Finale

[colcifer]

Does anyone have this?

I've tried some of the demos but still have questions.

1) Why is Finale $400 more than Allegro? I didn't come across any added features and that there's a new version now isn't really that big a plus when you consider that nothing you do with it is back compatible.

2) Where's the fun stuff? Despite my best efforts, I could not trick, force, or bribe my computer to do: different time signatures for different instruments, different tempos for different instruments, time signatures with odd numbers on the bottom, pitches with out rhythmic markings, or anything but the most common chord extensions.

3) What's with the scanning thing? When you scan something in lead sheet format each line is "read" as a new instrument (thought it does sound pretty rad). Am I doing something wrong?

4) When you've had it open for a while (might just be my computer) it forgets to sound the first few (an ever increasing number) of notes during playback.

5) On occasion (again, it might just be my computer) it will interpret every click on the "paper" as "play from this measure" making it impossible to get anything done.

I love Finale most of the time but I'm having a hard time overlooking these problems.

So: What am I doing wrong/What am I not seeing that justifies the cost?

For what it's worth, I do need a scorewriter as I don't have the handwriting or patience to do a proper copying job.

Thanks very much for whatever information you have. Advice based on experience with it as a composer or student would be particularly helpful.

-c