Softpedia >Mac >Audio >Finale >  Changelog

Finale Changelog

What's new in Finale 27.0.0.782

Jun 16, 2021
  • Interactive music sharing functionality:
  • Finale now enables you to quickly and easily share your notated documents with anybody. Without leaving the app, you can upload and share privately or publicly.
  • Standard Music Font Layout (SMuFL) support:
  • SMuFL is a growing comprehensive standard that organizes musical characters into a common layout so music fonts are displayed correctly in every notation application that supports it. Spend less time searching for or creating musical symbols and more time making music.
  • Improved instrument list:
  • Our revised instrument list ensures your notation looks great the first time—no matter which instruments you’ve chosen—and that you hear the correct sounds when playing a document. We’ve also added to the list of instruments you can use when starting a new document or editing an existing one.
  • MusicXML 4.0:
  • The latest version of MusicXML provides even more control when transporting your compositions. With more information than ever now being captured in a MusicXML file, you’ll be able to efficiently and confidently send files between practically any modern music software.
  • Bug Fixes:
  • We’ve tackled a lot of known issues, such as unexpected installer behavior and unusable display scaling on Windows, crashes due to macOS quirks, and problems with printing.

New in Finale 26.3.0.634 (Jun 18, 2020)

  • Finale v26.3 Highlights:
  • If Finale encounters a problem when saving a document, a warning message with suggested actions is now displayed.
  • Documents using the Handwritten Document Style now recognize entered chord suffixes containing flats.
  • Note stems are no longer displayed with incorrect thickness when navigating in Simple Entry.
  • Exported MusicXML files now retain more specific notation details in multiple areas.
  • Accessibility alt tags have been added to many images in the user manual.
  • Mac Updates:
  • Scrolling and zooming in Page View is now smoother and more responsive.
  • Many user interface changes have been made to offer a better experience in macOS’ Dark Mode.
  • Word extensions that extend over system breaks can now be more easily vertically re-positioned.
  • EPS graphics imported into a Finale document now display and print correctly on macOS 10.15 Catalina.

New in Finale 26.2.2.493 (Mar 6, 2020)

  • Notation Improvements—Music XML:
  • Exact slur positions are now exported.
  • Hidden clefs now export as hidden.
  • Hidden Smart Shapes are no longer exported.
  • Hidden time signatures at the start of a part now export as senza misura.
  • Hyperlinks for measure-attached text blocks are now exported.
  • Metronome font information is now exported.
  • Parts with no visible clefs are now imported without clefs displaying.
  • Positions of text repeats at the end of multimeasure rests export more accurately.
  • Staff Style changes in the middle of the first measure are now exported.
  • Text in the JazzText, Broadway Copyist Text, and Finale Copyist Text fonts now exports more accurately, especially for codas, segnos, and metronome marks.
  • The Scale Expression with Attached Note setting found in the Expression Assignment dialog box is supported during export.
  • Page Layout (Mac Users Only):
  • Finale 26.2.2 maintains the page layout when opening a file with the Automatic Update Layout option deselected from the “Preferences – Edit” dialog box.

New in Finale 26.2.1.464 (Jan 21, 2020)

  • Catalina Compatibility:
  • As we discussed last month, we take compatibility quite seriously. Catalina introduced issues that, while obscure for most users, prevented us from calling Finale v26.1 “compatible.” We’re happy to announce that Finale v26.2 is compatible with macOS 10.15 Catalina.
  • Security Enhancements and Bug Fixes:
  • The version 26.2 update also provides security improvements for both Mac and Windows that help keep you and Finale protected and up to date. While supporting these security updates isn’t required until 2020, we’re keeping Finale ahead of the curve.
  • As always, we’ve fixed several customer-reported issues in this free update. These affect everything from page formatting to plug-ins:
  • Patterson Beams has been updated to properly affect grace notes and resized notes.
  • The Finale Click volume (in the Click and Countoff dialog box) is now adjustable on a per-document basis.
  • “Consolidate Rests Across Layers” is now included in FinaleScript’s import layer options command.
  • Document Options:
  • As part of our ongoing work “under the hood” in Finale, we’ve incorporated several improvements to Document Options that not only give you more reliable results, but are also part of our continued efforts to modernize Finale. Learn more about those efforts directly from the product team in our recent development update.

New in Finale 25.2.0.79 (Dec 9, 2016)

  • Keep Octave Transposition in Concert Pitch has been added to the Document menu. This will allow C instruments that transpose by octave to maintain their transposition when Document > Display in Concert Pitch is selected.
  • A Measure Number Bar now appears along the top of the screen in Scroll and Studio View.
  • Use current document if empty has been added to the MusicXML Preferences dialog box. Wonder what that does? I did too. In the past, when importing a MusicXML file, the import process would place your MusicXML data into a new document. The new file would have the same spacing, fonts, margin widths, etc. as your default file. This new option allows you to open any empty file (like a template) and import the MusicXML data into that file.
  • Two new templates, Marching Band Tabloid and Studio Orchestra, have been added. Updates have also been made to the Drum Corps and Marching Band Letter templates. The Studio Orchestra template creates the look of a Hollywood film score, and was used to create the example seen above.
  • Several bug fixes and refinements are also included.

