Finale Versus Sibelius

Maybe this topic has been stated before numerous times, but I've searched with no luck finding a topic about this. So...here goes.

I'm a new composer trying to make a decision whether to chose Finale 2007 or Sibelius 4. I've tried both demos, and both seem similar in their own ways. I was wondering if someone could give me an opinion about which program I should chose. Thanks much for any input!

-K. Solii

To make a very long debate and story very short, in my experience with both I've found Finale to be a better program overall. The features are nearly identical and the notation output is the same, but Finale is a more powerful sequencer, has the nifty video-view for film scoring, and is also much more intuitive to use for me.

Ultimately, this decision will be based on which you prefer using from the demos and what you'll be doing with the program.

I seem to recall that Finale's demo does not include GPO. Bearing in mind that the full version obviously does, you are missing out on a large swathe of functionality. I believe Sibelius is GPO-enabled, but it doesn't possess Human Playback, which means you really get less out of your GPO. Anyone can correct me if I'm wrong, of course.

It seems to me that overall Finale is the better bet nowadays, especially if you want accurate, realistic playback. The quality (or, specifically, lack thereof) of synthesis used to be a huge issue when one was using notation software, however Finale appears to have all but ironed this problem out. I view this as a significant milestone. And I speak as a Sibelius user. I do plan to buy Finale at some point though...

if you want to hear how Finale and GPO sound, look for either of my symphonies in the Major Works forum.. they were both done within Finale using the samples from GPO.

the recording you are hearing there is strictly the score, as written in Finale, with no extra "tweaking" of MIDI data to get it to "sound right". The only things that are slightly off from the actual publisher score is that a few of the dynamics are adjusted here and there so we can here one solo instrument over another.

I use finale, and I've tried demos of both and found finale to be better suited to me personally, ultimately though, it's down to you, which did you prefer when you tried the demos?

If you're a new composer, shouldn't you get something less expensive, like PrintMusic or Allegro? Just a suggestion. :)

Is Finale really not a pain in the donkey to use? From everyone aside from online people (friends and fellow composers in my life/at Peabody), those who use Finale only do because they already spent the money to buy it but regret not getting Sibelius, and the others use Sibelius. I haven't met many composers here who use Finale because they think it's a better program than Sibelius. But I'm wondering about it myself, as I have given Finale a chance, but not really enough.

Anyway, my computer just died so I'm going to have to install either Sibelius or Finale on my computer anyway so I think I'll only get Finale, and learn it, so I really have given both programs a shot. If I like it enough, who knows? Maybe I'll buy it...!

Is Finale really not a pain in the donkey to use? From everyone aside from online people (friends and fellow composers in my life/at Peabody), those who use Finale only do because they already spent the money to buy it but regret not getting Sibelius, and the others use Sibelius. I haven't met many composers here who use Finale because they think it's a better program than Sibelius. But I'm wondering about it myself, as I have given Finale a chance, but not really enough.

Anyway, my computer just died so I'm going to have to install either Sibelius or Finale on my computer anyway so I think I'll only get Finale, and learn it, so I really have given both programs a shot. If I like it enough, who knows? Maybe I'll buy it...!

I use Finale, and not simply because I paid for it.

I hear a lot of people scallop about how complicted Finale is to use, but for some reason, I actually found Sibelius much harder to get used to.

I've always worked in scroll view, while Sibelius does not HAVE a scroll view.

I don't care for Sib's note entry methods.

and Finale definately has the better playback features.

There are few notational issues with Sibelius if you're VERY picky about how your notation looks. Some things that apparently are not conforming to engraver standards, and that can not be changed.

Finale, on the other hand, IS a bit more complicated to use when it's time to get into the intricacies of more complex notation, however it IS possible to make those changes. Finale even lets you write "illogical" things, which Sib. won't.

To be absolutely fair, Finale 2007 has its share of problems. The version I use most is 2006, which is quite stable and does everything I need it to.

Finale only recently introduced (ver. 2007) linked parts and they're having a bit of trouble with the feature. Sibelius has had that for a while.

(In the following post, For Finale, read "PrintMusic")

I was able to use both during my school course, as my school "upgraded" from Finale to Sibelius. I hated Sibelius. It sounded tacky, it felt generally more complicated and resulted in this very same debate in our classes. Out of 9 of us, I was one of just two who kept faith in Finale. On my laptop now I have Finale PrintMusic 2007* and a Sibelius at one point, which I soon deleted. It was horrible.

