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MakeMusic, Inc. is a world leader in software and
systems for music educators and musicians with their flagship products Finale®
2009, music notation software. MakeMusic's Finale 2009 dominates the notation software market. Finale 2009 is a powerful tool for
turning ideas into music. Hundreds of features are at your fingertips in Finale’s
intuitive interface, making it easier to bring your music to life faster.
MakeMusic offers a complete line of notation products, starting with its free version,
NotePad., which can be used for basic applications. Next in line are SongWriter and then
PrintMusic both for under $100. These
are well suited for student use at both elementary and secondary levels. It includes basic scanning and MIDI input and
output. The next version is Allegro, a
high-end offering, and then the top of the line Finale 2009. The main advantage of the MakeMusic Line of
notation products is it includes a free program and several affordable versions
all the way up to their flagship program, Finale 2009.
Two Frequently
Asked Questions
- What is the difference between the Academic and Retail
versions of Finale?
There is only one difference between the Academic and Retail
versions of Finale, and that is the Price. Other than price, the programs are
completely identical. - Can I install Finale on my desktop work computer and my personal laptop?
Finale and Allegro can be installed and authorized on 2 machines at any given time.
PrintMusic, SmartMusic and SongWriter can only be authorized on 1 machine at any
given time.
 Click here to review other FAQs at the MakeMusic Website.
Comparison of Music Notation Programs
View the following Finale, Allegro, PrintMusic, SongWriter & Notepad Comparison
FEATURES |
Finale® |
Finale Allegro® |
Finale PrintMusic® |
Finale SongWriter™ |
Finale NotePad® |
Getting Started |
|
|
|
|
|
Number of staves |
Unlimited |
Unlimited |
24 |
8 |
8 |
Number of staff lines available |
0-100 |
0, 1, 5 or 6 |
1 or 5 (Plus Tablature) |
5 (Plus Tablature) |
5 (Plus Tablature) |
Set-up Wizard |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
QuickStart Videos |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
-- |
Pre-designed templates |
68 |
50 |
31 |
-- |
-- |
Entering Notes
| SmartScore® Lite Music Scanning |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
-- |
-- |
| Step-time entry (one note at a time) from mouse/computer keyboard |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Step time or Real-time (as you play) entry from MIDI device/keyboard |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Step-time only |
| Real-time entry from an acoustic single-line instrument |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
-- |
-- |
| Real-time entry without a click track (HyperScribe®) |
Yes |
Yes |
With click track only |
With click track only |
No real-time entry |
| Import MIDI and MusicXML files |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
MIDI only |
Adding Markings, Lyrics, and More
| Number of staves |
Unlimited |
Unlimited |
24 |
8 |
8 |
| Lyric verses allowed |
Unlimited |
Unlimited |
Unlimited |
6 |
1 |
| Compound or additive time signatures |
Yes |
Yes |
Compound only |
Compound only |
Compound only |
| Number of staff lines available |
0-100 |
0, 1, 5 or 6 |
1 or 5 (Plus Tablature) |
5 (Plus Tablature) |
5 (Plus Tablature) |
| Tablature |
User customizable |
User customizable |
Standard guitar and bass only |
Standard guitar and bass only |
Standard guitar and bass only |
| Chord symbols |
Automatic |
Automatic |
Automatic |
Automatic |
Manual Text Entry |
| Automatic guitar fretboards |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
-- |
| Chord Charts w/Slash Notation |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
-- |
| Percussion Notation |
Can create perc. Maps |
Perc. staves have fixed mapping |
Perc. staves have fixed mapping |
Perc. staves have fixed mapping |
-- |
| Create Coda Systems |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
-- |
Hearing Your Music
| Record/Import Audio |
Yes |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Includes 300+ Garritan studio-quality sounds |
Yes |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Tapspace Virtual Drumline sounds |
Yes |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Row-Loff™ Marching Percussion Sounds |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
-- |
-- |
| SmartMusic SoundFont (128 sounds) |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Human Playback® (multiple styles) |
Customizable |
Customizable |
Standard styles only |
Standard styles only |
Standard styles only |
| Conduct tempo changes with TempoTap™ |
Yes |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Full VST/AU Instrument Support |
Yes |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Ability to edit MIDI data |
Yes |