New in Finale 25.1.0.232 (Oct 20, 2016)

  • HIGHLIGHTS:
  • Graphics. Finale's output is true black and a transparent background can now be selected in the Graphic tool's Export dialog box.
  • Hyphens. Users can now choose the hyphen character for their lyrics under Document > Document Options > Lyrics.
  • Key Signature dialog box Scroll bars have been improved in the Key Signature dialog box.
  • Mute All and Solo All. Individual and universal Mute and Solo settings can easily be toggled using M and S in the Score Manager.
  • Palettes. Improvements to the palettes including titles, resizing, and scrolling have been made.
  • Repeats. Find options to determine the position of your repeat ending brackets by using the Repeat Endings dialog box in the Document Options.
  • ReWire. Don't Show Again checkbox has been added to the HyperScribe in ReWire mode warning.
  • Time Signature dialog box. The user interface for the Number of Beats and Beat Duration options have been improved.
  • Windows. Finale includes Automatic Tabbed Windows and Automatic Snapping Windows in Mac OS X 10.12.
  • MusicXML:
  • "Let Ring" ties on noteheads are now exported to MusicXML.
  • MusicXML now exports Engraver Font Set brackets correctly.
  • Center Smart Shape text is correctly exported to MusicXML.
  • Chords with suffixes that define a numeric chord type after parenthesized alterations are exported correctly to MusicXML.
  • MusicXML export support for MaestroTimes font has been added.
  • Improved MusicXML export of accidentals in page-attached text.
  • MusicXML now respects Finale's Show on Multimeasure Rests and Show Measure Ranges on Multimeasure Rests options.
  • MusicXML now supports Engraver Text arrow characters.
  • MusicXML supports export for tacet parts with no instruments.
  • Playback Controls:
  • Finale's Playback Controls can now be used while in ReWire mode.
  • The Slave to ReWire Master Tempo check box has been added to the Playback Controls to allow the user to either use Finale's tempo map or their DAW's tempo.
  • A Sync button has been added to the Playback Controls to update score data when using a DAW to playback.
  • FIXED DEFECTS:
  • Decimal Character:
  • The localized decimal character is correctly recognized in Finale's dialog boxes.
  • Dialog Boxes:
  • Text in the Metatool creation warning is no longer truncated.
  • Text in the Extract Parts dialog box is aligned correctly.
  • Truncated text in View Continuous Data dialog box has been fixed.
  • Enharmonic Spelling:
  • The Enharmonic Spelling preference is maintained from session to session.
  • Human Playback:
  • Switching between open documents no longer resets the Human Playback Swing value to 0.
  • Measure Number Regions:
  • Choosing Display as Frames under Measure > Edit Measure Number Regions > Style > Time only draws one instance of the time.
  • MusicXML:
  • Files with slurs referencing non-existing starting measures export to Finale and re-import into Finale with all slurs intact.
  • MusicXML export succeeds when percussion instruments have unassigned playback.
  • Processing instructions are now included when logging is turned on during Finale MusicXML batch export.
  • MusicXML does not export a tempo of 0 from expressions.
  • MusicXML imports Sibelius percussion notes on the correct staff lines.
  • Palettes:
  • Tool palettes correctly resize in Mac OS X 10.12.
  • PDFs:
  • Parts named with the forward slash character (/) can now be saved, extracted, printed, and exported as a PDF.
  • When printing to PDF, users are no longer prompted with "UNTITLED" instead of the document name.
  • Finale does not adjust the name of a PDF export for scores that do not contain linked parts, " - score", or a score/part insert.
  • Preferences:
  • The Default Document text field in the Preferences - New dialog box now displays the correct file when saved.
  • Printing:
  • Mismatched Page Size dialog box does not appear when printing matched page sizes.
  • The Copies text field in the Print dialog box multiplies the number of sets in the Score and Part selection.
  • SmartMusic Markers:
  • Clicking Done in the SmartMusic Markers dialog box no longer crashes Finale.
  • Speedy Entry:
  • Using Caps Lock to enter notes in Speedy Entry now works consistently.
  • Text:
  • Switching away from Finale and back, while the Text menu is active, no longer disables font family submenus.
  • Tool Sets:
  • Relaunching Finale after creating a Tool Set no longer crashes the program.
  • Transpose MIDI on Input:
  • The correct note is now played or entered when using a simplified key signature in a transposing staff.

New in Finale 2014.5.7098 (Nov 24, 2015)

