Finale Family Detailed Product Comparison Chart
Finale PrintMusic Songwriter NotePad
Composing and Arranging Time Savers
n
4 layers only
4 layers only 4 layers only Define up to four layers of music per staff with two independent voices per layer
1 or 5 lines (plus
tablature)
5 lines (plus tablature) 5 lines (plus tablature)
Number of staff lines per staff from 0 to 100
24 stave limit 8 stave limit 8 stave limit
Create any multiple of staves and measures up to 32,768
Standard only Standard only Standard only
Use standard or non-standard key signatures
Layers, 2nds, and
unisons
Layers, 2nds, and
unisons
Layers, 2nds, and
unisons
Automatically avoid collisions of mid-score and mid-measure clefs, 2nds, and unisons when using layers
n n n n
Extra Palettes for File, Edit, and Help menus (Windows only)
n n n n
Use easy on-screen Playback Controls to play any range of measures at a specified tempo
n n n n
Set-up Wizard automatically assigns General MIDI patches and channels
Easily set up Key and Time Signatures using the Set-up Wizard
n n
Page View only Page View only
View a score in either scroll view (continuous staff) or page view (staves arranged on page)
Page view only
Scroll music on-screen during playback in Page view or Scroll view
n
2-3 voice harmonies
2-3 voice harmonies
Band-in-a-Box Auto Harmonizing - add two to six-part harmonies of selected styles with or without chord symbols
n n n
Drum Groove - create custom drum parts instantly
n n
Limited
Set the distance between a staff system and the staff system above
Enter an unlimited number of notes per measure
Control stem direction individually
Fit selected measures into staff systems
Transpose using chromatic, diatonic, enharmonic or modal methods
Single commands to transpose, rebar, or rebeam your music
Shift easily between a score window and individual extracted parts
Use on-screen rulers to position score elements
Add graphic repeat signs and text repeat markings
Reduce a score, page, staff system, note group or single note down to 5%, or enlarge it up to 999%
Extract individual parts, with separate page layout control for each part, create automatic multi-measure rests
Choose from over 50 pre-designed score templates to help you quickly prepare professional scores
"Optimize" the conductor's score by hiding empty staves
Save multiple MIDI/instrument setups
Re-quantize any notes in any region entered from any note entry method
Protect scores with automatic backup
Capture music as you play, then convert to notation later Record one "track" while playing back others
n
Define your own noteheads; change the shape of any notehead
n
Specify separate time signatures for display and beaming control
Use different time and key signatures in each staff
Latin Percussion rhythms included
"Explode" scores to create instant orchestrations
"Implode" scores to create instant piano reductions
Add Cue Notes - easily place cue notes on any staves in any layer at any percentage
Align/Move Dynamics - vertically align all selected dynamics, expressions and hairpins
Automatic Barlines - Place double-barlines automatically before all key changes and a final barline at the end of the score
Automatic Dynamics Placement - automatically places dynamics on the score based on the notes key velocity
Canonic Utilities - transforms the selected region using inversion, retrograde, transposition or any combination of these
Cautionary Accidentals - allows various forms of cautionary accidentals added to your score including display on all notes
Change Fonts - Change fonts globally for text blocks, staff names, group names and lyrics
Change Noteheads - allows you to change the noteheads of all the notes in the selected region
Change Stem Direction changes the stem direction of notes on the middle staff line to follow the direction of the melodic line
Change to Default Whole Rests - allows you to change all the whole measure rests in the selected region to default rests
Change to Real Whole Rests - allows you to change all the default measure rests in the selected region to real whole rests
Check Range - verifies the selected instruments range with setting for beginner, intermediate and advanced players
Check Region for Durations - checks the selected region for any measures that have too few or too many beats
Chord Morphing - generates a variety of smooth between-chord transitions
Chord Realization- generates four-part realizations of a triad based on major key & scale degree specified
Chord Reordering - finds new placement options for chords
Chord Splitting - creates subsets of the original chord
Classic Eighth Beams - Beam Eighth notes together when using common time over the selected region
Clear Lyric Positioning - will reset any changes you’ve made to your lyric baselines in the selected region
Clear Measure # Positioning - clears all measure number positioning in the selected region and sets it to the default position
Command Line - allows for quick note entry by typing in specific text commands
Common Tone Transposition - creates a series of transpositions where one note is equal to one note of the original chord
Easy Harmonics - string harmonics fast and easy
Easy Tremolos - create tremolos for display and playback
Find Range - Run this plug-in to find the highest and lowest notes in the selected region
Frequency Modulation Chord Generator - generates a series of chords with increasing complexity and texture
Global Staff/Group Attributes - Apply the same staff or group attributes to any staves or groups
Melodic Morphing - creates a melodic transition from one melody to another
Menu Shortcuts - write your own script to automate common tasks
Midline Stem Direction - changes the stem direction of notes on the middle staff line to follow the direction of melodic line
Move Rests - lets you move rests in the selected region to a different vertical position
Number Repeated Measures - Place numbers over measures that are repeated again and again
Piano Reduction - creates a piano reduction of the selected staves
Rhythmic Subdivisions - Change the selected region to eighth notes, or divide all your notes in half
Single Pitch - changes all the notes in your selected region to the specified pitch
Smart Playback - adds a playback effect to glissandi, hairpins and trills
Space Systems - automatically positions your staff systems evenly on each page
Split Point - lets you reset the split point between two staves in the selected region
Tie Common Notes - inserts a tie between any two successive notes if the notes have the same pitch
Vertical Collision Remover
Virtual Fundamental Generator - automatically gives the appropriate “root” for any selected group of staves
Voice 2 to Layer - moves Voice 2 entries to the selected layer
Word Extensions - add or remove word extensions to and from your lyrics