FORTE9Documentation PDF

FORTE 9 Documentation
Copyright © 2017 by Lugert Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. All Rights Reserved.
Inhaltsverzeichnis
Welcome ......................................................................................................... 13
About the Documentation ................................................................................. 13
What's new in FORTE 9 .................................................................................... 14
Introduction video ........................................................................................... 20
Overview ........................................................................................................ 20
The Main Tabs ............................................................................................. 21
FORTE Button ......................................................................................... 22
Home ..................................................................................................... 23
Edit ........................................................................................................ 24
Notes ..................................................................................................... 24
Score ...................................................................................................... 25
View ....................................................................................................... 25
Playback ................................................................................................. 26
Record .................................................................................................... 27
Export .................................................................................................... 27
Import .................................................................................................... 28
Options .................................................................................................. 29
Help ....................................................................................................... 29
Elements Palette Introduction ........................................................................ 30
Properties Window Introduction .................................................................... 30
Mixer Introduction ....................................................................................... 31
The Status Bar ............................................................................................. 32
Views ......................................................................................................... 32
Views ..................................................................................................... 32
Music Score Introduction .......................................................................... 33
Audio Sequencer Introduction ................................................................... 34
Piano Roll Introduction ............................................................................. 35
MIDI Events Introduction .......................................................................... 36
Technical Support ........................................................................................ 36
Technical Support .................................................................................... 36
Soundcard Info ........................................................................................ 37
Getting Started ................................................................................................ 38
Getting Started ............................................................................................ 38
The Launch Assistant ................................................................................... 39
Create a New Document ............................................................................... 39
The Score Wizard ......................................................................................... 41
Open a Document ............................................................................................ 43
Open a Document ........................................................................................ 43
Open Library of Scores ................................................................................. 44
Add Music to a Document ................................................................................. 44
Add Music to a Document ............................................................................. 44
Select a Music Symbol .................................................................................. 45
Playing Music .................................................................................................. 46
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Playing Music .............................................................................................. 46

Manage a Performance ................................................................................. 46
Managing a Performance .......................................................................... 46
Loop Playback ......................................................................................... 47
Step Playback .......................................................................................... 47
Punch In / Punch Out ............................................................................... 48
Change Track Volume .................................................................................. 49
Change Tempo ............................................................................................ 49
Mute and Solo Tracks ................................................................................... 50
Add Reverb, Pan and Chorus ........................................................................ 51
Changing an Instrument ............................................................................... 53
Performance Options .................................................................................... 53
Editing Music ................................................................................................... 54
Editing Music ............................................................................................... 54
Basic Operations .......................................................................................... 55
Cut, Copy and Paste Objects ..................................................................... 55
Deleting Objects ...................................................................................... 56
Drag and Drop ........................................................................................ 56
Undo/Redo ............................................................................................. 56
Editing with the Properties Window ................................................................ 57
Displaying the Properties Window .............................................................. 57
Save a Document ............................................................................................. 58
Save a Document ......................................................................................... 58
File Formats (Save, Import and Export) .......................................................... 59
Auto Save ................................................................................................... 60
Print a Document ............................................................................................. 61
Print a Document ......................................................................................... 61
Print Parts ................................................................................................... 62
Print Preview ............................................................................................... 62
Print Setup .................................................................................................. 62
Print Blanc Sheets ........................................................................................ 63
Templates ....................................................................................................... 63
Templates ................................................................................................... 63
Create a Template ........................................................................................ 64
Menus ............................................................................................................ 64
Context-Sensitive Menus ............................................................................... 64
Shortcut Menus ............................................................................................ 65
Entry Modes .................................................................................................... 65
About Entry Modes ...................................................................................... 65
Select Mode ................................................................................................. 66
Insert Mode ................................................................................................. 67
Touch Typing .......................................................................................... 68
Camera Mode .............................................................................................. 69
Which Mode Am I In? ................................................................................. 70
Selection ......................................................................................................... 71
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The Current Selection ................................................................................... 71

Select Events ............................................................................................... 71
Select Elements (Advanced) .......................................................................... 72
Select with the mouse .................................................................................. 72
Select Music Symbols with the Mouse ......................................................... 72
Mouse Select Options ............................................................................... 74
Selecting All or None ................................................................................ 75
Selecting Measures ................................................................................... 75
Selecting the Document ............................................................................ 76
Selecting Staves ....................................................................................... 76
Non-selectable Symbols ............................................................................ 77
Getting Around ................................................................................................ 77
Getting Around ............................................................................................ 77
Next/Previous .............................................................................................. 77
Jump to Marker ........................................................................................... 78
Jump to a Time ........................................................................................... 79
Getting Around Using the Mouse ................................................................... 80
Export ............................................................................................................ 80
Export to the FORTE Reader App (Android) .................................................... 80
Export to PDF .............................................................................................. 81
Export to a MusicXML document .................................................................... 81
Export to an Audio File ................................................................................. 81
Export to an Audio File ............................................................................. 81
Audio Files .............................................................................................. 81
Export to a Graphics File ............................................................................... 82
Export to a Graphics File ........................................................................... 82
Graphics File ........................................................................................... 83
Recording Music .............................................................................................. 83
Recording Music .......................................................................................... 83
Preparing To Record .................................................................................... 84
Recording from a MIDI Instrument ................................................................ 85
Step Recording ........................................................................................ 86
Record notes with an acoustic instrument ....................................................... 88
Loop Recording ........................................................................................... 92
The Device Wizard ........................................................................................... 94
The Device Wizard ....................................................................................... 94
MIDI Playback ............................................................................................. 95
MIDI Thru ................................................................................................... 96
Digital Audio Options ................................................................................... 97
Understanding Tracks and Staves ...................................................................... 97
Understanding Tracks and Staves .................................................................. 97
Staff Name .................................................................................................. 98
Staff Type ................................................................................................... 98
Voices ........................................................................................................ 99
The Music Grid .......................................................................................... 100
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The Music Grid ...................................................................................... 100

Keeping the Grid Square ......................................................................... 101
Add Instrument ..................................................................................... 101
Remove Instrument ................................................................................ 102
Add Measures ........................................................................................ 103
Remove Measures .................................................................................. 104
Understanding Midi and Instruments ................................................................ 105
Understanding MIDI and Instruments ........................................................... 105
Adding Instruments to Staves ...................................................................... 106
Instrument File Format ............................................................................... 107
System Exckusive Messages ............................................................................. 110
System Exclusive Messages ......................................................................... 110
Channel Mode Messages ............................................................................. 113
Channel Mode Editor .............................................................................. 113
Channel Mode Messages ......................................................................... 114
Views ........................................................................................................... 115
Views ....................................................................................................... 115
Page View ................................................................................................. 116
Screen View .............................................................................................. 118
Track View ................................................................................................ 118
Layouts ..................................................................................................... 118
Layouts ................................................................................................. 119
How Music is Displayed ........................................................................... 119
Create parts (layouts) automatically .......................................................... 120
Create a New Layout .............................................................................. 121
Layout Dialog ........................................................................................ 122
Layout Dialog .................................................................................... 122
Layout Setup ..................................................................................... 123
Layout Margins .................................................................................. 123
Layout Spacing .................................................................................. 124
Layout Options .................................................................................. 125
Edit a Layout ......................................................................................... 125
Edit Layout with the Inspector ................................................................. 126
Remove a Layout ................................................................................... 126
Track Layout ......................................................................................... 127
Working with Large Scores ...................................................................... 127
The Music Score ......................................................................................... 128
The Music Score ..................................................................................... 128
The Music Cursor ................................................................................... 128
Entering Music in Music Score .................................................................. 129
Entering Music in the Music Score ........................................................ 130
Accents ............................................................................................. 130
Add and Remove Accents ............................................................... 130
Edit Accents with the Properties Window .......................................... 132
Edit Accents with the Shortcut Menu ................................................. 132
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Reminder Accidentals (Courtesy Accidentals) ..................................... 133

Accidentals ........................................................................................ 133
Add and Remove Accidentals .......................................................... 133
Edit Accidentals with the Properties Window ..................................... 135
Edit Accidentals with the Shortcut Menu ............................................ 135
Chord Symbols .................................................................................. 136
Add and Remove Chord Symbols ..................................................... 136
Edit Chord Symbols with the Properties Window ................................ 137
Insert Chord Dialog ........................................................................ 138
Move Chord Symbols ...................................................................... 138
Chord Suffix .................................................................................. 139
Clefs ................................................................................................. 140
Add and Remove Clefs ................................................................... 140
Edit Clefs with the Properties Window .............................................. 141
Move Clefs .................................................................................... 141
Dynamic Markings .............................................................................. 142
Add and Remove Dynamic Markings ................................................ 142
Edit Dynamics with the Properties Window ........................................ 143
Edit Dynamics with the Shortcut Menu .............................................. 144
Move a Dynamic ............................................................................ 144
Grace Notes ....................................................................................... 145
Add and Remove Grace Notes ......................................................... 145
Edit Grace Notes with the Properties Window .................................... 146
Images ............................................................................................. 146
Add and Remove Images ................................................................ 146
Edit an Image ................................................................................ 147
Move and Resize an Image .............................................................. 147
Key Signatures ................................................................................... 148
Add and Remove Key Signatures ..................................................... 148
Edit Keys with the Properties Window ............................................... 149
Move Keys ..................................................................................... 149
Lyrics ................................................................................................ 150
Add and Remove Lyrics .................................................................. 150
Add and Remove Multiple Verses ..................................................... 151
Edit Lyrics with the Properties Window ............................................. 153
Edit Lyrics with the Shortcut Menu ................................................... 154
Add Remove Verse Numbers ........................................................... 154
Add a Chorus or a Refrain ............................................................... 155
Block Lyrics ................................................................................... 156
Add and Remove Block Lyrics ...................................................... 157
Edit Block Lyrics with the Properties Window ................................. 158
Meters .............................................................................................. 158
Add and Remove Meters ................................................................. 158
Edit Meters with the Properties Window ............................................ 159
Octavas ............................................................................................. 159
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Add and Remove Octavas ............................................................... 159

Edit Octavas with the Shortcut Menu ................................................ 160
Move Octavas ................................................................................ 161
Ornaments ........................................................................................ 161
Add and Remove Ornaments ........................................................... 161
Edit Ornaments with the Shortcut Menu ............................................ 163
Pedal Marks ....................................................................................... 164
Add and Remove Pedal Marks ......................................................... 164
Edit Pedal Marks with the Properties Window .................................... 165
Edit Pedal Marks with the Shortcut Menu ........................................... 165
Move Pedal Marks .......................................................................... 166
Repeats ............................................................................................. 166
Add and Remove Repeats ............................................................... 166
Edit Repeats with the Properties Window .......................................... 168
Move a Repeat ............................................................................... 168
Notes ................................................................................................ 169
Add and Remove Notes .................................................................. 169
Edit Notes with the Properties Window ............................................. 170
Edit Notes with the Shortcut Menu ................................................... 170
Notes and the Drum Staff ................................................................ 171
Notes and the Grand Staff ............................................................... 172
Move Notes ................................................................................... 173
Rests ................................................................................................ 173
Add and Remove Rests ................................................................... 173
Edit Rests with the Shortcut Menu .................................................... 174
Slurs ................................................................................................. 175
Add and Remove Slurs ................................................................... 175
Edit Slurs with the Properties Window .............................................. 176
Tempos ............................................................................................ 177
Add and Remove Tempos ............................................................... 177
Edit Tempos with the Properties Window .......................................... 178
Move a Tempo ............................................................................... 179
Text ................................................................................................. 179
Add and Remove Text .................................................................... 179
Add and Remove Title Page Text ..................................................... 180
Edit Text with the Properties Window ............................................... 181
Edit Text with the Shortcut Menu ..................................................... 182
Move Text ..................................................................................... 183
Multi-Line Text ............................................................................... 183
Ties .................................................................................................. 183
Add and Remove Ties .................................................................... 184
Edit Ties with the Properties Window ............................................... 185
Tuplets ............................................................................................. 185
Add and Remove Tuplets ................................................................ 185
Edit Tuplets with the Properties Window ........................................... 186
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Edit Tuplets with the Shortcut Menu ................................................. 187

