With this article, a tutorial dedicated to computer music notation with Finale 2012 software begins. A complex program with great potential. Produced by Make Music, Finale represents the standard for computer music notation with Sibelius.
Finale's complexity is counterbalanced by its great versatility. I can now say with almost absolute certainty that there is no writing, graphic or notational need that cannot be achieved with this program. The software is multiplatform (Windows - Mac) and contains, since the 2008 version, the Garritan sound library: an important resource for those who are not satisfied with hearing their score played by a sad general midi sound bank. The Garritan library has 375 excellent sounds, many of which are capable of playing instrumental articulations (staccato, pizzicato, glissato, etc.) as well as any type of dynamics. The management of the midi devices is finally convenient and fast: with the “Auto-search devices” function it is possible to leave several midi devices connected and manage them alternately during the writing of the score.
Let's go in order
What do you need to be able to use Finale? Obviously a computer and software (which can also be purchased in the Academic version for professionals), a master keyboard and a pair of headphones. The installation is simple and straightforward, two codes are required (activation and serial number). The online registration of the product for the Italian version is not necessary.
At each launch of the program you are faced with the Start window: from here you can move in all directions: create a guided score, a predefined document, an exercise for a student, import scores from other notational programs, import through one scanner scores already written (printed, not handwritten) or .tiff files to avoid or almost avoid transcription.
Square notation on tetragrammaton (possible through the Medieval plug-in) joins the modern classical or jazz notations of the Maestro, Maestro Wide, Petrucci and many other fonts that Finale makes available to the user.
A mixer, a good quality reverb, the ability to export documents in pdf format and the ability to save scores in audio format further increase the interest in this program. Even the East West library is recognized without any problem by Finale and the exchange of instruments with the relative automatic reassignment between the two libraries (East West and Garritan) does not generate any difficulties.
Numerous plug-ins and shortcuts in this version: with Alpha Notes it is possible to convert music into cards and exercises for students, with the Finale Numerics font it is possible to easily insert the encrypted bass and harmonic analyzes (photo 5), with the numerous metatools you get shortcuts and simplifications for symbols, layout, text insertion etc ... And if I play the violin, can I have my performance in Finale "read" from a microphone so that I can create the score? Yes, this is also possible.
So soon for the first tab - tutorial
See you on the next episode
