notation software - What's New

What's New in Version 5.1.4

Here you can find the changelog of our products. For notation composer and notation musician our Upgrade / Update Assistant can help you to find out the best option for you. To download the latest version of the free notation player please click here.

A version 4 license can be upgraded with a discount to version 5.

Version 5.1.4April 15^th, 2026		composer	musician	player
	Languages

MIDI enhancements

Audio sound enhancements

Miscellaneous

Version 5.1.3November 3^rd, 2025		composer	musician	player
	MIDI enhancements

Audio sound enhancements

PDF and image exports

Note entry

OS support

Miscellaneous

Version 5.1.2May 8^th, 2025		composer	musician	player
	MIDI enhancements - Windows MIDI Services

Audio sound enhancements

User Interface enhancements

OS and technology

Miscellaneous

Version 5.1.1December 28^th, 2024		composer	musician	player
	Version 5.1.1 is a Maintenance Release

Version 5.1.0October 29^th, 2024		composer	musician	player
	Sound enhancements

Miscellaneous

Additional OS support

Version 5.0.1 - Support of live performances on stage and practiceJune 5^th, 2024		composer	musician	player
	BandMates

RealTime

VST support

VST is a registered
trademark of
Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH

Playlists

Audio

MIDI

User Interface

Score

Italian language versions

Technology

Miscellaneous

Version 4.0.3January 31^st, 2022		composer	musician	player
	Version 4.0.3 Enhancements and Changes

	Support of Windows 11
	Support of macOS Ventura, macOS Monterey
	Support of Mac PCs with Apple M1, M2 processor
	Mac PCs with improved font appearance
	Support of Chromebooks
	Support of Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
	Improvements of the installation of Wine on non-Windows operating systems
	Handling when Ramsonware Protection of Windows Defender is used
	Step time recording enhancements
	Improvements in MIDI export
	Serviceability improvements
	The trial version of the Band-in-a-Box® plugin is available for additional 60 days for testing. In case you may have deactivated it in previous version.
	Bug fixes

Version 4.0.2February 25^th, 2021		composer	musician	player
	Version 4.0.2 is a Maintenance Release

Version 4.0.1May 4^th, 2020		composer	musician	player
	User Interface enhancements for music features

Operating System Support

Newsletter

High DPI Displays

Soundfont

Font

Technology enhancements

Miscelleanous

Coexistence of version 4 with version 3

Version 3.1.2, 3.1.3, 3.1.4March 2^nd, 2021		composer	musician	player
	Version 3.1.2, 3.1.3, 3.1.4 are Maintenance Releases

Version 3.1.1March 18^th, 2018		composer	musician	player
	MusicXML Import

Linux Ubuntu 18.04 LTS Support

Version 3.1.0February 27^th, 2018		composer	musician	player
	MusicXML Import, Export

Support of the Band-in-a-Box® Plugin

Compressed Audio Export

Sound

High Resolution Image Export

Translation of Online Manuals

Chord Enhancements

Quality- and Service Improvements

Miscellaneous

Changes in Version 3.0.4, 3.0.5, 3.0.6November 22^th, 2016		composer	musician	player
	Version 3.0.4, 3.0.5, 3.0.6 are Maintenance Releases

Version 3.0.3October 14^th, 2015		composer	musician	player
	Windows 10 Support

Mac OS X El Capitan Support (please see details)

Linux Support (please see details)

Notation Software Synth

Configurable:
Integrated ASIO
compatible driver

ASIO is a registered
trademark of
Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH

Soundfonts

Export of WAV Files

Miscellaneous

notation player 3

Version 3.0.2June 1^st, 2015		composer	musician
	MAC OS X Yosemite, Mavericks Support (please see details)

Spanish Language Variant

High Resolution PDF Export

Detection of Modern Keyboards

Chords

Installation Enhancements

Miscellaneous

Technology

Version 3.0.1April 22^th, 2014		composer	musician
	Sound Enhancements, Advanced Sound Tool for Keyboarders

Improved User Interface

Yamaha XF Chord Format and Chord Validation

MIDI Device Configuration Manager (DCM) Enhancements

Quality and Security Initiative

Technology

German Language Variant

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What version do you own?

That's easy to find out. Run notation composer or notation musician, and choose the About command in the Help menu. It will display your current version number.