About Tuplet Values ....................................................................... 187
About Tuplets ................................................................................ 188
Nudging Symbols ............................................................................... 189
Nudge .......................................................................................... 189
Nudging Beams ............................................................................. 190
Nudging Barlines ............................................................................ 190
Nudging Notes ............................................................................... 190
Nudging Symbols ........................................................................... 190
Nudging Systems ........................................................................... 191
Nudging Symbols that split System Breaks ........................................ 191
Music Ruler ....................................................................................... 192
Advanced Techniques ............................................................................. 193
Advanced Techniques ......................................................................... 193
Notating two lines of music on one staff (Multivoicing) ........................... 194
Beaming ........................................................................................... 196
Beaming ....................................................................................... 196
Break and Join Beams ..................................................................... 197
Change Metric Divisions .................................................................. 197
Metric Divisions Example ................................................................. 198
Hiding and Displaying Hidden Symbols ................................................. 198
Pickup Measures ................................................................................ 199
Split Measures Across Systems ............................................................ 200
Small Meter Changes .......................................................................... 201
The Audio Sequencer ................................................................................. 201
The Piano Roll ........................................................................................... 202
The Piano Roll ....................................................................................... 202
Envelope View ....................................................................................... 203
Envelope View ................................................................................... 203
What is an Envelope? ......................................................................... 203
Envelope Types ................................................................................. 204
Displaying Envelopes .......................................................................... 204
Add and Remove Envelopes ................................................................ 206
Add and Remove Envelopes ............................................................ 206
Envelope Points ............................................................................. 206
Envelope Transitions ...................................................................... 207
Select Envelope Points .................................................................... 207
Add and Remove Envelope Points .................................................... 208
Associate Envelope Points with Notation ........................................... 209
Edit Envelope Points with the Inspector ................................................ 209
Move Envelope Points ......................................................................... 210
Entering Music in Piano Roll .................................................................... 210
Entering Music in Piano Roll ................................................................ 210
The MIDI Events ........................................................................................ 211
The MIDI Events .................................................................................... 211
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List Area ............................................................................................... 212

Overview Area ....................................................................................... 213
Filtering Events ...................................................................................... 213
Actions ......................................................................................................... 213
Actions ..................................................................................................... 213
Using Actions ............................................................................................ 214
Chord Symbol Actions ................................................................................ 215
Identify Chords .......................................................................................... 216
Identify Chord ....................................................................................... 216
Identify Chords ...................................................................................... 217
Chord Analysis Settings .......................................................................... 218
Document Actions ...................................................................................... 219
Note Actions .............................................................................................. 220
Dynamic Actions ........................................................................................ 221
Octava Actions ........................................................................................... 221
Staff Actions .............................................................................................. 222
Pedal Actions ............................................................................................. 223
Tempo Actions .......................................................................................... 223
Text Actions .............................................................................................. 223
Transposition ............................................................................................ 224
Transposition ........................................................................................ 224
Working with Transposed Scores ............................................................. 225
Working with C Scores ............................................................................ 225
Transposing to New Keys ........................................................................ 227
Transposing Sections of Music ................................................................. 227
Transposing By Intervals ......................................................................... 228
Transposing by Instrument ..................................................................... 228
Move ........................................................................................................ 229
Duration ................................................................................................... 230
Inversion .................................................................................................. 231
Velocity ..................................................................................................... 231
Retrograde ................................................................................................ 232
Group Staves ............................................................................................. 233
Order Staves ............................................................................................. 233
Quantize ................................................................................................... 234
Split Staff .................................................................................................. 235
Copy Staff ................................................................................................. 236
Voice ........................................................................................................ 237
Merge Staves ............................................................................................. 237
Input Palette .................................................................................................. 238
Input Palette .............................................................................................. 238
Notes Tab ................................................................................................. 239
Accents Tab .............................................................................................. 239
Dynamics Tab ............................................................................................ 241
Tempo Tab ............................................................................................... 241
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Text/Chords Tab ........................................................................................ 242

Key Tab .................................................................................................... 243
Meter Tab ................................................................................................. 243
Clef Tab .................................................................................................... 244
Ornaments Tab .......................................................................................... 244
Repeats Tab .............................................................................................. 245
Mixer ............................................................................................................ 245
Mixer ........................................................................................................ 245
Track Controls ........................................................................................... 247
Master Controls .......................................................................................... 247
Properties Window ......................................................................................... 248
Properties Window ..................................................................................... 248
Properties Window Pages ............................................................................ 249
Notation Element Properties ............................................................................ 250
Symbol Properties ...................................................................................... 250
Accent Properties: Appearance .................................................................... 250
Accent Properties: Performance ................................................................... 251
Accidental Properties: Appearance ............................................................... 252
Barline Properties: Appearance .................................................................... 252
Beam Properties: Appearance ...................................................................... 253
Brace Properties: Appearance ...................................................................... 253
Chord Symbol Properties: Appearance ......................................................... 254
Clef Properties: Appearance ........................................................................ 254
Dot Properties: Appearance ......................................................................... 255
Dynamics Properties: Appearance (constant dynamics) ................................... 255
Dynamics Properties: Appearance (changing dynamics) .................................. 256
Dynamics Properties: Appearance (hairpins) ................................................. 256
Dynamics Properties: Performance (constant dynamics) ................................. 257
Dynamics Properties: Performance (changing dynamics) ................................ 258
Grace Note Properties: Appearance .............................................................. 258
Glissando Properties: Appearance ................................................................ 259
Key Properties: Appearance ......................................................................... 259
Grace Note Properties: Performance ............................................................. 260
Lyric Properties: Appearance ....................................................................... 260
Lyric Properties: Text ................................................................................. 261
Lyric Block: Appearance .............................................................................. 262
Meter Properties: Appearance ...................................................................... 262
Note Properties: Appearance ....................................................................... 263
Note Properties: Performance ...................................................................... 263
Pedal Properties: Performance ..................................................................... 264
Repeat Properties: Appearance (endings) ...................................................... 264
Repeat Properties: Appearance (expressions) ................................................ 265
Repeat Properties: Performance (End Bracket) ............................................... 266
Repeat Properties: Performance ................................................................... 266
Slur Properties: Appearance ........................................................................ 267
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Tempo Properties: Appearance (constant tempo) .......................................... 267

Tempo Properties: Appearance (changing) ................................................... 268
Tempo Properties: Appearance (pauses) ....................................................... 269
Tempo Properties: Performance (expressions) ............................................... 270
Tempo Properties: Performance (changing) .................................................. 270
Tempo Properties: Performance (pauses) ..................................................... 271
Tie Properties: Appearance ......................................................................... 272
Document Properties: Info .......................................................................... 272
Staff Properties: Instrument ........................................................................ 273
Text Properties: Appearance ....................................................................... 273
Layout Properties: Staff .............................................................................. 274
Staff Properties: Performance ...................................................................... 274
Staff Properties: Instrument (advanced) ........................................................ 275
Layout Properties: System ........................................................................... 276
Staff Properties: Appearance ....................................................................... 277
General Properties ...................................................................................... 277
Tuplet Properties: Appearance ..................................................................... 278
Wave Properties: Performance ..................................................................... 278
Options ......................................................................................................... 279
Options ..................................................................................................... 279
General Options ......................................................................................... 279
General Options ..................................................................................... 279
Workspace Options ................................................................................ 280
Save Options ......................................................................................... 281
Notation Options ........................................................................................ 282
Notation Options .................................................................................... 282
Drum Notation Tab ................................................................................ 283
Sequencer Options ..................................................................................... 284
MIDI In Options ..................................................................................... 284
MIDI Out Options .................................................................................. 285
MIDI Thru Options ................................................................................. 286
Sync Options ......................................................................................... 287
Metronome Options ................................................................................ 288
Performance Options .................................................................................. 289
Swing Time ........................................................................................... 289
Parts ............................................................................................................. 289
Define a New Instrument ............................................................................ 289
Remove Instrument .................................................................................... 290
Instrument ................................................................................................ 291
Use VST ........................................................................................................ 291
Enable VST ............................................................................................... 291
VST-Instruments ........................................................................................ 292
VST-Effects ............................................................................................... 294
FORTE Reverb ........................................................................................... 295
FORTE-Player ............................................................................................ 296
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Channel overview ................................................................................... 300

Load Instrument & Soundfont (SF2) files .................................................. 301
Save Instrument & Soundfont (SF2) files .................................................. 301
Save & Load MULTI ................................................................................ 302
The FORTE-Player mixer ......................................................................... 302
Edit instrument (EDIT) ........................................................................... 303
Amplifier ........................................................................................... 304
Filter-Envelope ................................................................................... 305
Tuning .............................................................................................. 305
Options ............................................................................................. 305
Global Options (OPTIONS) ..................................................................... 306
Scan Score .................................................................................................... 307
Tutorial: How to scan a score ...................................................................... 309
Tutorials ....................................................................................................... 314
Tutorials ................................................................................................... 314
Adding Notes ............................................................................................ 315
Changing Instruments within a Track ........................................................... 316
Merging Tracks .......................................................................................... 321
Multivoicing ............................................................................................... 326
Multiple Endings ........................................................................................ 329
How to tune your instrument ....................................................................... 333
Glossary ........................................................................................................ 335
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Welcome
Welcome and many thanks for your trust in FORTE, the most varied and most intelligent
notation program worldwide. This program contains all necessary tools to create your scores,
to edit and to replay them quickly and easily.
FORTE is available in several editions that differ with regards to functions and cost. There is
something for everyone.
Our publisher Lugert Verlag endeavors to offer you everything you need to create, edit and
administrate music on your computer. We always appreciate feedback and suggestions from
our customers. Tell us what you think, email [email protected]. You can also
download a PDF version of the documentation.
About the Documentation
About the Documentation
This documentation is intended to provide a comprehensive explanation of the features of

FORTE.
Please notice that some of the features described here are not available in all editions
of FORTE. For more information on which features are available in your edition, please
visit www.fortenotation.com.
Click on one of the topics below to learn more:
The following topics are primarily useful when first installing the application:
Overview
Provides an overview of the tools and views you will use to create and edit music. This road
map of the program gives you a basic idea of the sorts of things that are possible to help you
use the product better.
Getting Started
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This section familiarizes you with the basics of using the program. Basic steps on creating,
editing, recording, playing and printing are covered. More detailed treatments are covered in
later chapters.
Technical Support
How to contact the Technical Support Team in case of problems or questions. Drop us an
email and let us know how we're doing!
[email protected]
The following topics describe how to use the program:
Understanding Tracks & Staves

This section describes the fundamentals of tracks and staves. Adding and removing tracks,
measures, and general MIDI topics are covered.
Views
This section describes the different views you can use to edit your document. Detailed
instructions are provided for entering and editing music symbols in each view.
Actions
Actions are plug-in music effects used for editing music. This section describes the available
actions and how to use them.
Tutorials
This section contains tutorials on how to perform common tasks in FORTE.
What's new in FORTE 9
New features in FORTE 9
1. New Design and User Interface

FORTE 9 comes with a completely new design, a modern user interface and more than 120 re-designed
icons.
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2. Simple Mode
Activate “Simple Mode” to focus on just entering notes. Other icons are not displayed.
On the right side of the simple mode menu, hit the icon “Expert Mode” to change back to the full menu and
have all options available.
3. Select Zoom
Draw a box around a couple of notes you‘d like to zoom in on and click “Selection”.
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Youʼll find this button in the main menu “View” in the field “Zoom”
The selected area is automatically magnified. You can edit notes or elements more easily. By clicking
“Whole page”, you return to your original view.
4. Dock the Input Palette

If you move the palette toward the lower area of your screen, you can dock the palette to the screenʼs lower
edge.
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Click on the palette and move it to the lower area of your screen, keep the mouse button clicked while
moving.
Draw the palette towards the small blue icon and release the mouse button. Un-dock the palette by double-
clicking it.
5. New Virtual Keyboard

The keys of the virtual keyboard light up during the playback of your score.
You can also display the names of the notes on the keys of the virtual keyboard! Various styles for the note
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names are available. And you can combine the different styles.
Click “Okay” to confirm your choice of note names.
6. Search Library
7. New Playback Options
1. Draw a box around your desired selection, and press the space bar to start playback.
2. If you want playback to start at a certain position, click the control key and keep it pressed down. Click
the desired measure, and playback starts.
8. Boomwhacker Notation or Chromanotes

Once you finished your score, you can change the notesʼ colors according to a the Boomwhacker system.
Select the desired notes (or the whole score with ctrl+a).
Go to the main tab “Notes” and click “Chroma Notes”. Confirm your choice in the properties window that
opens.
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Well, how do you un-do that?
a) Mark the notes "ctrl+a", select properties, go to the tab “General” and select black as color and confirm.
OR
b) Mark the notes, go to main tab “Edit” and select black from the color palette.
9. Tablet-Ready
FORTE 9 runs on Windows 10 tablets, like the Microsoft Surface. The usual finger gestures are supported.
10. FORTE Reader iOS App

Download the FORTE Reader from the Apple App Store to your iOS device. Use dropbox or icloud services
for exchanging your files.
11. FORTE supports Unicode

Unicode allows you to write, copy and paste texts in any language.Write lyrics in Hebrew, Japanese,
Chinese, Cyrillic,...
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Introduction video
Introduction video
In order to make getting started with FORTE as easy as possible for you, we have created a video tutorial
explaining all basic functions of the program. If this video is not displayed correctly, please click the
following link to start the tutorial.
Click the following icon to display the video on full screen.
You can also find the video on YouTube.
Overview
Overview
The workspace consists of the these elements:
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The following topics provide summaries of each area. Click on one of the links for detailed
information about each component.
Main Tabs
The main tabs are organized in groups. They consist of different buttons that contains
controls for accessing commonly-used features.
Here you will find more information.
Views
The main view displayed above is the Music Score, which is one of several different views
available for creating and editing a document. The views are the central work area for your
music. Other view you can use are the Piano Roll. Each document has its own set of views.
Palettes
There are three palettes that you use during the course of creating your compositions. The
Input Palette contains all the music symbols that you can add to your score, the Mixer can
be used to adjust tempo, volume and other performance properties, and the Properties
Palette provides a single location to edit hundreds of music symbol properties.
Many of these features can be accessed through menu commands as well, but the palettes
provide a convenient way to access the features you use most often. Use the buttons in the
main tab "Home" to activate or deactivate the different palettes.
The Main Tabs
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The Main Tabs

- FORTE Button
- Home
- Edit
- Notes
- Score
- View
- Playback
- Record
- Export
- Import
- Options
- Help
FORTE Button
FORTE Button
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New Creates a new music document. C

select a template for your new mu
document.
Open Opens an existing music document

dialog appears, allowing you to se
you want to open.
Open Opens music documents from the

Library library.
Close Closes the active document.
Save Saves the active music document

current filename, location, and file
Save Saves the active music document

As... name or file format, in the library a
template for other scores.
Print... Prints all or a selected portion of y

document.
Print Prints several parts of your score.

