SIBELIUS DETAILED FEATURE LIST
LOOK AND FEEL
Completely interactive: score reformats and redraws instantly (around 1/10th of a second) after any operation * drawing/formatting speed not affected by length of score * part extraction: typically less than 10 seconds * view and edit any number of pages on the screen at once * typically 85% of the screen is left clear for your music * music always shown exactly as it will be when finally printed * multiple views of same document (at different zoom factors) * unique 'navigator' lets you click on a miniature view to move anywhere in the score * zoom in/out almost indefinitely, allowing long zoom-outs to see multiple pages * textured paper on screen, with range of colors, textures and materials (even silk or marble!) * no complicated hierarchies of menus and dialogs * notes too high/low for given instrument shown in red * multi-level undo (to user-definable level) * undo/redo history shows recent operations and lets you jump back to any point * full screen mode hides the taskbar, menus, etc. to maximize the working area * slim one-volume manual which teaches you all the main features in one sitting * on-line help
CREATING YOUR SCORE
Inputting: 'Flexi-time' - super-intelligent real-time MIDI input which follows your tempo * play in music with Flexi-time while playing back the existing staves (overdubbing) * quantization automatically varies with context (e.g. quantizes in smaller values when you play faster notes) * auto-ranging split point * step-time input * 'keypad' allows easy input of notes, rests, accidentals, articulations, ties, etc. * numeric keys select keypad tools for fast inputting * function keys switch between 5 different keypad layouts for fast access to lots of symbols * touch-type notes using letters A to G and/or arrow keys * word-processor-style keys let you select and edit notes, groups of bars, etc. from the keyboard * one-click copy of any selected object or objects
Notes and chords: any note-value from 512th-note (hemidemisemihemidemisemiquaver, 7 beams) to 'long' (double breve, for early music) * triplets and all other 'tuplets' (automatically spaced) * notes play as you select/edit them * ensures rhythm of each bar adds up at all times * all notes and other objects automatically aligned according to rhythmic position * all standard notehead designs (e.g. diamond, cross, slash) and many others * custom notehead designs (up to 64 in total) * up to 3 rhythmic dots * any pitch from 5 octaves below middle C to 51/2 octaves above * change spacing by moving column of notes left/right * move individual notes left/right out of alignment * tremolos on/between notes, from 1 to 5 strokes * grace notes (at any percentage of normal note size) * cue notes (at any percentage of normal note size) and cue grace-notes * up to 4 rhythmically independent voices (layers) per staff, each of which can have chords containing up to 32 noteheads * voices are color-coded * intelligent positioning of notes in crossing and interlocking voices * automatic but adjustable stem-lengths
Accidentals: all standard accidentals including double-accidentals * one-key input * intelligent spelling of accidentals during Flexi-time, step-time input and MIDI file importing * enharmonically respell accidental of any notehead or group of notes * intelligently positioned using adjustable engraving rules * bracketed accidentals * all standard microtones included * quarter-tones work as real accidentals, e.g. transposable, respellable
Articulations: one-key input of standard articulations (e.g. staccato, tenuto, accent) * intelligently positioned using adjustable engraving rules * custom articulations (using any symbol from any font)
Beams: automatically positioned using user-definable engraving rules * adjustable beam-angles * automatically grouped according to time signature (even for irregular time signatures) * beamed note-groups easily adjustable, including beams across rests and barlines * automatic cross-staff beaming between 2 or 3 staves
Rests:automaticallycreated/deletedwhenyoueditnotestokeepbarsthecorrectlength*automaticallygroupedaccordingtotimesignature(evenforirregulartimesignatures)*canbemovedup/downtoavoidnotesinothervoices*multirestsautomaticallyconsolidated,usingH-bar,narrowH-bar(forfilmparts)orblockdesigns
Instrumentsandstaves:whencreated,instrumentsareautomaticallyarrangedintocorrectorder,bracketedandbarlinedintogroups,givencorrectnames,abbrevations,clefsandtranspositions,assignedsuitableMIDIprogramnumbers,etc.*fullrangeofkeyboard,woodwind,brass,percussion,fret,stringedandelectronicinstrumentsandvoices*custominstruments*unlimitednumberofinstrumentsinascore*unlimitednumberofstavesperinstrument(e.g.pianowith3ormorestaves)*anynumberofstaff-linesforpercussion*wide-spacedstavesforguitartabetc.*transposinginstrumentsfullysupported*pastingmusicbetweentransposinginstrumentsautomaticallytransposestopreservesoundingpitch*instrumentscanchangetranspositionmid-score(e.g.ClarinetinA/Bb,Tenor/AltoSax)*changenumberofstaff-linesmid-staff*smallstaves(foraccompanimentsetc.)atanypercentageoffullsize*customstaffsizesofvirtuallyunlimitedsize*allobjectsattachedtoacuestaffautomaticallyscaletosize*automaticossiasandother'floating'bars*'0-line'stavesforwritingrhythmexamplesetc.
