After a 35-year run, music notation software Finale is being discontinued by creators MakeMusic.
In a statement released yesterday by company President Greg Dell’Era, Finale and any associated tools will no be available for purchase and upgrade or receive any upgrades, though it will still be available to use on devices on which it is currently installed.
“Today, Finale is no longer the future of the notation industry – a reality after 35 years, and I want to be candid about this,” said Dell’Era.
“Instead of releasing new versions of Finale that would offer only marginal value to our users, we’ve made the decision to end its development.”
Dell’Era noted the increasing difficulty of ensuring Finale’s ongoing compatibility with Mac and Windows operating systems as one factor in MakeMusic’s decision.
In his statement, Dell’Era passes the torch to Steinberg’s notation software Dorico, calling it the “new future of the industry” above rival softwares Sibelius (developed by Avid), and MuserGrou’s MuseScore Studio.
“Many have competed with Finale over the past four decades… but when Dorico launched in 2016, it set a brand new bar for the industry,” said Dell’Era.
Finale has also partnered with Steinberg to offer...
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I first used Finale on Mac in 1990, just 2 years after its release in 1988. Having used it for 34 years, I am devastated that there will be no further development or support. I will use it as long as the software and my current computer’s operating system are compatible, while gradually making the transition to another software option. It is not the case as stated in this article that Finale was first available on the Mac in 2004. I can assure your readers I used it extensively on Mac from 1990.