  • HIGHLIGHTS:
  • Options to automatically create double barlines before key changes
  • The ability to change sample rates
  • A means to quickly and easily reorder staves
  • Enhanced MusicXML and EPUB support
  • Options to automatically create double barlines before key changes
  • The ability to save SmartMusic accompaniments with premium VST/AU instrument sounds, including the provided Garritan sounds
  • Updated SmartScore X2 Lite scanning software, with many improvements in core musical features such as beams, augmentation dots, and tuplets
  • INTERFACE CHANGES IN FINALE 2014.5:
  • Program-wide Mac modernization. Major progress has been made on this "under-the-hood" modernization effort of updating to the latest Mac interface begun in the initial release of Finale 2014, setting the stage for continued enhancements.
  • Installer updates. The Finale installer no longer causes a message to be displayed asking if you want to open a file from an unidentified developer.
  • Apply Human Playback. The Apply Human Playback plug-in has been replaced with the Apply Human Playback option in the MIDI tool menu.
  • Change Noteheads. The Change Noteheads utility has been updated to include the functionality of the removed Change Noteheads plug-in.
  • Latin Percussion. The names of the Latin Percussion styles have been updated to reflect whether they use the Maestro or Jazz font.
  • Modernized plug-ins. All of the plug-ins included with Finale have been updated to use the latest Mac interface, and plug-ins that do not apply to linked parts (such as Voice 2 to Layer) are properly disabled when editing a linked part. Additionally, many plug-ins are more reliable, including Vertical Collision Remover, Create Coda System, and Auto Dynamic Placement.
  • Removed plug-ins. The Clear Measure Number Positioning, Command Line, Find Parallel Motion, Midline Stem Direction, and Smart Page Turns plug-ins have been removed.
  • MicNotator. This feature for transcribing audio performances has been removed, but you can still record an audio track into a Finale document.
  • Audio Setup. Finale no longer supports playback through AirPlay devices, which were causing Finale to exhibit erratic playback.
  • For more information regarding specific menu command changes, see Finale 2014 Interface Changes in the User Manual.
  • NEW FEATURES IN FINALE 2014.5:
  • SmartMusic accompaniments with high-quality audio playback. When you export an assessable solo SmartMusic accompaniment from Finale, you can now include Finale's audio playback rather than the default MIDI sounds. This includes both playback through the Garritan Instruments for Finale sounds or other Audio Units plug-ins and any loaded audio track in a document.
  • Improved audio output support. Finale is no longer restricted to playback at 44.1 kHz and can play at any sample rate supported by the selected audio output device. Additionally, Finale automatically selects another output device rather than crashing when audio devices are removed.
  • Reorder staves. The Reorder Staves dialog box has been restored, allowing you to change the vertical order of multiple staves and groups at the same time.
  • Automatic double barlines before key changes. This option in the Document Options - Barlines dialog box automatically places a double barline before all key changes in a document. Replacing the functionality of the removed Automatic Barlines plug-in, this feature can be overridden in individual measures.
  • Beaming over page breaks. The Beam Over Barlines plug-in, part of the Patterson Beams plug-ins, now beams correctly over page breaks.
  • SmartMusic file compatibility interface improvements. When creating a SmartMusic accompaniment in Finale, the SmartMusic File Compatibility dialog box now provides additional options for both automatically and manually correcting possible issues.
  • Updated MusicXML and EPUB export. Among other changes, exported MusicXML files now support the automatic double barlines preceding key changes option. EPUB export has been updated to the latest EPUB 3 standard.
  • Updated SmartScore X2 Lite. The scanning software included with Finale has been updated to version 10.5.8, offering improvements in recognition of beams, augmentation dots, tuplets, and other musical elements.
  • Modified Stave Notation. Finale now includes a template and a FinaleScript script to create large print music according to the Modified Stave Notation (MSN) standard. Also included is a list of guidelines in the Finale User Manual under Large print music.
  • Improved User Manual. The Finale User Manual is now viewable on mobile devices, uses a completely- redesigned navigational structure, includes updated and accurate content, and features substantially improved search.
  • FIXES IN FINALE 2014.5:
  • Audio files:
  • Exporting a Finale document to audio now creates an accurate audio file, including when the Playback Controls are set to begin playback at a measure other than the first measure of a document.
  • Finale now recognizes audio files with the .aiff extension when loading an audio track.
  • Copying music:
  • Using the filter to copy items other than notes and rests from one staff to another no longer shifts music to a different octave when Respect Instrument Ranges is selected in the Preferences - Edit dialog box.
  • Crescendo/decrescendo markings:
  • Hairpins can now be edited in measures with a whole rest in a time signature smaller than 4/4.
  • EPS files:
  • Canceling the creation of an EPS file with the Graphics tool or by choosing Compile PostScript Listing no longer requires Finale to be relaunched in order to create another EPS file.
  • Compiling a PostScript listing no longer results in EPS files with a space added to the end of the .eps extension.
  • Expressions:
  • You can now use the arrow keys to navigate through the expressions displayed in the Expression Selection dialog box.
  • FinaleScript:
  • A wide variety of defects and performance issues have been addressed, resulting in a new version of the FinaleScript plug-in that is more stable and predictable.
  • FinaleScript now interfaces properly with the Score Manager.
  • Finale no longer crashes when choosing Comment/Uncomment from the context menu for multiple selected lines.
  • Finale no longer crashes when running the Import House Style script on OS X 10.10 Yosemite.
  • The FinaleScript Editor no longer reappears at seemingly random locations after being repositioned and closed.
  • The add staves command now adds staff names when specified in a script.
  • The search and replace command now works correctly for fonts in articulations.
  • Scripts are now placed in the correct folder and script names are now displayed correctly when duplicating a script.
  • Deleting a script no longer results in focus issues for the FinaleScript Palette and the script is removed from the Plug-ins > FinaleScript submenu.
  • The save dialog box command now displays the Save As dialog box.
  • The open command now includes support for Finale 2014 template files.
  • The menu item command now functions correctly, including when selecting and deselecting Display in Concert Pitch and when there is a slash in the name of the menu.
  • The FinaleScript Editor dialog box now displays scripts longer than 57 lines.
  • Commenting or uncommenting a line in the FinaleScript Editor no longer adds a duplicated character to the end of the line.
  • An issue where saving a MIDI file in FinaleScript would not respect the destination folder has been corrected.
  • You can now define a staff style and assign a metatool to it within a script.
  • Global performance improvements:
  • A significant effort has been put into improving slow performance throughout Finale.
  • Copying and pasting or inserting in some documents is much faster.
  • Entering expressions with metatools in some documents is much faster.
  • Using the mouse scroll wheel to scroll up and down in Studio View on OS X 10.10 Yosemite is much faster.