Lines:slurs,ties,hairpins,trill,8va,15,pedaling,glissando,arrows,rectangles(framenotation),etc.*linesautomaticallybehaveintelligentlywhensplitacrosssystems-e.g.8valinesappearascautionary(8va)*canbedrawnatanyangle,evenwavylines,glisstextetc.*multi-arcphrase-marks,withanynumberofarcs*createcustomlinesusinganycombinationofdashes,arrows,symbols,text,etc.
Keysignatures:automaticallytransposedfortransposinginstruments*automaticcautionarykeychangesatendofstaves(optional)*automaticcancelingnaturalsatkeychanges(optional)*keysignaturescanbeomittedfromindividualinstruments(e.g.horn,percussion)
Clefs:23standarddesigns,coveringstandardnotation,avantgardemusic,earlymusic,percussionandguitartab*musicautomaticallyshiftstoretainsoundingpitchwhenclefisinsertedordragged*automaticcautionaryclefchangesatendofstaves(optional)
Timesignatures:from1/1to99/64*additivetimesignatures(e.g.2+3+2/8)*Candcut-C*restsandbeamednotesautomaticallygroupedforirregulartimesignatures(e.g.7/8=3+2+2or2+2+3or2+3+2)*automaticcautionarytimesignaturesatendofstaves(optional)*largetimesignaturesabovestaves,withadjustablesizeandposition
Barsandbarlines:easytocreateirregularandpick-up(up-beat)bars*barlinesautomaticallycreatedfornewbars*barlinesautomaticallysplitbetweeninstrumentalsections*barlinesplitpointsadjustable*dotted,repeat,doubleandinvisiblebarlines
Transposition:transposewholescoreoranypassageofmusic*chromaticordiatonictransposition*transposingwholescoretypicallytakesjustmoments*otherobjects(e.g.ties,slurs,text)moveappropriatelywhennotesaretransposed*optionaldouble-accidentalswhentransposingintoremotekeys*automaticallytransposeschordsymbolsandquarter-tones*instantlyswitchwholescorebetweenconcertpitchandtransposednotation
Files:Finale,EncoreandScorefileconverterscomingsoonfromthird-partydevelopers*importsStandardMIDIfilestype0and1*MIDIfileimportingintelligentlyworksouttheinstrumentnames,clefsandtranspositions,splitskeyboardmusicbetweentwostaves(withauto-rangingsplitpoint),quantizesautomaticallyaccordingtocontext(likeFlexi-time),andformatsthewholescoretoproduceacleanresult*exportsStandardMIDIfiles*exportsvariousstandardgraphicsfileformats*longSibeliusscorestypically5-10Kperpageonaverage*fullyyear2000compliant
PLAYBACK
Automaticallyunderstandsallstandardmarkingsincludinginstrumentnames,othertext(e.g.dynamics,'pizz.','mute'),articulationmarks,trills,ties,slurs,pedaling,tremolos,transposinginstruments-noset-uprequired*'Espressivo'-artificialintelligenceproducesnatural-soundingphrasingandexpression,withindependentphrasingforeachinstrument*playsbackinrealtime,whilescreenfollowsthemusicatanyzoomfactor*fast-forward,rewindandpausebuttons*temposlider(worksinrealtime)*playbackmultitasks,soyoucanworkonanotherscorewhileplaying!*user-editabledictionaryofmusicalwordsforplayback(e.g.legato,pizz.,mute,allegro)definedintermsofMIDIvelocity,programnumbers,metronomemarks,durationscaling,etc.*SoundStage-reproducestheexact3Dpositioningoforchestralandbandinstruments*swing-addsjazzfeeltorhythm*automaticplaybackofdrumset(kit)notation,guitartab,lutetablature,etc.*supportsuser-typableMIDIcommands(e.g.controlchanges,SYSEXmessages)*intelligentlydefaultedMIDIsettingsforprogramnumber,channel,pan,etc.*MIDIfileexportingincorporatesallplaybackfeaturesintoMIDIfile(e.g.Espressivo,SoundStage,swing,interpretationofmusicalwords,etc.)