*NOT "Finale 2007", I don't know what the difference is. Haven't got that money to spend.

I prefer Sibelius. I've found Finale terribly difficult to use, while Sibelius is perfectly natural to me - I had Finale for two years before I first tried Sibelius, and I figured out how to do more in Sibelius in the first half-hour than I could ever do with Finale. I wonder how much of this has to do with past (non-music) software use?

Be aware if you get a lesser program of finale such as makemusic or allegro. I don't think you can do odd time. That was my major beef with them.

To MoL: Yeah, that is why I'm getting the full deal. I don't like restrictions like that.

To Everyone that responded: Thanks for your input guys, I think I'm going to go with Finale 2007 as my decision. I'll post my first work that I've done in notepad later. Thanks a lot guys.

This is what I don't understand about people who start this topic. I've seen it at least a thousand times... DO YOU EXPECT EVERYONE TO SAY "YES SIBELIUS IS THE BEST" they do the same thing its more of which one you find easier to use or like the capabilities of

-Cameron Higgins

P.S. I vote sibelius

Finally, Sibelius has VST support! Making Sibelius one step closer to Finale.

quote from an email:

Dear Sibelius-listers,

We are delighted to announce the launch of Sibelius 5, our brand new

version. You can read all about the many new features here:

What's new in Sibelius 5

You can download a demo version right away:

Sibelius - Download

And you can order your upgrade here:

Sibelius Shop

All the best,

Daniel Spreadbury

Product Manager

--

Sibelius Software Ltd, 20-22 City North, Fonthill Road, London N4 3HF

Tel: +44 (0)20 7561 7999

Fax: +44 (0)20 7561 7888

Web: Sibelius home page

London, San Francisco and Adelaide

Well, both are great programs. I'm used to Finale, but other than that both can pretty much do everything I believe...

toying with the demos might give you a better feeling. Price could also work well. VST now is supported to sibelius so no problem there. Pretty much the same I say!

Hi all,

I'm from Europe so I'm sorry for my English, that's not my Native Language ...

I'm musician ( I play Violin, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Piano and Flute ) and I'm Composer ...

I'm user of Finale since the version 2000, now I'm using daily the 2007c ...

it supports VST, and a lot of things more, as the video Sync and so on ...

I've composed almost 27-30 pieces with Finale ... in certain cases is not so user friendly as somebody tells, but I got use to it ...

Recently I took in consideration also Sibelius, this just 'cause it has something to who I'm interested: the possibility to print in internet the Scores, and they can be played in a normal browser by a special plug-in ... Finale doesn't seem to have this feature :)

Another features that Finale has not and Sibelius it seems to have, is the following:

if you select difficult or impossible notes for that instrument, it is put in evidence ... and I think it's really helpful ...

but I'm looking for a list of effective differences between Finale and Sibelius to understand what are the advantages to "abbandon" Finale towards Sibelius ... or vice versa ...

I've downloaded the Demo Version of Sibelius 5 and installed it ... the first thing that I've noted is that:

Drum-Set sounds are not adjustable in an intuitive way as Finale does ...

If I put a note inside the Drum-Set score in the position of the Open Hat ( for instance ), it doesn't play the Open Hat at all ... and I've not yet discovered how to impose to Sibelius to play it correctly ...

That's only one example ...

I would like also to know if in Sibelius it's possible to write measures in "rubato" tempo ... In Finale is possible not through a specific function, but through a little trick that I've discovered and put in practice ... and in Sibelius ?

Ok with my trick is not possible to have executed the "rubato" tempo properly, but at least the notation is correct, that's what I needed ... I don't pretend the Even ... but to work with less problems as possible :)

Another question is:

With Finale, I have the possibility to assign percussions to a staff and for each position of the note into the staff, I can assign more than one percussion notation, that I can select time-by-time simply pressing "+" key while I'm inserting the note on the score ...

Does Sibelius the same or even in an easier way ?

With Finale I have different percussions type too, as the Latin, African, Ethnic and others ... Does Sibelius have the same things or even more ?

Years ago I've used also Cackewalk ... that one was my first notation program ... but Finale is better and better than it ...

I'm not here to tell: Finale is the best on the world ... not at all ... I'm here simply asking: what Finale deos that Sibelius doesn't and vice versa ? ...