Parts...
Print Creates a Blank Sheet with empty

Blank
Sheet...
Exit Closes the program.
Program.
..
Home
Home
Controls Use the transport control to play, stop and navigate

your score. With "Go To" you can easily move
forward to a defined position.
Modes Use the Select Mode (CTRL+1) to select elements

of your score.
Use the (Mouse & keyboard) Insert Mode (CTRL+2)

to insert elements to your score.
Palettes Opens the Inputs Palette to select

elements (ALT+1)
Opens the Properties Palette to edit score

elements. (ALT+2)
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Opens the mixer to adjust the volume of your

tracks (ALT+3)
Voices Change between voices to write down complex
melodies with multiple voices.
Parts Create und edit parts of your score.
Transposition Transpose your music by key, interval or instrument.
Concert Pitch Switch between sounding and transposing score
Edit
Edit
History Undo & Redo edit steps.
Clipboard Copy & Paste elements of your score.

With the function "Copy Measures" you can easily
copy defined parts of your score.
Selection
Color Select an element of you score and change its color

by clicking on the desired color.
Notes
Notes
Properties - Change the duration of one or multiple notes.

- Edit the form of one or multiple noteheads.
- Edit the velocity of one or multiple notes.
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- Adds automatically the names of the selected

notes.
Composition - Retrogrades selected notes.

- Inverses selected notes.
Voice - Splits one voice into two.

- Changes the direction of the stem.
Time - Moves a note to another time in measure.
Chords - Add a Chord/Symbol

- Analyzes multiple voices and adds the chord
names automatically
Score
Score
Instrument "Add" or "Remove" an instrument.
Measure "Add" or "Remove" a measure or insert a "Pickup

measure"
Staves - Group staves

- Order staves
- Copy staves
- Merge staves
- Split staves
Parts - Create a new part by clicking on "+"
- Delete a part by clicking on "-"
- Edit a part by clicking on the pencil
Layout Here you will find various options to layout your

score.
Drums Here you can define the drum notation and its
sound.
View
View
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Views Page View:

Displays your score vertically in page view
Screen View:
Displays your score by using the whole screen
resolution.
Track View:
Displays your score horizontally.
Soundtrack Open a video to compose a soundtrack.
Parts View only a specific part of your score.
Navigation Navigate in your score
Zoom Zoom in & Zoom out or watch the whole page.
Print Preview Displays a print preview of your score.
Playback
Playback
Controls Transport control: play, pause or navigate through

your score.
Mixer Opens the mixer to adjust the volume of your

tracks.
Tempo Activate the metronome and set the tempo
Loop Activate the loop mode and define a region
Swing Activate the swing feeling and set its sensitivity
VST Use VST

Activate to use VST Instruments (FORTE Player)
Plugins
Load VST Plugins & Instruments (FORTE Player)
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Edit Instruments
Configurate the VST Instruments (FORTE Player)
Edit Effects
Edit the VST Effect Plugins
MIDI Configuration of Channel Mode & SysEx
Reset Panic button to reset the midi information and

sound output
Record
Record
Score Transport Control: (Step)Record from a MIDI-Input

device and playback your score.
Microphone Recording: Record your acoustic
instrument via microphone to input notes
Mixer Opens the mixer to adjust the volume of your

tracks. Select tracks to record.
Tempo Activate the metronome and set the tempo
Region Define the record region.
Loop Activate the loop mode and define a region.
Lead-In Set the lead-in measures.
Quantization Input
Define the quantization of your MIDI-Input device
during recording.
Quantize
Quantizes your score after you did a recording.
Options Opens the performance options
Export
Export
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Score Export your score to...

- the FORTE Mobile App via Dropbox
- PDF
- MusicXML file to exchange your score
- MIDI file
- video stream to upload and share your
music/score (e.g. YouTube)
- Email (email client needed, e.g. Outlook)
Audio - Create an audio CD of you FORTE files

- Create an audio file of your score as MP3 or WAV
file.
- Settings concerning the audio export
Graphics Export your score as graphic file.
Import
Import
Score Import
From the FORTE Mobile App
MusicXML, MIDI, CapX, Karaoke files.
Scan Scan a score and import it into FORTE

(Only in FORTE Premium) or in combination with
FORTE Scan Light and any other version of FORTE.
Picture Paste a picture that you have copied from another

program such as Paint using the clipboard function.
Audio Import audio files into the sequenzer.
Video Import a video file to compose a soundtrack.
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Options
Options
Program General program settings.
Options concerning the workspace.
Settings concerning the backup and file save

function.
Notation Options concerning the notation of notes and

drums.
Devices Wizard - opens the device wizard to configurate

your hardware.
MIDI options for input/output/thru/sync

Wave - soundcard configuration options
Playback Metronome options for playback and recording
Help
Help
FORTE Help Opens the FORTE Help or press "F1"
Keyboard Layout Display the keyboard layout for the different

keyboard input modes.
FORTE Website Visit the FORTE website.
Check for Updates Searches for program updates.
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About FORTE Here you will find the credits of the program.
Elements Palette Introduction
The Input Palette: An Introduction
The Input Palette is quite literally a palette of music elements that you can add to your
document. Whenever you want to add a music symbol you should go to the Input Palette
first.
The music symbols are organized into different pages according to element type. All the
notes are in one page, all the dynamic markings are in another page, all the ornaments are in
yet another page, and so on. Once a music symbol is selected in the Input Palette, it's a
simple matter of clicking the mouse in the music to add the symbol.
Depending on which view you use, it may not always be possible to enter every symbol in
every view. For example, the Piano Roll does not display slurs or ties so it is not possible to
enter them there - you must use the Music Score.
For detailed information about the Input Palette click here.
Properties Window Introduction
The Properties Palette: An Introduction
The Properties Palette displays a list of property pages for the current selection and is one of
the most commonly-used tool windows in the entire application. The Properties Palette is
used to edit and modify elements after you have inserted them into your music document.
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As the current selection changes, so too does the list of property pages displayed in the
Properties Palette. The Properties Palette can be hidden or displayed as needed. You can
even select different types of elements and the Properties Palette displays property pages
that are common to the entire selection.
The Properties Palette is used to modify literally hundreds of different element

characteristics. Everything from the style of a note, the shape of slurs and ties to the
spacing around a staff can be changed using the Properties Palette. The usual method of
editing a music symbol is to select it then use the Properties Palette to change the desired
element properties
One of the most powerful features of the Properties Palette is its ability to modify many
different elements at once. You can select several notes, for example, and with a single
operation change all their durations to 8th notes, or all the stem directions. As you begin to
edit different music symbols you will appreciate how the Properties Palette simplifies your
work.
For detailed information about the Properties Palette click here.
Mixer Introduction
The Mixer: An Introduction
The Mixer is used to control the interaction of different tracks in your music document. If you
want one part to sound louder than another does, for example, you use the mixer to adjust
the volumes to get the mix sounding just right. The Mixer is also used to select tracks and
set characteristics such as Mute, Solo and Record states.
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Each track indicator displays the track name, volume, and status. The master area contains
master controls that affect the performance of all tracks. Tempo, for example, is controlled in
the master area.
The Mixer can be docked/undocked to the main application window, just like a toolbar. When
the Mixer is undocked you can resize it horizontally to take up less screen space.
For detailed information about the Mixer click here.
The Status Bar
The Status Bar
The status bar is a small area at the bottom of the main application window where various
status messages and other feedback are displayed.
The status message changes as you highlight different menu commands to display a more
detailed description of the selected command. The message also updates when tool tips are
displayed above toolbar buttons.
The performance state area is green during playback, red during recording and inactive
otherwise.
The text in the entry mode display is red when the program is in Insert Mode, or blue when
the program is in Select Mode. When in Insert Mode, the entry mode describes the current
type of symbol selected from the Input Palette.
Views
Views
Views
A view is the primary work area that you use to create and edit music. There are several
different views available. The Music Score, for example, is used when one is interested in
creating music notation; the Audio Sequencer, on the other hand, is used only when setting
up digital audio tracks to play along with the MIDI data. Different people have different
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preferences, so try out each view to see which one works best for you.
If you want to display a different view, select the desired view from the Tools menu. You can
change your user preferences so that the program automatically loads a particular view -
such as the Piano Roll - when a document is first opened. By default, the Music Score is the
main view that is first displayed when you open a document.
Select one of the following topics for more information about each view:
Music Score This view displays music as standard music notation. The
notes are organized into measures and systems along staff
lines that represent the pitch of the notes.
Audio This view displays the digital audio files which are to be
Sequencer played along with the MIDI information. The view displays
wave files as bars along a timeline and provides basic
controls for adjusting wave performance parameters.
Piano Roll This view represents music much as the scrolls on a player
piano -- the notes are represented as bars along a grid that
represents the underlying measures. The width of each bar
represents the duration of the note.
MIDI Events This view is a simple table of events such as notes, dynamic
markings and tempos. Different underlying properties such as
note pitch, duration, etc. can be edited directly in the table.
Music Score Introduction
Music Score: An Introduction
The Music Score represents a music document as standard music notation. Notes, text,
dynamic markings, clefs, meters and dozens of other symbols are added directly to the music
simply by choosing a symbol from the Input Palette and clicking the mouse at the location in
the music where the symbol should be added.
The Music Score further operates in two different view modes: Page View and Track View.
Both views display standard music notation - the difference is how staves and measures are
displayed.
Page View
Page View represents music as it will be printed on a piece of paper. Symbols are
automatically spaced and aligned on staff lines to conform to the rules of music notation,
staves and measures are divided into systems on a page, and so on. In Page View the
number of tracks you can display at once is limited by what can fit on a printed page.
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Formatting preferences are defined in what is known as a layout, which is essentially a style
sheet that describes how the music looks on a piece of paper. You can edit and create new
layouts to suit your needs. Each layout defines the page size, fonts, margins, tiling options
and so forth.
Track View
Track View displays all tracks in one long scrolling view. A margin on the left side displays
basic characteristics of each staff (clef, key, name, etc.). In Track View there is no limit to
the number of tracks that can be displayed at once.
Entering notes and other symbols in Track View can be more convenient than working
between systems in Page View (it is unnecessary to scroll the music left or right to get to
the next system on a page). Later, when you're ready to print out the music you can switch
to Page View to do any formatting and fine tuning adjustments.
Audio Sequencer Introduction
Audio Sequencer: An Introduction
The Audio Sequencer is used to add and position digital audio files in your music document.
If you want to add sound effects or singing to your music, for example, you can record or
insert new WAV files into the Audio Sequencer, then position them at the desired measure or
time position. The Audio Sequencer also has several controls for managing the volume and
balance of each wave file.
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For detailed information about the Audio Sequencer click here.
Piano Roll Introduction
Piano Roll: An Introduction
The Piano Roll view displays notes as bars along a timeline, much like an old player piano. The
up and down direction represents pitch, and the left and right direction represents measures
(time). Since the piano roll is able to display the data more accurately with respect to how it
is performed than standard music notation, it is a preferred method of editing MIDI for many
people.
The Envelope View is another important view that is displayed in the same window as the
Piano Roll. The Envelope View and the Piano Roll are aligned along the horizontal (e.g. time)
axis. The Envelope View displays how various musical parameters -- such as volume, pan,
reverb and tempo -- change with time. You can create and add new "envelopes" to describe
how a chosen musical parameter behaves. The alignment of the two views allows you to
synchronize the envelope with individual notes -- this is crucial when working with
parameters such as pitch bend or modulation.
For detailed information about the Piano Roll click here.
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MIDI Events Introduction
Audio Sequencer: An Introduction
The Event List displays a list of musical events in a table. The left portion of the window is
used to select the portion of the document you wish to inspect. Different columns in the
table describe important event parameters, such as the start time, duration and MIDI data
values.
You can sort the list of events in different ways - by time, duration, channel and so on. This
makes it easy to find all the notes of a particular duration, or all the dynamic markings that
occur within a specific time region, for example.
For detailed information about the Event List click here.
Technical Support
Technical Support
Technical Support
Contact the Technical Support Team if you have questions concerning any of our software
applications.
Contact Information
Email: [email protected]
Internet: http://www.fortenotation.com
Please include the following information when contacting us:
Full name and how you can be reached
Product and version number. Click Help About in the software to obtain this
information.
Computer description (CPU speed, RAM, and Operating System)
Sound card manufacturer and model. If possible, also include your sound card
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driver information. See Obtaining Information about your Sound Card for
instructions.
Soundcard Info
Obtaining Information about your Sound Card

