By Dale Farris, Vice-President
Golden Triangle PC Club
March 2005

Overview

Finale 2005 is the world's best-selling music notation software, and this latest, newest edition of Finale further solidifies MakeMusic!'s hold on this special market of computer software used to create music. Over the many years of producing Finale, MakeMusic! has continued to listen to their thousands of loyal customers and introduce more advanced features to this always impressive software.

Finale 2005 elevates the notation software experience — providing simpler, richer and more intuitive interaction for unsurpassable results in creating, customizing and sharing printed music. From student to superstar, Finale will exceed your expectations.

Finale 2005 empowers you with the ability to easily customize your music curriculum and meet the individual needs of each of your students with an advanced breadth of relevant, integrated music education features.

Finale 2005 introduces the friendliest interface in notation software. You’ll move swiftly to exactly what you want to do — with no detours or distractions. Enjoy the fastest score setup, convenient templates, time-saving wizards, plus simple, automated note entry and editing — all adding up to the genuine satisfaction of seeing your music beautifully presented and ready to share. And the new sound fonts, save to CD and playback capabilities enhance the musical experience, to ensure that others hear your music as you intended.

Finale 2005 is the most advanced and flexible solution to your need for speed, control, and extraordinary results. Work naturally as you notate and customize faster than ever before. Finale affords you options, range, and personalization in areas never before possible. Plus, the Finale file format delivers unsurpassed ability to share your work and conveniently connect with colleagues worldwide — saving you time and effort.

The following list of features gives you an idea of power of this unique program.

What's New in Finale 2005?

Finale Performance Assessment
Launch Window
Expanded Setup Wizard
SmartMusic Wizard and More
Engraver Tuplets & Spacing Controls
Intelligent Repeats
Row-Loff Marching Percussion Sounds
Third-Party Sound Font Support
More Human Playback
Grace Note Spacing Improvements
Transportable Staff Lists
Advanced Hyperscribe
New TG Tools Plug-ins
FinaleScript version 1.5
Mac/Win Hybrid CD
Upgraded Simple Note Entry
Better View and Navigation Controls

Features

Setup Wizard creates new pieces quickly and easily including title, composer, copyright, page size and orientation, instrumentation, time signature, key signature, tempo marking, pickup measure and font

Entering notes/rests with the mouse includes visual representation of notes for clarity and facilitates speed

Insert notes/rests before existing entries

Playing notes/rests in from a MIDI keyboard captures performance data

Real-time recording beat source options include tap your own tempo sync to external MIDI source

Enter notes by playing an acoustic band instrument via a microphone

Import scanned music to transpose it, play it, etc. Also imports files from SmartScore and SharpEye

Slurs automatically avoid collisions with musical elements, minimizing editing

Chord symbols play back (optional and definable)

Chord symbols transpose with music

Enter chord symbols with a MIDI keyboard

Change any notehead to any symbol desired

Check ranges to make sure all parts are playable (based on experience levels)

Enter slurs, shapes, articulations, and expressions on a rhythmic figure and then instantly apply these markings intelligently to all similar passages throughout your score

Automatically creates up to 6-part harmonies from a melody

Automatically creates piano, bass and drum parts

Scripting language allows you to automate repetitive tasks to greatly increase efficiency

No need to switch tools in order to do more advanced editing. Tool selection is necessary in some instances

Intelligent, human-like, fully customizable playback of all types of music

Repeats, endings, and repeat text, such as D.S.’s, can be defined to play back exactly as they should

Save your files as .WAV or .AIFF files to be burned on a CD

Includes high quality Sound Font for standardization of playback by all users

MIDI editing tool for fine-tuning individual notes and applying MIDI changes to large sections

Retranscribe feature allows unique quantizing of individual areas providing the best notated results of your performances

Completely flexible page layout. Systems can be adjusted/resized independently from one another to look exactly as desired

Extracted parts are laid out intelligently to allow for convenient page turns

Create accompaniment files to use with SmartMusic Studio

Share files with users of PrintMusic! and Finale Guitar and users of free downloadable version of Finale NotePad

Exercise Wizard generates customized exercises for every player in your group in seconds

Supported Import formats — MIDI, Encore, Rhapsody, MidiScan, SmartScore, Score, Allegro, PrintMusic!, Finale Guitar, NotePad, and MusicXML (which currently imports abc, TaBazar, JMSL, KGuitar, Plaine and Easie, Middle C, NIFF, XEMO, Virtual Composer, SharpEye, and Muse Data)

