Technical question for users of Finale

[(poco) Sforzando]

Any Finale users out there? I am creating a number of .MUSX files that I want to export to .WAVs. I find the Finale frequently truncates the exported data so that only a portion is exported. If I uncheck the .VST option in the Midi/Audio tab, the files export to completion, but the MIDI instrumental sounds are lousy. Any thoughts on how to overcome this, or if there are any software packages that can read Finale files?

[(poco) Sforzando]

Any Finale users out there? I am creating a number of .MUSX files that I want to export to .WAVs. I find the Finale frequently truncates the exported data so that only a portion is exported. If I uncheck the .VST option in the Midi/Audio tab, the files export to completion, but the MIDI instrumental sounds are lousy. Any thoughts on how to overcome this, or if there are any software packages that can read Finale files?

Delighted to say I finally figured out the cause for this problem. Mods, feel free to delete this little thread.

[Spotted Horses]

Delighted to say I finally figured out the cause for this problem. Mods, feel free to delete this little thread.

Maybe you can share the solution for the benefit of other finale users.

[DavidW]

Maybe you can share the solution for the benefit of other finale users.

I don't know how often I searched for a solution online only to have someone say, "Never mind! I figured it out!" without explanation. I have also had people post years later thanking me for the technical solution I provided.

[(poco) Sforzando]

OK, fine. When you're working in Finale and select Playback from the MIDI/Audio tab, it will play your notated file through your speakers using whatever instruments you've assigned. This is because Finale "takes over" your computer's sound, and if you try to play any WAV or MP3 on your computer while Finale is open, you'll get a message saying that the audio playback is in use.

You can also export your file to a WAV or MIDI, and when you do so you'll see a little progress bar. I had assumed that once the progress bar disappears, your export file is written. And I would shut Finale down and try to play the export file which almost always was truncated.

Why? because the file had not been completely finished, and you can tell by looking at the menus and seeing many of the options were disabled. Once all the options have been re-enabled, you know your export file is complete and no more truncation. I even contacted Finale tech support, but they failed to provide this very simple explanation, instead going through all kinds of rigmarole like suggesting I reinstall the program. (For what?)

There are some other export options, like export to MIDI, and I always found that worked because presumably it requires fewer resources (and thus is faster) than export to WAV using the high-quality instrumental samples Finale provides. But the sound samples in export to MIDI sound like crap.

So it was just a timing issue, and I had been tearing my hair out (what's left of it) not being able to figure this out and not having any valid guidance from Finale tech support.

[Spotted Horses]

OK, fine. When you're working in Finale and select Playback from the MIDI/Audio tab, it will play your notated file through your speakers using whatever instruments you've assigned. This is because Finale "takes over" your computer's sound, and if you try to play any WAV or MP3 on your computer while Finale is open, you'll get a message saying that the audio playback is in use.

You can also export your file to a WAV or MIDI, and when you do so you'll see a little progress bar. I had assumed that once the progress bar disappears, your export file is written. And I would shut Finale down and try to play the export file which almost always was truncated.

Why? because the file had not been completely finished, and you can tell by looking at the menus and seeing many of the options were disabled. Once all the options have been re-enabled, you know your export file is complete and no more truncation. I even contacted Finale tech support, but they failed to provide this very simple explanation, instead going through all kinds of rigmarole like suggesting I reinstall the program. (For what?)

There are some other export options, like export to MIDI, and I always found that worked because presumably it requires fewer resources (and thus is faster) than export to WAV using the high-quality instrumental samples Finale provides. But the sound samples in export to MIDI sound like crap.

So it was just a timing issue, and I had been tearing my hair out (what's left of it) not being able to figure this out and not having any valid guidance from Finale tech support.

Bizarre that there wouldn't be a dialog warning of export in progress if you try to quit prematurely.