When you work with the Technical Support Team it is helpful to know the specifics of the
sound card on your system. Some sound cards have "known issues" that require
workarounds, for example, and frequently newer components are available from the
manufacturer which fix certain problems. There are two types of information that may
beUseful: the driver version number and the resource settings.
Driver Version Number
The driver version number indicates when the driver software was written. Sound card
manufacturers often release newer versions of their drivers for free, and usually there is a
web site where you can download a full upgrade.
Resource Information
The resource information affects how your sound card interfaces with your computer. There
are three parameters to determine: the Input/Output Range, Interrupt Request (IRQ) and
Direct Memory Access (DMA) setting. These terms may sound scary, but you can relax with
the knowledge that they are simply ways to characterize how the sound card is sending and
receiving signals from your computer. Sometimes conflicts with other devices may cause your
sound card to malfunction or lead to unexpected symptoms.
The steps below describe how to obtain specific details about your sound card. Before calling
technical support about issues that seem related to your computer hardware, obtain this
information so we can better resolve your problem.
To obtain driver information
· Click on the Windows Start button and select Settings Control Panel.
· Double-click on System, and select the Device Manager tab when the System Properties
dialog appears.
· In the Device Manager tab, locate the category named Sound, video & game controllers
and double click to display your sound devices.
· Select the device you want to obtain driver information for, then click the Properties
button to display properties for the device.
· Within the Device Properties dialog, select the Driver tab and record the value listed in
the Version text field.
Note: If the field does not contain any actual version numbers, select the Driver File
Details... button and record the value in the File Version text field.
To obtain resource information:
· Display the device properties dialog, steps 1-4 in the instructions to obtain driver
information.
· Within the Device Properties dialog, select the Resources tab.
·
The Resource Settings area displays different resource types and their corresponding values.
Record the values of the Input/Output Range, the Interrupt Request, and the Direct Memory
Access -- there may be more than one value in the list, so be sure to get everything.
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Getting Started
Getting Started
Getting Started
Before you begin, please take a few moments to familiarize yourself with the User interface.
Click here for an overview of the various tools, windows and views you can use for creating
music.
As you use the program you will discover that there are often several different ways to
perform a command. Shortcuts, pop-up menus, toolbars and mouse actions can all be used
to apply commands. Which method should you use? Of course, the one you like the most!
Some people prefer to Use menus, some like toolbars and still others prefer shortcut keys.
Using Context-Sensitive Help
At any time in the program you can bring up a context sensitive help topic by selecting
Shift+F1 from the keyboard and then clicking on a button, control or window. You can also
move the mouse pointer over a button or control to display a tool tip describing what the
control isUsed for.
Using Shortcut Keys
Shortcuts Keys or "keyboard accelerators" save you the hassle of moving the mouse,
selecting a menu and then selecting an appropriate command from the menu. For example,
Pressing CTRL+N on the keyboard performs the same action as selecting the File menu with
the mouse and choosing the New… command.
If you prefer toUse shortcut keys, please notice the key combinations given at the right of
some menu items. If there is not a set of shortcut keys given, that function does not work
using shortcut keys.
Let's Get Started!
Click on one of the topics below to learn more about working with music documents.
Create a New Document
Open an Existing Document
Add Music to a Document
Perform Music
Edit Music
Save a Document
Print a Document
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The Launch Assistant

The Launch Assistant
The Launch Assistant is displayed when you start the program or when no documents are
opened. It helps you to quickly start a new work or open existing FORTE documents or other
files.
You begin a new composition by creating a new document to store your music and
formatting. You can create a new document in different ways, A blank sheet of music will
appear on the screen with a clef, time and key signatures, and part labels. If you would like a
different instrumentation, you can try some of the other templates or create your own.
Using the Score Wizard
Select Score Wizard from the Launch Assistant.
Starting with an existing Template
Select From Template from the Launch Assistant.
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Templates are essentially blank documents with some basic structure already set up for you.
Each template contains a default number of tracks, voicing and so on. You can choose from
a number of different templates including percussion, choral, orchestral, piano, and
ensembles. For example, if you want to write a four-part choral piece you can open the SATB
template, which already has the soprano, alto, tenor and bass parts. Without the template
you would need to set up four staves, add key signatures, clefs, and labels. While this is not
difficult, the template saves you the time and effort of doing this each time you want to
write a choral piece. Always remember that you can save any document as a template with
the command File Save as Template from the menu.
Starting with the Default Score
Select Default Score from the Launch Assistant.
You can also create a new document by clicking on the FORTE-Button. Select from the menu
"NEW..."
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The Score Wizard
The Score Wizard
The Score Wizard guides you and helps you define the essential elements of your score in
just three steps as you can see in the pictures below.
Step 1:
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Step 2:
Step 3:
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Open a Document
Open a Document
Open a Document
You can open any music document that was created as either a FORTE Notation File (.FNF),
MusicXML (.XML) or a Standard MIDI (.MID) files.
If the program is not already open, you can double-click on a file from Windows Explorer to
open the program with the selected file displayed.
You can also click on a file in the Explorer and drag it into the main application window to
open that file.
Note: A list of the most recent documents you have opened or saved is shown in the File
menu. Click on any of these file names to open that file without displaying the Open dialog.
To Open a Document click on the FORTE-Button:
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1. Select "Open…" from the menu to display the Open dialog
-OR-
Type CTRL+O
1. Click on the file(s) you want to open. If the file you want does not appear in the list
shown, use the Look In dropdown list to find the folder where the file is stored.
2. Click the Open button. It may take a few seconds to open the file.
Open Library of Scores
Open Library of Scores

FORTE includes over 90 scores that you can use. The Open Library command provides the
easiest way for you to find and open the score that you want.
Note: You can alwaysUse the normal open command to open any file, including a score
from the library.
You can also click on a file in the Explorer and drag it into the main application window to
open that file.
To Open a Hymn click on the FORTE-Button:
1. Select "Open Library…" from the menu to display the Open Library dialog
-OR-
Type CTRL+H
1. Click on the score you want to open.Use the controls in the Search For area to
display only scores matching specific search criteria.
2. Click the Open button. It may take a few seconds to open the file.

You can use the mouse to enter notes and other symbols into a view. Typically, you select a
music symbol from the Input Palette and click the location in the view where you want the
symbol placed. Some symbols - such as crescendos - require you to select both a start
location and a stop location.
If you prefer you can also record music directly into your document from a MIDI instrument.
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For more details select one of the topics below:
Select a Music Symbol
Enter music in the Music Score
Enter music in the Piano Roll

The Input Palette is a floating window containing dozens of different music symbols that
you can add to your document. The symbols are grouped into 8 different groups such as
Notes, Accents, Dynamics, Tempos, and so on.
To Select a Symbol
· Select the page in the Input Palette containing the desired type of symbol (e.g. Note,
Dynamic, Text).
· Move the mouse over the symbol you wish to select.
The button displaying the symbol becomes "active" when the mouse is over the button
· Click the mouse on the desired symbol to select it.
Selected symbols in the Input Palette appear as highlighted buttons.
To Display other Symbols
Click one of the tabs in the Input Palette. The two arrows in the upper right hand corner
are Used to scroll through all of the tabs.
You can right-click the mouse in the Input Palette to display a popup menu containing a
list of all the tabs -- simply select an item to display the page.
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This method makes it much easier for you to navigate between the tabs.
Playing Music
Playing Music
Playing Music
After you have inserted or created music, you can play your composition to hear what is
sounds like. There are many ways to control how the performance sounds.
Click on one of the topics below for more information:
Play, Pause and Stop the Performance
Change the Volume of a Track
Change the Tempo
Mute a Track, or Listen to Selected Tracks
Change Reverb, Pan, and Chorus on a Track
Change the Instrument for a Track
Manage a Performance
Managing a Performance
Managing a Performance
The Transport Controls are Used to control playback and recording of a performance. You can
play, stop, pause, record, skip between sections, fast forward and rewind within the
document and configure looping options -- all from the Transport Controls.
To Begin Playing
Click the play button to begin playing your music
To Pause
Click the pause button during playback to pause the music. Click the button
again to resume the performance.
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To Stop the Music
Click the stop button when you are done listening.
To Double the Tempo and Fast Forward
Click the fast forward to double the tempo and fast forward through the music.
Click the button again to return to normal play speed.
To Play From the Last Start Point
Click the rewind button to play from the last starting point.
Loop Playback
Loop Playback
Loop playback allows you to continually play a section of music over and over. It is purely a
sequencer playback feature (there is no notational symbol). For notation based repeats, see
Repeats.
Loop Playback is a great way to practice in the privacy of your own home. Lay down some
changes, set the tempo really slow, setup a loop, and shed. Slowly increase the tempo (no
need to stop the loop) or transpose to a different key (again, no need to stop the loop).
Now go and impress your friends.
To Loop Playback (main tab "Playback")
· Check the Enable Loop Mode box in the main tab "Playback".
· Check the Loop Region check box and specify the measures to loop over
(You can still set the range even if the Loop Region check box is grayed
out). For example, if you are looping over 32 bars, set the Start to
001:01:000 and the End to 033:01:000.
To Stop Loop Playback
· Uncheck the Enable Loop Mode box in the main tab "Playback"
Step Playback
Step Playback
Step Playback allows you to play back the piece in non-real time. Often this is a good way to
hunt for wrong notes in dense passages.
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To Step Playback using Mouse
1. Click the "Step" button on the Performance toolbar.

2. Click the "Play" button
3. To go a note further just click an "Step"
To Stop Step Playback
Click the Stop button on the Performance toolbar.
To Step Playback using Keyboard
1. Click the "Step" button on the Performance toolbar.

2. Click the "Play" button
3. To go a note further just press the space key.
Punch In / Punch Out
Punch In / Punch Out
Sometimes you'll record a passage, and with the exception of one bungled section, it's
flawless. Instead of re-recording the entire passage, you can Punch In Punch Out and just
re-record over the offending section.
The program will only record between the Start and End points (Punch In point and Punch
Out point) so you can play along with the part to help you get into the flow.
To Enable Punch In/Out

Switch to the main tab "Record".
· Check the Record Region check box and specify the measure, beat and tick where the
recording will Start and End.
· Set the Play Region Start to a couple of measures before the Record Region Start, and
set the End to a couple of measures after the Record Region End.
· Select the Replace existing radio button under the option When recording into a track
containing data.
· Now click on the rec button.
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To Disable Punch In/Out
· Uncheck the Enable Loop Mode box.

