meta-tools?

*****

*sigh* Okay, I broke down and ordered 2009 after reminding myself that I get to write it off on my taxes anyway as a business expense.

That's what savings accounts are for anyway, right?

Should arrive next tuesday/wednesday... *happy dance*

Originally Posted by Gardener

Looking at the new features... Multiple page editing and the new interface for entering expressions both look sexy. And the improved engraver slurs could also be great, if they work. The other stuff doesn't really interest me much.

It's funny how us Sibelius users have already had these features for about, I dunno, FIVE years! And ya'll have to buy a new one every year just to keep pace. It's such a dumb way to steal your money. Especially when there are no major updates.

But compatibility issues with the people I work together would be even bigger if I used Sibelius! But it "stealing my money" part isn't a huge issue for me, since I can get it practically for free (but I have to bring my computer somewhere for them to upload a whole music package and for that they first delete your whole hard disc. So it's always quite a hassle...)

(But I haven't seen -any- notation program that does slurs automatically right in all situations. Lilypond does it quite well, but also not always, in very complex passages.)

Originally Posted by Justin Tokke

It's funny how us Sibelius users have already had these features for about, I dunno, FIVE years! And ya'll have to buy a new one every year just to keep pace. It's such a dumb way to steal your money. Especially when there are no major updates.

I think it is even more dumb how you feel the need to smear software that other people choose to use. If Finale helps someone make great music, that's great. If Sibelius helps others make great music, that's awesome. There are other programs out there as well: Sonar, Reason, Logic, Pro Tools, Acid. They're all tools.

Keep your Sibelius and your snobbish attitude to yourself. Finale is impressive- just as Sibelius is. I personally don't use either program that much because other traditional DAWs meet more of my needs.

I'm confused about something. When I went to check out Finale 2009, it offered Garritan Personal Orchestra as something you can purchase on top of Finale. I don't understand, does that mean that Finale 2009 does not come equipped with Garritan?

Originally Posted by Matthew Becker

I'm confused about something. When I went to check out Finale 2009, it offered Garritan Personal Orchestra as something you can purchase on top of Finale. I don't understand, does that mean that Finale 2009 does not come equipped with Garritan?

It comes with a truncated version of Garritan.

Originally Posted by Justin Tokke

It's funny how us Sibelius users have already had these features for about, I dunno, FIVE years! And ya'll have to buy a new one every year just to keep pace. It's such a dumb way to steal your money. Especially when there are no major updates.

Are you blind to Sibelius' slurs? OMG they are crap.

Here's one composer's opinion: The Website of Composer Jeffery Cotton: It Isn't Pretty Being Easy

Yes, I've seen this article. It's outdated because many of the notational errors mentioned in there have been fixed since Sibelius 3. Sibelius 5 fixed major slur mishaps and the hairpins are now customizable.

And FWIW, the slurs have worked beautifully for me. And you can adjust them as you please.

Gardener, what do you mean by "Compatability issues"?