Best value/deal on Finale and Band in a Box software?

[FattMusiek]

Yeah, I know all about Google!

As with most software, the newest version is more expensive than previous ones. What year's releases of both programs will get the job done and for the least amount of dough? I've seen Finale go for up to $499 as well as the Songwriter version for $40. What's the deal there?

I'm a college student, so hopefully there is a discount in my future...

Thanks a lot.

[FatJeff]

Not sure about Finale. I got Sibelius (full on student edition) for something like $369.00 about a year ago.

With BiAB, I had originally purchased the el-cheapo $99.00 version of 2009, then upgraded to the full-on-everything-including-the-kitchen-sink 2010 version (with all the Real Tracks) for another $199.00. That was some end-of-2009 deal they had up until Dec 31.

[tony tuneson]

biab 2010 is a major improvement from earlier versions. Depends on what job there has to be done....

[NJJax]

If you like Finale, but don't want to pay for all the functionality, Finale offers progressively less expensive alternatives, Allegro, PrintMusic, SongWriter, and NotePad. I have been using PrintMusic for years for everything from lead sheets to combos with rhythm section and multiple horns.

See Compare Features of Finale Family of Music Notation Software for a comparison of the different Finale products. Any work that you do with a less expensive version of the Finale products can be used with a more expensive version if you decide to start cheap and upgrade later.