· Make sure that the Play Region and Record Region check boxes are unchecked.
Change Track Volume
Change Track Volume
The Mixer has several controls which allow you to control various characteristics of each
track, including volume. Each track is represented as a group of controls in the mixer.
Within each group of track controls the vertical slider to the left of the display meter can be
used to control the relative volume of each track.
To Display the Mixer
Use any of the following methods to display the Mixer:
Click the Mixer button in the main tab "Home" "Playback or "Record":
or
Press ALT+2 on the computer keyboard.
To Change Track Volume
Change the position of the volume slider on the desired track in the Mixer.
All tracks are affected by the master volume, which is controlled in the Master
Area for the Mixer.
Change Tempo
Change Tempo
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The Mixer has several controls that allow you to control various characteristics of the
performance, including the tempo.
The right portion of the Mixer contains a set of controls for changing the master volume and
tempo. A horizontal slider in this "Master Area" represents the relative tempo for the
performance.
Click the Mixer button in the main tab "Home", "Playback" or "Record"
To Change the Tempo
Change the position of the tempo slider in the Master Area of the Mixer.
Notice that the beats per minute are displayed to the right of the tempo slider
and changes as you change the tempo.
Click on the text displaying the current tempo - it becomes active so you can
type a new tempo.
Use the buttons below the tempo slider to easily set the tempo to twice or half
normal speed.
OR
Change to main tab "Playback" and set the tempo there.
Mute and Solo Tracks
Mute and Solo Tracks
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track, including volume. Each track is represented as a group of controls in the mixer.
To Mute a Track
Click on the Mute button for the desired track controls in the Mixer. The Mute button will
light up when Mute is enabled.
To Solo a Track
Click on the Solo button for the desired track controls in the Mixer. The Solo button will light
up when Solo is enabled.
At the bottom of each group is a small box that displays 3 icons -- these are buttons you
use to set the mute, solo and record states for each track:
To Enable Track for Recording
Click on the Record/Play button and toggle the button into it's record (red) state.
To Enable Track for Playback
Click on the Record/Play button and toggle the button into it's play (green) state.
Add Reverb, Pan and Chorus
Add Reverb, Pan and Chorus
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track, including effects such as reverb, pan and chorus. Each track is represented as a group
of controls in the mixer.
Note: These effects are implemented as MIDI controllers. Since some sound synthesizers do
not implement all MIDI controllers you may not hear any change.
The 3 icons in the upper left-hand corner of the Mixer are buttons you use to
change the Mixer's display mode:
Changing Effects Values
When the Mixer is displayed in Full Mode, additional controller knobs appear which
you can use to change the overall values for reverb, pan, chorus and modulation.
To Use the knobs, click the mouse and drag either up/down or left/right to
increase/decrease the displayed value. You can double-click a knob to reset it to
its default position.
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Simply adjust one of the knobs to adjust the corresponding effect.
Changing an Instrument
Changing an Instrument
The Properties Palette can be used for inspecting numerous music symbols in
your document.
The Properties Palette is also used to inspect and edit tracks. Each track has
numerous properties, including the staff name, type and instrument.
The instrument characterizes the sound made by notes on each track -- one
track can play as a harmonica and another as a whistle.
To Change an Instrument
· Select the track(s) you want to change in the Mixer

· Display the Properties Palette and select the Instrument tab.
OR
Double click on the staff lines.
· Select the instrument you want to Use in the list.

· Click the Apply button to apply the changes.
Performance Options
Performance Options
The Performance Options are located in the main tabs "Playback" "Record" and "Options".
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Editing Music
Editing Music
Editing Music
Once you've added music to your document you can edit it to change how the music sounds
or how it looks when printed.
There are hundreds of different ways you can edit your music; luckily, they can all be
grouped into one of the following basic operations:
Cut, Copy, Paste & Delete Use familiar edit commands to cut and
splice portions of your music together
in different ways.
Drag and drop Click the mouse directly on a music

symbol and drag the mouse to copy or
move the element to another location
in the music.
Edit with the Properties Palette Change dozens of element properties

using the Properties Palette. Edit
multiple elements simultaneously.
Special Menus Context and popup menus provide

shortcuts to many commands, and
offer a few special features not found
elsewhere in the program.
Actions Actions are plug-in effects for

processing your music. Quantize,
transpose, merge, split, and other
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effects make it easy to experiment

and transform your compositions.
Basic Operations
Cut, Copy and Paste Objects
Cut, Copy and Paste Objects
Cut, copy and paste is a common in many software programs. The idea is that you have a
temporary storage area (the clipboard) that you can use to shuffle, reorder, copy and
otherwise edit your document.
Here's how it works: you first copy elements into the clipboard. You then paste the elements
from the clipboard into some location in your document. The cut command is just like copy,
except it also removes the selection from the document. You can paste as many times as
you want -- each time a copy of the clipboard contents is added to your music.
To Cut or Copy Elements
· Be sure the current mode is Select Mode, then select the elements you want
to cut/copy.
· Select the main tab "Edit" Copy from the menu to copy the notes to the
clipboard.
-OR-
Hold down the Ctrl key and press the letter "C" from the keyboard.
You can choose Cut (Ctrl+X) instead if you want to remove the selection from
the document.
Elements are copied into the clipboard. The contents of the clipboard are
replaced whenever you copy/cut other elements.
To Paste Elements
· Be sure the current mode is Select Mode.
· Click the mouse above or below the measure where

you want to paste the elements. This displays a blinking insert cursor and
ruler:
Note: If you click the mouse inside the staff lines you will select the system
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instead of displaying the insert cursor.
· Click the mouse on the beat of the ruler where you want the elements to be
pasted.
· Select the main tab "Edit" Paste from the menu to paste the objects from the
clipboard into the measure.
-OR-
Hold down the Ctrl key and press the letter "V" from the keyboard.
Deleting Objects
Deleting Objects
You can delete most objects in your music simply by selecting them and hitting
the Delete key.
The Delete command is similar to Cut, except it does not copy the selected
elements into the clipboard.
If you make a mistake you can usually undo your last action to recover the
deleted elements.
To Delete Objects

· Select the objects (notes, clefs, etc.) to be deleted.
(See Selecting.)
· Click the delete key.
Drag and Drop
Drag and Drop

Drag and drop is a popular feature that allows you to visually edit your music.
You can move or copy elements from one place to another simply by clicking the mouse on
an element, dragging it somewhere else, then dropping the element at the new location.
Drag and drop is essentially a shortcut for cut/copy/paste.
To Drag and Drop
· Be sure the current mode is Select Mode, then select the elements you want to
copy/move.
· Place the mouse cursor over one of the selected objects.
· Click -- but do not release -- the mouse button.
· Drag the elements to their new location. As you move the mouse, the view provides the
same visual feedback as when adding new elements from the Input Palette.
· Release the mouse button to place the objects in their new location.
Undo/Redo
Undo/Redo
Sometimes you realize the changes you made were not what you really wanted to do. The
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Undo command lets you undo the things you have done. You can also redo an operation if
you like the changes you made after all.
For example, if you transpose your entire piece up a half-step and realize that you really liked
it better in it's original position, you can undo the transpose. This will return the score to the
condition it was in before you transposed it.
A multiple-layer undo/redo allows you to undo and redo thousands of actions. The Undo
History feature displays all previous changes, making it easy to quickly revert to an earlier
version of the file.
To Undo an Operation
Select the "Edit" tab and select Undo
-OR-
Press CTRL+Z on the computer keyboard.
To Redo an Operation
Select "Edit" tab and click on Redo
-OR-
Press CTRL+Y on the computer keyboard.
You can easily access "Undo & Redo" over the quick access toolbar.
Editing with the Properties Window
Displaying the Properties Window
Displaying the Properties Palette

The Properties Palette allows you to change the properties of just about anything on the
Music Score (e.g. positioning, appearance, spacing, performance, etc). You can even change
the properties of more than one object at a time. For instance, you could select all of your
dynamic markings and move all of them up at once.
To Display the Properties Palette
Select the objects you want to edit, then select from the main tab "Home" the Properties
Palette.
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-OR-
Double-click one of the selected objects.
-OR-
Right-click one of the selected objects to display a context menu, then select Properties
Palette…
Save a Document
Save a Document
Save a Document
When you save a music document for the first time, you will be prompted to give your
document a file name.
When you save a previously saved document, you can use the Save As command to save it
to a new name.
You can save your music documents in one of three file formats.
Make a Backup Copy of your Document
Click on the FORTE Button
· Select "Save As..."

· Type a file name in the file name box. (Make a note of where your file is being saved.)
· Choose the type of format you would like your file saved as.
· Click the Save button.
To Save a Music Document
· Select Save
-OR-
On the quick access toolbar, click the Save button.
-OR-
Press CTRL+S.
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If you have not yet saved the file, the Save dialog box will automatically open. If you have
previously saved the file, it will save to that file name.
· In the Save In box, select a directory location for the file.

· In the File Name text box, type the file name you want for the music document.
· In the Save As Type box, select the file format you want.
· When you have made all your choices, click Save and your music will be saved to disk
with the file name you specified.
File Formats (Save, Import and Export)
File Formats (Save, Import and Export)

FORTE Notation File (.FNF)
This is a proprietary file format that stores all notational and performance
information for a file. Files stored in this format can only be exchanged
between FORTE products.
Use this format when it is important to store both performance and notation
for your music. All symbols and performance settings are preserved
completely with the FNF format.
FORTE Template File (.FTF)
This format is essentially the same as the FORTE Notation File except it
resides in a special Templates directory and isUsed as a starting point for
new documents.
If you find yourself continually working with keyboard, bass, and drums, for
example, you can create your own template with those instruments. You
can also define any page layout information such as staff size, measures
per system, and fonts, and those will be saved with the template as well.
Standard MIDI File (.MID)
A MIDI file is an industry standard file format that can be exchanged

between nearly all sequencers and score processors. However, the MIDI file
format is defined to include primarily performance information such as when
notes start and stop -- it does NOT include much in the way of notation.
If you store a document as a MIDI file you will lose:
· slurs, lyrics, clef changes, special meters, barline types, articulation

symbols, dynamics, ornaments, repeats, chord symbols, and hidden
symbols
· note spelling (e.g. C-flat vs. B-natural)
· breaking and joining of beams and positional offsets or overrides
· all layout information, such as which tracks are visible, font

preferences and margin information.
· output device information is not supported in the MIDI file format, so
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if you have more that 16 MIDI channels split across multiple output
devices, you shouldUse the .fnf format instead.
· articulations, dynamic markings, repeats and transpositions affect

how the music sounds, but the symbols themselves are not stored.
Consequently, if you reload such a file it will sound like it did
originally, but the symbols will not appear in the music.
Use this format when you are concerned only with playback and/or would
like other people with other sequencers to read the file.
MusicXML File (.XML)
MusicXML is a universal translator for common Western musical notation

from the 17th century onwards. It is designed as an interchange format for
notation, analysis, retrieval, and performance applications. The MusicXML
format is supported by over 50 applications.
Auto Save
Auto Save
The AutoSave feature can be set to save your work at regular intervals and
create backup copies of the file.
The backup file is stored in the same directory and has the same name as the
original file except its name is prepended with a "~" character.
When autosave happens, changes to all documents are saved into the backup
file. The original file remains unaffected until you specifically save it.
To use AutoSave
· Select the main tab "Options" and choose "General" from the Tools menu.
· Click the Save tab.

· Click on the checkboxes to select your preferences.
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· Click the OK button when you are done.
AutoSave Choices
Always create backup file: Creates a backup copy of a file when you first open
it.
Automatic save every N minutes: Performs autosave every N minutes.
Apply to new files: Applies these preferences to all new files you create.
Prompt to save as FNF file: Asks whether you would like to save as a
FORTENotation File in order to retain all music notation (a MIDI file will not retain
the music notation).
Print a Document
Print a Document
Print a Document
When you are ready to see your music on paper, use the following instructions to print your
music.
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To Print a Music Document
Click on the FORTE Button and select from the drop down menu "Print"
-OR-
Press "CTRL+P"
Adjust the printer settings to your preferences.

Click the OK button to print your music score.
Print Parts
Print Parts
This new feature allows you to print as many copies you want of all available layouts of a
document.
Click on the FORTE Button and select from the drop down menu "Print Parts"
Print Preview
Print Preview
You might want to see a preview of the music you are about to print. This will give you a
better idea of how your score will look on the printed page.
To Select Print Preview
Click on the FORTE Button and select from the drop down menu "Print.../Print
Preview"
· Using the buttons at the top of the preview window, you can page through your score.
You can also zoom in/out, look at one or two pages, or print.
· To return to the Music Score, click the close button.
Print Setup
Print Setup
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Use the Print Setup dialog to configure basic characteristics of your page, such as the paper
size, source and orientation.
To Select Print Setup
Click on the FORTE Button and select from the drop down menu "Print.../Print
Setup..."
· Make necessary changes in the Print Setup dialog.

