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Thomas Zell Posted
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I am on a Mac (Sierra 10.12.6) Have been using Finale Print Music 2014.5. Received the announcement that the next Mac upgrade will not be compatible with Print Music, so accepted the offer to switch to full version Finale.

My frustration has to do with the scanning program I purchased some years ago. I purchased this through Finale thinking it would be a great asset, and easy to use. It wasn't. I never really got a good handle on using this program. It was an entirely separate program (complete with large, complicated manual), and not part of Finale, (which was news to me until I downloaded it),  and not anywhere nearly as quick and easy as it was purported to be. It was not inexpensive.

The final stroke came today in finding that the full Finale version I just purchased doesn't support this scanning software. So, my frustration has gone full circle: I let myself get talked into an expensive program by Finale which was pitched as being simple and easy to use, yet in fact was complicated and totally separate from the Finale programing. * I can't continue using my old Print Music program any more due to the Mac upgrade * The full Finale version doesn't support the scanning software, which leaves me holding the bag for a product I got talked into buying, but which is worthless to me now.

Am I missing something, or have I just been hung out to dry?

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J ADRIAN VERKOUTEREN Posted
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You are not the only user to lament Finale's decision not to include scanning capabilities in v25, but they were quite up front about this change of course in advance of the initial release.

 

I do not know the scanning program you refer to, but if it is the full version of the lite version formerly integrated into Finale and PrintMusic, you should get in touch with Mike Rosen, who uses the program, likes its additional capabilities, and may be able to help you feel more comfortable using it.

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MIKE ROSEN Posted
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So, the first question is, what scanning program? I use SmartScore X2 Pro, which is the full version of what used to come packaged with the Finale products. Currently, it's version 10.5.

 

Yes, it's an entirely different program, with its own learning curve. It allows you to correct for bad scans before even going to the recognition mode, with deskew and drawing tools. Then, after recognition, you can edit the scan to correct the inevitable errors (and as much as I love the program, there will be a few.) But you will then have an XML file that Finale can easily deal with.

 

Don't be sucked into their Music-to-XML program. It's the Lite version, and it's a black box: PDF in, error-filled XML out. You need the editing abilities of the Pro line.

 

I can understand your frustrations, but if you want to scan, you need to grit your teeth, and learn how to use the program. It's worth the time and effort. I use it with great success on choral scores of pretty good complexity. If you have any specific questions about it, you can contact me directly at wawoodman at aol dot com.

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MIKE HALLORAN Posted
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