History
NotePerformer was first released in September 2013 as a sound module only for Sibelius, aiming to provide more realistic phrasing and expression during score playback than the default sounds. A distinguishing feature at launch was its ability to read ahead by one second in the score, enabling dynamically phrased playback. [1]
In May 2018, version 3.0 expanded compatibility to include Dorico and Finale. [2]
According to Wallander Instruments, as of 2025, NotePerformer is used by over 45,000 musicians in more than 120 countries. [3]
Reception
NotePerformer has been the subject of coverage in music education, music technology, and academic publications.
A 2015 article in the Computer Music Journal described NotePerformer as a sound library designed to create more realistic-sounding scores with human-like automatic phrasing and expression. It highlighted the software's ability to read ahead during playback, analyze the score, and automatically apply the appropriate expression to each phrase without the need for tweaking by the user. The review also noted its broad instrument selection, low memory requirements, and seamless integration with Sibelius. [4]
The book Technology Tips for Ensemble Teachers described NotePerformer as a sound library for Sibelius, Dorico, and Finale with the ability to read, interpret, and perform expressive markings from the score, allowing for a more realistic and expressive performance. It also highlighted NotePerformer's use of additive synthesis technology and how it made the software quicker to load and requiring less storage space. [5]
The book The Future of Music described NotePerformer as an integrated sound library for notation software that improves playback by analyzing musical markings with a one-second delay. The authors highlighted features such as simulated string section sizes, harmonics, mutes, dynamic timbre changes in brass, and bowed percussion. While acknowledging that higher realism can be achieved by recording individual parts into a DAW using sample libraries, they recognized NotePerformer as offering a faster and more convenient workflow. [6]
In a Music Teacher magazine review, Tony Cliff praised it and said it “transformed Sibelius” and was “educationally valuable” because improved articulation led to better playback, encouraging good scoring practices. [7] MusicTech (2014) gave it 8/10, highlighting realistic phrasing and demo usability, but noted weaknesses in solo strings and jazz playback. [8]
Composer Mark Isaacs credited NotePerformer with enabling the virtual premiere of his Symphony No. 2 during the COVID-19 pandemic, while acknowledging it was not a substitute for live performance. [9]
The Musician categorized NotePerformer as an “AI tool that aids live performance.” [10] However, the software predates modern AI developments and, according to its developer, relies solely on symbolic artificial intelligence—a traditional, rule-based system for interpreting music notation—rather than the generative or machine learning-based methods more commonly associated with contemporary AI. [11]
Use in education
Berklee College of Music lists NotePerformer as required software for undergraduate composition majors [12] and for graduate students in the Scoring for Film, Television, and Video Games program at Berklee Valencia. [13]
The Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University specifies that portfolio recordings for certain composition programs, including Film and Game Scoring, must be either live performances or rendered using NotePerformer or an equivalent tool. [14]
Features
NotePerformer interprets score markings such as dynamics, articulations, and slurs to produce expressive playback without user programming. A distinctive feature is its ability to "look ahead" by one second during playback, allowing phrasing to be rendered more naturally. [1]
The software includes over 150 instruments, [3] and uses a combination of synthesis and a patented sample dynamics technology to produce dynamically expressive sounds with low resource usage. [15] [16]
In May 2023, version 4 introduced the NotePerformer Playback Engines (NPPE), a system that allowed routing of playback to select third-party VST sample libraries such as Vienna Symphonic Library, Spitfire Audio, and EastWest. [17]
Version 5.0, released in May 2025, expanded the system to support virtually any VST3 instrument. However, shortly after release, Wallander Instruments discontinued NPPE in version 5.0.1, citing licensing concerns. [18] [19]
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