MuseScore Studio is dedicated to supporting Finale users
Historically, MuseScore Studio was developed as an alternative to Finale, designed to be simpler and easier to pick up for first time users. We were always aware that by doing this, the experience of MuseScore Studio would be quite different from Finale but believed this approach was appropriate, given that composers typically prefer to stick with the tools they are most familiar with. We did not expect or try to lure Finale users to MuseScore Studio. However, with MakeMusic announcing that they will no longer support existing users of Finale - a significant problem given the rapid rate of change in operating systems - we recognise the need to put concerted effort into making the transition from Finale to MuseScore Studio much smoother.
We have begun drafting plans to support common workflows found in Finale, particularly note entry and shortcuts. Our ultimate goal is that when a Finale user opens MuseScore Studio, they can select a 'Finale' profile, which adjusts some of the core mechanics so that the experience feels familiar. Another key addition we plan to make is an analogue for the Speedy Entry tool and additional support for Garritan. With this in mind, we'll be talking to Finale users, putting out surveys and polls and taking note of conversations and requests that take place on our forum.
Over the last few years, Muse has heavily invested in MusicXML import capabilities for both Sibelius and Finale files. This effort partly addresses an internal challenge, as hundreds of thousands of scores in our catalog were in an incompatible format. While we acknowledge that MusicXML does not always yield perfect results, we are confident that MuseScore Studio is the application most likely to retain the details of your original .mus file as accurately as possible.
