• A Powerful New Selection Tool has inherited all the functionality of the expired Mass Edit Tool. Adapted for selecting measure regions, the Selection Tool is now Finale's universal editing utility. See Selection Tool.
• Cut, Copy, Paste, and Insert Improvements allow unprecedented flexibility when choosing how, what, and where to copy. Plus, consistent results whether drag-copying or using the clipboard, even between documents. See Copying Music.
• Merge Multiple Scores automatically using the Score Merger. Consolidate multiple movements horizontally into a single document (even from different instrumentations) or merge a collection of parts vertically into a full conductor's score.  See To combine files with Score Merger.
• Add An Audio Track to your score by either importing an audio file or recording a live performance with HyperScribe. See Audio.
• New Garritan Sounds including saxophone, guitar, jazz bass, choir, marching percussion and many more. See Setup Wizard.
• Human Playback updates provide even more support for Garritan products as well as additional Instrument Techniques and an enhanced dictionary. See Human Playback.
• Playback using Garritan and SoundFont instruments simultaneously. See Setup Wizard.
• HyperScribe improvements allow you to easily record first and second endings and offer more control of the recording tempo. See Recording with HyperScribe.
• Vista support allows you to install, register, and run Finale on Microsoft’s latest operating system.
• Boomwhackers® Tuned Percussion Tubes / Chroma-Notes™ Instruments - Ready  with colored noteheads and an accompanying Boomwhackers tubes SoundFont. See Setup Wizard and Document Options-Notes and Rests.
• Document Styles allow you to formulate a custom medley of libraries and document settings, or choose from one of Finale's offerings, for integration with the instrumentation of your choice in the Setup Wizard. See Setup Wizard and Document Styles.
• Customize templates when you open them using the last two pages of the Setup Wizard. See Finale Score Templates.
• Improved Scanning with MusicXML technology means better recognition. See Scanning.
• Expanded MusicXML import and export offers higher quality formatting and page layout, as well as support for fretboards, metronome markings, piano pedals and can now import the default music font. See File/MusicXML.
• More Text Inserts including "Arranger," "Lyricist," and "Subtitle." These are recorded in Finale's New File Info dialog box and can also be defined in Finale 2008's redesigned Setup Wizard. See Text inserts, File Info dialog box and Setup Wizard.
• Expanded Setup Wizard Options allow you to select a Document Style, assign Document Styles to specific ensembles, and add additional score information including Arranger, Lyricist, and Subtitle. See Setup Wizard.
• Customize Zoom Percentages as you wish them to appear in the View Menu. See View Menu.
• Updated Documentation provides the information you need quickly and easily. Finale's new User Manual features improved navigation, context-sensitivity, and an interactive Visual Index. See How to Use the Finale 2009 User Manual.

What's New in Finale 2008a 

• In files with VST instruments*, audio files are no longer saved in real-time. The process is now quicker on fast machines, and slower machines will produce better-sounding results.
• Time Signatures can now be excluded when copying stacks. See Edit Filter dialog box and To Copy Time Signatures.
• Human Playback Improvements to performance, instrument techniques, and more. See Human Playback.
• Measure settings can now be copied when either the source or target constitutes a stack.