· Press the OK button.
Print Blanc Sheets

Print Blank Sheets
Despite all the comfort FORTE provides, you may want to occasionally write your music score
by hand. For these moments, you can now use FORTE to print as many copies you want of
empty sheets in five different sizes.
Click on the FORTE Button and select from the menu: "Print Blank Sheet"
Templates
Templates
Templates
A template is a starting point for another document. Templates normally define a frequently-
used track and instrument configuration, but a template could contain a complete drum and
bass line if desired. There is no real difference between a template and a normal file saved
with a different extension -- in fact, you can even use MIDI files as templates. Normally,
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however, templates are stored as FORTE Template Files (*.ftf) since they contain notation
options and other information above and beyond what a MIDI file can store.
When you create a new document you select one of the templates displayed in the New
dialog as a starting point for your document. The program then copies the selected template,
initializes it, then opens the copy. The initialization step adjusts certain characteristics of the
file according to current user preferences. For example, even though the individual tracks
and instruments already exist in the template, the MIDI devices must be updated to reflect
the current default MIDI device settings.
For more information about templates, click the topic below:
Creating a Template
Create a Template
Create a Template
How Templates Are used
The template list in the New dialog contains the names of template files that are
stored in a special Templates folder. This folder is located in the same directory
as the program.
New templates should be saved to this folder so that they appear as choices in
the template list. You can do this manually, or by using the Save As Template
command.
To Create a Template
· Create a new document which will become your template. Add all necessary
staves, measures and instrument settings required to define your template.
· Click on the FORTE Button and select from the drop down menu "Save
as.../Save as template..."
· In the Template dialog box, type a descriptive name for the new template.
· The template will automatically be saved in the application's Templates folder

as a read only file. This is located in the same directory as the application.
Menus
Context-Sensitive Menus
There are several different types of menus available for changing different
aspects of the music.
When an element is selected in a view, you can often right-click the mouse in the
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view to display commands that pertain to the selection.
Often, this popup menu contains items that are also found in the Properties
Palette, but certain features are available only in the context menu.
When a note is selected in the Music Score, for example, the context menu
contains items for changing stem direction, enharmonic equivalents, slurs, beams
and so on. When the selected item is an accidental the context menu contains
items to place the symbol above or in front of a note.
Try right-clicking in views, on windows and so forth to get an idea of what's

available.
The Context Menus
Shortcut Menus
Shortcut Menus
Shortcut menus are convenient ways to perform commands that you use often. When a
specific item is selected in the music, or when the mouse is positioned over certain tools or
buttons, you can right-click the mouse to display a popup menu containing relevant
commands.
For example, if you right-click over the Input Palette, a popup menu appears that allows you
to quickly move to another tab of the Input Palette. This is often easier than using the tabs
and buttons in the Input Palette, especially if you want to move from the Notes Tab to the
Repeats tab.
Entry Modes
About Entry Modes
About Entry Modes
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When you write a piece of music by hand, you might Use a pencil to create notes and other
symbols on a piece of manuscript paper. When you want to change something you choose
what notes to erase and then rewrite them. In other words, depending on what you're doing,
you use a pencil, eraser or maybe even a new sheet of paper.
On a computer the mouse and keyboard take the place of a pencil and eraser, and the virtual
surface in each view serves as your paper. There is only one mouse available for pointing and
clicking in the views, so the program Uses the notion of entry modes to further inform the
computer of your intentions.
In some cases, when you click the mouse you really want to select a note so that you can
move, edit or delete it, In other cases, you really want to add new notes to the music when
you click the mouse.
Entry modes inform the computer what you are doing so it knows when to add new notes
and when to select notes for editing or deletion.
Two main entry modes are Used: Select Mode, Insert Mode. Whether you know it or not,
the program is always "in" one of these two modes.
You will find another mode Camera Mode which is located in the main tab "Export". In this
mode you can export your score as a High Resolution Graphic.
To Change Modes
Select one of the mode buttons in the main tab "Home":
- OR -
Press CTRL+1, CTRL+2, or CTRL+4 on the keyboard to switch to Select, Insert or Camera,
respectively.
- OR -
As you use the mouse in different locations in the program, the entry mode might change
according to what you select.
When you select a symbol in the Input Palette, for example, the program changes to Insert
Mode under the assumption that you are now about to insert the selected symbol in the
music.
Select Mode
Select mode
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Select mode is used to choose notes and elements. After selecting an

element, you can move, edit, copy or delete it. "Select mode" allows you to
select elements specifically to edit them. One essential tool for this purpose
is the "Properties window", which will open when you start FORTE. Access
and edit numerous functions and commands related to the selected element.
Should the "Properties window" not be open by default, click the "Properties"
icon in the "Palettes" group to open it with a few clicks.
Insert Mode
Insert mode
The program contains two main modes, "Select mode" and "Insert mode". Insert mode
enables parallel use of three different input methods.
You can select notes from the input palette and insert them into your score using the mouse.
You can also enter notes via the virtual keyboard after selecting the note value.
Furthermore you can insert notes using simple keyboard input. We will show you all three
options in the following video.
If you already have entered notes with the mouse and would now like to add further notes
using the keyboard, move the cursor off the score displayed on screen. This activates
keyboard input and the cursor will move to the last input position automatically
Letters = Pitch
c defgab
Numbers = Note value
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1 -> Whole note

2 -> Half note
4 -> Quarter note
8 -> Eighth note
6 -> 16th note
3 -> 32nd note
Touch Typing
Note input by touch typing

Besides simple easy keyboard input, you can also activate professional touch
typing to input notes to FORTE via the keyboard.
This feature is available in FORTE Premium only.
Fast Input Schema (Touch Typing)
A Keyboard Mode Schema is a combination of keys that are used on the Keyboard Mode to
insert and edit notes.
This schema allows you to write your score as you write a single text. Use this schema to
avoid using the mouse when inserting notes and accidentals.
The current Keyboard Mode Schema can be set in Program Options.
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Camera Mode
Camera Mode
Camera Mode isUsed when you want to export a section of the Music Score view.
Camera Mode allows you to copy it to the Windows Clipboard to paste to any other
application or exported as a graphics file.
During Camera Mode, Edit Mode and Select Mode are disabled.
To Change to Camera Mode
Switch to the main tab "Export" and choose an option from the graphics group:
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- OR -
Press CTRL+4 on the keyboard.
Which Mode Am I In?
Which Mode Am I In?
As you create and edit your music it is important to know when you are in Insert Mode and
when you are in Select Mode. There are many different ways to determine what mode the
program is in.
Look at the Edit Toolbar
The buttons on the left side of this toolbar areUsed to indicate and set the current mode.
The highlighted button tells you which mode the application is in.
Look at the Status Bar
When the software is in Select mode the text is displayed in blue -- in Camera Mode the
text is displayed in green -- in Insert Mode the text appears in red and describes which
symbol in the Input Palette is selected.
Look in the "Home" tab!
The different modes are listed along with a mark by the current mode.
Look at the Cursor
Most views provide some sort of feedback about the current entry mode by changing the
display cursor. The Music Score, for example, displays a line that snaps to the ruler positions
when a note is selected in the Input Palette and the software is in Insert Mode, but displays
a simple arrow cursor when in Select Mode.
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Selection
The Current Selection
The Current Selection
In order to edit your composition, you need to be able to select the items you want to edit.
Just as if you were telling someone what you wanted changed in the music, you must tell the
computer what symbols to change by selecting them.
One often refers to a document's current selection. This refers to the collection of music
elements that have been selected and are currently highlighted in the views. You can change
the current selection by selecting other symbols.
Once music symbols are selected, you can copy, cut, delete, edit and apply actions on them.
Select Events
Select Elements
Sometimes you may want to select several elements at once, yet selecting each element
individually is too tedious and troublesome. With the Select Elements dialog you can quickly
select all sorts of combinations. Once the elements are selected, you can use the Properties
Palette to edit all the elements at once.
Click on areas of the image below for more information:
To Display the Select Elements Dialog
Use any of the following methods to display the Select Elements dialog:
Select the main tab "Edit" and choose "Select Elements..."

Press CTRL+E on the computer keyboard.
To Select Elements
· Display the Select Elements dialog

· Choose at least one type of element that you want to select from the main list at the top
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of the window.
Press the All or None buttons to quickly check or uncheck all element types in the list.
· Press the OK button.
Select Elements (Advanced)
Select Elements (Advanced)
Pressing the Advanced button in the Select Elements dialog expands the dialog to show
additional controls for selecting elements by track, time or voice. Simply check one of the
boxes to enable one of the select filters, then enter appropriate values.
Select with the mouse
Select Music Symbols with the Mouse
Select Music Symbols with the Mouse
The mouse is the most common way you use to select music symbols. Before using the
mouse to select elements, make sure the application is in Select Mode, then follow the
steps below:
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To Select a Music Symbol
In a view, place the mouse cursor over the symbol to be selected.

Click on the symbol. The object is highlighted to indicate it is selected. If the Properties
Palette is visible, it updates to display the properties of the newly-selected element.
Selecting symbols in one view will select that same symbol in all other views (that can
display the symbol). This means that you could sort the elements in some special way in the
MIDI Events view, select them, and then edit them visually in the Music Score.
To Select Additional Symbols
Hold down the Ctrl key.
With the Ctrl key held down, click any other symbols to add them to the selection.
Notice that the objects you already selected remain selected (highlighted).
To Unselect a Music Symbol
Hold down the Ctrl key.
Click the object to be unselected. The object turns its original color.
To Drag-Select Multiple Symbols
Use this method to quickly select multiple objects.
Click - but do not release - the mouse. As you drag the mouse a selection rectangle is
displayed. Symbols which fall within this rectangle become selected.
Release the mouse button to end the drag-select operation.
Note: By default, the selection rectangle selects notes only. You can change this behavior so
that other element types are also selected during drag-selection.
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To Clear the Selection
Click the mouse over some "empty space" in a view.
Some symbols are selected using a slightly different approach. Click on a topic below for
more information:
Selecting Staves
Selecting Measures
Selecting the Document
Non-selectable
Mouse Select Options
Mouse Select Options

The Mouse Select Options Dialog determines which elements are selected when you drag-
select with the mouse. By default, only notes are included when you drag-select a region
with the mouse.
There are times, however, when you want to drag-select other symbols, too. For example,
you could drag-select only accents, or only rests to make it easier to do editing on large
groups of symbols in your music.
You can always choose to select specific elements using the Select Elements dialog. The
mouse drag settings merely provides another convenient way to select the symbols you want
and nothing else.
To Display the Mouse Select Options Dialog
Use any of the following methods to display the dialog:
Switch to the main tab "Edit" "Elements section..."
Press CTRL+M on the computer keyboard.
To Select Elements
· Display the Mouse Select Options dialog

· Choose at least one type of element that you want to select from the main list at the top
of the window.
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Press the All or None buttons to quickly check or uncheck all element types in the list.
· Press the OK button. The next time you drag-select with the mouse, only the specified
element types will get selected.
Selecting All or None
Selecting All or None
The Select All command selects all visible elements in a view. Depending on the view, this
may be all notes on a given track or all elements in the entire score.
The Select None command clears the selection. You can also clear the selection by clicking
the mouse in an unused portion of a view.
When elements are selected they are displayed in the current selection color (default is red).
To Select All Elements in a View
Choose Edit Select All from the menu, or simply press CTRL+A.
To Clear the Selection
Choose Edit Select None from the menu, or simply press CTRL+D.
Selecting Measures
Selecting Measures
Select measures using the following views:
Selecting a Measure in the Music Score
Measures cannot be selected individually in the Music Score. Instead the system that
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contains the measure is selected.
· Make sure the application is in Select Mode.

· Click the mouse on the measure. The system which contains the measure will select.
· Select additional systems by right mouse clicking on the measure and selecting Extend
Selection to Page, or Extend Selection to End
-OR-
Select additions systems by holding down the Ctrl key.
Selecting a Measure from the MIDI Events

· Click on the measure in the Overview Area.
· Select additional measures by holding down the Ctrl key.

Selecting the Document allows you to run many actions on all of the staves, instead of
having to Ctrl select each staff individually. To select the document, click on an "empty"
space somewhere in the Music Score.
Selecting Staves
Selecting Staves
A staff may be selected with the mouse using any of the following views:
Selecting a Staff in the Music Score

· Position the mouse over a measure contained in the staff.
· Click the mouse on the measure. The system which contains the measure will highlight.
Click the right mouse button to bring up the context menu and select Select Staff
(Track).
-OR-
Double-click on the measure.
Selecting a Staff from the MIDI Events

· Click on the staff in the Overview Area.
· Select additional staves by holding down the Ctrl key.
Selecting a Staff from the Mixer

· Click on the track module which corresponds to the staff.
· Select additional staves by holding down the Ctrl key.
-OR-
Select all staves by right mouse clicking on the module and selecting Select All from the
context menu.
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Non-selectable Symbols
Non-selectable Symbols
Nearly all symbols that you see in a view are selectable by the mouse. However, some
symbols are selectable only from certain views. For example, you cannot select a beam or
slur from within the List View or the Piano Roll View. Likewise, you cannot select a Wave from
within the Music Score. Some notable symbols that cannot be selected in the Music Score
are Measures Numbers and Page Numbers. To control the display of these symbols, see the
topics on Layout Options and Layout Fonts .
Getting Around
Getting Around
Getting Around
Each document has a current time position.You will find it in the main tab "Home"
or under "Playback" or "Record".
As the music plays the timer counts out bars and beats. When you stop a
performance the program normally rewinds back to the last place you started
playing from.
As you work with your document you will want to move around from place to
place within the music easily. Several different ways to get to a particular spot in
the music are available.
Click one of the links below for detailed information about each topic:
Use the Next/Previous controls
Jump to a particular marker
Jump to a specific time
Change time location using the mouse
Next/Previous
Next/Previous
You can use the Next and Previous commands to skip between markers and other section
specifiers.
In addition to text markers, rehearsal letters and numbers, the Next/Previous command also
obeys repeat endings.
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Note: The Next/Previous buttons in the Transport Controls change to display FF/RW buttons
during a performance.
To Jump to Next & Jump to Previous
Click the Next button in the Transport Controls.
-OR-
Click the Previous button in the Transport Controls.
Jump to Marker
Jump to Marker
To display the Goto Dialog, click on Goto...
A marker is a rehearsal number, rehearsal letter, custom marker, or cue

point. Markers areUsed to create quick easy reference points in the music.
If you have defined markers, you can use the Goto Dialog to quickly jump to
one of those markers.
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To Move to a Specific Marker
· Click the Advanced button to display additional controls.