PAGELAYOUTANDPARTEXTRACTION
Pagelayout:notes,rests,accidentals,articulationmarks,clefs,keysignatures,beams,timesignatures,barlines,etc.allautomaticallypositionedandalignedaccordingtostandardmusicengravingrules(withalternativerulesavailableasHouseStyleoptions)*advancedDoublePrismrulegivesoptimalspacingofpolyphonicrhythms*layoutisentirelyautomated-noneedtousetemplates*automaticreformattingofthewholescorewheneveryoumakeanychangetoit,inaround1/10thofasecond!*lockformatofindividualbars,systemsandpagesifyouwanttopreventreformatting*forcepageandsystembreaks*expand/contractnote-spacing(e.g.tocondenseascoreintoagivennumberofpages)*hideemptystavesthroughoutorinspecifiedbars*custompagesizes*intelligentattachmentofobjects(e.g.slurs,text)toappropriatenotes*optionalattachmentlineshowswhichstaffeachobjectbelongsto*indentanysystembyanyamount*splitsystemsforcodas,etc.
Partextraction:automaticconsolidationofbarrestsintomultirests,splittingatchangesofkey,timesignature,clef,tempo,rehearsalmarks,double/repeatbarlines,fermata(pause)bars*automatictranspositionoftransposinginstruments*includesonlyrelevanttextandmarkings*resetsnotespacingandreformatsontodifferentpage/staffsize
INTERNETPUBLISHING
SibeliusscorescanbeplacedontheInternetsopeoplecanview,transposeandplaythemstraightfromyourwebsite*easytouse-'Saveaswebpage'featureautomaticallycreatesHTMLfileofyourscore*usesfreeNetscapeandInternetExplorerplug-in*canalsobeusedtogivemusictonon-SibeliususersonCD-ROMorfloppydisk
SCANNING,PLUG-INSANDFILTERS
Scanning:freePhotoScoreLiteªplug-infromNeurotronSoftwarereadsprintedmusicstraightintoSibelius*recognizesnotes,rests,clefs,accidentals,ties,etc.*typicallytakesjust1-2minutesperpage*compatiblewithstandardscanners*fullprofessionalversionPhotoScoreª(availableseparately)hasnumerousadvancedfeatures,suchasreadingarticulations,hairpins,slurs,text,etc.
