Here is a list of issues that I have encountered when using Finale. I will probably need to divide this blog post into two parts:
- When scoring large ensemble or orchestral pieces in Finale, the program tends to cram the instruments and respective staves onto one page. This results in an almost illegible score when inserting the proper notation.
- The “Setup Wizard” lists the duplicated instruments on the right side of the screen as individual instrumental parts. After completing the setup, Finale represents each duplicated instrumental part as a separate line. I find this approach confusing, especially if many of the instruments in an ensemble or orchestra often play the same line together in unison (eg., strings).
- Finale initially displays orchestral instruments according to their respective pitches. Composers must exercise caution with how they write certain instrumental parts. They need to consider whether a given instrument sounds an octave, half-step, whole-step or perfect fifth higher or lower than written.