Sibelius is a professional music notation software developed by Avid Technology, and is named after Finnish musician Jean Sibelius. It is widely used by composers, arrangers, music publishers and musicians around the globe for creating and editing musical scores. Sibelius provides a comprehensive set of tools and features to notate music with precision and clarity.
Why is the Software Called ‘Sibelius’?
This music software is named after an influential musician, so it’s worth quickly mentioning who he was and the impact he had on music.
Jean Sibelius (born 1865) was a Finnish composer renowned for his symphonies, tone poems and other orchestral works. His early pieces, such as the choral symphony “Kullervo” and the tone poem “Finlandia,” established him as a leading figure in Finnish music.
Sibelius’s symphonies, including the popular Second Symphony, showcased his mastery of orchestration and his ability to evoke a wide range of emotions, from triumph to introspection. His later works, like the enigmatic Seventh Symphony and the atmospheric tone poem “Tapiola,” reflected his ongoing exploration of form and structure. Sibelius’s legacy endures as one of the most significant composers of the late Romantic and early modern periods.
Sibelius Software Features
Key features of Sibelius include:
Music notation
Sibelius offers a rich set of music notation tools to create and edit musical scores. It supports a wide range of musical symbols, chord symbols, lyrics, dynamics, articulations and more. Users can input notes using MIDI keyboards, computer keyboards or mouse input.
Score playback
This software includes a powerful playback engine that allows users to listen to their compositions. It supports realistic instrument sounds and can play back scores with expressive nuances.
Layout and formatting
Sibelius provides advanced layout and formatting options to produce professional-looking sheet music. Users can adjust page sizes, margins, system spacing and engraving rules to achieve desired visual results.
Collaboration and sharing scores
The Sibelius software offers features for collaboration and sharing musical scores. Users can share their scores with others, collaborate on projects in real-time and receive feedback from colleagues or clients.
MusicXML format
This program supports the MusicXML file format, allowing users to exchange musical scores with other notation software and applications.
Sound libraries
Sibelius comes with a collection of high-quality sounds and instrument samples that can be used for playback or exported as audio files.
Education tools
The Sibelius music software provides features tailored for educational purposes, such as worksheets, exercises and lesson plans. Additionally, most Sibelius users find it extremely easy to learn and use, making it advantageous for beginners. It’s commonly used in music education settings for teaching music theory and composition.
Sibelius Reviews
Most users find Sibelius easy to use and compatible with other software, making it convenient for distributing digital files and collaborating with retailers. Though some reviewers state they’ve encountered issues with downloads and customer service, Sibelius usually delivers good value for its price and is recommended for music composition and transcription needs.
How Much is Sibelius?
The Sibelius music software comes in 3 unique versions, which can be paid for monthly or annually. Additionally, there is pricing for individuals, students/teachers and teams. Below is the annual pricing for an individual subscription:
Sibelius First – FREE
In the base version, users can write music with up to 16 instruments, suitable for smaller ensembles, and create scores with up to 4 staves, along with General MIDI support. This version also includes access on both desktop and mobile platforms.
Sibelius Artist – $99 per year
Sibelius Artist expands on the base version, allowing users to write music with the same number of instruments but offers the ability to create scores with up to 16 staves. Additionally, it includes a 10GB sound library and access on desktop and mobile platforms.
Sibelius Ultimate – $199 per year
This top-tier subscription provides the most comprehensive toolset for professional musicians, enabling them to compose, arrange and engrave music without limitations. With this version, users can create scores with unlimited staves and access a vast 36GB sound library, along with desktop and mobile support.
*Dollar amounts shown are in USD.
You can purchase the Sibelius software here.
Difference Between Logic Pro and Sibelius
The main difference between Logic Pro and Sibelius lies in their primary function and target audience. Logic Pro is a digital audio workstation (DAW) primarily used for music production, recording, editing and mixing audio tracks. It offers a wide range of tools and features tailored for musicians, producers and audio engineers.
On the other hand, Sibelius is a music notation software specifically designed for composing, arranging and notating music scores. It focuses on the visual representation of music, allowing musicians to write, edit and print sheet music in a professional format.
Does Sibelius Work on Both Mac and Windows?
Yes, Sibelius does work on Mac and Windows. You can move between iPad, iPhone, Android and desktop very easily!