Some questions about Finale...

I have these problems for a long time now... But now I hope that some of you will know the solutions to my problems:

1. Does anyone know how to add a new instrument (staff) to a certain score with a different channel?

I tried to add a new staff with setup wizard but it always has the same channel: 1 ! And, for example, if I want to add another tuba for an orchestral work, it would occupy channel 1 and play with the sound of piccolo! And if I try to change the channel of the tuba, it will also change the piccolo!

2. How can I create divisions?

I sometimes need another staff for a string section, and I really don't know how... Please help me! :D

3. How can I create a score with two (or more) time signatures?

For example, the strings are playing in 4/4 and the woodwinds in 3/4... Is this possible in Finale? I really hope so!!! :(

4. How can I create a score with two (or more) key signatures?

For example, the brass are playing in C major, and the strings in F# major...

These are some of the questions that always troubled me... If you can help me by giving me the solutions I will always be in your debt!

Seb

The standard reply is - read the manual. But remember that the manual is poorly written in places and often some of what it says is wrong/out-of-date, so you have to experiment. Points 3 and 4 are possible in Finale 2007 according to the manual: see Chapt. 12-10 and 13-19. I don't understand your problems with creating a new staff - if you go to the "Window" pull down menu and then to "Instrument List" you can reassign channels.

Ok Seb!

You owe me now! ;)

1. I'm not sure, because I have a much earlier version of Finale, but I would imagine that it would have to do with the instrument list, on the playback controls. Just add the staff and then go to instrument list.

2. You need another staff? Or just another voice in the same staff? Either way:

i. Another staff. You will need to have the staff with you ALL the time. Then you go to the page tool, and click on optimaze all staff systems (which means that the programm will remove any staves that don't have any info (=notes) on them in every system.) This way the "unwanted" staff will dissappear from your pages, and only be visible in the said staff.

ii. If you look, in the speedy entry, on the bottom left there are some numbers. These are the layers. Just click and you can have up to 4 voices in 1 staff. Use it wisely :)

3. and 4. These are really complicated, if I understand what you want to do. I've made a tutorial for Finale, in advance techniques, which involve both these things that you want, and it is a sticky in the very same forum we are right now. Check it out and ask there.

This is thread btw: http://www.youngcomposers.com/forum/finale-guide-more-advanced-techniques-7625.html

In short, you can have independant elements, both key and time signature. In the case of the key signature, there is no real problem, just go and put the right key signature. Or even better don't put any. If you don't write completely tonal/romantic music (which I would assume you don't, since you're talking about polytonality here, and polyrhythmic stuff), then JUST don't put any key signature. Everything in C. This is how 95% of contemporary stuff are written.

for the time signature, you will need to do it, and it will be tricky! Still, keep in mind, that if this is intended to be played live, it's worth keeping everything tidy at 4/4 (for example), because the change of time signatures happens in the head of the composer, and it could benefit greater the player to have it and explain to him/her that "look, between bars 69-80 the phrase goes to 3/4, no matter if the time stays in 4/4". At least this is my experience, but it largely depends on the music really.

Just learn LilyPond.

That way, by the time you're capable of writing your first line of music, you'll pretty much have learned how to do, well, anything that can be done with notation software.

(I'm kidding by the way... LilyPond is hard to learn...)

Ok Seb!

You owe me now! :)

1. I'm not sure, because I have a much earlier version of Finale, but I would imagine that it would have to do with the instrument list, on the playback controls. Just add the staff and then go to instrument list.

2. You need another staff? Or just another voice in the same staff? Either way:

i. Another staff. You will need to have the staff with you ALL the time. Then you go to the page tool, and click on optimaze all staff systems (which means that the programm will remove any staves that don't have any info (=notes) on them in every system.) This way the "unwanted" staff will dissappear from your pages, and only be visible in the said staff.

ii. If you look, in the speedy entry, on the bottom left there are some numbers. These are the layers. Just click and you can have up to 4 voices in 1 staff. Use it wisely :)

3. and 4. These are really complicated, if I understand what you want to do. I've made a tutorial for Finale, in advance techniques, which involve both these things that you want, and it is a sticky in the very same forum we are right now. Check it out and ask there.

This is thread btw: http://www.youngcomposers.com/forum/finale-guide-more-advanced-techniques-7625.html

In short, you can have independant elements, both key and time signature. In the case of the key signature, there is no real problem, just go and put the right key signature. Or even better don't put any. If you don't write completely tonal/romantic music (which I would assume you don't, since you're talking about polytonality here, and polyrhythmic stuff), then JUST don't put any key signature. Everything in C. This is how 95% of contemporary stuff are written.

for the time signature, you will need to do it, and it will be tricky! Still, keep in mind, that if this is intended to be played live, it's worth keeping everything tidy at 4/4 (for example), because the change of time signatures happens in the head of the composer, and it could benefit greater the player to have it and explain to him/her that "look, between bars 69-80 the phrase goes to 3/4, no matter if the time stays in 4/4". At least this is my experience, but it largely depends on the music really.

