MakeMusic has released Finale version 27.3, adding native installation of eight of the most popular and powerful JW Tools. Longstanding issues affecting voiced linked parts and other areas have also been addressed.
Reviews
Our expert take on the newest product releases, with in-depth coverage, pros and cons, pricing and availability information, and more.
Dorico 4.3 brings Key Editor power tools and chord symbol note generation
Dorico 4.3 is out with more powerful controls in the Key Editor and a robust system for automatically generating notes on staves from chord symbols. There’s also improvements in the areas of engraving, note input, and editing, and the iPad version is updated, too.
Odla, an input device that “touches” the music
A review of Odla, a hardware controller for MuseScore and Dorico, that aims for “music you can touch” by directly modeling the five-line staff itself.
Dorico 4.1 review: a better Key Editor; improvements to lyrics, interface and more
Dorico 4.1 further refines the Key Editor, improves the user interface with more color options, overhauls the way lyrics are treated, prints selected flows in a layout, and adds new effects plug-ins and a library export function. Plus, a lifetime unlock option for Dorico for iPad.
Sibelius 2022.5 brings multi-section headers, other workflow boosts
Sibelius 2022.5 is out, making it easier to apply a header or footer on a per-section basis, such as a song or movement. Also added is the ability to define or change the content of a wildcard directly in the score.
Upgrade your desk [updated]
What’s on and around our newly upgraded desks — not to mention, the desks themselves.
Finale version 27.2 adds new jazz template, native Apple silicon support
Finale version 27.2 runs natively on Apple silicon Macs for the first time. All default documents and document styles in v27.2 are now SMuFL-based, and, in a welcome surprise, there is a fully revamped SMuFL-compliant jazz default file and document style.
Dorico for iPad 2.0 brings over many desktop features, plus annotations
Steinberg has released Dorico 2.0 for iPad, a major update to the app that shares many features with its desktop counterpart. Many of the additions in Dorico 4 are now available on the mobile platform, as well as a bonus: freehand annotation for marking up scores in Read mode.
Dorico 4 review: Do more with your score
Dorico 4 is available. This massive update brings features first seen on the iPad, like a Key Editor in Write mode and a revamped Play mode. From smart MIDI import to a library manager with granular house style control, to better score setup and more, this update touches every corner.
StaffPad brings live recordings into your scores with Audio Update
The StaffPad “Audio Update” brings new features like audio staves, tempo mapping, adaptive audio to keep your audio in sync with your score tempo, royalty-free production sounds and loops, and studio-quality effects, along with more improvements.