Supported Export formats - MIDI, .WAV, .AIFF, MP3, SmartMusic, Allegro, Finale Guitar, PrintMusic!, NotePad, and Music XML (which currently exports to Igor Engraver, TaBazar, abc, KGuitar, LilyPond, Xemo, MusicEase, and MuseData)

Free Technical Support - no time limits

Free unlimited re-installs on any single computer. May install on a second computer for free if both computers are for owner’s use only

International Translated Versions - English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese

Importance of Finale

MakeMusic! Inc. has recently announced that Finale, its popular music notation software, was used to create the sheet music for the recording sessions of Oscar-winning movies.

The award-winning movies that were recorded with Finale music scores included:

Finding Neverland for Best Music Score

Million Dollar Baby for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress and Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Ray for Best Actor and Best Sound Mixing

The Aviator for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design and Best Film Editing

The Incredibles for Best Animated Feature Film and Best Sound Editing

Other movies recorded with Finale music scores that were either nominated for or received Oscars include Spider-Man 2, Sideways, The Passion, Polar Express, Harry Potter 3, and The Village.

"Recording the music for movies is an extraordinarily difficult and expensive endeavor, often requiring eighty musicians, a dozen technicians and a staff of music notation experts working with Finale," stated MakeMusic! President John Paulson. "The composer and director often want changes made to the music during the session. That puts tremendous pressure on the music engravers to get those changes made quickly and reliably on their computers with Finale, printed out and distributed to the musicians for the next take. Delays cannot be tolerated because they cost too much. We are very proud that expert engraving houses like JoAnne Kane Music Service and Disney Music Library in Los Angeles and Dakota Music in London trust Finale in these challenging circumstances."

Also, MakeMusic! has announced that the December 2004 issue of Musical Merchandise Review Magazine (MMR) named MakeMusic! as "Software Line of The Year" as part of MMR's 11th Annual Dealer's Choice Awards. The winners were determined though voting by music product dealers across North America.

"It’s very gratifying to have music dealers across North America recognize the combination of SmartMusic and the Finale family of notation products as the Software Line of the Year," stated Anne Donnelly, Director of Marketing. "We are committed to creating software products that provide integrated solutions, whether our customers are creating SmartMusic Accompaniment files in Finale, or opening, editing and printing Finale files in our free, downloadable Finale Notepad. I believe this award is further recognition of the value of this integration to our customers and our commitment to serving music makers."

Musical Merchandise Review can be found on-line at www.mmrmagazine.com

Finale Family

Finale, Finale Guitar, Allegro, PrintMusic!, NotePad Plus, and NotePad offer a full range of power and price to suit your notation needs. And best of all, you'll never outgrow the Finale family.

Files created using products of the same version number can all be shared. For example, users of NotePad, NotePad Plus, PrintMusic!, Allegro, Finale Guitar and Finale can all share files with each other. Files are interchangeable with same and later versions.

So when you're ready to move up to Finale Guitar or Finale for more power and flexibility, everything you've learned and created is instantly usable. No data is lost, and you don't have to learn a new program.

Finale 2005 is the ultimate music notation program giving you complete control over every aspect of the printed page while providing powerful control over MIDI input and output.

Short History of Finale

Until 1988, writing music was largely a pen and paper proposition. It was slow to write, tough to edit, and transpositions meant a re-write. Writing out individual parts meant hours of work.

In the fall of that year, a company called Coda Music Software released a program named Finale and revolutionized the way musicians worked. Over the past 15 years Coda, now known as MakeMusic!, has continued to enhance and transform the experience of making music, teaching music and learning music.

In 1991 special pricing was introduced enabling schools, churches, teachers, and worship ministers to purchase Finale at a substantial discount.

Finale introduced the first notation lab pack and site license program.

In 1994 MakeMusic! launched a revolution in practicing music: the Vivace Intelligent Accompanist. More than slightly ahead of its time, this acclaimed interactive music practice system lives on as SmartMusic — pioneering innovative practice technologies and content.

Not everyone needs a professional grade notation program. So in 1998 came PrintMusic!, a less powerful alternative to Finale and an extraordinary value. Best of all Finale files can be opened in PrintMusic! and vice-versa.

