Longtime Finale user.
I purchased, downloaded, and installed Dorico 5. Windows 10 on desktop.
Still want to use Finale while I am learning Dorico.
Now I cannot use my Finale. Can open an existing file but can do nothing to it except scroll up/down.
This must have been something about the Dorico set-up because I have done nothing else, in terms of programs, to the computer.
Thank you,
Bob Cates
The Dorico install did nothing to Finale. Seriously. I use both simultaneously along with a zillion other audio programs all the time. I have no idea how you have Win10 configured, but itās entirely possible you still have the Windows default settings that allow programs to take exclusive control over your audio device. Open the properties for your audio device and make sure this isnāt clicked.
If youāre allowing Dorico or another audio program to monopolize your sound card / DAC / interface, then it wonāt be available to Finale. But thatās the fault of your settings, not Dorico.
Correlation =/= causation. Believe it or not, there are dozens of things that could be messing with your Finale installation that have nothing to do with Dorico.
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FredGUnn just described one setting that can wreak havoc if selectedā¦definitely check this.
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Could be an outdated graphics driver. This has been the cause of many issues Iāve had in the past on Windows in general.
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Could be a corrupted graphics driver update. New updates can mess things up all the time.
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You might have a Windows update pending, or a recent install of a Windows update messed with some of your settings.
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Finale might have experienced issues with loading. It happens. Restarting the program might fix the problem.
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Have you tried turning your computer off and then on again? It sounds dumb, but system restarts fix a vast majority of problems.
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Could be that the project file is corrupted somehowā¦if you have an earlier version of the file, open it and see if you encounter the same problemā¦
My point is, thereās so much troubleshooting that can and should be done before pointing the finger at Dorico.
Thanks to BillMiller and FredGUnn.
- Negative positive results.
- Restarted Finale, re-booted computer, and started Finale again, and āno changeā. Most of Finaleās ātask optionsā under the command headings are greyed out. Hit the āplayā button after re-opening a previous file and a small green inverted caret shows up and does not move.
- Have searched for new drivers for graphics and audio devices and cannot locate the image that FredGUnn shows.
- Tried closing the file but no option, had to exit Finale.
- Opened a 2020 Finale Legacy Notation file (.mus?), same result, no commands, no play, etc.
Did not mean to directly accuse Dorico (yet), but I have changed nothing, programmatically, since installing Dorico 5. Had problem getting any sound volume from Dorico, but have a work-around based on info from Ulf, max settings on the āfadersā.
Am considering downloading Finale again, and re-installing, based on previous emails from Finale to see what happens.
Thanks,
Bob Cates
| BillMiller
October 2 |
- | - |
Correlation =/= causation. Believe it or not, there are dozens of things that could be messing with your Finale installation that have nothing to do with Dorico.
-
FredGUnn just described one setting that can wreak havoc if selectedā¦definitely check this.
-
Could be an outdated graphics driver. This has been the cause of many issues Iāve had in the past on Windows in general.
-
Could be a corrupted graphics driver update. New updates can mess things up all the time.
-
You might have a Windows update pending, or a recent install of a Windows update messed with some of your settings.
-
Finale might have experienced issues with loading. It happens. Restarting the program might fix the problem.
-
Have you tried turning your computer off and then on again? It sounds dumb, but system restarts fix a vast majority of problems.
-
Could be that the project file is corrupted somehowā¦if you have an earlier version of the file, open it and see if you encounter the same problemā¦
My point is, thereās so much troubleshooting that can and should be done before pointing the finger at Dorico.
Iām on Win11 and canāt remember if this changed from Win10, but in Windows go to Settings / Sound Settings, then scroll down to Advanced / More Sound Settings. Make sure every device on that list is set to the same sample rate (whether active or not) and make sure all are set to not allow exclusive mode.
I think that the problem is more than just sound. Finale will open. I can open a file from the popup box but that is not available through the normal File/Open procedure.
Must have changed from 10 to 11, because nothing like what you describe can be found.
Have Settings/System/Sound/Advanced Sound Options, and have (see attached jpg). Nothing about any āsample rateā.
Bedtime. Will check email 1st thing in the A.M.
Thank you,
Bob Cates
If Finale itself isnāt fundamentally working, then you should reinstall it. You could also try resetting the Preferences.
However, there are thousands of Finale users who have installed Dorico, and I havenāt seen a similar problem. It is very unlikely to be āenemy actionā. 
FWIW, Iām on a Mac, and Finale continues to work as it has always done, alongside Dorico.
Audio settings are the first place to look, and FInale has gone āError Code 7ā on me a number of times (Iām on a Mac) due to competing audio settings with other applications, usually my DAW. Usually quitting both programs then reopening Finale fixes this one for me, typically itās related to my input device (I alternate mic and midi controller - I sometimes unplug that, too).
