The Industry Changes its Focus

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VICTOR ATKINS Posted November 01, 2017 03:50

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I wish Finale could have kept up with the industry by reinventing itself rather than trying to please so many different customers. Being the oldest notation software in the business has worked against it as it has tried to please all of its various clients by expanding tools rather than making them better. There are simply too many ways to do the same thing and they vary from computer to computer and version to version. Sibelius started from scratch and based its foundation on what Finale did best. I am forced to switch with the industry and I do not look forward to the change, but I need notation software at home and at work and on too many different computers. My institution is changing and I am forced to use and teach the new leader in notation software. Finale is has become rusty but it was for many years the industry standard. I have missed its consistency and reliability since before it became incompatible with Mac products. Thanks for so many years of good work! Peace!

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J ADRIAN VERKOUTEREN Posted November 01, 2017 15:48

Don't we all wish that MakeMusic would ignore all its other customers and just concentrate on us?

Until you make specific suggestions rather than blanket statements about how insufficient the software is (for your purposes) I doubt Finale can address your concerns even if they want to.

MIKE ROSEN Posted November 01, 2017 16:29

Like JAV, I’m having trouble seeing your point.

MIKE HALLORAN Posted November 01, 2017 19:30

Q: How many folksingers does it take to change a lightbulb?

A: Five. One to change and four to sing about the old one.

(I made all or part of my living as a folksinger for many years.)

>Being the oldest notation software in the business<

It isn't.

> I have missed its consistency and reliability since before it became incompatible with Mac products.<

Gotta pull a red flag on that one. Apple moved on years ago and let everybody know the direction that the OS was heading. That Finale didn't go 64 bit till last year was not good on so many levels. Yes, 2012 was supposed to be 64 bit — why it wasn't is anybody's guess (was it really the howling on the old forum?) but, when OS 10.10 Yosemite was released, Finale was not fully compatible and the patch jobs that were 2014 and 2014.5 were just that—and still not fully compatible with an OS release schedule that was announced a decade ago.

But is now 64 bit, it is and that is the future. The bugs are getting fixed. I hope the 5K display issue gets solved before I buy one next year (other apps still have a problem with that, too). It would be nice if the Movie Window came back but I don't get those gigs anymore. I've been reading some interesting things about a new JW plug that's going to be wonderful if it is ever finished. Whatever, whenever...

A lot of music applications have not caught up to Apple yet. Fortunately for me, the only ones I use are SmartScore and BIAB so I hope both companies get off the stick soon. Apple has announced that it is dropping all 32 bit support in the next OS — 'twill be interesting to see if they stick to their guns on that one. BTW, if you installed 2014.5 before upgrading to High Sierra, it still works the same as it did in Sierra but next year, only 25 and later are expected to work at all.

As to other apps, Sibelius is still Sibelius and those who like it are welcome to it. No Thanks. Dorico holds some promise but if it gets good, it's at the expense of user control. Maybe, someday I'll like it but not yet. I speak only for myself, of course.

Like everyone, I want Finale to be better for me. It's going in a good direction and I see no reason to believe otherwise.

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