  • The efficiency of text rendering, particularly lyrics, has been improved.
  • Human Playback:
  • Human Playback now correctly interprets fp (forte-piano) markings for performance.
  • An issue where Human Playback preferences would not apply to Audio Units plug-ins other than the included Garritan instruments has been corrected.
  • Custom user-defined options are now displayed in the Apply Human Playback command in the MIDI tool menu.
  • Finale no longer crashes when selecting MIDI/Audio > Reset Panning on OS X 10.10 Yosemite.
  • Finale no longer crashes when standard playback is applied to one staff while swing playback is applied to another staff.
  • Human Playback is now triggered when you first open a document and press Play.
  • Linked parts:
  • Finale no longer crashes when unlinking lyrics baselines using the context menu.
  • You can now undo adding a measure when the measure was added while viewing a part.
  • Lyrics:
  • Lyrics using fixed size fonts no longer cause lyric collisions when music spacing is applied.
  • Measure numbers:
  • OPTION-clicking a measure when a different measure is highlighted now correctly displays the measure number on the clicked measure.
  • Measures:
  • Inserting or deleting a measure stack on a later page in Page View no longer causes Finale to scroll back to the first page.
  • An issue where editing music with certain tools, especially the Speedy Entry tool, would cut or copy and paste music from one measure to another elsewhere in a document in certain situations involving multiple layers has been corrected.
  • Movie Window:
  • Links to movie files in Finale documents are now retained when saving the file.
  • MusicXML:
  • Exported MusicXML files now support linked graphics in JPEG, PNG, GIF, and BMP format.
  • Backward repeats that jump to non-existent measures no longer cause MusicXML export to fail.
  • Export is now more accurate when the Redisplay key signature if only mode is changing option is deselected in the Document Options – Key Signatures dialog box.
  • Many Finale notation elements that cannot export to MusicXML are now marked with XML processing instructions in the exported MusicXML file.
  • Note entry:
  • An issue where certain MIDI keyboards such as the CME M-Key and Alesis Q series would not enter chords consistently in Speedy Entry and HyperScribe has been corrected.
  • Adding a note with Simple Entry or Speedy Entry before all playback sounds have been loaded no longer causes Finale to crash on Mac OS X 10.11 El Capitan.
  • Opening files:
  • Finale now displays devices such as flash drives when they are connected on OS X 10.10 Yosemite.
  • Pickup measures:
  • Copying all the music from one staff to another in a document with an empty pickup measure no longer produces offset results.
  • Playback:
  • Pressing the spacebar now pauses playback when the Playback Controls have been closed after beginning playback in a document.
  • The mouse cursor no longer freezes when you press spacebar while in Simple Entry when the Playback Controls are closed.
  • Playback through the SmartMusic SoftSynth is no longer distorted or transposed when the computer's sample rate is changed from 44.1 kHz.
  • The appearance of the playback cursor has been improved to be more fluid.
  • The audio output device specified in System Preferences no longer overrides Finale's audio output device when playing Finale through Audio Units.
  • MIDI devices are now only displayed in italics in the MIDI/Internal Speaker Setup dialog box if the device is unavailable.
  • Plug-ins:
  • The AlphaNotes plug-ins now function correctly on OS X 10.10 Yosemite.
  • An issue where the Resize Noteheads plug-in would not display correctly and would subsequently not open on OS X 10.10 Yosemite has been corrected.
  • Using the Resize Noteheads plug-in to change the size of only normal noteheads no longer causes normal noteheads to change to the note shape of other notes in a chord.
  • The Cautionary Accidentals plug-in now accurately adds parentheses to notes with accidentals when instructed.
  • The Check Region for Duration plug-in no longer causes Finale to crash when a document contains underfilled or overfilled measures.
  • An issue where tabbing between controls in certain Finale plug-ins did not function correctly on OS X 10.10 Yosemite has been corrected.
  • The Check Range plug-in now defaults to Advanced Range instead of Custom Range.
  • The Add Cue Notes plug-in now adds the name of the cued instrument to the cue.
  • The Global Staff Attributes plug-in now accurately reflects current staff attributes, including the recently-added Redisplay Accidentals in Other Layers Within Measures option.
  • Preferences:
  • Finale now respects the state of the Save Preferences When Exiting Finale option in the Preferences - Save dialog box.
  • Finale now respects the state of the Clean Up File Data option in the Preferences - Open dialog box. Printing and PDFs
  • Using a slash character in a part name no longer creates damaged PDF files.
  • Score Manager:
  • Information in the Instrument List is no longer grayed out on OS X 10.10 Yosemite.
  • A drawing issue when adding instruments on OS X 10.10 Yosemite has been corrected.
  • Selection tool:
  • An issue where switching between the Selection tool and a tool that doesn't use measure selection would sometimes unintentionally copy music has been corrected.
  • Shape Designer:
  • The Shape Designer can now access upper ASCII characters for text boxes.
  • SmartMusic accompaniments:
  • SmartMusic markers are now created in a much more reliable manner.
  • Solo percussion staves in exported SmartMusic accompaniments now play back in SmartMusic with the appropriate percussion sounds.
  • Selected options no longer disappear in the Export to SmartMusic - File Type dialog box on OS X 10.10Yosemite.
  • Speedy Entry:
  • Showing or hiding an accidental no longer requires two keystrokes.
  • Pressing 0 on the numeric keypad now activates the Speedy Entry frame after switching documents.
  • Studio View:
  • The Sending/Not Sending options in the Studio View staff controls context menus now function correctly.
  • Text and fonts:
  • Kerning and tracking performance has been improved.
  • An issue where font styles would not match the displayed font in certain dialog boxes has been corrected.
  • Disabling or enabling fonts in Font Book no longer causes Finale to crash.
  • Exported EPS documents now include proper font kerning.
  • Deleting a character from a text frame where tracking has been applied no longer deletes the tracking value as well.
  • An issue where the Times font was misidentified as the nonexistent missing font Times Roman has been corrected.
  • Text Search and Replace:
  • Check boxes are no longer repositioned when clicking them in the Text Search and Replace dialog box on OS X 10.10 Yosemite.
  • Time signatures:
  • The Clear button in the Composite Time Signature dialog box now correctly empties all text fields.
  • A display issue with text in the Time Signature dialog box on OS X 10.10 Yosemite has been corrected.
  • Tool palettes, menus, windows, and scroll bars:
  • Finale no longer crashes when exiting a selection dialog box on OS X 10.11 El Capitan.
  • Tool-specific menus no longer remain onscreen when switching to a different tool.
  • A range of issues involving incorrect display of tool icons and other palette elements on OS X 10.10 Yosemite have been corrected.
  • A black box no longer appears when switching back to a Finale document in full screen mode from another application on OS X 10.10 Yosemite.
  • The vertical scroll bar no longer turns black when resizing a document window on OS X 10.10 Yosemite.
  • The tool palettes are no longer repositioned in certain instances on OS X 10.10 Yosemite.
  • The tool palette icons now include Retina support.
  • Custom keyboard shortcuts for selecting Main Tool Palette tools on a document-by-document basis now function correctly.