I think that this the really important thing to know for everybody

What do you think about ?

I thank you really very much in advance for any anwer/helps ( please: don't insult me if I ws not so clear )

Jurgen

The Same altough I hear Sibelius is easier to use from a band member...Personaly me I like Finale better.:evil:

I've just now found the method to create the "rubato" tempo with Sibelius ... the trick is exactly the same that I've used in Finale ...

Now there is the problem to assign the correct Drum-Set instruments ... I have no Hats, no Rides, no Crashes ... only Toms, Kicks, Snare ... how is it possible ? No any reference on the manual ... ( Finale has a lot of information in the manual ... it's even too huge :( ) ...

That's only 'cause Finale has not the possibility to export in Internet ... has not this plug-in ... ok it's god to learn a new program as Sibelius ... but but but ... :evil:;)

Maybe this topic has been stated before numerous times, but I've searched with no luck finding a topic about this. So...here goes.

I'm a new composer trying to make a decision whether to chose Finale 2007 or Sibelius 4. I've tried both demos, and both seem similar in their own ways. I was wondering if someone could give me an opinion about which program I should chose. Thanks much for any input!

-K. Solii

Finale 2007!

no, you can get hats rides and crashes in Sibelius. I'll go check how and tell you.

*edit*

ok, to get different sounds on the drum kit:

1. input your note wherever you want/think it should go.

2. hold down shift

3. press + and/or - on your keyboard to change the head of the note

4. keep changing until you get the sound you desire.

no, you can get hats rides and crashes in Sibelius. I'll go check how and tell you.

*edit*

ok, to get different sounds on the drum kit:

1. input your note wherever you want/think it should go.

2. hold down shift

3. press + and/or - on your keyboard to change the head of the note

4. keep changing until you get the sound you desire.

I just tried now and indeed it works but I would like to tell that the "+" and the "-" is no the one of the numerical keyboard, but is the one in the alfabetical keyboard ... then it works ... there are of course now other questions

Now it will be interestingto know if is there ( in the Help files or somewhere ) a table of the various drum-set sounds ... I mean in Finale there is a table ( is not a confortable one at all, but there is ) in which for each percussion midi table, there is a reference ... I don't know how to tell in a better way ... but I will try:

Latin Percussions: for each lin/space on the Staff, is/are displayed the note(s) that can stay on that line/space, with the name of the specific percussion ( djumbo, tom, conga and so on ... ) ...

The samething for the sound assignment ... on Finale I can assign for each line/space on the Staff a specific sound of a specific percussion ( I'm talking always about percussions ) ...

Always in Drum Set settings: I would like to know how to put the special signs on the staff and executed them ... for instance: when a measure is repeated more and more times, there is the "double slash" to put in the other measures instead of rewrite the sameone N-times ... is there in Sibelius in the same way ?

And the Ossias ? Those are delicate in Finale 'casue I know how to write but not how to play them ... is it possible to write and ply the Ossias in Sibelius ?

I think that once all those things are solved, I can try to transcribe a score from Finale to Sibelius to take a little confidence and to check the real differences ( until now they are really similar, but I think that's to soon to be able to judge ... the "help" of Finale is surely more complete than the one of Sibelius, but I have the Demo version of Sibelius and perhaps is a reducted Help file ?! )

To everybody: Help

Dear all,

As you know I'm studing the Demo copy of Sibelius and until now I've ssen those differences between Finale and Sibelius and I ask you please to correct me if I wrong something with Sibelius ( but a lot of things, in it, I'm not able to find :happy: )

In attachment I've put an RTF file, in which I wrote everything I've noticed ( are few things but at least I've something to show you and to have feedback from you ... )

the "X" = Yes

the "-" = No

the "?" in Finale, on the Column "WEB PUBLISHING" indicates that there is the possibility also in Finale, installing FINALE VIEWER, but:

• To download it, you have to INVENT the address, 'cause FinaleMusic has not a direct link to download it
  
• Once you downloaded and installed it, doesn't work at all and noboy halps you from "CODA" or "finale.com"
  

I ask to all the both users, to look my file please and to tell me where I'm wrong and in what manner I can do to do the samethings on both programs please ...

I thank you really very much in advance

Finale.rtf

Dear all,

I would like to make you participating to this comparison between the two products ... I believe that can be usefull

Ok yesterday I've noticed that also Sibelius creates the Guitar Chords automatically ... so I correct my previous message in which I was telling that it was not possible ...

