Product Guide

Stay current with the latest info, news, and reviews about the major desktop music notation software programs: Dorico, Finale, MuseScore, and Sibelius.

Click on an image block to see posts tagged with the software, or follow the links to news and reviews about updates.

Latest Dorico news and reviews

Dorico 5 review: Moving the music forward
Dorico 4.3.30 update fixes integration with HALion Sonic 7, MediaBay
Dorico 4.3.20 update is available
Dorico 4.3.11 update is available
Dorico 4.3 brings Key Editor power tools and chord symbol note generation
Dorico 4.2 adds percussion to the Key Editor and improves linked mode
Dorico 4.1.10 update is available
Dorico 4.1 review: a better Key Editor; improvements to lyrics, interface and more
Dorico for iPad adds one-time purchase in addition to subscriptions
Dorico for iPad adds “Open In Place” for better file management
Dorico 4.0.30 reinstates the tempo editor, fixes VST issue and more
Dorico 4.0.20 update brings fixes and improvements; iPad version also updated
Dorico for iPad 2.0 brings over many desktop features, plus annotations
Dorico 4.0.10 update is available; trial version and iPad update to follow
Dorico 4 review: Do more with your score
Dorico arrives on iPad
Dorico 3.5.12 update supports M1 Macs via Rosetta
Dorico 3.5.10: Little things mean so much
Dorico 3.5 review
Dorico 3.1.10 update is available
Dorico 3.1 is out with condensing changes, lines, and much more
Dorico 3 feature: Grouped playing techniques
Dorico 3 feature: Guitar notation
Dorico 3.0.10 released with fixes, Catalina support; free trial available
Dorico 3 feature: Harp pedaling
Dorico 3 feature: Lyric improvements
Dorico 3 feature: Condensing
Dorico 3 changes the score
Dorico 2.2.20 update gives a small preview of what’s to come
Dorico 2.2.10 released with improvements and bug fixes
Dorico 2.2 is the best update yet
Dorico 2.1.10 released with bug fixes
Dorico 2.1 released — large update boasts many new features and fixes
Dorico Pro 2 review: Major update surprises, exceeds expectations; lower-cost “Elements” introduced

Latest Finale news and reviews

Finale version 27.3 adds eight powerful JW tools, fixes some linked part issues
Finale version 27.2 adds new jazz template, native Apple silicon support
Finale version 27.1: SMuFL burrows deeper
Finale version 27 review: SMuFL and MusicXML 4.0 support
Finale version 26.3 released
Finale version 26.2.2 released
Finale version 26.2 released
Finale version 26.1 released
Finale version 26 review
Finale v.25.5 maintenance update is released
Finale v.25.4 maintenance update is released
Finale v.25.3 maintenance update is released
Finale v.25.2 maintenance update is released
Finale v.25.1 maintenance update is released
MakeMusic releases version 25 of Finale, its first to be 64-bit

Latest MuseScore news and reviews

MuseScore 4.1 released with engraving and performance improvements
Long-awaited MuseScore 4 release brings major improvements to engraving and audio
MuseScore 3.6 focuses on engraving upgrades, new fonts
MuseScore 3.4 released with usability improvements
MuseScore 3.3 released with redesigned palettes, accessibility and other improvements
MuseScore 3.2 released with single note dynamics, more flexible automatic placement
MuseScore 3 released with automatic placement, much more
MuseScore 2.3 released with new extension facility, other improvements
MuseScore 2.2 released with playback updates and other improvements
Ultimate Guitar acquires MuseScore
MuseScore 2.1 released

Latest Sibelius news and reviews

Sibelius 2023.8 released
Avid enters the AI fray with automatic chord symbol completion in Sibelius 2023.6
Sibelius 2023.5: New hiding options make individually voiced parts possible from a condensed score
Sibelius 2023.2 advances score subsets and dynamic guitar staves
Sibelius 2022.12 is “part”way to more layout independence with score subsets
Sibelius 2022.10: Make into part command and better text dynamics
Sibelius 2022.9: Staff names in groups; more selection commands
Guitar tab can be fun in the Sibelius 2022.7 update
Sibelius 2022.5 brings multi-section headers, other workflow boosts
Sibelius for Mobile adds transpose feature
Sibelius 2022.3 adds Windows 11, Monterey support
Dynamic parts come to Sibelius for Mobile
Avid introduces new license activation system alongside Sibelius 2021.12 update
Sibelius for Mobile update adds MIDI support and more
Sibelius comes to the iPhone
Sibelius 2021.9 updates search, ManuScript, Keypad gestures
Sibelius arrives on iPad
Your search is a command in the Sibelius 2021.2 update
Direct Sibelius file import headlines 2020.12 release
The focus is on staves with the Sibelius 2020.9 update
Sibelius 2020.6 brings better MusicXML import, color options
Sibelius 2020.3 released with laissez vibrer ties, other fixes
Sibelius 2020.1 brings automatic staff spacing, tie improvements, and more
Sibelius 2019.12 released; support for older OSs dropped
Advanced MIDI import arrives in Sibelius 2019.9
Sibelius 2019.7 released with MusicXML improvements, other fixes
Sibelius 2019.5 fixes audio and printing issues
Sibelius 2019.4 brings loop playback, scrubbing, more
Sibelius 2019.1 released with Review Mode, Avid Link
Sibelius 2018.12 update released
Sibelius 2018.11 makes the infrastructure investment
Eight since 8: Top new Sibelius features
Sibelius 2018.7 released with bug fixes
Free Sibelius First now available; other improvements in 2018.6 release
Sibelius 2018.5 released with one fix pertaining to plug-ins
Sibelius 2018.4 released with multi-edits for text, better note spacing, much more; re-brands as “Ultimate”
The Sibelius 2018.1 release is smarter with multi-edit workflow improvements
Sibelius 8.7.2 update available; instrument changes improved
Sibelius 8.7 released with Cloud Sharing, other fixes
Sibelius 8.6.1 update available; plug-ins updated for magnetic glissandi lines
Sibelius 8.6 released with magnetic glissandi lines
Sibelius 8.5.1 update available
Sibelius 8.5 introduces staff sizes on a per-system basis