New in Finale 2014.4.5545 (Oct 23, 2015)

  • INTERFACE CHANGES IN FINALE 2014D:
  • Optional large-size tool palettes. A larger size for improved visibility can be chosen in the Preferences - Palettes and Backgrounds dialog box.
  • Disable snapping for beat-attached Smart Shapes. Deselect Smart Shape > Snap When Attaching to Beats to return to the Finale 2012-style method of placing Smart Shapes.
  • Help Improve Finale. After installing this update, a new dialog appears on the first launch asking whether or not you want to submit anonymous usage data to MakeMusic. MakeMusic uses this data to inform the design of new versions of Finale; no personally-identifiable or document information is ever collected, and you can change your mind at any time by choosing Help > Help Improve Finale.
  • FIXES IN FINALE 2014D:
  • File Management:
  • File opening and saving speed has been further improved.
  • Quick Look support is now enabled for documents created in Finale 2014.
  • Spotlight support is now enabled for documents created in Finale 2014.
  • Movie Window:
  • The Movie Window can now open all file types that were available in Finale 2012.
  • Speedy Entry:
  • Contents of the previous measure no longer overwrite existing music when selecting the "Move the extra notes to the next measure" option in Speedy Entry.
  • Stem Connections:
  • The misalignment of stem connections for upstem quarter notes in certain circumstances has been corrected.

New in Finale 2014.3.4736 (Jul 8, 2014)

  • Audio:
  • The audio sample rate is now retained in the Finale preferences.
  • Human Playback/MIDI tool:
  • MIDI key velocity information is now played back in all layers.
  • Stop and start values are now interpreted correctly by Human Playback.
  • Printing:
  • Documents no longer print off-center when selecting crop marks or registration marks.

New in Finale 2014.2.4722 (Jun 4, 2014)