Thanks a lot Nikolas!

The last 2 problems from my post are resolved! But I still don't have any clue of how can I add a staff, from an already created score, with a separate channel and not occupying the 1st channel... ;)

And the second question of mine was about dividing the 1st violin group(for example), when you are not able to use the layers from the left corner of the page because of the complexity (for example, I want to create different key and/or time signatures for the 1st violin divisions)...

Seb

Seb, I've had the same problem with channels and such, but I've worked a way around it.

1) On the toolbar, click the icon of the treble clef.

2) Then go to "Staff" on the menu at the top.

3) Click "New Staves."

4) Pick which instrument you want to add.

5) Go to "Window" on the menu, and "Instrument List". This will open a pop-up box.

6) Your new added instrument will normally be on the same channel as another instrument, so click the column labelled "instrument". (The one to the left of the channel number)

7) Scroll to the top and select "New Instrument". This will pop up another box.

8) In the box "Channel", type a new, unique channel number.

9) In the scroll menu "General MIDI", select the instrument you've just added.

10) Click OK, then close the Instrument List.

That should do the job, but I have not yet worked out how to do the same with percussion, such as cymbals or drum kit. But see if that works for you.

Seb, I've had the same problem with channels and such, but I've worked a way around it.

1) On the toolbar, click the icon of the treble clef.

2) Then go to "Staff" on the menu at the top.

3) Click "New Staves."

4) Pick which instrument you want to add.

5) Go to "Window" on the menu, and "Instrument List". This will open a pop-up box.

6) Your new added instrument will normally be on the same channel as another instrument, so click the column labelled "instrument". (The one to the left of the channel number)

7) Scroll to the top and select "New Instrument". This will pop up another box.

8) In the box "Channel", type a new, unique channel number.

9) In the scroll menu "General MIDI", select the instrument you've just added.

10) Click OK, then close the Instrument List.

That should do the job, but I have not yet worked out how to do the same with percussion, such as cymbals or drum kit. But see if that works for you.

Thanks a lot!!!!!!!!!!!! You saved me!!!!!!!!

:)

THANK YOU!!!!

Seb

It took me months to work out that little puzzle. ;)

I would have another question:

Does Finale have semi-sharp or semi-flat alterations ?

(excuse me if I'm not using the right terms)

Seb

Yes it does but it's dead tricky to do it!

1. Go to the mf tool (the shape assign, if I remember correctly), and then to the shape (not the dynamics one), and create a new one.

2. Choose an empty space

3. Choose the typing tool (marked as "A")

4. Go to the menu and to fonts

5. Change the font from whatever it is in Finale 2007 (I would assume that it's either petrucci, or maestro, but I don't know the newer fonts), to EngraverFontExtras.

6. The B (shift+b) is the 1/4 flat.

7. I've not found a 1/4 sharp, so I actually draw it myself (which is this: # but with one line, not two)

8. There are actually other ways to notate quarter tones (which is, btw the correct name), with the normal flat and sharp signs, along with some arrows up or down, to indicate which way the quarter goes. These signs, all 3, exist in EngraverfontExtras and are the j,k,l and J,K,L (for flat, natural, sharp, repsectively)

Yes it does but it's dead tricky to do it!

1. Go to the mf tool (the shape assign, if I remember correctly), and then to the shape (not the dynamics one), and create a new one.

2. Choose an empty space

3. Choose the typing tool (marked as "A")

4. Go to the menu and to fonts

5. Change the font from whatever it is in Finale 2007 (I would assume that it's either petrucci, or maestro, but I don't know the newer fonts), to EngraverFontExtras.

6. The B (shift+b) is the 1/4 flat.

7. I've not found a 1/4 sharp, so I actually draw it myself (which is this: # but with one line, not two)

8. There are actually other ways to notate quarter tones (which is, btw the correct name), with the normal flat and sharp signs, along with some arrows up or down, to indicate which way the quarter goes. These signs, all 3, exist in EngraverfontExtras and are the j,k,l and J,K,L (for flat, natural, sharp, repsectively)

Thank you Nikolas! :)

Hello, guys. I was wondering if you could help me, cause apparently, 10 years of having a computer with onboard troubleshooter never helped me at all. I just installed my Finale 2007 with Garritan Orchestra and Kontakt player on my computer. Everything works fine, except the Kontakt player. The GPO instruments do show in the set up window in finale, although when I go to the MIDI tab to set up the VST thingy, the window where the Kontakt player's name should be doesn't appear. I hope you could help me. Thanks!!

Check out the Finale forums on Make Music's website.

Hi again. Does anyone know how to make a portamento for the strings in Finale? Thanks. :D