Evaluations

Other Formats

Installation

Installation is straight forward and is a matter of just installing the CD, following the on–screen instruction and inputting the registration code when requested. A single user licence (¤440) allows Sibelius to be installed on one computer only where a more flexible five user licence option (¤1054) allows installation on five computers. Further details on licensing deals and other Sibelius products can be found at www.sibelius.com.

Navigation

After choosing the manuscript paper and instruments the user is presented with a clearly laid out and uncluttered environment to work in. It is worth getting familiar with two of the most useful tools on the screen namely the keypad for adding notes and rests and the navigator window for moving around the score. A playback marker moves during playback and provides a welcome assistance when following scores.
Sibelius has three methods of inputting notes. These include: clicking the notes individually on the score, using the keypad interface to specify the notes on the computer keyboard and enter them in step time or playing the music in realtime from a midi keyboard or other midi device (this requires accurate playing). The facility to create audio CDs from a score using the Save as Audio Track feature is an added bonus.

Documentation

Sibelius 4 comes supplied with an extensive paper and electronic manual plus 19 tutorial videos that covers most of its features. Instruction is clear and concise and will ensure that teachers have enough information to get started with. An interesting addition is the sharing of resources by the Sibelius user community online. This is carried out at the SibeliusEducation.com site.