Plug-ins:writeyourownplug-infeaturesusingbuilt-inManuScriptlanguage*ManuScriptisaneasy-to-useobject-orientedlanguagedesignedaroundmusicnotation*built-ininteractivedevelopmentenvironmentincludingtextanddialogeditors*manyfreeplug-insincluded,e.g.checkforparallel5ths/8ves,writenote-namesabovenotes,convertallMIDIfilesinafoldertoSibeliusformat,scanning(seeabove)*otheradvancedplug-insunderdevelopment*ManuScriptplug-inswillworkonbothWindowsandMac-noneedtomodifyorrecompilethem
Filters:selectnotesfromwholescoreoranypassagebycriteria,thenapplyanoperationtothem(e.g.addstaccatos,transpose,etc.)*criteriainclude:selectnoteswithspecifiedpitch/note-value/articulations/voice/positioninbar,orselect/deselecttop/2nd/3rd/bottomnotesfromsequenceofchords
PUBLISHINGANDPRINTING
Textandlyrics:largerangeofpredefinedtextstyles(asindesktoppublishingprograms)fortitles,lyrics,tempos,footnotes,etc.*user-editablemenusandkeyboardshortcutsforcommontext,e.g.pp,cresc.,legato*textstylesgovernsize,font,positioning,alignment,angle,withmoreadvancedoptionsfor(e.g.)textinabox/circle*allWindowsfontscanbeused*createnewtextstyles*lyricsautomaticallypositionedandspacedaccordingtostandardengravingrules*headersandfooters(ononepageorrepeating)*automaticpagenumbers,inanypositiononthepage*automaticbarnumbers(every1/5/10barsoreverysystem)*automaticallylettered/numberedrehearsalmarks*customrehearsalmarks*barnumberandrehearsalmarksequencecanberesetatanypoint
HouseStyles:numerous'HouseStyle'optionsfordifferentengravingandpublishingconventions,including:size,thicknessandpositioningoflegerlines,stems,ties,slurs,lyriclines,lyrichyphens,barlines,staff-lines,beams,instrumentbrackets/sub-brackets/braces*formatandsizeoftimesignatures,instrumentnames,multirests,rehearsalmarks(e.g.numbers,letters,letters+numbers)*positioningandspacingofkeysignatures,clefs,articulations(e.g.above/belownotes,within/outsidestaves),rhythmicdots,pagenumbers,etc.*beamanglerules*barnumberfrequency*relativesizeofsmallstaves,grace-notes,cue-notes*guitarframedesign*editablenotespacingtables*ƒandmanymore*exportHouseStylesandotheroptionstodiskandbetweenscores*savestandardsetsofoptionsastemplates
Printing:exceptionalprintqualitysatisfiesthemoststringentrequirementsoftheworld'stoppublishers*createsPostScriptfilesforimagesetting*cropmarks*printpageborders(forhand-guillotining)*collate*printanyselectionofpages(neednotbeconsecutive)*printinreverseorder*bookletprinting(automaticimposition)*printspreads(twopagesside-by-sideononesheet)*usesanyWindows-compatibleprinter-doesnotrequirePostScript
Musicfontsandsymbols:hugerangeofmiscellaneoussymbolssuchasspecialnoteheads,microtones,figuredbass,ornaments,percussionandchordsymbols*comeswithOpusengravingfontandInkpenhandwrittenmusicfont*compatiblewithallstandardmusicfontsincludingPetrucci,Sonata,Anastasia,Susato,Ghent,Tamburo*createcustomsymbolsusinganycharacterfromanyfontwithanysize/position,oranycompositeofcharacters
SPECIALNOTATIONS
Academicwork:fulfilsallacademicrequirementsfromcounterpointtoauraltests*exportmusicexamplesintoexampapersandassignments*drawSchenkeriananalysisdiagrams*usefulfeaturescheckworkformistakessuchasnotestoohigh/low,parallel5ths/8ves,incorrectrhythms,etc.
Guitartabandframes:inputtabusingMIDI,mouseorkeystrokes*playsbacktab*dynamicallyconvertsnotationtotabandback*varietyoftabnotations(e.g.with/withoutrhythm,differentnumbersofstrings)*widerangeofstandardfretinstrumentsandtuningsincluded-mandolin,lute,banjo,dobro*createcustomfretinstrumentsandtunings*guitarframesautomaticallygeneratedforstandardchordsinanytuning
Modernnotation:ratiotuplets(e.g.27:18)ofanycomplexity,withoptiontowriteunitnote-value*nestedtuplets,tomultipledepth*allstandardmicrotones*quarter-tonesautomaticallytransposed*allstandardnoteheads,percussionsymbols,etc.*individualstavescanappear/disappearorchangenumberofstaff-linesatanypoint(evenmid-staff)
Jazz,commercialandrockmusic:chordsymbolswithautomaticsuperscripts/subscripts*chordsymbolsoptionallyincludedwithguitarframes*chordsymbolsautomaticallytranspose*jazzchordslashes*specialInkpenfontemulateshandwrittenmusic*drumset(kit)notation,whichplaysback
Earlymusic:automaticossias*largerangeofornaments*Candcut-Ctimesignatures*brevesandlongs*figuredbass*straightforwardtocreateincipits*lutetablature(automaticallycreatedfromnotation)*createothertablatures(e.g.vihuela)withanytuning*allC-clefs,Frenchviolinclef,etc.