It seems that Finale is coming to an end. On August 26, 2024, MakeMusic announced that it would no longer develop its long-standing music notation software and that it had entered a partnership with Steinberg, the company behind Dorico. While MakeMusic hasn’t been acquired, the collaboration between the two companies suggests that Dorico is being positioned as Finale’s successor.
This is further supported by the flood of emails I’ve been receiving from MakeMusic, offering exclusive discounts for Finale users who switch to Dorico Pro.
I tried Dorico some time ago and found it quite irritating—though that might just be because I’ve always used Finale. Apparently, Dorico offers less flexibility in customizing its setup compared to Finale, which has long been favored by arrangers accustomed to writing with pen and paper.
As for the other major player, Sibelius, I can’t say much—I’ve never used it, and its subscription model makes it quite expensive. That said, those who use it seem to love it.
That being said, Finale will continue to work for now. The latest version, Finale 27, is an excellent tool, and while it will eventually become outdated due to evolving technology, it remains one of the best options available for those who know how to arrange.
And for those who don’t—don’t worry, AI will take care of it for you. Maybe…
