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Professional Music Writing Software Reviews and Buyers Guide

This is a comparative listing of the features of several of the more professional level music writing software programs currently available on the market.  There is also a list of consumer level music writing software programs available on this same site.  That list includes titles such as the Mozart 9 and Notation Composer music writing software programs.  All features and specifications are accurate as of the time of the writing of this article.

Sibelius 6

Finale 2010 QuickScore Elite Notion 3

Current Pricing

Quickscore Elite Level 2 Music Notation Software Information
Site License Available Yes Yes, for 10 or more licenses Yes Yes
MEdM Editor Rating
Read Review at MEdM Read our review of Sibelius 6 Read our review of Finale 2010 Read our review of QuickScore Elite Level II Read our review of Notion 3
Maximum # of Staves Unlimited Unlimited 48 Unlimited
Custom Staff Styles
Yes Yes Yes Yes
Complex time signatures Yes Yes No Yes
US/UK Terminology Both Both Both US
Tablature support Yes Yes Yes Yes
Plugin Support Yes Yes Yes Yes
Live tempo, vamping, and skip ahead support Live tempo (tap time support) No No Live tempo, vamping, and skip ahead during performance, specify exact rhythms for tempo control or use default beat, pause on fermatas,cutoffs support, take 2nd ending support, navigate the score while performing
Input via MIDI Yes Yes Yes Yes
Input via microphone Yes Yes Yes No
Input via scanner Yes, with PhotoScore Yes, with SmartScore Lite (included) Yes, not included Yes, not included
Exports to MIDI, MusicXML MIDI, MusicXML MIDI, MusicXML MIDI, Music XML
Imports from MIDI, MusicXML MIDI, MusicXML MIDI, NIFF, MusicXML, Guido, MusicWrite MIDI, Music XML
Imports image file formats for use in scores
TIFF JPG, PNG, BMP, GIF,TIFF,EPS BMP No
Parts dynamically
linked to score
Yes Yes Yes Yes
Custom note head styles Yes Yes Yes Yes
Video support Yes Yes Yes No
Audio Output MIDI, VST, WAV
MIDI, VST, WAV, MP3
WAV, VST MIDI, VST, WAV
Save Files As WAV, MIDI, TIFF, EPS, BMP, PNG, EPS MIDI, MP3, WAV, AIFF, JPG, PNG, TIFF, EPS QSD, Copyist, MIDI, MusicXML, WAV, MP3, PDF*, JPG*, BMP, TIFF, EMF, EPS MIDI, Music XML, WAV
Files can be opened in StarPlay SmartMusic Studio N/A N/A
Teacher Control (computer
lab capable)
No Yes No Yes
Support options Phone, online forum, email Phone, online forum, email Email, Phone Email, Phone
Additional Info Scores can be posted on Internet using the Sibelius Scorch plugin Over 300 educational worksheets, range checking,magnetic layout www.sionsoft.com/qse2lit.html

Includes additional music editing views including audio, controllers, piano roll/drums and MIDI and audio mixers.

Includes multi-track digital audio recording capability.

Includes QuickAudio audio file editor. for complete specifications

- Pro-Audio Mixer  
- Bundled with ove 10 GB of sounds including exclusive London Symphony Orchestra Sample Library  
- VSTi presets in Score Setup for Vienna Symphonic Library SE and SE PLUS,        East West Quantum Leap Platinum, Miroslav Philharmonik, Garritan Personal Orchetsra (ARIA version) with more to come  
- ReWire Slave and Host  
- Sequencer Staff  
- 4 internally mapped MIDI out ports  
- All Score symbols are a single click away from entry

* requires free or commercial PDF and/or JPG printer driver (available from website)

Comments 

 
0 # Ron Johnson 2009-11-16 03:14
I need a program to transpose band music parts quickly. Am I better off with Sibelius or Finale?

Thanks

Ron
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0 # Chad Criswell 2009-11-16 04:47
Quoting Ron Johnson:
I need a program to transpose band music parts quickly. Am I better off with Sibelius or Finale?

Thanks

Ron

All products make it pretty easy to transpose parts, using a quick keypress and then selecting the key that you want to transpose into. The thing that is more important is how you will get the notes into the computer in the first place.

Both Sibelius and Finale offer scanning options, which for scanning clean originals work pretty well. For scanning full scores you will need to buy the commercial version of the free scanning product that ships with each of them (SmartScore or PhotoScore).

If you don't mind entering everything in by hand then you would not need the scanning upgrade.
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0 # anonymous 2010-01-26 20:22
Sibelius 6 cannot export to MusicXML -- you'll need to spend another $199 for that.
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0 # judy 2011-04-17 00:52
a question, if i may. DOES SIBELIUS6(+audi oscore ultimate) when using keyboard for midi input to make scores, ALLOW MORE THAN JUST A FEW NOTES AT A TIME? does anyone know if one may play at say a level5 piano and have the score written for printout?
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