In 2000 Finale blazed the way for students to create music both at school and at home with Finale NotePad, a free basic notation program that could make, open, play, and edit Finale files. Today it’s published in six languages and used worldwide by over a million composers of all ages.

MakeMusic! continues to deliver the very best, most useful tools for music makers. These efforts have been rewarded, as Finale is the world standard in music notation. Published in seven languages, with customers in over 200 countries, Finale truly is the international language of music.

System Requirements

Finale 2005 for Windows

Windows 98, 2000, ME, XP
Import and export of EPS files supported under Windows 98, and ME only.
CD-ROM drive
800 x 600 minimum monitor resolution
128MB RAM in older operating systems
256MB RAM recommended
200MB free hard disk space required for software and user manual

Finale 2005 for Macintosh

G4 or higher recommended
OS 10.2 and higher
CD-ROM drive
800 x 600 minimum monitor resolution
256MB RAM recommended
200MB free hard disk space required for software and manual

Optional

MIDI interface
MIDI input and/or playback device
Printer
Scanner
Microphone required for use of Finale Performance Assessment (except when using MIDI keyboard) and MicNotator

Finale for Macintosh OS 9 or Windows NT

Every year MakeMusic! releases a new version of Finale that further streamlines its interface, expands upon its power and flexibility, and adds innovative features that make your work more productive and enjoyable. These improvements often tax the operating systems that are supported. Eventually, Finale outgrows older operating systems and MakeMusic! is forced to drop them from its compatibility list.

Such is the case with Finale 2005. Therefore, Finale 2004 is the last version to support these aging operating systems:

Windows NT4
Macintosh OS 9

MakeMusic! will continue to support their valued OS 9 and NT customers by keeping Finale 2004 available and in-stock as demand warrants. When you are ready to upgrade your operating system, we encourage a move to the most current Finale version. Please note that files created in Finale 2005 can not be opened in Finale 2004 or older versions of Finale notation software.

If you would like to purchase or upgrade to Finale 2004 for your Macintosh OS 9 or Windows NT4 computer, please contact MakeMusic! at 800-843-2066 or finalesales@makemusic.com

Price

$600.00 full retail edition
$109.95 upgrade from 2004 edition
$159.95 upgrade from v. 1 through 2003 editions
$300.00 academic edition

Note that Finale 2005 integrates versions for both Windows and Mac machines on the included software.

Accessories

Finale Instrumental Microphone - $10
Instrumental microphone for use with Finale's MicNotatorT feature. This high-quality microphone clips on to your instrument or clothing.

Finale Macintosh Microphone Pre-Amp Adaptor - $10
For Macintosh users who have an older Mac that has a PlainTalk port. Visit Apple's website for specifications about your Macintosh.

Finale Macintosh USB Microphone Adaptor - $35
For Macintosh users that have USB ports. Visit Apple's website for specifications about your Macintosh.

About MakeMusic! Inc.

MakeMusic! Inc. is the world leader in software and systems for music educators and musicians. Among their leading products are Finale, the world's best-selling music notation software and SmartMusic Studio, the complete music practice system that features Intelligent Accompaniment and the world's largest interactive accompaniment library.

The market for MakeMusic! includes music educators and music makers worldwide. In the USA alone there are more than 100,000 music educators and more than 60 million active music makers (playing an instrument or singing at least once a month).

The mission of the company is to enhance and transform the making of music, the teaching of music, and the learning of music.

Their strategy:  MakeMusic! is the only company that creates, owns, and licenses the most advanced and patented technologies and solutions that support the composition, arranging, teaching, learning, and playing of music. This creates a major barrier to entry for competitors. MakeMusic!'s solutions independently are already established as market leaders, and collectively they create a huge advantage for music educators, music makers, and the professionals serving them such as music publishers.

Finale, the industry leader in music notation and the entire notation family that includes Allegro, PrintMusic! and Finale NotePad, are already found in concert halls, publishing houses, colleges, schools, and homes around the world. MakeMusic! is investing in the enhancement of the award-winning SmartMusic Studio through the deployment of an online subscription model that will establish it as the leading practice system for musicians.

Contact

MakeMusic! Inc.
6210 Bury Drive
Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55346-1718
952-937-9611
FAX 952-937-9760
www.makemusic.com