  • Fixes:
  • Audio Devices:
  • Changing the buffer size no longer causes Finale to crash
  • USB mono audio input devices no longer cause an error message to appear
  • Finale is now able to launch with the correct sample rate when an iMic is connected to your Mac
  • Finale no longer crashes on launch if a running DAW application does not have the default audio device set to a sample rate of 44.1 kHz
  • Finale no longer crashes when connecting or disconnecting headphones
  • Finale no longer crashes during playback or HyperScribe when an AirPlay device is present on your network but not selected and the network connection is lost
  • Finale no longer crashes on launch when there is an audio engine error and your computer is set to re-open documents on launch
  • Audio Units Instruments:
  • The "Missing Audio Units" message no longer appears when opening files created in Finale 2010 or later
  • All Garritan Instruments for Finale instruments now respond to volume controls in the Mixer
  • Audio Units bank volume settings are now retained in documents
  • Quitting Finale with the ARIA Player open no longer causes Finale to crash
  • Audio Units plug-ins are now removed from the Score Manager and Audio Units Banks & Effects windows when they are removed from your computer's Components folder
  • Bookmarks:
  • Deleting the last bookmark in a document no longer causes the Edit Bookmarks dialog box to become unresponsive
  • Clicking Delete in the Edit Bookmarks dialog box now deletes the selected bookmark instead of the last bookmark in the list
  • Chord Symbols:
  • Roman-equivalent font characters are now displayed correctly in chord symbols
  • Combined Accidentals and Rests:
  • Combined rests are no longer split when edited with the Note Position tool
  • You can now reposition rests when the Consolidate Rests Across Layers option is enabled
  • Document Options:
  • Finale no longer crashes when you use the OS X color sliders, such as in the Preferences - Display Colors dialog box
  • Shape notes specified in the Document Options - Notes and Rests dialog box are now retained when saving a document
  • Expressions:
  • Oversized fonts no longer appear in the Expression Selection dialog box after clicking the Edit Categories button while viewing a document at zoom levels higher than 100%
  • Keyboard shortcuts for Text menu commands now function correctly in the Expression Designer dialog box
  • File Types and Naming:
  • Documents with certain characters (such as ampersand) in the filename can now be opened
  • Movie files with AAC audio encoding can now be opened in the Movie Window
  • You can now use Unicode characters in filenames for exported audio files
  • File saving speed has been improved
  • All pages now appear without choosing Update Layout for some pre-2011 documents with optimized staves "Enigma - 200" errors have been replaced with more
  • specific messages for diagnostic purposes.
  • Fonts and Annotation:
  • Automatic font annotation now creates accurate bounding boxes for all characters
  • The arrow buttons for character selection in the Font Annotation dialog box now function correctly
  • The font preview no longer exceeds the size of the Font dialog box
  • Characters chosen in the Symbol Selection dialog box now appear correctly in symbol text fields
  • Graphics:
  • TIFF previews in EPS files now display when reimported into Finale
  • Grids and Guides:
  • Finale no longer crashes when you delete or move a guide with multiple documents open
  • Human Playback:
  • The techniques for brass instruments in Human Playback Preferences now function correctly
  • Human Playback correctly interprets altered trills entered as articulations
  • Keyswitches are now triggered via Human Playback in all layers
  • Choosing to skip Human Playback processing no longer attempts to close the active document
  • Glissandi are correctly interpreted by Human Playback on all layers
  • Human Playback correctly interprets fp dynamic markings
  • The bottom staff of a two - staff instrument no longer plays back louder than the top staff following a hairpin when Human Playback is turned on
  • HyperScribe:
  • Tied rhythms are correctly transcribed when using HyperScribe
  • Keyboard Shortcuts:
  • Finale no longer crashes when you have defined an application shortcut in your System Preferences that already exists in Finale
  • Linked Parts:
  • Page breaks that are deleted in a linked part are now saved if a page break occurs at the same measure in the score
  • Rests and flags on unlinked notes no longer erroneously print in color or are displayed in color when "Color Unlinked Items" is turned off
  • Lyrics:
  • Lyric baseline adjustments in parts are now retained after saving and re-opening a file
  • Lyrics attached to a unison note shared by multiple layers are now displayed correctly when selected
  • Measures:
  • You can now open the Edit Measure Number Region dialog box when there is more than one measure number region and a measure belonging to the second region is selected
  • Measure handles now appear on the top staff displayed instead of the absolute top staff
  • Negative numbers are now allowed in the Extra Space fields in the Measure Attributes dialog box
  • The Beat Chart and Horizontal Split Point overlay windows appear on the top staff displayed instead of the absolute top staff
  • Negative numbers are now all showed in the Add to Width field in the Measure Attributes dialog box
  • Switching between Page View and Studio View when the Measure tool is selected no longer causes measure handles to display incorrectly
  • The Selection tool is no longer unable to select measure in certain rare instances involving tuplets
  • Positioning and enclosures for measure numbers are now included when copying measures
  • MIDI Files:
  • Tracks in exported MIDI files now retain instrument names when imported into a DAW
  • Transposition options are disabled when setting a key signature in the Import MIDI File Options dialog box
  • Key signatures are now retained when opening MIDI files
  • Opening MIDI files with a small file size no longer causes an "Unexpected End of File" error message
  • Percussion tracks in imported MIDI files where percussion appears on a channel other than 10 are now correctly placed on channel 10
  • Multiple Documents:
  • Cascading multiple documents no longer results in small document windows
  • The Speedy edit frame is properly aligned with the measure when multiple documents are open
  • Music Spacing:
  • Pressing RETURN when a part is selected in the Apply Music Spacing dialog box no longer changes the part name
  • MusicXML:
  • Accidentals are correctly displayed after MusicXML export/import for staves using a chromatic transposition
  • Piano pedal and swing tempo Smart Shapes are now retained in MusicXML
  • Hidden articulations are now correctly exported via MusicXML
  • MusicXML import speed has been improved when the Message Bar is displayed
  • Page Layout:
  • Clicking the Close button properly dismisses the Edit System Margins and Edit Page Margins dialog boxes
  • Playback:
  • Finale no longer crashes when you press certain keys during playback
  • Pressing SPACEBAR now starts and stops playback when the Simple Entry tool is selected
  • Clicking the mouse button to stop playback when the Simple Entry tool is selected no longer enters a note in a staff
  • Tool - specific menus are no longer displayed when switching back to Finale from another application during playback
  • You can now return focus to Finale during playback when switching to a different application and then clicking on Finale
  • Plug-ins:
  • The Score System Divider plug - in no longer crashes when set to Current Page Only
  • Keyboard shortcuts are now working in the Cross Staff plug-in
  • Printing:
  • You can now print a Finale document directly from Finder when Finale is not running
  • Finale no longer prints a part off-center when Registration Marks are selected for printing
  • Switching back to Finale after choosing a PDF print preview no longer causes Finale to crash
  • The "Tile overlap" field in the Print dialog box is now disabled when the "Tile pages" option is deselected or when "Layout" is set to 2-up or 4-up
  • Repeats:
  • Text repeats now move with their handles when multiple text repeats are selected and moved
  • Pressing DELETE when clicking a repeat handle after a measure has been selected no longer deletes the previously-selected measure
  • Score Manager:
  • The display of the Score Manager's First Clef button updates when changing the first clef of a staff
  • The field order when pressing TAB in Score Manager's File Info tab no longer changes depending on the active Score Manager tab
  • The Interval dialog box now appears when you select Chromatic > Other in the Staff Transpositions dialog box
  • Changing a staff's transposition type to Chromatic and back to Diatonic no longer causes it to display as Other
  • Finale no longer crashes when switching between open documents while a numeric field is active in the Score Manager's Instrument List tab
  • Setup Wizard:
  • Multiple instruments can be selected at the same time in the Setup Wizard
  • Documents created with the Setup Wizard no longer open in Studio View when the default view is set to Scroll View in the Preferences - New dialog box
  • Simple Entry:
  • Articulations that appear in the Simple Entry cursor now display correctly when entering them via the "sticky" articulation command
  • Notes on the opposite stem side in a cluster chord can now be selected
  • Smart Find and Paint:
  • Smart Find and Paint no longer paints hairpins over barlines several inches in length
  • Smart Shapes:
  • Finale no longer crashes when extending a measure-attached Smart Shape to the previous system if that system already contains a Smart Shape
  • Smart Shape attachment lines are no longer offset when the staff size is not 100%
  • Beat-attached Smart Shapes that extend through multiple systems now have the same baseline position
  • SmartMusic Markers:
  • The SmartMusic Markers: Rehearsal Marks dialog box now functions correctly
  • SmartScore Lite:
  • Tool-specific menus now function correctly after opening SmartScore Lite
  • Special Tools:
  • The Show Handles command in the Special Tools menu now correctly toggles handles
  • Special Tools handles are now displayed when you switch between layers
  • Speedy Entry:
  • You can now use the arrow keys for Speedy Entry navigation after switching to another application and returning to Finale
  • Finale no longer crashes when using Speedy Entry with caps lock
  • Notes are no longer duplicated when scrolling through a document while the Speedy Entry frame is active
  • Pressing 0 (zero) on your keyboard now displays the Speedy Entry frame after turning on MIDI Thru
  • Staves:
  • Pressing SHIFT+DELETE to delete staves now functions correctly
  • Aligning a staff name with multiple staves selected now aligns all selected staff names
  • Tablature:
  • The string settings for ukulele tablature have been corrected
  • Tempo Tap:
  • You can now drag and drop rhythms into the Tempo Tap staff in Studio View
  • Text:
  • Shape handles are displayed correctly when a shape uses a dashed line in the Custom Frame dialog box
  • Finale no longer crashes when you press ENTER on an extended keyboard to close the Edit Text dialog box
  • Changing a document's title in the Score Manager's File Info tab and then double-clicking the score with the Text tool no longer causes the title change to be lost
  • View Options:
  • The ruler scales are now correct after you use the Fit Width or Fit in Window zoom commands
  • Moving to the next or previous page no longer resets the view to the upper left corner
  • Scrolling while the mouse pointer is over the vertical ruler no longer causes display problems
  • Tool-specific menus are now displayed for a selected tool after closing and opening documents when your default view is either Scroll or Studio Views
  • The Page View style for new documents set in the Preferences - New dialog box is now respected if your default view is Scroll View
  • Worksheets and Repertoire:
  • Worksheet 0020 Time Signatures now defines a whole note as 4 beats