· In the list of markers, click on the marker you want to skip to. As you
select different markers, the time field updates to display the location of
the selected marker.
· Click the OK button. You will return to the music score, positioned at the
selected marker.
Jump to a Time
Jump to a Time
To display the Goto Dialog, click on Goto...
To Move to a Specific Time
· Display the Goto dialog.

· Click the Enter Time field to select it, and then type in the time you want.
You can click in different portion to select bars, beats or ticks.
-OR-
Drag the slider beneath the time field left or right - the time changes as you
move the slider.
· Click the OK button to jump to the specified location
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To Move to the Beginning or End
· Display the Goto dialog.

· Click on the Beginning or End button to quickly move to the beginning or
end of the piece.
-OR-
Drag the slider beneath the time field all the way to the left or right to move
to the beginning or end of the document, respectively. Notice that the time
changes as you move the slider.
· Click the OK button to jump to the specified location.
Getting Around Using the Mouse
Getting Around Using the Mouse

You can set the current time position using the mouse.
This allows you to quickly start playback from anywhere within a measure, or to set the time
for your next recorded note during step record.
To Set the Current Time

· Hold down the Ctrl key and click just above the measure where you would like the current
time set (clicking in the measure will select the measure).
· The insert cursor will appear (a blinking vertical line). Move the mouse slightly and the
Music Ruler will appear as well.
· The insert cursor will be at a specific mark on the ruler which corresponds to a time in the
measure. To change the time, and update the current time, Ctrl click on the Music Ruler.
Export
Export to the FORTE Reader App (Android)

Export to the FORTE Reader app for Android tablets
You can now transfer the scores you created with FORTE to your Android tablet and display,
orchestrate and replay them using the app.
Select the "Export" tab, then click "Mobile app" to access export options. A Dropbox account
is required for transferring the files.
Dropbox is already installed on your computer?

If you already have a Dropbox account and Dropbox is installed on your computer, a sub-
folder "Forte", in which your scores will be saved, will be created in your Dropbox directory.
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Install the FORTE Reader app from the App Store and open your files in by double-clicking
"Dropbox".
Export to PDF
Export as PDF file
This function allows you to save your scores and parts as PDF files. This format allows
lossless transfer of your scores and ensures excellent printing quality on any computer. This
function is particularly useful to send scores to friends and other members of your choir or
orchestra for playing the music together.
You will find this feature under "PDF" in the "Export" tab, then select a target directory for
your file and confirm by clicking "Save".
You can then display your score in a PDF reader. If no PDF reader is installed on your PC, you
can download one, e.g. Adobe Acrobat Reader free of charge.
Export to a MusicXML document
Export to a MusicXML document
MusicXML is a universal translator for common Western musical notation from the 17th
century onwards. It is designed as an interchange format for notation, analysis, retrieval,
and performance applications. The MusicXML format is supported by over 50 applications.
Export to a MusicXML Document
· Switch to the main tab "Export" and click on "MusicXML"

· In the File Name text box, type the file name you want for the music document.
· When you have made all your choices, click Save and your music will be saved to disk
with the file name you specified.
Export to an Audio File

Export part or full composition to an Audio File.
To Export to an Audio File
· Switch to the main tab "Export" and click on "MP3 or WAV"

· Assign a name and location to the file. Click "OK"
Audio Files
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Audio Files
Wave File (.WAV)
WAVE form audio format, is a Microsoft and IBM audio file format standard for storing audio
on PCs. Though a WAV file can hold audio compressed with any codec, by far the most
common format is pulse-code modulation (PCM) audio data. Since PCMUses an
uncompressed, lossless storage method, which keeps all the samples of an audio track,
professionalUsers or audio experts mayUse the WAV format for maximum audio quality. WAV
audio can also be edited and manipulated with relative ease using software.
MP3 file (.MP3)
MPEG Audio Layer-3, or more commonly referred to as MP3, is a popular digital audio
encoding and lossy compression format. It was designed to greatly reduce the amount of
data required to represent audio, yet still sound like a faithful reproduction of the original
uncompressed audio to most listeners.
Export to a Graphics File
Export part or the full score to a Graphics File. FORTE gives you two ways to export part or
the full score to a graphics file.
To Export to a Graphics File
· Select main tab "Export" and click on "Picture" and Select What to Export.
· Select one of the File Format: JPEG, TGA, TIFF, Bitmap, EPS.
Select the Resolution.
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· If necessary, assign a File Name Prefix.

· Click OK.
Graphics File
Graphics File
JPEG, TGA, TIFF, DIB/BMP Files (.jpg, .tga, .tif, .dib, bmp)
· JPEG is a commonlyUsed standard method of lossy compression for photographic

images. JPEG is the most common formatUsed for storing and transmitting
photographs on the World Wide Web.
· Truevision TGA is a raster graphics file format. The format can store image data with
1–32 bits of precision per pixel. Color data can be color-mapped, or in directcolor or
truecolor format.
· TIFF is a flexible and adaptable file format. It can handle multiple images and data in a
single file through the inclusion of "tags" in the file header. Tags can indicate the basic
geometry of the image, such as its size, or define how the image data is arranged and
whether various image compression options areUsed.
· BMP files are usually not compressed, so they are typically much larger than
compressed image file formats for the same image.
Postscript Document (.EPS)
PostScript (PS) is a page description language and programming languageUsed primarily in the
electronic and desktop publishing areas.
Recording Music
Recording Music
Recording Music
When recording music you typically have some sort of MIDI instrument connected to the
soundcard installed in your computer. The software records what you play on the keyboard
and stores it with the document.
During normal recording you must keep time with the music. If you've added tempo markings
you'll need to play along with the changing tempo, for example. The metronome sounds out
beats to help you play at the correct tempo -- you can also disable the metronome if you
wish. You can use lead-in measures to count out a few bars of introduction before the actual
recording begins so you can get a feel for what the beat is.
There are two additional special recording modes you can use to assist you in creating your
music. Step recording isUsed when you don't want to have to play in time with the music (or
metronome). Loop recording isUsed when you want to try out different "takes" of a section of
your music.
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Click on one of the topics below for details about each aspect of recording:
Preparing to Record
Normal Recording
Step Recording
Loop Recording
Preparing To Record
Preparing To Record
Before recording it is important to configure the software so that incoming notes and other
information are placed on the correct track. You can also specify a particular voice for a
recording, which isUsed for notating the music.
For example, if you are working on a brass trio you need to specify which of the three
instruments you are recording. If you do not tell the program where you want notes to be
placed it will try to do the best job it can -- sometimes this is what you want, but often it
may not be. By default, the program looks for the first empty track andUses it for the
recording.
You should also check that your MIDI keyboard is properly connected.
Select the track that you want to record into
Display the Mixer.
Specify the desired record track by pressing the track mode control.
In this example the Horn track has been selected as the track for recording
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Select the voice for recording
1. Display the Music Score.
2. In the notation bar at the top of the view, select the desired voice from the Voice
dropdown list.
If you leave the voice set to "All Voices" the notation engine will try to determine the proper
voice for the recording.
Check your MIDI connection
1. Display the Mixer.
2. Play a few test notes on your MIDI instrument. You should see the small IN light in the
lower right-hand corner of the Mixer light up momentarily.
If your MIDI Thru options are enabled, you will hear any notes that you play.
Other Record Settings
When recording many different MIDI channels simultaneously, you can use the Sequencer
Options dialog to change how the channels are split and routed to different tracks and
voices.
Use the Performance Options dialog to specify the behavior when you record into tracks
that already contain music.
Recording from a MIDI Instrument
Recording from a MIDI Instrument

You can record standard MIDI information from any MIDI controller that is connected to your
computer.
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To Start Recording
Be sure you have followed the steps to prepare for the recording.
Click the Record button on the Performance toolbar which is located in the main tab
"Record":
If lead-in measures are enabled, the clock will count off the lead-in measures. During this
time, nothing will be recorded, so feel free to practice or test the instrument sound.
If the Metronome is enabled, the Metronome will click on every beat.
Play the part on the MIDI instrument. As you record, note heads will appear on the score.
To Stop Recording
Click the Stop button on the Performance toolbar.
Step Recording
Step Recording
Step recording is similar to "normal" recording from a MIDI keyboard except that you do not
play along with a specific tempo. The note pitches and velocities are recorded from your
MIDI keyboard - just as for normal recording - but the note values (durations) are selected
from the Input Palette. There is no metronome and no lead-in measures during step
recording.
The advantage of step recording is that you can be absolutely sure that notes are placed at
the correct time and have exactly the desired duration. Often recording "live" results in notes
that occur slightly too early or have a different duration than the "exact" value. This, in turn,
complicates the notation since a given note may be played like an 8th note - even though
you might want it notated as a quarter note.
To Start Step-Recording
1. Be sure you have followed the steps to prepare for the recording.
2. Click the Step button in the transport control (main tab "Record"), then click
the Record button.
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The transport controls should look similar to the following:
1. Select a note value from the Notes tab of the Input Palette.
2. Play a note on the MIDI instrument. The appropriate note will appear in the score, and
the clock will automatically advance to the next position.
3. Follow steps 3-4 to enter notes with different values
To Stop Step-Recording
Click the Stop button on the transport control.
To Step-Record Rests
1. Select the value of the rest from the Notes tab of the Input Palette.
2. Click the Step button on the Performance toolbar.
-OR-
Press the space bar on the computer keyboard.
A rest with the desired duration will be entered in the music, the clock will advance and the
next note recorded will cause the rest to be entered.
To Step-Record Chords
1. Press - but do not release - the key on the MIDI keyboard corresponding to the first
pitch in the chord
2. Press - but do not release - the keys corresponding to other notes in the chord
3. Release all notes at once. The chord for all notes will be added to the music score as
a chord.
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Record notes with an acoustic instrument
Record notes with an acoustic instrument

In FORTE Premium you use an acoustic instrument to enter monophonic melodies in live time. You find this
function in the tab "Record" under "Score". To use this feature, you need a computer microphone that is
connected to your computer and available as a record device (default case).
The most accurate transcription can be achieved when you play at a slow tempo and most accurate as
possible to the metronome. Before you start recording, select the "Record" tab, set a slow and comfortable
tempo and one or two lead-in measures.
Click on the button below to prepare recording notes with your acoustic instrument via microphone:
The following dialog appears:
Figure 1
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Recording Options:
1. Instrument – select an instrument you are going to play. Available options:
a. Guitar
b. Flute
c. Piano
d. Voice
e. Other
2. Shortest Note Value – MIDI recording quantization. Available options:

a. Quarter note – rounds up recorded note to 1/4 of tempo measure
b. 8th Note - rounds up recorded note to 1/8 of tempo measure
c. 16th Note - rounds up recorded note to 1/16 of tempo measure
d. <donʼt quantize> - records without note quantization
3. Metronome Tempo – select desired recording tempo
Microphone Level:
Before recording, input microphone sound level shall be adjusted to avoid sound clipping, yet to enable
decent level of incoming signal.
Figure 2.1 – Elements Figure 2.2 Good lev el Figure 2.3 – Sound too loud
Elements:
a) Clip LED, indicate that incoming sound is too loud, and that slider (c) shall be adjusted to lower
positions
b) LED METER, indicates incoming Microphone sound level
c) Microphone Level Slider – adjust microphone sound level
To obtain best recording results, follow the procedure:
1. Connect your microphone, adjust 2/3 of Microphone Level Slider (c) and play something with your
instrument, like you are going to record it
2. Look at the LED METER (b), to verify you have decent sound level while you are playing
3. Good setting will show green, yellow and red led, but Clip LED shall not be activated (Figure 2.2)
4. If Clip LED turn red (Figure 2.3), user should reduce Microphone Level Slider to lower positions, and
to repeat the procedure, until Clip LED is not activated again
5. To reset Clip LED, left click on it.
Advanced Options:
Before recording we need to adjust a few more parameters, to achieve best recording results. These
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parameters you can adjust by pressing “Advanced” button.
Figure 3
Latency Compensation:
Sound latency is unwanted recording delay, introduced by sound hardware and operating system audio
drivers. To eliminate this effect, we need to measure and compensate latency.
To automatically measure and compensate latency, follow this procedure:
1. Connect your microphone and place it near your speakers, close as possible
2. Press “Measure Latency” button
3. Following dialogue will appear
Figure 4
4. Press OK, and wait until test sound finishes