• Linked Parts. Content from the score is now intelligently linked to parts so editing the score and part documents separately is no longer required. Print parts directly from your main project file. See Linked Parts.
• Latin Percussion plug-in. Use this plug-in to automatically create authentic Latin Percussion rhythm section notation, with a variety of styles to choose from. See Latin Percussion plug-in.
• Latin Percussion Sounds. You can now make your Latin rhythms sound as good as they look. See Latin Percussion Map Table.
• SMPTE/MIDI Time Code Support. Use MTC to synchronize Finale with the integrated Movie Window or another MTC-compatible device. See SMPTE and MIDI Time Code.
• Integrated On-screen Video. Use Finale’s built-in Movie Window to write to picture. No external software required. See Movie Window.
• Fit to Time. Instantly assign a duration for any region of music. Finale modifies the tempo to fit the music to the time specified. See Fit to Time dialog box.
• Playback Counter. Finale's Playback Controls now include a counter that displays SMPTE MIDI Time Code during playback (hours, minutes, seconds, and frames). See Playback Controls.
• Time Markers. A new Measure Number Style allows you to view the elapsed time at any measure. See Measure Number dialog box.
• Change Expressions Quickly. Simple key commands can now be used to change the expression definition directly from the document. See Expressions.
• Intelligent Articulation Positioning. Finale can now automatically flip articulations to the appropriate side of the staff as stems flip during the addition or removal of layers. Use the Auto Note/Stem Side setting in the Articulation Designer dialog box.
• Multimeasure Rests Now Update Automatically when a note is added in Scroll or Studio View to a measure within a multimeasure rest region. See Document Options-Multimeasure Rests.
• Vertical Collision Remover. Automatically reformat the vertical positioning of staves, systems, and instrument groups to avoid collision of notes, articulations, smart shapes and other items. See Vertical Collision Remover plug-in.
• Human Playback Improvements. The Human Playback Preferences dialog box now includes specific "techniques" designed to give you a completely customizable Human Playback environment. Techniques also allow Human Playback to make the most of multiple sound libraries used in the same document. See Human Playback Preferences dialog box.
• KONTAKT™ Player 2 for Finale.* (Now Aria Player). The new integrated Kontakt Player 2 allows you to load up to 64 instruments and channels at once. Also benefit from optimized sample management, and DFD disk streaming, and more. .
• More Control of Groups and Brackets. Groups and brackets can now be edited en mass after a systems has been optimized. See Update Groups and Brackets plug-in.
• Hide Chords, Fretboards, and Lyrics on Individual Staves. Or, hide them on a region of a staff with Staff Styles. See Staff Attributes dialog box and Staff styles.
• New QuickStart Videos. Finale’s QuickStart Videos have been updated with a new look and additional content to get you up and running even faster. See Launch Window.

