Survey: Finale interface

[miker]

But just as an example for how easy it is to fix:

Tap the I key. (Shortcut for barline)
Click in the overlong measure where the barline was missed.

[ebiggs1]

If you like Simple Entry in Finale you will love Smart Score’s editor.

[ebiggs1]

SmartScore was just updated to 64-bit, as SmartScore 64. There is a completely new interface.

I just got the Smart Score 64 after three tries! SC isn't much better than MM at CS but at least they answer the phone and email.
The interface is almost the same only bigger. I find it no more difficult than the 32 version. I runa piano/vocal piece through just to test and it got it 99% correct. It doesn't export to Finale any longer.

[miker]

That didn't work in the old version, either. Or, at least, I never used it. Save as XML, and import into Finale. Two mouse clicks.

[ebiggs1]

It worked for me. It worked for each Finale version that I have.

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[miker]

Maybe it’s because I’m on a Mac. Not surprising.

[Zoots]

In the SS64 Support -- FAQ, it says:

I select "Save As and Open in Finale" but nothing happens.
If you have SmartScore and Finale properly installed and you see that the "Save As and Open in Finale" button is greyed ou (or if FILE > Save as and open in Finale is greyed out), then your copy of Finale isn't located where SmartScore expects to find it. It’s not a major problem. Here’s the workaround…

The workaround is as miker describes, save XML, import XML.

Now why the Finale location isn't were SS expects to find it if you installed with default locations is another issue.

[ebiggs1]

My Smart Score 64 does not have the "Save and Open MusicXML in Finale" tab like the 32 version does. It isn't even a choice.

[miker]

Maybe they decided it wasn’t worth fixing.

They don’t want to hear about bugs, now. They told me to make a list and wait a few weeks, until they get caught up with shipping the new version.

[ebiggs1]

Like I said it has always worked perfectly for me on every Finale version I have or had. When I installed the 64 version it left the 32 version alone. Both work. I will likely delete the 32 version in awhile but not just yet. So far the only thing I tried came out great. But it was a good copy. I hope Musitek gets their act together, a total mess, all will be well. At least they answer the phone!

[motet]

Sounds like, like MakeMusic, they've put a lot of effort in to playback, something I personally don't care about, and which seems tangential. But I guess that's what's needed to get enough customers these days.

[miker]

Sounds like, like MakeMusic, they've put a lot of effort in to playback, something I personally don't care about, and which seems tangential. But I guess that's what's needed to get enough customers these days.

Every program wants to be everything to all people. So we have notation programs that do playback, playback programs that do notation, scanning programs that do both. This isn't necessarily bad, except when the extras detract from the core purpose. And the reason is, as you say, the customers demand it.

[Anders Hedelin]

Every program wants to be everything to all people. So we have notation programs that do playback, playback programs that do notation, scanning programs that do both. This isn't necessarily bad, except when the extras detract from the core purpose. And the reason is, as you say, the customers demand it.

Either the customers demand it, or the companies quess they do. On what grounds do they guess that? In Finale's case, not from Feature Requests Forum, that's for sure.

[Jay Emmes]

They don't guess, they try to attract as many potential customers as possible plus it justifies a hefty price.

[Michel R E]

It's a music program.
It's normal that an advanced notation program be also able to play back the music you notate.

While there may be a minority here who "don't need playback" because of their immense luck at being performed live every week, there are others, probably the majority among Finale users, composers who require both top quality notation as well as good quality playback.

For those who only do arrangements and copy work, the composers among us here have to supply clean scores and parts, just like you, with the added requirement that we also must supply an audio demo.
And the truth of the matter is that regardless the quality of the notated music, if the audio demo isn't of good enough quality it will not get listened to. That audio demo is often the difference between the piece getting a 2nd look and it being tossed in the reject pile.

So regardless of what the "notation only" people might think, MakeMusic is making the right decision by putting effort into improving playback as well as notation in Finale.

[ebiggs1]

...improving playback as well as notation in Finale.

Playback is essential. As I recall the even very first Finale had rudimentary midi sounds included. All the greats use playback don't kid yourself. Even if they had to do it on their own piano or violin and use pen and manuscript paper.

[Bill Reed]

Well said Michael.