Sibelius Software Updates G7

Sibelius Software has introduced G7 "Kontakt" edition, a collaboration with software synthesis company Native Instruments. G7 Kontakt builds on the successful components of the original G7 to create a new software solution for creative guitarists and songwriters.

Originally designed to provide players of fretted instruments a way to produce and convert guitar tablature, the new Kontakt edition includes an array of enhancements and brand new features offering a total end-to-end solution. New features include access to a sample library with many sounds--drum kits, percussion and other instruments--and the ability to burn songs to CD. Users may also select a musical style from a dropdown menu and create an accompaniment for their composition.

G7 is designed for guitar players and songwriters of any level to create sheet music and tab faster and easier, as well as add lyrics and chord symbols and instantly create lead sheets or Piano-Vocal-Guitar arrangements. G7 also enables users to scan tab and instantly turn it into standard notation (sheet music) or scan standard notation and turn it into tab. G7 will also read and save ASCII tab and MIDI file formats so musicians can share music by email or on the internet. The "virtual fretboard" provides users who don't read music the ability to enter tab by clicking on frets; the fretboard displays fingerings as it plays back, making it easy to learn new songs.

Enhancements include: compatibility with the Mac OS X 10.3 Panther platform; inclusion of Native Instruments' sample playback program Kontakt Player; improved MIDI guitar input; a new Finale and Finale Guitar file converter; and an updated G7 Guitar Guide. G7 Kontakt Player includes 20 high-quality guitar, bass, keyboard, solo instrument and percussion sounds. Up to eight sounds may be used simultaneously, and users may convert their MIDI tracks into audio tracks and save them as .wav (Windows) or .aiff (Mac) files, accessed via a new "File/Save As Audio Track" option and toolbar button.

The ability to enter notation and tab data directly from a MIDI guitar has been significantly improved. G7 will accurately notate on the correct string in tab, whether played using Sibelius Flexitime or step-time input. The G7 Guitar Guide has been updated with additional information and photos of guitars, provided by Fender and Gibson.

The upgrade package will be available in August 2004 for current G7 users from Sibelius for $29, and all subsequent production models will include the feature set.

G7 is currently available at an MSRP $149.