Sibelius
Sibelius is a virtual score creation tool which allows composers to easily create new piano scores, developed by Avid. Sibelius comes pre-loaded with a variety of templates that can help composers begin their work immediately, encompassing the genres of funk, Latin, classical, and many more. The software also comes with a built in MIDI feature, allowing users to create music scores via their physical keyboard. The powerful transposing features allow composers to sample their works in different keys, as well as invert chords input by their MIDI keyboard, saving time and headache for composers. Sibelius also comes with a fully decked out virtual keyboard, for users that might not have access to MIDI controls. The virtual keyboard can be set to any octave on a piano roll, as well as programmed for reverb and tone. Along with a virtual keyboard, the software is also built containing a full mixing board, allowing users to control the voice and attack of each note in their score. Finally, the software has also incorporated a notation system. This feature gives users the ability to insert notes for others that may be using the software, giving the composer the ability to better communicate how a measure should be played or a chord should be accented.
- Virtual Keyboard
- Virtual Mixing Board
- Transposing Options
- Notation Feature
- Template Scores
- Ease of use
- MIDI Input Options
- Rich Virtual Keyboard
- Native Mixing Options
- MIDI Import Options
- MusicXML Import Options
- Cant Export Files As MusicXML Files
- Scores Cannot Be Exported As Graphic Files
Sibelius is a powerful songwriting tool that almost any musician can use. Editing a score is as easy as playing along with your MIDI controller, or simply clicking in the notes your self. A great feature Sibelius contains is the chord generation tool, which allows users to create entire chords based upon a root note. This allows for extreme ease of use, and gives even the most novice musician the ability to create rich musical compositions. The features incorporated into Sibelius are excellent and the initial set up is quite easy. Creating a new composition is simply a matter of choosing a template to work with, or starting from scratch. The software is great in the fact that it contains many different key signatures and time signatures to work with, allowing you to easily create compositions for a variety of instruments. The import feature is very simple to use as well, giving users the options of importing their work from other programs to use in Sibelius. Sibelius' level of compatibility with other composition programs is one of its greatest strengths. Unfortunately, Sibelius' file exporting system is one of its greatest weaknesses. Sibelius only allows users to export files as MIDI or as proprietary files. This is a greatly limiting feature for users who wish to save their files as MusicXML files to share with their friends who don't use the same software. Another option that would be great would be the ability to export graphic files. While Sibelius does limit user export options, if you are composing music for a team of Sibelius users the ability to share and notate each others music is excellent.
Unbelieveable complicated Interface. Not Userfriendly!!!!!
Software is pretty incomprehensible. However, it does what it has been made for, after weeks of googling around. However, if your install-CD gets broken, you're not at all granted a new one, neither any replacement software. Avid sends you into the worst Kafka-nightmare you can think of, I believe these guys don't even understand any detail of theyr own way of organizing a proper website.
Alternatives to Sibelius
Guitar Pro
MuseScore
OpenMPT
Finale
Impro-Visor
Flat
Anvil Studio
