Simple Note Entry
Enter notes with your computer or MIDI keyboard.

Click notes onto the staff or use MIDI to indicate pitch. Or enter notes with the numeric pad and keys ‘A’ ‘B’ ‘C’ ‘D’ ‘E’ ‘F’ and ‘G.’ But entering notes is just the start. You can also:

• Change octaves
• Enter rests
• Add accidentals
• Create triplets
• Add grace notes
• Add notes in a chord to an existing note
• Enter articulations on the fly or ‘lock in’ an articulation to place on several notes
• Change the key or time signature simply with key commands
• Add expressions like dynamics or tempos
• Enter a rhythmic pattern using a single note and then re-pitch the repeated notes using your MIDI or computer keyboard

Keystrokes are intuitive and a special key map for laptop users is provided. Best of all, if you prefer certain key commands, change the defaults in Finale to whatever you like.

HyperScribe®
Enter notes in real-time as you play a MIDI keyboard.

• You can play along with a click, provide the click as you play (for example with a sustain or other foot pedal), or enter the pulse later.
• Record your live vocal or instrumental performance — an exclusive Finale feature.
• Recording first and second endings with HyperScribe is seamless — Finale skips over the first ending on the second pass allowing for smooth transitions
• Specify a playback tempo before you record or Finale can record at the tempo you use when playing your MIDI keyboard.
• Record continuous data including the sustain pedal.

	Listen to a performance recorded in HyperScribe without Continuous Data. (.mp3)
	Now, listen to the same performance recorded in HyperScribe with Continuous Data. (.mp3)

MicNotator^® – No MIDI Required
This revolutionary technology allows you to enter notation into Finale simply by playing your brass or woodwind instrument.

Pick up your clarinet and start making music!

The example below is an unedited flute solo line played in at 90 bpm.

Scanning
No other notation program offers scanning as accurate as Finale, with its included SmartScore^® Lite by Musitek^®.

New in Finale 2009 – Triplet recognition and improved results when scanning polyphonic music.

Finale’s SmartScore Lite Scanning includes:

• Improved recognition and accuracy with XML Technology.
• Easier Scanning – scanning is brought right to your fingertips in the Launch Window. With a compatible scanner, Finale 2008 provides an auto-preview and automatically chooses resolution and contrast settings.* All you have to do is click "Final Scan."
• Secondary voice recognition – counterpoint.
• Correct transposed instrument recognition.
• Multiple page scans.
• Correct page formatting including system and staff sizes.
• Up to 32nd note resolution.
• Improved recognition of multi-measure rests, grace notes, and repeat measures (slash and dot symbol).
• Recognition of grayscale images to simplify the use of scanners, including HP models, that save in this format.
• Improved recognition when scanning scores with optimized staves.

Take a look for yourself.

Here's the original:

Scanned into Finale: Only 5 easy edits needed.

Another notation product using PhotoScore Lite™: 30 difficult edits needed.

SmartScore Lite is designed to scan original engraved music – not handwritten scores. These examples were scanned from original engraved music using a Canon N670U scanner at 360 dpi. Both images were untouched to enhance results. The PhotoScore example was transferred, without edits, to a competitor's product. The time to correct errors in the two examples: Finale, 10 seconds to add missing rests and tie necessary notes, hence the term 'easy edits' compared to the 2 minutes it took to add Voice 2 notes, correct notes, change notes from Voice 1 to 2, etc., in the competitor's product, thus the term 'difficult' or time-consuming edits.

Need additional recognition?
Finale is also compatible with full-fledged scanning products including SmartScore X and SharpEye. Sold separately, these products offer expanded recognition.

• Finale 2009 and SmartScore X are now fully integrated. Finale is automatically launched from SmartScore X and files import with notes, text, lyrics, dynamics, articulations, and chord symbols intact. Upgrading to SmartScore X is optional and once installed, replaces the Lite version when “Scanning” is initiated in Finale.
• Finale also imports SharpEye MusicXML files. (While SharpEye is Windows only software, the MusicXML files it creates can be read by Finale on Macintosh and Windows computers.)

*Scanning directly from SmartScore Lite within Finale is supported by nearly all Windows scanners and Epson scanners on Macintosh.