Our Upgrade / Update Assistant can help you to find out what options you have for getting the latest version.

	User interface available in the languages English, German, Spanish, Italian, French, Portuguese, Dutch* (* in beta quality – help appreciated for translation improvements)
	Language packs for user interface available for download and automated installation
	Easy switching between languages of the user interface
	More languages can be selected for online translation of the manuals
	QuickStart Guides included in the manual to be available for online translation service

	Support of Windows MIDI Services on Windows 11
	MIDI MME - (Multimedia Extensions) format
	MIDI UMP - (Universal MIDI Packet) MIDI 1.0 format
	MIDI Device configuration for MME / UMP
	Select between MME and UMP MIDI protocol
	Connect / disconnect notifications for MIDI devices by Windows MIDI Services

	Sound improvements with latest sound libraries
	Sounfont GeneralUser-GS version 2.0.2
	Play Along sound enhancements
	Loading of higher soundfont banks, now available for Musician as well
	Notation Software Synth with Sound Blaster AWE32 emulation. Songs see here

	Sound improvements by GeneralUser GS v2 soundfonts
	Notation Software Synth sound enhancements
	Navigating through the instrument panel with sound
	Higher MIDI banks possible in audio exports
	Fall back to default when soundfonts are not accessible
	Command q!raep to reset Audio Engine parameters

	Modify entries in the repeat instruction dialog in a kind of Excel way
	Service enhancements
	Bug fixes
	Updated license agreements

What's New in Version 5.1.4

What version do you own?

Home Musicians

Performing Musicians

Song Writers and Composers

	Windows MIDI Services to be the default for Windows 11. See details
	MIDI UMP interface to be the default for Windows 11

	Latest audio libs
	Enhanced default soundfont
	Carla 2.5.10 certified

	Support of Windows MIDI Services on Windows 11 - mandatory update
	Enhanced MIDI Loop Concept

	Sound improvements with latest sound libraries
	Soundfont of Downloadable Sounds (DLS) format to be loadable by Notation Software Synth

	Configurable staff line thickness in PDF and image exports
	Configurable resolution quality of PDF and image exports

	Wine-10.0 for version 5.1.2 and macOS Sequoia 15.4
	Chromebook support for version 5
	Latest development infrastructure, C++20, support of the Windows MIDI Services SDK

	Send individual Parts to devices of your bandmates.
	All Parts display the playback cursor progression in real time to keep your band together.
	All individual Parts displays are automatically adjusted to the best quality display according to the individual devices' capabilities, or can be manually adjusted using notation's grid technology.
	Display configurations are automatically stored for use across songs and sessions for future use.
	Karaoke 'lyrics only' Part is available for karaoke performance
	Control page turns and songs in playlists using a footswitch or MIDI instrument using notation's Pitch-to-command feature.

	RealTime output to any MIDI interface
	RealTime advanced audio using ASIO, or WASAPI exclusive interfaces
	RealTime advanced audio using the JACK interface
	Enhancements of audio and MIDI interfaces for using VSTs
	Use VSTs via the JACK interface on a channel level - available for Windows
	Manage MIDI and audio VSTs via the external software Carla - available for Windows
	Realtime recording of live performances with the internal 'notation VST recorder' - available for Windows

	Contract with the Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH to use VST technology
	Easily use any VST3 through the 'notation VST3 host'
	Create more complex VST3 setups through the JACK interface
	Use the 'notation VST recorder' for realtime recording for best audio quality. Recordings can be saved in either .wav or .mp3 format.

	Expanded Playlist capabilities for realtime management during your performance or practice
	Search for songs in your Playlists by song title, genre, tempo, or ordered song numbering
	Fast and flexible import of songs into Playlists, either individually or multiple songs and folders at a time
	Unlimited number of songs can be added to a Playlist
	Movable Playlist Panel – can be moved and managed from an external device such as a separate tablet, similar to notation’s BandMates feature
	Playlist Panel is touch-screen friendly
	Playlists can also be used as a 'list of favorites' for working on multiple songs for scoring

	Internal Reverb and Chorus audio output
	Internal Reverb and Chorus audio effects can be edited using GraphOverNotes
	Preview instrument sounds before assigning them to a staff

