Notation software Enocre vs Finale, Sibelius

[rlefebvr]

Hey guys, I am looking into notation software and after looking over the threads I notice most people go with Finale or Sibelius. My teacher uses Encore from Gvox.

Does it compare, is it better or worse.

I want to be able to play from my digital piano into the sofware.
Save as midi and transfer to MP3 with great sound.
Would love to be able to scan into the software.
Must be able to read midi and transfer on two different keys.
Must be able to add Chords and lyrics.
That's basically it. Don't want to spend a year trying to get it to work.

[Nordlys]

Finale and Sibelius both have all the functions you could wish for. I use Sibelius; it is easier to use, I find (at least it was, haven't tried the newer Finale versions).  Sibelius can also convert the midi output to wav, so you can make your own CD with the music.
And Sibelius did something very valuable: there is a keyboard shortcut for everything, so you don't have to use the mouse. Saves your piano hands from injury.

[DarkWind]

I've used all three. Encore is just plain terrible. Finale is hard to use. Sibelius is the way to go. But rather, wait a few months until Notion comes out.

[kapelli]

I've benn using Sibelius and Finale,
and I must that, if Sibelius 2 was better than Finale 2001-2003,
so now the new Finale 2005 is a masterpiece.
If you want to use Finale, just use 2005 version. It's really incredible what this program can do.

[Ludwig Van Rachabji]

I use Finale, and I find it easier to use than Sibelius. However, the printed music in Sibelius looks much more professional than Finale, though I prefer Finale in most other aspects.

Finale uses Smartmusic's Softsynth for playback of your compositions, which sounds much nicer than Sibelius's MIDI playback. However, if you want superior playback quality, I suggest you look into Garritan Personal Orchestra, which is compatible with both Finale and Sibelius. - www.garritan.com

[Brian Healey]

Wow, I'm surprised anybody picked Finale as easier. Granted, I've never used 2005, but everything before that is a mess compared to Sibelius IMHO.  I started up Sibelius and started using it without even looking at the manual, and I've barely touched it since. It's a much more intuitive program. With Finale (I use both programs on a fairly regular basis), I usually have my head buried in the manual most of the time. To my knowledge, there is nothing one program can do that the other can't (nothing I've ever heard of or encountered), so I say go with the easiest to use.


Peace,
Bri

[rlefebvr]

I use Finale, and I find it easier to use than Sibelius. However, the printed music in Sibelius looks much more professional than Finale, though I prefer Finale in most other aspects.

Finale uses Smartmusic's Softsynth for playback of your compositions, which sounds much nicer than Sibelius's MIDI playback. However, if you want superior playback quality, I suggest you look into Garritan Personal Orchestra, which is compatible with both Finale and Sibelius. - www.garritan.com

Thanks for the link

[Ludwig Van Rachabji]

Thanks for the link

You're welcome! 

[DarkWind]

I'd really just hold my money for Notion. It seems like it might blow these two programs out of the water. But who knows! It seems really good though, and it also comes with a spectacular library of sounds. Just check out their mp3 example at www.notionmusic.com . I was ALMOST fooled. Almost equal to the Garritan.

[Ludwig Van Rachabji]

Almost equal to the Garritan.

You think? I own Garritan, and I don't think the two are in the same league. This sounded way too synthesized for my liking, where as Garritan sounds realistic.

[presto agitato]

Sibelius 3 is the best by far.  You can spend a year to know how Finale works ans it doesnt sound  too good.

[jazzertim]

Encore was neck and neck with Finale backl in the early 1990's, but the parent company, Passport Designs, fell into financial flux and the program disapeared for a while. It was(and is) very intuitive, and presented a viable alternative to the steep learning curve of early Finale releases. Sibelius is intuitive along the same lines, and will let you post music on the web using Scorch plug-in, which is similar to a pdf file for music. Finale is still top dog in publishing, buit Sibelius is gaining ground fast. All of these titles have demos from their respective websites. Like buying a piano, find what works best for you.

[bnatural]

Has anyone tried Finale 2004 or Finale 2005?  I do find them to be a bit difficult to learn.

How's the latest version of Sibelius?

[presto agitato]

Has anyone tried Finale 2004 or Finale 2005?  I do find them to be a bit difficult to learn.

How's the latest version of Sibelius?

I have worked with both. Sibelius 3  is better in all ways and easier to learn.

[BoliverAllmon]

I have worked with both. Sibelius 3  is better in all ways and easier to learn.

I found sibelius 3 easy to work with also. I had problems at first, cuz I was use to Finale. They have a slight different set-up, but once you realize the difference it is smooth sailing. I hate pointing and clicking and Sibelius makes it easier to just use the keypad

boliver

[Dazzer]

You think? I own Garritan, and I don't think the two are in the same league. This sounded way too synthesized for my liking, where as Garritan sounds realistic.

You see the difference is notion is STILL synthesized (i can hear it). Garritan is a different category, Its a sampler, and it uses actual audio that is triggered by midi signals.

Though notion definately sounds better than sibelius

On the topic, sibelius wins hands down. I literally taught myself how to use v1, and now in v3 everything just comes easily. I almost had to teach my teachers in school how to use it. all those keyboard shortcuts make it almost like playing the piano too... lol

[BoliverAllmon]

that garritan software looks amazing. too bad it is 250 bucks. I would buy it if I could in a heart beat.

boliver

[Dazzer]

you need a killer system though...

the STEINWAY PIANO sound uses up my full 512mb of ram.  add that to Cubase SX, and my computer cRaWlS!

the recommended is actually at least 1.5 gigs of ram. Failing that, you need a VERY fast processor.

So its not JUST 250 bucks... hahaha