Need more info: What Arranger plugin are you talking about? Is that its name—if not, what is? Are you really using 2014 or Finale 25?

If you are you referring to the Band in a Box plug-ins, those are present in 2014.5 but no longer available in Finale 25. Drum Groove and others are still there.

Hi Mike. Sorry for the vagueness. I've got 2014.5 upgraded from 2008

I wish I could remember exactly what the plug-in was called - I no longer have the old version. It was in the scoring and arranging menu and I think it was part of Band in a Box. It allowed for a smart creation of a backing based on the chords in a variety of styles. My current menu looks like this:

Have you looked at the Band in a Box Auto Harmonizing (the 2nd one down on the list?)

I no longer have 2008 installed but I remember the BIAB plug-in saving my butt when on a tight schedule for an infomercial back in 2000 (or How to deliver 30 minutes of music tomorrow when you get the commission today!). Frankly, I've never used it since but it's nice to know that 2014.5 still has it. That Finale 25 doesn't is one of the reasons I'll keep 2014.5 installed till it no longer works.

I don't remember if it added percussion but you have other plug-ins that do.

I recently sprung for the full Band-in-a-Box Audiophile to do a couple of vanity projects that might get done this year (if I'm lucky). Had I not done that infomercial 17 years ago in Finale, it never would have occurred to me to think of it.

I recall the plug-in Juliet mentioned (though not its name), but it has not been included in the last few versions.

'Auto-harmonising' isn't the feature I remember - that just adds a harmony to an existing melody line. I'm looking for the plug-in that could take a chord sequence and create a rhythm section backing in a variety of styles.

It seems it's not in the 2014.5 version or later. What a shame! :(

You are correct. The plug-in I recall (regardless of what it was called) added harmonies along with a rhythmic groove chosen from a pull-down list. I didn't use it often, but it was fun when I did. Sadly it disappeared several version back (how long ago, I cannot recall).

>It seems it's not in the 2014.5 version or later. What a shame! <

I still have 2011 installed. It's not there, either.

I don't feel like I've benefitted from the upgrade in that case. I should have checked carefully. :(

Hi Juliet:

You're specifically thinking of the "MiBAC jazz rhythm section generator" plug-in. That was removed in Finale 2010 due to legacy code issues outside of our control. I agree it was a handy tool to make backing tracks to wood shed over. We are looking into alternatives.

Cheers,

Michael Johnson

VP, Professional Notation

MakeMusic