Piano World Home Page Forums General Discussions Musicians Welcome! Allegro v. Sibelius?

Don't know if anyone here is knowledgeable about notation software, but I'll bet a few of you are.

Last year when I started studying piano, I bought Allegro, the cheaper version of Coda Music's Finale. It came down to a choice between that and Sibelius, which was much more expensive.

I have been trying to use Allegro, and I'm ready to put my foot through the monitor. Everything is counterintuitive, the default options are set to screw you over when you try to do things as simple as cutting and pasting music, and the sons of bitches--excuse me--the fine people who wrote the software put the help file in PDF format, which means using it is like being tortured by the Viet Cong. This is probably a great program if you have a decent aftermarket reference book or a friend to show you how to use it, but I am just about fed up with the learning curve.

My question: does anyone here use Sibelius? If I upgrade to that program, is there any hope that I'll be able to compose instead of fighting the software all night?

Screw it; I'm getting Sibelius. I just tried the demo, and I got more done in half an hour, with no prior experience and no hardcopy manual, than I get done in an hour and a half with Allegro.

TP,
I have already posted a similar reply in the archives; however, I will restate it. I am on my second version of Finale and have vowed to buy Sibelius next time. You are right about the help. I found the v. 98 help to be worthless. The only help I got was with the V. 3 that I bought to put on my old Mac Performa. Then, they used to give you three hardcopy volumes. Granted, they were bulky, but at least you could get answers quickly. I also don't like their attitude. I have many others have voted with their feet and switched.

I use Finale 2004, and although there is a steeper learning curve, I would not trade it for Sibelius. I have been able to do more with when it comes down to more detailed notation, like avant garde types of things.

It is a matter of personal preference though, and I remember I was also frustrated with Finale in the beginning, but it gets better with time.

Sibelius is great software, but it's very expensive and the company are quite snobby. They're also hyper-protective about copying which I think inhibits fair use of the product for people who went to the expense of buying it. I know one composer who got fed up trying to switch between his laptop and desktop, and all the verification needed.

Make Music (the makers of Finale) is just about the snobbiest company I've ever been in contact with (along with Mark Of The Unicorn). By contrast, I've found the folks at Sibelius to be quite accomodating. And although I get tired of verification/authentication procedures, you have to feel for software makers -- they lose money left and right on a daily basis due to piracy.

To each their own.

BTW why is it you always jump in to contradict me Steve?

Do I do that? Certainly not intentional.

I'll try and be nicer...

Regarding the difficulty in using Finale, I'll say that I too thought that it was rather hard to use. Then I started watching the video tutorials provided on the CD, and I must say, that helped me immensely. I kept using it, and while some of the things aren't done in the most intuitive way, I know the steps to take, and I wouldn't dream of switching to any other program (not just Sibelius).

Regarding the .pdf help files, I actually prefer that to having separate manuals. To me, it takes more time for me to go back and forth between the manual and the screen to figure something new, than to click between two windows. Also, the last time I remember seeing the print manuals for Finale, I don't think you could lay them open flat on a desk.

I will also say that I am weary of Coda's new verification/authentication procedures in Finale 2004, so that was the first time that I did not upgrade. (I had been upgrading since Finale 2000).

Anyway, I am tired of seeing both Finale and Sibelius zealots praise their programs and bash the other. (I'm not saying that I see that in this thread.) Just use what ever is best for you, that's what I say. TP likes Sibelius better because it's more intuitive to him. I'm used to using Finale and so I won't switch to anything else right now. As Diarmuid2 said, to each his/her own.


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