Sibelius or Finale?

Gnome · #1 10-24-2007, 03:49 PM

I need to purchase a scorewriter for school compositions and my own work, but I was wondering which is better. What is your opinion?

Thanks, Gnome.

rfclef · #2 10-24-2007, 05:04 PM

I am a music teacher in a small district, meaning I have to re-write LOTS of stuff to make the instrumentation fit my band... I have been using Finale for nigh upon 8 years now... I live and die by it.

I have not spent much time with Sibelius, but I get the impression that preference largely falls to "What do you use/did you start on?". I would not switch now, but I know lotsa Sibelius people who feel the same way. YMMV.

So one vote for "I love Finale".

BassChuck · #3 10-25-2007, 04:58 AM

I teach music in a public school. I'm the guy that the other teachers go to for rewrites and other music printing chores.

We have Sibelius at school and I have it at home so I'm very well versed in it. I find it very natural to work with. OTOH, every clinic and professional development class I've taken uses Finale, so I've had a good bit of time to work with it.

I'm not sure if there is a clear winner to 'which is best'. They both are very good and will do anything you need to do. If you really are worried about choosing one, I'd take a look at where you are going with your music. If its just for yourself and/or your students or band, then either will do. If you intend to publish and use the software as a tool for income, check to see what format is most popular with the publishers you'll be sending files to. At one time that was hands down Finale, but I'm not sure that is true anymore.

rfclef · #4 10-25-2007, 10:59 AM

Also, I do not know about Sibelius, but if you get the "Educator version" of Finale (Same program, they just call it the "ed version" if you are a teacher, student, or church music leader) you save 40-50% or sumpin like that off the mere mortal price.

Jay Terrien · #5 10-25-2007, 11:05 AM

If you want ease of use coupled with amazing UI and functionality, go with Sibelius. From time to time, Sibelius offers a program where you can trade in your Finale CDs or user manual in order to get the full Sibelius app. at $99!! That's when I bought it. I used Finale with great grief for years. It's just way too "you need to be a keyboard player" for my tastes. I like using a mouse for everything. Point, click, input notes, write kick-ass music, DONE.

There's some Sibelius scores on this page:
http://jayterrien.com/The%20Twelve/The%20Twelve.htm

**smperry** · #6 10-25-2007, 12:21 PM

I have Finale, but don't love it. It can do a lot but the user interface is slow & non-intuitive (to me anyway). I've heard great things about Sibelius.

Marshall

rfclef · #7 10-25-2007, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jay Terrien

I used Finale with great grief for years. It's just way too "you need to be a keyboard player" for my tastes. I like using a mouse for everything. Point, click, input notes, write kick-ass music, DONE.

There's some Sibelius scores on this page:
http://jayterrien.com/The%20Twelve/The%20Twelve.htm

I am a mouse user myself, and not so hot on kybd.... and that is how I go with Finale... mostly mouse (although the newer Finale versions do the Scanning of the music so well, that scanning a piece in if I need to edit it saves a LOT of time... (like if I want to change a bass clarinet part to a Bass part, etc... scan in and edit (even make it into tabs...) Maybe Sibelius does that too... Get one and stick with, you;ll probably be happy...