Can a program be downloaded to a thumbdrive?
I ask, because Finale is being discontinued. I will be in need of a new computer in a year or two and don't want to lose the program.
@BlueStateBabe ach, condolences. I agree with @BenA that your best bet would be to try and find the install program. On windows that will frequently have an .msi file extension.
No clue if it's really comparable, but FWIW, this here nominates something called MuseScore as an open-source alternative to finale:
It took me so long to learn Finale fluently. Having to find all the new ways to do things will make composing on computer pure drudgery for quite a long time. Looking for a way to postpone the inevitable, I suppose.
I think Musescore was included with the online component of a music theory text I had 7 years ago. Thanks for reminding me.
Current Finale users can buy Dorico Pro for $150, and I don't know if it is worthwhile or just another headache and waste of
$$$.
@BlueStateBabe @BenA heh--no doubt.
I suppose you could install musescore & just noodle around on it for a bit. Maybe it's got a "use the finale shortcut keys" mode or something? That'd just cost you the time...
Ooooo...maybe Musescore IS the way to go, if I can import all my old files.
The last remake of Finale wasn't fully compatible with its previous versions, and when I opened up a score, the articulations and other items were scattered in huge enlargements all around the page. So I asked for a refund and got it.
I think I will research Musescore some more. THank you!
@BlueStateBabe @rpardee @BenA
Wondering if @voltronic might have any experience??
Or anyone else?
@InvaderGzim @BlueStateBabe @rpardee @BenA
So, I am heavily invested in this situation. I have made myself point person on evaluating a notation software replacement for my district music department, which has been subscribing to Finale for a long time. Personally, I moved on to Sibelius many years ago, and then when they fired the original developers who got picked up by Steinberg, I jumped over to Dorico and have been solidly there ever since.
@InvaderGzim @BlueStateBabe @rpardee @BenA
I absolutely love Dorico, and it is a clean slate design. But even though it is massively better than the competition imo, it does things very differently than Finale or Sibelius There is a definite learning curve, though their YouTube channel is outstanding in walking you through things. They've even made a video series focused on people switching from Finale.
@InvaderGzim @BlueStateBabe @rpardee @BenA
All that said, there's no way you're running a portable version of this app. It's pretty massive, and that's before you even get into the sample instrument libraries which are another 20 GB at least.
Musescore on the other hand is really impressive for a free notation app. It's never going to replace Dorico for me, but I use it at school, and I'm seriously evaluating it for our district to replace Finale.
@rpardee
I just read the post you linked on the Finale compatibility mode being worked on in MuseScore. I had not heard of this, and that's a really cool idea. I'm going to pass this on to my department. Thanks!
@BlueStateBabe
No matter where you wind up, here's what I would do right now:
Export all of your Finale files as MusicXML 4.0, and also as PDFs.
@voltronic @rpardee @InvaderGzim @BenA
I have the older version. Is the Dolet plugin something I need to download?
@BlueStateBabe
How old is older? I don't think you need the latest release for this but probably one of the more recent versions.
Dolet is a plug-in that's been around for many years, and yes you just install it into finale.
@BlueStateBabe
The XML files can be imported into any of the other notation apps, but there will always be a few things that don't carry over perfectly, so the PDFs are if you quickly need to print a score and don't have time to import and tweak an XML file in a new app.
To save time, you can do bulk MusicXML conversion in Finale (if you have v.27). See the attached screenshot I grabbed from a forum. If you have an old Finale version, you may need the Dolet plugin.
@rpardee @InvaderGzim @BenA