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File size

Posted: Sat Jul 01, 2017 4:48 pm
by sfphoto
I realize that different scores would vary but have 2 questions for considering computer storage purchases.

What is the average file size of Sibelius file (i.e. 3 instruments, 10 min. long)

What would be the approx. file size of the same score saved in PDF format

Re: File size

Posted: Sat Jul 01, 2017 5:47 pm
by bobp
My version of Sib won't open a pdf. You can check the properties of a Sib and pdf files yourself.

Re: File size

Posted: Sat Jul 01, 2017 5:51 pm
by sfphoto
Should have mentioned this is a Sibelius pre-purchase question.

Have read that scores are saved in Sibelius format and that the Sibelius program can export PDF files (which in turn could be viewed by musicians on an iPad).

Re: File size

Posted: Sat Jul 01, 2017 6:49 pm
by KJ_Palmer
Well, I had a look at my Sibelius 7.5 scores that fit the example you gave (3 instruments, 10 minutes long) .

Sibelius file size ~90 KB
Pdf export ~200 KB.

Hope that gives you a rough idea of the file sizes involved.

Re: File size

Posted: Sat Jul 01, 2017 7:05 pm
by sfphoto
Thanks KJ, that is the information I needed!

Re: File size

Posted: Sat Jul 01, 2017 8:11 pm
by andyg
I use a third party PDF printer (Cute PDF) and it works better and faster than Sibelius' own 'export to pdf'. I've just done a quick random check on a few titles and the pdf file sizes aren't too far different to the original Sibelius file - but I haven't tried a 10 minute piece. Ones I checked were 46kb vs 45kb, 36kb vs 33kb and 36kb vs 35kb. Maybe the pdf file size increases exponentially as the original file starts to get longer?

Re: File size

Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2017 3:04 am
by KJ_Palmer
Indeed, CutePDF seems better at producing optimal pdf file sizes.

However I just re-exported a 90 kb Sibelius file in pdf and this got the pdf size down from 900 to 203 kb (revised in my post above). The original export was done in 2014, so maybe my later Sibelius version is better now at pdf exports.

The CutePDF version was still smaller at 151 kb.