I've exported an entire Score in XML from Finale and trying to import in Sibelius ... there is something that doesn't work properly but it has imported the file and executed ...

I've noticed in that manner, that:

ALL the features on my file were correctly imported and exectuted from Sibelius ( guys ... sorry for my poor English ... I remember you that it's not my Native Language so don't esitate please to ask me more clarifications in case I'm not clear enough ) ...

It means also that all the things that in Finale you can do, practically you can do also in Sibelius ...

The only ONE HUGE problem is that: Sibelius in DEMO is not complete at all ...

Now I'm gonna to show you another little detail but I think important for a composer ...

MIDI DISASTERS

Apart the midi import ... that anyway can be optimized in Finale ( I've not yet experimented in Sibelius ) ... and it seems that there are DIFFERENT MIDI format ... with some it works, with some els is more difficult ... BUT the point of the situation is not that ...

Look here please:

Do you never used Finale AND Sibelius TO RECORD FROM M.I.D.I. ?

( I write in capital letters to "stress" the concept of the phrase, not to shout at all )

Well ... I've done ... and I met some problem ... that I have noticed the due, just yesterday ...

When you play, tipically you do it with internal metronome ... great ... but why the notes are a disaster ? The tempo is not what I was playing ...

Then CASUALLY I've discovered something ... the LATENCY TIME ... I didn't realized before that also in M.I.D.I. can be ...

Play in MIDI ... and listen to your sound also directly from the instument ... and you will notice that: the MIDI sound, has a little delay comapred to the direct sound ... But Sibelius and Finale ... they send to you the clock of the metronome ... you play following that TICK ... but you are ALWAYS in late respect the metronome ... that's why the notes are not correctly set-up with the tempo ...

Finale has the possibility to adjust the Latency Time ... my Latency is around 5 ms ( my PC is a PIV, 1GB RAM actually with a really bad audioboard: AC'97 :toothygrin: and the MIDI channel is via U.S.B. ) ... Sibelius SEEMS that hasn't this set-up ... you get what you have ...

You can find something on ASIO DRIVERS and so on but is not absolutely there the problem ... who knows how to adjust this in Sibelius ? Boh ...

Is it a lak of the Demo ? Or is so also the EXPENSIVE commercial version ?

Tizzy, we appreciate your help but I think you need to learn a bit more about how these programs work before being in a position to compare them as you're beginning to.

Finale and Sibelius are both fine products and, as we repeatedly conclude in these debates, the better one is ultimately just the one that you've become more comfortable with. They both share very much the same features and functionality and produce the same quality of score output.

I've used both extensively and prefer Finale, but I recognize that Sibelius is a good program and I like to see how the two compete, although I'd personally much prefer it if one company just bought the other and made a program with the best of both worlds. But ah well. :)

Dear Mario

I thank you very much for your remark ... indeed I was conscious taht it's impossible for me just know to be able to comapre Finale that I know very well, with Sibelius that practically I don't know it at all ...

My "reports" are a very simple example of: in what manner can I compare both product, don't knowing one of them, before to decide eventually to buy also the second ?

I'm telling you why I'm interested to Sibelius ... there is only one reason: to have the possibility to publish the score in Internet ... and Finale has not this feature for the moment :sadtears: the "Finale Viewer" dosn't work at all ( at least with me :angry: ) and anyway with Sibelius you can defend your copyright, maintaining the sharing with other users ... I believe that's a great characteristic ...

But as you can imagine ... to spend 250-260 USD ( + import taxes for me ) in order to buy something that you don't know if it does the samethings that you actually doing ... I think it's a little hazard ... Just for that reason I'm comparing the two programs ... expecially with things that I know are a little special ... in a way to see if I'm able also with Sibelius to do the same things that normally I do with Finale ... and over all: what degree of difficulty it has, if compared with Finale ... the absence of a detailed manual for example ... perhaps it's only in the Demo version that's so limited ... but if I compare it with Finale ... practically this help file doesn't exist ... ;)

MIDI LATENCY ... it's another "pain in the donkey" ( I'm sorry for the hard expression ) ... with Sibelius I'm not able to adjust it in a way to type music wit the keyboard correctly ... in Finale I'm able to do that ...

But if I'm annoing you with my messags and so on, please tell me that I will leave ... is not my intention to boring nobody ;-) I'm so sorry for that ...

Till soon