• Studio View. Page View is your print shop for layout like Studio View is your sound stage for playback. Use this new view to audition Finale’s MIDI performance, "conduct" a tempo, adjust playback settings, and record HyperScribe transcriptions. See Studio View.
• Mixer Controls. Control the volume, panning, and reverb for your full score, and find the perfect balance using convenient sliders and knobs for each staff - all in real-time during playback. See Mixer. Use the convenient Staff Controls of Studio View to adjust these settings as well. See Staff Controls.
• TempoTap. Studio View’s new TempoTap staff allows you to "conduct" your score by tapping with a MIDI device or your computer keyboard. Your tempo is recorded and applied to playback. The beat durations can also be edited to optimize accuracy while recording a tempo. See TempoTap.
• New Instrument List Controls. As part of Finale’s real-time playback enhancements you can now audition real-time changes to volume, panning, and instruments with controls added to the instrument list. See Instrument List window.
• Kontakt for Finale with Garritan Personal Orchestra. (Now Aria Player). Assign GPO’s world class instrument sounds to staves of a new document with the Setup Wizard.
• Ambience Reverb. Customize the room size, decay, and a collection other reverb settings that allow you to control of the overall reverb effect of playback. See VST Instruments dialog box.*
• Speedier Playback Processing. Without the need to prescan your music, a click on the Play button initiates playback with almost no hesitation. Only Human Playback processing is necessary (if HP is enabled).
• Export a measure region as a MIDI or Audio File with a new command in the Playback Settings dialog box. To export a MIDI file and To export an audio file.
• More MIDI Channels. SmartMusic SoftSynth playback has been expanded from 16 to 128 channels. Now choose up to eight different MIDI Out devices. See MIDI Setup dialog box.
• Assign Each Staff a Unique Channel automatically while setting up your score. See Setup Wizard.
• Spacebar-click Scrolling Playback. Finale now supports scrolling when you use the spacebar-click method to start playback. See Playback.
• Start Playback Mid-Measure. Finale’s Playback Control interface now supports a more robust counter, showing the measure, beat, and EDU. See Playback Controls.
• Human Playback Improvements. Enhanced support for GPO and improved performance of percussion rolls and trills are part of the new Human Playback. See Human Playback.
• Enhanced Performance. Optimized drawing routines and memory handling now provide faster screen redraw and expedited application startup. You’ve never been able to do so much so fast!
• Copy and Paste Measure and Entry Items Simultaneously using Finale’s new Items to Copy dialog box. You can now also choose any combination of items to clear. (Now called the Edit Filter dialog box).
• Automatically Insert a © Symbol. You can now insert a Copyright symbol automatically in the Setup Wizard. See Setup Wizard.
• Embed Graphics in your Document. Graphics can now be embedded into Finale documents. You no longer need to move graphic files independently when sharing Finale files across computers. See Graphics Tool.
• Automatically Fit Music to a Printed Page using Finale’s new Fit to Page option in the Print dialog box.
• Improved Scanning Recognition. Import grayscale TIFF images with SmartScore Lite. See Scanning.
• Composite Libraries. Save a collection of elements in the same library file for transfer to other documents. See Save Library dialog box.
• Create Smart Shape Libraries. Now you can save the Custom Smart Shapes you created in Finale’s Smart Line Designer dialog box in a library to open across documents. See Save Library dialog box.
• More Instrument Choices. Choose from an expanded list of instrument staves, including a new Orff Instruments category. See Setup Wizard.
• Key Signature Contextual Menu. While using the Key Signature Tool, simply right-click a measure to choose from a list of several common key signatures. See Key Signature Tool.
• Mass Edit Contextual Menu. While using the Mass Edit Tool, simply right-click a measure to choose from a list of Mass Edit Commands. (Now called the Selection Tool)
• Textured Manuscript Background. You now have even more ways to customize Finale’s work environment with a collection of textured manuscript paper backgrounds. Easier on the eyes after long hours. See Program Options-Palettes and Backgrounds.
• More Control over Measure Numbering. It’s now easy to instruct Finale to skip a measure in a measure number sequence. No complex Time Signature or Measure Tool adjustments required - just uncheck Include in Measure Numbering. See Measure Attributes dialog box.
• Display in Concert Pitch Warning. If you choose to print parts for your brass quintet in concert pitch, Finale now reminds you the music is not prepared for transposing instruments.
• Create a Bells Used Chart Automatically with the new Create Handbells Used Chart Plug-in. This plug-in scans your handbell score and generates a bells used chart based on the notes found in the document. See Create Handbells Used Chart Plug-in.
• Auto-generate Chord Symbols with the Chord Analysis Plug-in. This plug-in analyzes the harmonic progression of a selected region of your score and adds chord symbols automatically. See Chord Analysis Plug-in.
• All-Staff Analysis. Include notes from all staves of your score while adding chords using the staff analysis method. See Chord Menu.
• Easily Split Measures Across Systems or Create Dashed Barlines with the Split Measure Plug-in. No measure number editing required. See Split Measure Plug-in.
• Combine Measures and update measure numbering automatically using the Merge Measures Plug-in. See Merge Measures Plug-in.
• Easily Create Mid-measure Repeat Barlines with the Mid-Measure Repeats Plug-in. No time signature or measure number editing necessary. This plug-in does it for you automatically. See Mid-Measure Repeats Plug-in.
• Create Coda Systems Automatically with the Create Coda System Plug-in. Isolate a separate coda system, generate coda markings, and even define a coda for playback with this powerful plug-in. See Create Coda System Plug-in.
• Place Slurs on Melismatic Passages Automatically with the Auto Slur Melismas Plug-in. This plug-in can find multiple notes over a syllable and place slurs accordingly. See Auto Slur Melismas Plug-in.
• Resize Noteheads of Specific Voices within Chords using the Resize Noteheads Plug-in. See Resize Noteheads Plug-in.
• Specify a Staff List for Generated Tempo Markings using the updated Create Tempo Marking Plug-in. See Create Tempo Marking Plug-in.
• Create System Separation Marks Automatically with the Score System Divider Plug-in. See Score System Divider Plug-in.

What's New in Finale 2006a

• Real-Time Save As Audio Support for VST/AU. Save As Audio now supports Wave or AIFF output for documents that use Finale’s integrated GPO sounds or other supported VST instruments. Furthermore, adjustments to the Mixer or Staff Controls during the saving process apply to the generated audio file.

What's New in Finale 2006b

• EPS Export. EPS graphics can now be exported using any Finale-compatible operating system.
• Check for Finale Updates Automatically with the new option Check for Finale Updates under the Help Menu.
• Expanded Documentation. Learn how to get the most out of GPO and HP with the new GPO and HP Finale Installation and Tutorials Supplement.

