Welcome thread for Finale users

[silver_mica]

I just now found out that Finale has reached its end of life. I’ve used Finale since 2015.

Unfortunately, I’ve also used Steinberg’s software and their licensing scheme. It has been a rather unpleasant experience over the years.

I was about to buy Dorico - and I hear good things about Dorico - but, the thought of having to wrestle with Steinberg’s janky software, drivers, and licensing gives me pause.

[dmcclure]

Definitely useful!

[cccdin]

Is there any tool that open (read) finale files from Dorico? (Directly not XML)

[arco]

Various members of the Dorico team help anyone having problems with installing, licensing etc. usually within a few hours (they are based in the UK) so if you have problems, post it here with details (Mac or Windows), what you have done or tried etc.

[arco]

@cccdin no, see this:

Astonished at Finale news!

MusicXML files actually contain more engraving details than Finale files. A lot of how Finale displays music is determined by the program, not saved in the file. MusicXML files save all this information that Finale files don’t contain. So not only would building a Finale converter be a huge amount of work, it would be a complete waste of time. It would make conversions worse, not better. Remember to check your Dorico preferences if you want to preserve Finale formatting information that Dorico…

[cccdin]

I think it is necessary for Steinberg team to create a tool so that the dorico can directly read the files of the finale, and not from XML file.

[pianoleo]

To quote Michael Good again, albeit from some years ago:

@MichaelGood

notation applications continue to compute more and more display information in the app rather than storing it in the file. For the most accurate export possible, you need to have the files open in the application.

(He’s to be listened to; he invented MusicXML.)

Finale have not sold or opened up their source code. Even if they did, the only way for Steinberg to create an import tool would be to ingest Finale’s code, much of which is decades old and falling apart. It’s never going to happen.

[Puma0382]

@silver_mica

…their licensing scheme. It has been a rather unpleasant experience over the years.

Hi - the ‘bad old days’ of the hardware dongle are thankfully over; or did you mean the current Steinberg Licensing system (started Jan 2022).?

I’ll just say, aside from inevitable niggles during the transition period, my own experience of this system has been pretty good/stress free. Here’s a page with background info and guide about the (new) Steinberg Download Assistant - don’t be put off, it’s fairly simple/straightforward in actual use.! You ‘sign in’ to it using your Steinberg ID (same as for the forum).
Steinberg Licensing: Steinberg Download Assistant guide – Steinberg Support

If it is this part that’s still a worry, as indicated from another user above, it’ll help if you can provide more detail (what issues or frustrations you ran in to) for someone to really dive in and properly advise. Maybe start a brand new thread/topic.

Good luck.!

[benwiggy]

@Srdan_Dedic

When cross-grading from Finale to Dorico, can we keep Finale registration or we have to give it up? There is no information about it anywhere… Thank you!

Of course you can keep it.

@silver_mica

, the thought of having to wrestle with Steinberg’s janky software, drivers, and licensing gives me pause.

Steinberg has moved away from the old eLicencser, with its USB dongles et al. The new “Steinberg Licensing” scheme is more similar to Finale’s. Once activated, it’s pretty much done.
Installation and Authorisation is usually painless, though some do have a few teething difficulties. If you can get over that, then the worst is all behind you!

[benwiggy]

Could I suggest that people start a new thread for specific issues; and keep this thread for more general welcome matters?

It’s getting busy!!

[arco]

@cccdin

I think it is necessary for Steinberg team to create a tool so that the dorico can directly read the files of the finale, and not from XML file.

MakeMusic have addressed this on their FAQ page:

Finale Sunset FAQ

[benwiggy]

Well, over 10,000 people have viewed my videos, described by MakeMusic as “extensive onboarding”. Less than half of them made it to the fourth one, mind…

[JJmus]

@benwiggy

I know everyone is feeling a bit shocked, and angry, and even a little bit frightened; and this can all turn to a panic that you need to convert 5000 files and learn a new program TODAY.

First of all: there’s plenty of time to take stock of your current setup, and decide what you’re going to do. There are plenty of people still using ancient versions of Finale as it is – so the chances are that you can continue using Finale for a good few years yet. There’s also plenty of time to investigate things like Virtual Machines.

If you come to Dorico panicky, angry and resentful, and feeling that you need to become an expert in 10 minutes, then you’ll only get frustrated and disappointed. Take your time, accept that you need to learn the basics and work up, and even try to enjoy the process!

It will be a journey, and there are going to be bumps on the way, but you’ll get there in the end.

Also: there are plenty of people here who are happy to help. The Dorico team are fantastically present, and there are many other Finale users who have already made the journey.

Thank you so much for your kind and useful words. I think all of us Finale users are in a bit of shock right now, but I’m also excited to learn Dorico and discover a new, and hopefully better program. I shall keep using Finale until I’ve got to grips with Dorico.

One questioni I have is: can I use my midi keyboard and QWERTY keys (or similar) to enter notes in Dorico as that is my preferred way of working?

Thanks to all on this forum
Jill

[Robert1953]

Hello Benwiggy,
Thanks a lot for your answer. Yes I change the language in French. It will facilitate the learning and use.
Looking at the preferences, I found the information that some plugins are blocked. See picture. Why?
An other question: I don’t change the location on my computer during the installation. It is on my SSD system disk C:/. I would like to displace all files to my software dedicated disk E:/ to avoid surcharge on C:/.
Is it possible without damage?
The question is because when I installed Garritan Anthology on E:/ some modules didn’t function. After a lot of trials, MakeMusic support in remote reinstall them on C:/ and displace librairies on E:/ , and the modules have been all functioning. They don’t understand why. Probably a bug.
Before using Dorico, I will be sure to not make mistake by displacing files, repertories, librairies. Of course, scores will be saved on F:/ my dedicated disk for datas.

[Derrek]

@gaker

I was hoping to post a link to a quick screen grab of me putting nonsense into Finale with speedy entry, but the forums didn’t allow me.

This will change as you use the forum more.

Understanding Discourse Trust Levels

[Derrek]

@Robert1953

Looking at the preferences, I found the information that some plugins are blocked.

Not sure why Garritan VST’s are blocked on your machine. Do you have the most recent versions?

[Janus]

@Robert1953

Looking at the preferences, I found the information that some plugins are blocked. See picture. Why?

The blocked VSTs are all VST2. You should also have an ARIA VST3 (Dorico does not list VST3s).
If you go to Play>VST and MIDI and add a VST to your project, you should still find Aria under the Garritan subsection.

If you do not find it, just unblock the VST2 in your preferences (the little left/right arrows move items from the blocked to the unblocked side).

[benwiggy]

@JJmus

One questioni I have is: can I use my midi keyboard and QWERTY keys (or similar) to enter notes in Dorico as that is my preferred way of working?

Yes, of course. You can do either pitch then duration, like Speedy; or duration then pitch, like Simple Entry.
I’d strongly recommend looking at some of the Youtube starter videos about Note Entry, as some things are different.
Notably – quarter note is 6, not 5 !!! It takes a bit of getting used to.

[Robert1953]

Hi Derrek,
Thanks. I have the last version, and will see when I’m a little more familiar with Dorico.

[Robert1953]

Thanks Benwiggy,
Yes I should have VST3.
In fact I didn’t understand why so much different VST.
Now I have to learn Dorico after my holidays