Finale NotePad 2009 for Mac

3.0 stars

"Registration is flaky on MacBooks."

October 13, 2008  |   By tmm4264

Version: Finale NotePad 2009 14.0.r1

Summary

This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
I am an avid user of Finale NotePad 2008 and jumped on the 2009 update. Same features for $9.95, but the price isn't too unreasonable.

The product is essentially the same as 2008 with the exception of XML support and some funky changes to the sound output. Took em awhile to actually get sound out of it, and I have to reset it with each new startup. That needs to be worked out.

A warning to people who want to install this on a MacBook or MacBook Pro: The registration process is broken and you should expect the program to forget that it's registered. As a result it will revert back to its demo mode. There is no way to easily reset your registration with the registration server, and as a result you need to call their support line or open a support ticket to have them reset the server so that you can register the program again. With version 14.0.r1, this happens all of the time. As of 10-14-2008, there is no workaround.

I think the program is a step in the right direction, but the registration woes and the lack of significant features from 2008 to 2009, I would suggest holding off on this update.

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1.0 stars

"Don't bother"

October 20, 2007  |   By samext

Version: Finale NotePad 2009 12.0.r1

Summary

This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
After a roundabout registration process, entering data about myself and all that at the Finale website, I was finally privilaged to download NotePad just to try it out and find out in fact if it would do anything like I was hoping--I was looking for something that could import a MIDI file, perhaps even be able to save in other formats, eg .ly. But at least import a file. After all the sign-up-rigmarole I got my precious serial number, agreed to let it install itself anywhere it saw fit to (without my being able to select an install location). I launched it and, lo and behold, it doesn't do much. I guess one can pointy and clicky to enter notes. Not much more---except that it very sucessfully gathers information from people. For that reason my review is not of the software---I am about to trash it actually, so I haven't honestly used it--rather it's a review of Finale. 0 stars. I'll go back to playing with LilyPond, Guido, etc.

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5.0 stars

"Excellent basic notation"

December 10, 2006  |   By glazmira

Version: Finale NotePad 2009 12.0.r1

Summary

This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
Intuitive with very good help features.

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5.0 stars

"Excellent basic notation"

December 10, 2006  |   By glazmira

Version: Finale NotePad 2009 12.0.r1

Summary

This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
Intuitive with very good help features.

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4.0 stars

"Basic Notation solution"

October 12, 2006  |   By ej2

Version: Finale NotePad 2009 11.0b.b1

Summary

This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
I have been using NotePad for a few years now. This is the easiest freeware notation tool I have used so far, and the instrument playback feature is a welcome feature. It is also possible to have up to eight parts in the music, and automatic transposition has saved me a few hours of work. The good news, however, stops there.
I often find myself doing first and second endings with a pen and ruler once the music is printed, and it is impossible to do time or key signature changes in the middle of the piece. The use of the QuickHelp documentation engine instead of the Help Viewer is jarring, and I often need to start a new document when working out the parts and time signature (these are locked in once a new document is created).

If all you need is some basic notation software, though, I would recommend NotePad. If you want to orchestrate your own symphony, look somewhere else.

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5.0 stars

"Great, right?"

May 26, 2004  |   By mondomax

Version: Finale NotePad 2009 2004.r1

Summary

This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
It's free, it's finally carbon and it does basic conventional scoring just fine. Did I mention it's free? If anyone has a better freeware notation method please share, until them this gets a decent rating from me.

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