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(More customer reviews)I've used Finale since 1995, producing hundreds of arrangements and compositions, engraving music for other composers and arrangers, and even creating a theory textbook. Generally speaking, Finale has been an excellent product, and I've never found anything that couldn't be notated using this program. However, recent updates have become less and less stable as the program has gotten more complex. Even with a new computer, Finale 2008 and 2009 were having trouble playing back large scores and would occasionally crash for no reason. Finale 2010 reorganizes many notational inputs and is much smoother graphically, but after a few months' use, I found a terrible problem: Finale 2010 would crash when I tried to open complex files created on earlier versions of of the program! That means I can't access some of my older work to make changes or even print out a new copy. After the crash, Finale 2010 wouldn't start again until I restarted the computer.
I contacted MakeMusic about this and sent them one of the files that wouldn't open. They agreed that Finale 2010 crashed when trying to open the file and acknowledged that the file still opens well in Finale 2008. Their advice was to identify all files with this problem, export them as XML files and import them into Finale 2010. The problem is that I have so many files (thousands!) that it would take weeks to attempt to open every single file, especially if the program keeps crashing and I have to restart the computer over and over. The other option was to keep older versions of Finale on the computer, but that would take up a lot of hard drive space and file managing could get problematic. So, at the moment, I'm considering downgrading to Finale 2009 and never updating again!
Since the Sibelius notation software has emerged as competition for Finale, my impression is that MakeMusic is releasing more and more "upgrades" that aren't thoroughly tested, and this issue is simply a deal-breaker. In concept, the program is still very good, and if you're just getting started, it's still the standard in notation software, but I cannot recommend this version of Finale to longtime users.
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The best tools are designed by the people who use them. Introducing Finale 2010 – theworld standard in music notation software. Compose, arrange, notate, and print engraver-qualitysheet music that plays back with world-class sounds. Finale continues to lead the way, helping you reach perfection faster. - Streamlined user interface is more efficient, intuitive, and consistent - Setup Wizard configures your score beautifully in seconds. - Enter your music into Finale using a MIDI keyboard, computer keyboard, mouse, mic, or scanner. - Scan existing sheet music directly into Finale. From there you can change the key, edit, and save as a Finale file. - Linked Parts – intelligently links your score and parts to save you time. - More than 300 customizable and printable Music Education Worksheets. - Video Support – import video, plus send and display SMPTE time code. - TempoTap' – conduct your own tempo changes. - Playback – here are just a few reasons why Finale's sound is unsurpassed: - Record or import an audio track for unprecedented realism. - More than 350 world-class Garritan instrument sounds – and more. - More than 100 sounds from the acclaimed Tapspace Virtual Drumline. - Human Playback makes your music sound like live musicians are playing it – even if you entered your notes with a mouse! - Integrated Garritan Aria player. - Full support for VST/AU instruments AND effects. - Powerful Mixer (real-time control of volume, panning, patch, and more). - Save Audio Files (including .MP3) to create CDs or save to an iPod. - Document Styles let you instantly personalize the appearance of new documents. - Colored Noteheads and integrated Boomwhackers tuned percussion tube sounds.
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