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    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    Sibelius

    Score7 out of 10
    N/AAvid offers Sibelius, a musical notation, creation, and publishing application.N/A

    Zencastr

    N/AN/AN/A

    $20

    per month

    Pricing
    SibeliusZencastr
    Editions & Modules
    No answers on this topic
    Basic
    $20
    per month
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    SibeliusZencastr
    Free Trial
    NoYes
    Free/Freemium Version
    NoNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoNo
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
    Additional Details
    More Pricing Information
    Best Alternatives
    SibeliusZencastr
    Small Businesses
    Descript
    Score8.5 out of 10
    Descript
    Score8.5 out of 10
    Medium-sized Companies
    Adobe Audition
    Score9 out of 10
    Adobe Audition
    Score9 out of 10
    Enterprises
    Adobe Audition
    Score9 out of 10
    Adobe Audition
    Score9 out of 10
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    SibeliusZencastr
    Likelihood to Recommend
    9.0
    (2 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Support Rating
    7.2
    (2 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    SibeliusZencastr
    Likelihood to Recommend
    Avid Technology
    It is simply easy to use and serves the function that it needs to serve. Once you get the hang of the basic functionality and a few of the keyboard shortcuts, it will be extremely easy and quick to write out music. The option to go back and transpose to another key without writing the whole thing out again is crucial.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Zencastr
    No answers on this topic
    Pros
    Avid Technology
    • User Friendly
    • Compatible with other software/music programs
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Zencastr
    No answers on this topic
    Cons
    Avid Technology
    • Barrier to entry could be a bit lower.
    • Options for types of arrangements are somewhat limited and the interface is a bit convoluted.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Zencastr
    No answers on this topic
    Support Rating
    Avid Technology
    Once Sibelius is purchased, the user is given one year of unlimited free customer service to help in using the product. After that first year, users can either pay to utilize customer service with questions or use online helps, which are very helpful. One of the bigger issues I had was getting the sounds to work properly because my Internet connection wasn't consistently working well enough to accommodate the large files, which were taking up to 10 hours to download. The download would fail, and then I'd have to start over. I wanted to get a CD sent to me but was told this would be very costly, and so I declined. I wasn't happy with the lack of customer service in that situation but was eventually able to get the files to download and the software working properly.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Zencastr
    No answers on this topic
    Alternatives Considered
    Avid Technology
    I have not used Finale exclusively, but I know friends/colleagues who have. In the past, it was complicated to transfer and edit any of the music they created for me because it would not transfer to Sibelius. As a result, I would have to request the edits I wanted and ask them to make the changes themselves. If I wanted to make any changes later, it was extremely inconvenient to do so, and I often chose not to, as I did not want to bother anyone other than myself to do any edits after-the-fact. Though it is now possible to transfer Finale files to Sibelius through creating .xml files and then importing as .sib files, the files still do not entirely retain all of the integrity of the original composition (as completed in Finale). Sometimes text and markings are missing, microscopic, or shifted once opened in Sibelius. Text fonts must often be edited. When working with other major music publishers, it has been extremely convenient and helpful to have the same software.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Zencastr
    No answers on this topic
    Return on Investment
    Avid Technology
    • Digital files are easily distributed to customers/no shipping costs.
    • Collaboration with other sheet music retailers has been established and maintained.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Zencastr
    No answers on this topic
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