Iām having a similar problem right now after installing Dorico, see
Iām not saying it is caused by Dorico, but I havenāt had that problem ever before. Iām absolutely cluelessā¦
You could upload a Diagnostic report from Dorico (in the Help menu), which might give some clue as to the setup on your machine(s).
Playback and user interface problems are likely to be different. Probably best to keep these problems in different threads, to avoid confusion.
I donāt have Win10 on any PC anymore, but hereās a gif of where that exclusive mode setting is on Win11. It must be somewhere similar on Win10.
āYou could upload a Diagnostic report from Doricoā
Thank you, here it is
Dorico Diagnostics.zip (611.5 KB)
FredGUnn, et al.
Could not use your attached .gif file. It opened automatically, and scrolled past so quickly that I could not follow or understand it.
However, I also queried Finale folks and they provided a very clear, possible, solution that I was able to implement, and now Finale is working properly. I copy it below just in case the information may be useful to you or anyone else with the same problem. Have not looked for any similar file in Dorico.
- Close Finale
- Hold down your Windows key (to the left of the spacebar, between the and keys) and type the letter āRā - this will open the āRunā dialog box
- Type ā%appdata%ā (without quotation marks) and click āOKā
- Navigate to MakeMusic\Finale 27 (*note: for older versions of Finale this folder name will show the version - ex: āFinale 2014.5ā)
- In this folder, double-click the file named āFINMIDI.iniā - this should open the file in a text editor (e.g. Notepad)
- Near bottom of the file until you see a section that looks like this:
- [AUDIOAPIPREFS]
- EngineLoaded=1
- ASIOEnabled=1
- DirectSoundEnabled=1
- WASAPIEnabled=1
- Make sure that the EngineLoaded value is 1, so that line should now read āEngineLoaded=1ā
- Change the ASIOEnabled value from 1 to 0, so that line should now read āASIOEnabled=0ā
- Change the WASAPIEnabled value from 1 to 0, so that line should now read āWASAPIEnabled=0ā
- Save and close the file, then relaunch Finale to see if the issue has been resolved.
Finale now back and running, while an āold manā still tries to ālearnā Dorico 5.
Thanks,
Bob Cates
Hello,
I have a feeling that you Finale personnel have screwed me. According to your email I bought Dorico. Now I understand that it wonāt open Finale files. I have worked with Finale from the 1980s. I have hundreds - or even thousands of Finale-filesā¦ E.g. five operas transcribed from manuscripts. Hundreds of baroque orchestral and vocal compositions again transcribed from early manuscripts. I have a feeling that your Finale company has made my lifeās work meaningless. I worked in the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki Finland from 1970s to 2019. Now retired from the work of a professor of Baroque music.
I want my money back. You gave a nice discount - and did not mention that the tax will go way over the nice handshake.
I will not use Dorico. Money went down the drain. And BTW seems that - because you Americans are so uncivilized and unable to understand other langugesā¦ Forgetting your European heritageā¦ Seems that I have lost in my Finale lyrics in Finnish language - my mother tongue - all the vowels with extra markings. Important words: mother and father - in Finnishā isƤ ja Ƥitiā. Ć and Ć have changed into A and O.
Was a huge mistake to believe in your emails about ācrossoverā to Dorico.
I wonāt hope you all the bestā¦
Mr Anssi Mattila
Welcome to the Dorico user forum, @anssi.p.mattila
MakeMusic shut down Finale. They offered their users a massive discount on Dorico, as an alternative product to use.
You canāt really blame Dorico for this ā itās not really anything to do with them.
You donāt have to use Dorico ā you can carry on using Finale until it stops working; or you can try Sibelius or MuseScore.
But if you do decide to use Dorico, then there are plenty of people here who can help you ā many of them former Finale users, like myself.
If you give Dorico a chance, you may find that it has many useful and time-saving features, like ārealā figured bass.
Can you provide more details about the font issue? Both Finale and Dorico should display diacritics correctly.
This is the Steinberg forum. There are no Finale personnel here. I understand your anger, as I have over 14,000 Finale files myself, but your anger is misdirected as there are no MakeMusic representatives here.
Without diving into this statement too deeply, I just wanted to point out Steinberg is a German company (and a subsidiary of a Japanese company) and the Dorico development team is based in London, so there is very little Americans have to do with Dorico development at all.
Dear Professor, Iām sorry to hear about your experience.
Youāre right, Dorico wonāt open Finale files, but it is possible to export your finale files from Finale in a way that Dorico can read.
If youāre interested, let us know.
The last day to submit a new Finale technical support request will be Monday, August 25th, 2025.
You have a few hours left to contact MakeMusic before they finish support.