New in Finale 2014.0.3062 (Nov 5, 2013)

  • New Features:
  • New file format. Designed to improve compatibility, the new format for documents created in Finale helps you share your music more easily. Older Finale documents are automatically converted when you open them, and you will be prompted to save the file in the new format. You can also export your document to the older format for use in Finale 2012 (use MusicXML for earlier versions of Finale).
  • Keyless scores. Create scores or sections with no key signature. You can also easily hide key signatures and continue to automatically display accidentals using the Hide key signature/Show accidentals option.
  • Beat-attached Smart Shapes. Smart Shapes that previously attached to measures now attach to beats (in the same manner as expressions) with lines showing the attachment point. Beat attachment allows a Smart Shape start or end point to attach to a particular note, beat, or right barline. Affected Smart Shapes include hairpins, trills and trill extensions, 8va/8vb (ottava/ottava bassa), horizontal brackets, and lines.
  • Smart multi-layer accidental and rest handling. Rests of the same duration and accidentals on unison notes in multiple layers now are displayed only once. Accidentals in one layer are also carried through the measure for all other layers (these can optionally be displayed in Staff Attributes or Staff Styles).
  • Improved percussion functionality. There is now greater interaction between the Percussion Layout Designer and Percussion MIDI Maps, and Percussion MIDI Maps can now be removed.
  • Unlinkable Special Tools. Alterations made with any of the Special Tools are now unlinkable between a score and its parts.
  • MP4 support. Finale now supports loading MP4 videos.
  • Improved Scanning/SmartScore Lite Enhancements. Finale now includes SmartScore Lite version X2, offering improved notation recognition.
  • New ARIA Player. Finale includes the latest ARIA Player from Garritan, with more than 400 instruments including the additions of alto flute, bass flute, oboe d'amore, Eb clarinet, contrabass clarinet, piccolo trumpet, tubular bells, string harmonics, percussion "toys", orchestral brass mutes, flugelhorn, basic African percussion, steel drums, banjo, fife, tablas, Celtic harp, and nine patches from Garritan Instant Orchestra.
  • Improvements to opening files. Finale displays all readable file types in the Open dialog box. Additionally, MusicXML files can now be dragged-and-dropped onto the Finale application.
  • New method for Finale updates. At launch, Finale automatically checks for updates. Instead of requiring you to download and install the updates manually from the Finale website, Finale now downloads and installs the updates automatically.
  • Fixes:
  • Chords:
  • Fret values over 10 for capo no longer cause a crash in the Chord Definition dialog box.
  • Expressions:
  • Descriptions for new expressions can be copied in the Expression Designer.
  • Fonts:
  • Finale font annotation now supports Unicode.
  • Graphics:
  • Handles stay attached to a selected graphic when scrolling.
  • Human Playback:
  • Accordion instruments are now recognized as a single grand staff.
  • Lyrics:
  • Hyphens and word extensions now appear in mirrored measures.
  • Music Spacing
  • Music spacing is now applied correctly to all layers when using Automatic Update Layout.
  • ScoreManager:
  • Percussion MIDI Maps now display correctly when changing a staff’s notation style to Percussion.
  • ScoreMerger:
  • Certain files containing repeats no longer cause a crash when being merged.
  • Measure number regions are now retained when merging documents.
  • Scroll View:
  • The measure number field now supports measure numbers over 100.
  • Setup Wizard:
  • Eb cornet instruments now appear with the correct transposition.
  • Ensembles containing Unicode characters now display correctly.
  • Smart Shapes:
  • Smart Shapes can now be applied to staves with independent time signatures.
  • Text:
  • Text from multi-line text blocks now appear correctly in the Edit Text dialog box.
  • Extra characters no longer appear at the end of filename text inserts.

New in Finale 2012c (Sep 20, 2012)

  • Expressions:
  • The Delete Element dialog box now always appears when deleting an expression from the Expression Selection dialog box that exists in the score.
  • Smart Shapes:
  • Custom smart-lines now copy and paste properly.
  • The Delete Element dialog box now always appears when deleting a custom smart shape from the Smart Line Selection dialog box that exists in the score.

New in Finale 2012b (Jun 28, 2012)

  • Automatic Range Checking
  • Automatic Octave Adjustments when copying between staves
  • The ability to export EPUB compatible files (viewable on most tablet devices)
  • New Finale Lyrics font makes lyrics more legible (even on tablet devices)
  • Dozens of improvements that target long-standing customer requests

New in Finale 2012 (Oct 9, 2011)

