Finale, made and distributed by Make Music Inc., is the most widely used computer program for musical staff/score notation. This program is designed for composers to use for the creation of printable scores and parts for live music performers. It is also designed for sophisticated playback of compositions utilizing high-quality synthesizer sampling to imitate the sound of live instruments.
Sibelius is another score notation program. It is highly similar to Finale, its main competitor. Those who prefer Sibelius often cite a more user-friendly interface and shorter learning curve for program functions, whereas those who prefer Finale cite a longer list of specialty features.
Cakewalk is somewhat similar to Finale and Sibelius, but its score notation abilities are more limited. Cakewalk's focus is to create playable sequenced electronic music (such as MIDI files) rather than printable scores.
"Cakewalk" was the name of the original software created in the late 1980s. Though the updated version of this program is known as SONAR, it is still often referred to by the name of the company's flagship software.
Garage Band, distributed by Apple Inc., is mixing software, meaning that it is designed to create ready-to-play electronic music. Whereas Cakewalk's program focuses on the creation of synthesized music based on notation, Garage Band helps the user create music using an interface that deals directly with recorded, synthesized, and digitally altered sounds. Music making with Garage Band has a more pop/rock bent than Finale or Sibelius. Garage Band is also designed for the creation of non-music audio, such as podcasts.
Band-In-A-Box is designed to assist the performance aspect of music making rather than composition. Band-In-A-Box, like Cakewalk, is a midi sequencer, but in this case, the sequencing is based on a user choice of chord changes and styles, rather than note-by-note creations. This program is favored by jazz and rock musicians learning and honing the art of improvisation.