• SmartMusic Accompaniment Wizard. It is now easier than ever to create SmartMusic Accompaniments. (Replaced with File/Export to SmartMusic in Finale 2009. See SmartMusic.)

• Easily Add SmartMusic Markers. You no longer need to manually add performance markers with expressions. Easily add pauses, rehearsal markers, and even scan the score to add repeat markers automatically with the Add SmartMusic Markers dialog box.
• Enhanced Human Playback capabilities. Combine Human Playback’s interpretation with your own custom MIDI data in the new Human Playback Preferences dialog box. Then, use the Apply Human Playback plug-in to apply Human Playback styles and elements to regions of your score. See Apply Human Playback plug-in. Human Playback now includes a new "Marching Band" style and support for Garritan Personal Orchestra. See Human Playback.
• Record Continuous Data. You can now record pitch bend, sustain pedal, and other continuous data controllers in real-time using HyperScribe. See Record Continuous Data dialog box.
• New Launch Window. Get up and running quickly with Finale’s new Launch Window. From here, open existing files, choose how you want to start a new one, view reference material, and even import scanned documents. See Launch Window.
• Expanded Setup Wizard. Save time by starting a new document using one of Finale’s preset ensembles, or create your own custom ensemble. See Setup Wizard.
• Engraver Tuplets. Tuplet brackets now avoid collision with notes, stems, rests, and other items and angle appropriately according to the notation. Finale also offers greater control over the spacing of non-beamed tuplets. See Document Options-Tuplets.
• Updated Repeats. Apply repeats to a region of your score using keystrokes and contextual menus; playback is set up for you automatically. You can now also assign staff lists to endings and text repeats. See Repeat Tool.
• Improved Scanning. Use Finale’s new TWAIN supported scanning to acquire sheet music from your scanner and configure your scanning software for Finale import automatically. See Scanning.
• Simple Entry Improvements. Toggle enharmonic spelling, add expressions, and flip ties while entering with Simple Entry. See Keycuts-Simple Entry Tool.
• FinaleScript Plug-in Improvements. Now, call any plug-in or menu item from the FinaleScript palette. New commands include "apply staff style", "clear staff style", "title", "composer", "copyright", and more. See FinaleScript plug-in.
• Save as MP3. You can now save audio files in compressed MP3 format. See Audio Files.
• Marching Percussion Sounds have been added to SmartMusic SoftSynth playback. See Marching Percussion Map Table.
• New TGTools Plug-ins. Customize rest appearance, divide voices from one staff into two parts, and generate logical split points with these new plug-ins. See Modify Rests Plug-in, Process Extracted Parts plug-in, and Smart Split Point plug-in.
• 3rd Party Sound Font Support. Specify your favorite sound font for playback or audio output. See SoftSynth dialog box.
• Improved Grace Note Spacing. Spacing of consecutive grace notes has been improved. See Grace Notes. See Document Options-Music Spacing.
• Additional Spacing Controls. Specify before and after barline spacing by measure in the Measure Attributes dialog box. Control spacing between the clef, key signature, and time signature in Document Options-Clefs and Document Options-Key Signatures.
• Copy Staff Lists. You can now accurately copy measure expressions, repeat text and repeat ending brackets assigned to staff lists from one document to another without manually creating the staff lists in the destination document. See Expressions.
• Easily Change the Path for Graphics. Now, you can manually update the path for referenced graphics you have placed in the score (instead of moving or replacing the graphic). See Graphic Attributes dialog box.
• New Navigation Keystrokes. Press Ctrl-= to Zoom in or Ctrl--(minus) to zoom out. See View Menu.

What’s New in Finale 2005a

• New system spacing options. You can now define extra space at the beginning and end of any number of systems. See System Space Before/After Music dialog box.
• Repeat "Show On" settings in Document Options. You can now define Staff List information for all repeat markings in a document on the Repeats page of the Document Options dialog box. See Document Options-Repeats.
• Human Playback improvements include enhanced Incorporate MIDI Data, improved rolled and strummed chords, trills, turns with an accidental and hairpins. HP now supports turns with double-sharp and double-flat. Human Playback Dictionary additions include "slargando", "riten.", and "rfz". Messages can now be disabled program-wide. See Human Playback Preferences dialog box.
• Batch processing FPA files is now possible with FinaleScript.