Yes |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Mixer |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
-- |
-- |
| FEATURES |
Finale® |
Finale Allegro® |
Finale PrintMusic® |
Finale SongWriter™ |
Finale NotePad® |
| Sharing Your Music |
|
|
|
|
|
| Print professional-quality sheet-music |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Save as audio file (.MP3, .WAV, .AIFF) |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
-- |
| Can open files created by same or earlier versions of all products on this chart*** |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Export MIDI and MusicXML files |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
MIDI Only |
| Export as EPS or TIFF file |
Section or full page. EPS or TIFF |
Full page TIFF only |
Full page TIFF only |
-- |
-- |
Timesavers
| Link and/or Extract Parts |
Both |
Extract only |
Extract Only |
-- |
-- |
| Multiple Page Editing |
Yes |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| ScoreMerger™ |
Yes |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Staff Optimization – automatically hides non-active staves |
Yes |
Yes |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| SmartFind and Paint™ |
Yes |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Over 50 timesavers like Instant orchestration, Range Checking, Handbells Used Chart, Chord Analysis etc. |
Yes |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
Composing and Arranging Tools
| Chromatic and diatonic transposition |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
By key sig. for entire piece only |
| ScoreMerger™ |
Yes |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Video Support (Movie Window and SMPTE support) |
Yes |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Band-in-a-Box® Auto Harmonization |
Up to 6 voices |
2 or 3 voices |
2 or 3 voices |
2 or 3 voices |
-- |
| Latin Percussion Rhythm Sounds |
Yes |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Automatic Drum Grooves |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
-- |
| Import EPS or TIFF file |
EPS or TIFF |
-- |
TIFF only |
-- |
-- |
Engraver Tools
| Document Styles |
Library & create own |
-- |
Yes |
-- |
-- |
| Create Non-standard key signatures |
Yes |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Page Layout Controls |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Limited |
-- |
| Textured Paper backgrounds |
Over a dozen styles |
Over a dozen styles |
Over a dozen styles |
1 style |
1 style |
| Music fonts Included |
Maestro, Jazz, Engraver, Maestro Wide |
Maestro/ Jazz |
Maestro/ Jazz |
Maestro only |
Maestro only |
| 3rd Party Music Font Support |
Unlimited |
Limited |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| FinaleScript® |
Yes |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
How It Works
With a music notation software program and through the power of MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) - a connection that translates what you play into the computer into notes on the stave, you can not only play the melody line, but add bass parts - even arrange for an entire orchestra if you wish. You simply play each part and it appears on the screen, all laid out. All you have to do is play them back and make adjustments as you need, then print them out.
For those who do not read music, it has many uses. If you have pieces you've composed that you'd like others - who do read music - to play, you could use musical notation software instead of employing a professional transcriber, which is time-consuming and expensive. You can have any MIDI file transcribed, even those you find online. You can set up exercises for music pupils (including yourself!), or even transpose the key in which it's written.
One of the biggest advantages to music notation software is that it can act as a notepad for an idea. When a melody comes to mind, play it on a MIDI instrument and you have it all notated and ready to go back to later. You don't have to worry about remembering it. It allows you to try out different arrangements, to see what works and what doesn't, and how the different parts mesh. Before this you either had to have several instruments and play them well (plus recording gear, of course), or a strong knowledge of music theory. This makes music more democratic and accessible.
The downside is that you need a MIDI instrument to effectively enter the notes and information. You must also be a fluent player to execute the tune properly and the notation software will allow you literally compose on screen, with a MIDI playback through your speakers, and you can then make your adjustments.
| Computer Music Shop |
| www.ComputerMusicShop.com
|
9702 Gayton Road
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Sales@ComputerMusicShop.com |
Bldg 119
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(800) 791-0430 |
Richmond, VA
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Fax: (804) 303-6055 |
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