	MIDI SysEx sound enhancements in all song files are preserved for playback
	Auto-correction of drum banks of MIDI XG files so the drums sound great
	MIDI SysEx import
	MIDI SysEx export
	Multiple MIDI drum channels for Notation Software Synth
	Configure and assign MIDI devices which are not connected (useful when MIDI devices are only available on stage or in the practice setup)
	MIDI SysEx recording
	Recording of Program Change, CC, Portamento
	Recording of keyboard's register sound settings
	Recording and editing of all MIDI CC events

	Full support per-monitor of high-definition screen resolutions for multiple monitor setups
	Adaptive dynamic screen resolution when moving the notation windows across monitors or devices; full per-monitor DPI awareness – available for Windows
	Time played and time remaining for song playback
	Streamlined user interface

	Flexibility for barlines to cross or not cross staves for brackets/braces
	Convert pair of notes to swing notation
	Chord names of transposed parts can be selected to appear in transposed or concert pitch
	Measure numbers every 4th measure for jazz musicians

	The latest development infra structure was used for version 5
	Latest libs MusicXML, PDF, audio
	Memory reduction and performance enhancements when using very large soundfont
	Multi monitor management
	Use of available multicore capabilities of processors to boost performance in realtime critical situations
	Operating System support: Windows 11, 10, 64 bit, macOS Catalina and higher Linux Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, others on request, Chromebook on request

	Band-in-a-Box® plugin for Mac-PCs
	Coexistence of version 5 with version 4 and 3
	Service enhancements
	Bug fixes

	macOS Big Sur support (Intel chip)
	Improved transcription
	Pitch-to-command enhancement for Playlist
	Serviceability improvements
	Bug fixes

	SmartMode - automatic switching between Add- and Select Mode
	Virtual Piano Keyboard for note entry

	Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7 - 64 bit support (end of support: 32 bit, Windows Vista)
	macOS Catalina, Mojave, High Sierra, Sierra, El Capitan 64 bit with Wine-5.4 (see here).
	Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (Focal Fossa), Ubuntu 18.04 LTS (Bionic Beaver) 64 bit with Wine >= 5.0 (see here), other Linux 64 bit distributions on request

	Instrument names imported from soundfont files including higher banks
	Loading of soundfont larger than 1 GB. No size limits

	64 bit support (end of 32 bit support)
	Latest external libraries

	Microsoft Print to PDF (for Windows only)
	Band-in-a-Box® improvements (for Windows and Linux)
	Bug fixes and other internal improvements

	Version 4 and version 3 can coexist on the same PC.
	Testing the version 4 trial version does NOT impact version 3.

	Certification on mac OS Mojave. F2 key with same functionality as INS key (because on a Mac there is no INS key)
	Update of external software libraries. Performance improvements
	Updated ASIO contract with Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH
	Bug fixes
	The trial version of the Band-in-a-Box® plugin is available for additional 60 days for testing. In case you may have deactivated it in version 3.1.1 already you can activate it again with the shortcut q!ebbt.

	Import of MusicXML files in the formats .mxl, .musicxml, .xml
	Export of MusicXML files in the formats .mxl, .musicxml, .xml
	Export of more notation elements compared to former versions

	With the Band-in-a-Box® plugin notation composer can auto-generate accompaniment in 150 and more music styles. The Band-in-a-Box® plugin can be ordered separately and fully integrates into notation composer. For more on the Band-in-a-Box® plugin please see here.
	notation composer contains a trial version of the Band-in-a-Box® plugin with 25 styles which expires after 60 days. A purchase of the full plugin package can be done any time.
	Use of Band-in-a-Box® arrangements .not-files which are generated with the Band-in-a-Box® feature of notation composer can be used similar to all other .not files.

	Soundfont files in the sf3 format can be loaded in notation composer
	A sound quality soundfont is part of the installation package of notation composer.

	More chord types
	Chord name methodology for MIDI import, export
	Chord name methodology for Band-in-a-Box®, MusicXML import, export

	End of support of Windows XP
	Optionally enable Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth on Windows
	Open/close multiple files

	Version 3.0.6 is a maintenance release. For Composer certification of MusicXML export to Dorico. We recommend to update your version 3 to 3.0.6
	Version 3.0.5 certification on macOS Sierra and maintenance release. Please visit our forum to see the detailed changes in 3.0.5.
	Version 3.0.4 is a maintenance release. Please visit our forum to see the detailed changes in 3.0.4.