• Improved Note Entry. Enter notes, articulations, and even clef, key and time signature changes in Simple Entry using your computer or MIDI keyboard. See Simple Entry.
• Definable Simple Entry Keyboard Shortcuts. Customize a set of Simple Entry commands to your own preferred keystrokes. Edit Keyboard Shortcuts.
• Enhanced Expressions. The redesigned expression designer allows you to use multiple fonts for the same expression, align expressions with automatic placement options and add a description for each expression. Expression Designer dialog box.
• Sound Font Playback. Finale’s included General MIDI Sound Font offers high quality instrument simulation. Now, using this sound font, Finale delivers identical playback from one computer to the next. See MIDI Setup dialog box.
• Human Playback. Playback of Finale documents, as well as MIDI files and SmartMusic Accompaniments generated with Finale now simulate a live human performance with automatic interpretation of expressions, articulations, hairpins and other markings. Choose from several playback styles including Baroque, Jazz, and Reggae. See Human Playback.
• Save as Audio File. Like the sound of Finale’s improved playback? You can now save that performance in Wave format to burn to a CD, or as a compressed Wave for transfer over the Internet. See Save as Audio File dialog box.
• Improved Redraw. Smoother interface handling. No more residual artifacts, or need for manual redraws.
• Smart Hyphens and Word Extensions. No longer manually add word extensions or adjust hyphens. Finale does it for you. See Update Smart Word Extensions and Hyphens.
• Smart Page Turn plug-in. Tell Finale to intelligently edit the layout of an entire part to avoid awkward page turns. See Smart Page Turns plug-in.
• Smart Cue Notes plug-in. Search an entire score for cue note opportunities, and add them automatically. See Smart Cue Notes plug-in.
• Patterson Plug-ins Lite. Easily beam over barlines with the new Beam Over Barlines plug-in, or edit all beams in a document with the Improved Patterson Beams plug-in. See Beam Over Barlines plug-in.
• Search and replace text with the new Text Search and Replace plug-in. (Now an option under the Edit Menu).
• FinaleScript plug-in. Apply a change or series of changes using many of Finale features and options to a single Finale document, or batch process multiple Finale documents at once. See FinaleScript plug-in.
• Drum Groove plug-in. Choose from dozens of drum groove styles to add to your score along with a percussion map defined for you automatically. Drum Groove plug-in.
• Cross Staff plug-in. Easily move notes across staves with a single keystroke. Cross Staff plug-in.
• New Text Inserts. Now, insert a copyright symbol, the total number of pages, or the performance time into a text block. See Text Menu.
• Hidden Text Style. With this new text style, text blocks can be set to display on the screen and not in the printout. See Text Menu.
• Create SmartMusic Accompaniments with Performance Markers. Now, you can use expressions to indicate performance markers such as pauses, rehearsal marks and repeats, for SmartMusic Accompaniments saved from Finale. See SmartMusic.
• Multitimbral SmartMusic Accompaniment generation. Create SmartMusic Accompaniments containing many instruments primed for Sound Font playback in SmartMusic. See SmartMusic.
• Improved scanning recognition with SmartScore Lite 3.0. See SmartScore Lite.
• Updated SmartScore 2.0 and 3.0 Import. Import .FIN files saved in SmartScore version 2.0 and 3.0. See File Menu.
• Select Multiple Articulations at Once. Drag and edit any number of articulations simultaneously. See Articulations.
• Regional Clef Change Selection. Apply a clef change to a highlighted a region of your score. See Clef Tool.
• Cross-layer Accidental Positioning. Automatically avoid collision of accidentals between layers and align accidentals on intervals of an octave vertically. See Document Options-Accidentals.
• Copy Between Layers. Copy notes in one layer to another, without changing the original notes. See Move/Copy Layers dialog box.

What's New in Finale 2004b

• New File Maintenance dialog box allows you to remove duplicate library elements. Remove Deleted Items and Test File Integrity features are also found here. (Look in the Options Menu/Data Check submenu). See File Maintenance dialog box.