  • Improved Instrument Handling. Finale now integrates staff attributes and playback sounds into its new Instrument paradigm, which allows for easier score management and automatic assignment of playback sounds.
  • Score Manager. Administer complete control over score instruments in one convenient, modeless window. The Score Manager allows you to add, delete, and reorder score instruments, change instrument sounds, and even apply mixer settings like panning and volume.
  • Easy Instrument Doubling. Introduce mid-score instrument changes at any measure with a new option under the Utilities menu. Transposition, clef, and other staff settings, as well as playback sound, are configured automatically.
  • New Garritan Sounds, including soprano sax, celeste, accordion, recorder, mandolin, euphonium solo, baroque pipe organ with plenum reed stop, and pipe organ pedal stop.
  • Improved File Sharing. Exchange Finale files with colleagues worry-free with intelligent sound mapping that identifies the appropriate playback sound for each score instrument based on each computer's unique setup.
  • Auto-detect MIDI Devices. Finale now identifies external MIDI devices as soon as you plug them in. No setup required!
  • Unicode Support. Finale now recognizes and displays Unicode font characters.
  • PDF Export. Save your document, or a selected portion of it, as a PDF directly from Finale.
  • Better Graphics Export. Exporting graphics has never been easier. 
  • New "Add Again" Metatool. Add the marking you just added, again. No setup required.
  • New Finale Numerics Font. Easily add harmonic analysis and figured bass with stackable zero-width characters.
  • New Finale Copyist Font. Like Broadway Copyist, but lighter-weight and with lower-case characters, this font was inspired by the golden era of handwritten Broadway scores.
  • Alpha Notes Plug-in. Add note letters to your noteheads in a flash with this new plug-in.
  • Space Systems Plug-in. Automatically position staff systems according to your particular spacing requirements.
  • MusicXML 3.0. Finale supports the latest MusicXML technology, including instrument knowledge and Unicode. 
  • Updated Tutorials. Learn all the Finale basics guided by new easy-to-follow, step-by-step tutorials.

New in Finale 2011 Beta (Nov 9, 2010)

  • Expressions:
  • Expressions are no longer duplicated and linked to one another in specific files.
  • File menu:
  • Opening a specific file no longer causes a crash.
  • Fonts:
  • All Finale document fonts are now recognized in other MakeMusic products including SmartMusic, PrintMusic, Finale NotePad and Finale Reader.
  • Font type names now work consistently in non-U.S. operating systems.
  • All lyrics, including those on the first system, now update when their fonts are changed
  • via the Lyric Window.
  • Installation:
  • Changes to a user’s “Configuration Files” location no longer cause the updater to rename the MacOS folder within the Finale application.
  • The updater no longer changes the MacOS folder within the Finale application.

New in Finale 2010b (Dec 21, 2009)

  • Includes improvements in the copying of time signatures, percussion playback, linked parts, and more.
  • New Percussion Functionality including new options in the Percussion MIDI Map Editor that allow you to create custom percussion MIDI maps for ultimate control over the sounds your percussion staves play back.
  • Support for Macintosh OS 10.6 (Snow Leopard) and Windows 7 (64 bit compatible)
  • Enhanced integration of Staff Styles and Linked Parts – Apply Staff Styles to only the part or score you are viewing, and easily update staff styles in a score to match its part and vice versa.
  • 271 Classroom Flash Cards designed to print double-sided (with the answers on the back) and to be used in front of the classroom. Topics include keys, note names, rhythm, vocabulary, and musical symbols.
  • 126 Individual Flash Cards designed to print double-sided (with the answers on the back) and used by individual students for self-quizzing. Topics include keys, note names, and musical symbols.
  • 30 Ear Training Worksheets designed to be used with the free, downloadable Finale Reader. Students can print the worksheets, use the Finale Reader to play the examples, and write the answers on the printed worksheets. Topics include intervals, chords, and melodic dictation.

New in Finale 2009c (Aug 17, 2009)

  • Many more time-saving enhancements to the entry of expressions, including Staff Assignment Lists, an expanded category designer, layer assignment improvements, more Score Lists (formerly “Staff Lists”) and additional powerful timesaving keystrokes.
  • Ambience Reverb is now included for Intel-based Macs, offering advanced control over great–sounding reverb. Macintosh playback problems, where users of specific audio interfaces only heard the left channel, have been resolved.
  • Smartscore Lite Scanning Improvements – Support for triplet recognition and improved results when scanning polyphonic music.
  • Exported EPS files now properly display ties.
  • Improved Cross-Platform Font Handling. If you share Finale files between Mac and Windows computers, you’ve probably been puzzled by “MacSymbolFonts.txt” messages. Never again. Now Finale makes intelligent decisions for you AND offers better control if you need it.
  • Dozens of other improvements, including articulation placement, easier clearing of staff styles, preserving graphic export settings between sessions, the playback of slurs, Human Playback, Cautionary Accidentals, EPS and PostScript output, and much more.

New in Finale 2009b (Nov 5, 2008)

  • Exported EPS files now properly display ties.

New in Finale 2009a (Oct 28, 2008)

  • Many more time-saving enhancements to the entry of expressions, including Staff Assignment Lists, an expanded category designer, layer assignment improvements, more Score Lists (formerly “Staff Lists”) and additional powerful timesaving keystrokes. More
  • Ambience Reverb is now included for Intel-based Macs, offering advanced control over great–sounding reverb. Macintosh playback problems, where users of specific audio interfaces only heard the left channel, have been resolved.
  • SmartScore Lite Scanning Improvements – Support for triplet recognition and improved results when scanning polyphonic music.
  • Improved Cross-Platform Font Handling. If you share Finale files between Mac and Windows computers, you’ve probably been puzzled by “MacSymbolFonts.txt” messages. Never again. Now Finale makes intelligent decisions for you AND offers better control if you need it.
  • Improved placement of articulations. Fermatas and other articulations entered on a rest will automatically center correctly.
  • Clearing Staff Styles is Now Easier. With the Staff Tool selected, press the Clear or Backspace key to clear any existing Staff Style in the selected region, and press the same key twice to clear the music.
  • Graphic Export Settings are now preserved between Finale sessions.
  • The appearance of Finale's interface in Windows Vista has been updated.
  • Dozens of other improvements, including the playback of slurs, Human Playback, Cautionary Accidentals, EPS and PostScript output, and much more.

New in Finale 2009 (Jul 23, 2008)

  • Streamlined workflow
  • Garritan sounds
  • Aria Player: the next generation
  • Expanded SmartMusic support
  • Tapspace Virtual Drumline sounds
  • Multiple page editing
  • Full VST/AU instrument support
  • Many more enhancements.