5. If recording latency was measured properly, you will see this message:
Figure 5
6. If something was wrong, you will see this message:
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Figure 6
If you are not satisfied with automatically measured latency, you can correct this value by entering new one
into “Latency Compensation” text box.
Recognition Sensitivity:
This setting will adjust the NOTE ON and note OFF thresholds:
· values closer to Low will record only loud played notes

· values closer to High will record both loud and silently played notes
The trick with this slider is to improve recording reliability. Silent tones may be silent enough to be polluted
with noise, thus leading to unreliable results. Sometimes you may play one note and it will appear as 2 or 3
consecutive notes. Then it make sense to move slider to the left and to resolve this issue.
Best practice is to follow this procedure:
1) adjust Microphone Level to avoid clipping

2) Play loud and well defined notes
3) Set Recognition Sensitivity slider close to High, and if you get some unexpected results, move it to
left until you get reliable results
Boost Lower Octaves:
Certain instruments may exhibit unreliable results for tones in lower octave range. Sometimes Piano and
Guitar tones will appear as one octave higher, although we played lower octave notes. The background
explanation is that these sounds contains more than one frequency, sometimes higher frequency content
may be dominant. To solve this behaviour use Boost Lower Octaves slider.
Best practice is to follow this procedure:
1) Place slider to the Left position (Less) and perform recording. This way you will record note without
any corrections
2) If you notice that some tones appear one octave higher than you actually played it, then move slider
to the right, for example to the middle position
3) Continue to move slider to the right until this unwanted behaviour stops
4) Sometimes, for low piano and guitar notes, values very close to “More” will correct your recording
Once all the required parameters are set, you can start recording, by clicking “Start Recording” button.
Useful tips:
1) Supported recording range is form G2 ( MIDI Pitch = 43, f = 98Hz) to B8 (MIDI Pitch = 119, f=7.902
KHz)
2) You should play as exactly as possible in accordance with the metronome and the required
notation. It is not yet possible to analyze a dynamic play and convert it into notes.
3) If you experience latency delays, after proper Latency compensation, you can correct Latency
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Compensation text box manually

4) Use at least 1 or 2 Lead In Measures, to enable preparation time form Start Recording to your
actual instrument playing
5) If you plan to record simple melodies, without fast tone changes, it is advisable to use Quantization
(Shortest Note Value)
6) Transcription parameters will be stored once you press “Start Recording” and will be restored next
time you start Transcription.
7) If you notice one tone to appear as few consecutive tones, try to move “Recognition Sensitivity” to
the left
8) If you notice tones appear to be octave higher, try to move “Boost Lower Octaves” to the right
9) Recommended settings:
a. Recognition Sensitivity – close to “High”

b. Boost Lower Octaves – close to “More” for Piano and
Guitar
10) Avoid “Listen to this device” Windows

setting, as it may lead to audio feedback
problems. It is located at Control Panel-
>Hardware and Sound->Recording-
>Microphone->Properties->Listen
Loop Recording
Loop Recording
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Loop recording is a powerful variation of "normal" recording from a MIDI keyboard that allows
you to lay down tracks, try alternate takes and otherwise piece together your music with
fewer internediate steps.
To begin loop recording, you must enable loop mode and configure other performance options
depending on how you want the loops to behave.
To Enable Loop Recording
· Check the Enable Loop Mode box. Notice how certain other controls are now enabled.
· Configure other controls according to how you want to loop-record (details below).
· Press OK.
To Disable Loop Recording
· Uncheck the Enable Loop Mode box. Notice how certain controls become disabled.
· Make sure that the Play Region and Record Region check boxes are unchecked.
· Press OK.
Loop Recording Options

There are four variations of Loop Recording. The instructions below describe how to configure
the Performance Options Dialog for each variation.
Click on the Recording Options:
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Overdubbing
Recording onto the same track for each loop. The new material is merged with the existing
material.
This method is excellent for laying down drum grooves. You can record the bass drum on the
first pass, the snare on the second, the hi hat on the third...
Alternate Takes
Recording onto different tracks for each loop. Each previously recorded track is muted.
Use this method to lay down a couple of takes for a difficult passage, or try different ideas
over a section of music. Then using the loop play feature, mute and solo each track to
choose which one sounds best.
Multiple Takes
Like the Alternate Takes method except that each loop records onto the same track, and
previously recorded material is deleted.
This method is good for recording difficult passages - once you get it right, stop recording
and there's your perfect take.
Layering
Like the Overdubbing method except that each loop records onto a new track.
For the more experimentally inclined…
Performance Options Settings

· Check the Record Region check box and specify the measure where the loop Starts and
where the loop Ends.
· Set the Loop Region Start and Stop to the same values as the Record Region Start and
Stop.
· Check the Lead-In Measures box and the For each loop box to enable lead-in counts for
each loop.
· Select the Merge with existing radio button under the option When recording into a track
containing data.
· Select theUse same track radio button under the option When loop recording, for each
new loop.
The Device Wizard
The Device Wizard
The Device Wizard
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The Device Wizard is an easy way to configure common device settings while using the
program It appears when you run the application for the first time, but can be used anytime
as an alternative to the Sequencer Options dialog.
Using the Device Wizard
To Use the Device Wizard you complete different forms that describe the properties and
settings for your MIDI and digital audio devices.
Simply complete each form, and then click Next to proceed to the next form. When you have
reached the end the Next button changes to read, "Finish" - click the Finish button to
complete the wizard.
Under the main tab "Options" you will find the Device Wizard to re-adjust settings you did
before.
Device Wizard Pages
You can move between the different pages using the Back and Next buttons.
MIDI Playback
MIDI Playback
This page in the Device Wizard is Used to select the default deviceUsed to play back your
music files.
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To Specify Instrument Definiton Files
Click the Device Properties... button to specify the instrument definition files to be
associated with the default MIDI device.
Setting Options
Select the MIDI device you want toUse as the default
Click the Test button to send a test note to the selected device. If you do not hear
anything, check your MIDI connections, volume and power settings.
Click Next to move to the next page.
MIDI Thru
MIDI Thru
This page in the Device Wizard isUsed to select the MIDI device and channel that you want
toUse for MIDI Thru.
Incoming MIDI data is sent back out through the MIDI Thru device. This type of setup allows
you to play on one instrument yet hear the notes on several different instruments.
To Send a Test Note to a Device
Click the Test button to send a test note to the selected device. If you do not hear
anything, check your MIDI connections, volume and power settings.
Setting Options
Choose one of the radio buttons to specify MIDI Thru mode.
Click Back or Next to navigate to another page.
In Automatic mode, the MIDI thru device is configured to the same device and channelUsed
for the track currently being recorded
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In Manual mode, you specify the device and MIDI channel toUse for MIDI output. In the
Channel combo box you can select a specific channel number or "No change" to send the
data out on the same channel that it came in on.
Digital Audio Options
Digital Audio Options
This page in the Device Wizard is Used to select the device Used for playing
digital audio (.WAV) files.
To Send a Test Sound
Click the Test button to send a test sound to the selected device. If you do
not hear anything, check your speaker connections, volume and power settings.
Other Setting Options
Select the device you want to Use as the default audio playback device
Use the Format combo box to select the format Used for playback
Click Back to navigate to another page.
Understanding Tracks and Staves
MIDI files may contain single instrument or multiple instrument parts. Tracks and staves are
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basically two alternative ways of referring to a part.
Staves
The staff is displayed in the Score View as a standard music staff with five horizontal lines
and intermediate spaces on which music can be written (Grand Staff combines 2 individual
staves with a bracket. Each instrument part will have its own designated and labeled staff,
matching the order of tracks in the Mixer.
Tracks
The track provides controls for the part much like that found on a studio mixing board. Each
individual track is displayed in the Mixer with it's own volume control and effects knobs. When
a track is selected in the Mixer, the Properties Palette displays property pages for adjusting
the part's instrument, MIDI channel and device.
Staff Name
Staff Name
You can change the name of a selected track in the Mixer View.
Note: This function will also affect how the Staff name appears in the Music Score.
To Change the Name of a Staff
· Open the Mixer View.

· With the Properties Palette open, select the desired track module in the Mixer View
then click on the Appearance tab.
· Click in the box under Staff Name and type in the new name.
-OR-

· Select the track you want to rename.
· Click again on the text in the track. This causes the text to become editable and select.
· Type the new name for the track and hit the Return key.
Staff Type
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Staff Type
Four different staff types may be used to suite the instrument part.
For example, drum notation may be displayed on a drum staff or piano notation may be
displayed on a grand staff (including left and right hand parts).
To Select a Staff Type

· With the Properties Palette open, select the desired track module in the Mixer View then
click on he Appearance tab.
· Next to Staff Type, choose one of the options on the drop-down list: Normal Staff, Grand
Staff (Piano), Drum Staff, Vocal Staff, Percussion Staff or Guitar Tablature.
Voices
Voices
A voice is the termUsed to describe a unique melodic line or part. Most of the time each staff
contains only one voice, but occasionally the need arises to put more than one melodic line
on a single staff. One example is two part vocal writing, where the soprano and alto share
the same staff. Other examples include keyboard notation, drum notation, and barbershop
quartets.
Support of Voices
You can use up to 8 voices for each staff. To notate several different musical lines, as for
choral parts, you would enter notes for each part as a separate voice. The notation
engineUses the voice designation to determine things like stem direction, beaming patterns,
and note groupings. This technique for handling notes and voices keeps each part visually
distinct, even though 2 notes might occur at the same time. The default voice when adding
notes is All. By default, odd-numbered voices (1, 3, 5, ...) are displayed with stems up and
even-numbered voices (2, 4, 6, ...) are displayed with stems down. In a Grand Staff, voices
1-4 areUsed for the treble clef and voices 5-8 (1 L.H. - 4 L.H.) areUsed for the bass clef. If
you merge or split staves you will want to do so with these default rules in mind since they
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greatly affect how the notation will end up.
You can select the voice you want to enter in the main tab "Home" in the group "Voices":
Manipulating Voices Independently
Voices are primarilyUsed for notational purposes, but even so it is sometimes desirable to
manipulate the sound of each voice independently. The most common example is when all
parts are to be notated in a Grand Staff, but are to be played through different instruments
(a piano playing an alto part and a saxophone playing the tenor part). Using the Staff
Properties Palette you can specify completely independent MIDI channels and/or devices for
each voice on each track. Although unorthodox, you could have voices 1-3 playing as a
harmonica on the internal synth, voices 4-6 as an organ on an external keyboard, and voice
7-8 as percussion sounds on a drum machine. Keep in mind that ultimately you are still
constrained by the number of independent MIDI channels you actually have. The ability to
control the output of each voice makes it easier to manage routing but it does not increase
the available MIDI output.
The Music Grid
The Music Grid
The Music Grid
One can imagine a single staff of music displayed as one long horizontal row of measures.
Two staves could be represented as two rows of measures, and so on.
In this way, all the measures and staves in the document can be thought of as a large
rectangular "music grid", upon which the notes and other elements are placed.
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The Music Score has two different view modes for representing music: Page View and Track
View. In Track View, the music is displayed as a music grid, with all the tracks and measures
displayed in one long scrolling view.
It is important to understand that as you change the number of measures and staves (even
indirectly) the grid is resized as well.
To learn more about adding measures and staves, click one of the topics below.
Keeping the Grid Square
Adding Instruments
Deleting Instruments
Adding Measures
Deleting Measures
When you add staves and measures, you are in fact adding rows and columns to the music
grid. When you add a staff, a new row is inserted and filled with the same number of
measures as other staves. When you add a measure, a new column is added -- this
corresponds to a new measure for each staff.
For notational and organizational purposes, it is desirable -- and often necessary -- to keep
the number of columns in the music grid consistent from row to row. In other words, every
staff must have the same number of measures.
Usually you won't even notice what's going on behind the scenes when you add measures or
staves. If you are viewing the Music Score in Page View, however, it may not be possible to
display all the music on a page with the current display options. If this is the case, you are
prompted with a "too-many-staves" dialog for you to adjust the display properties (using a
layout) so that all of the music fits.
Note: If you are in the early stages of your composition, it may beUseful to work in Track
View until you're ready to print your music. This is because you may be adding and removing
staves and measures frequently - you can avoid the "too-many-staves" dialog by working in
Track View.
Add Instrument
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Add Instrument
Use the Add Instrument dialog to add any number of new staves to your music. Each staff is
of a particular type (e.g. drum staff, grand staff), it has a clef, a key, an instrument and a
name. Collectively, these are all referred to as a part. The Add Instrument dialog is really
used to add parts to your music.
Select the main tab "Score" "Add Instrument..." to display the Add Instrument dialog. Click on
the image below for details on each control. When you are ready to add the staves, press
the OK button; or, press the Cancel button to abort the operation.
Remove Instrument
Remove Instrument
Use the Remove Instrument dialog to remove one or more staves from your music document.
Note: Removal of staves is one of the few things that cannot be undone -- you are
prompted with a dialog to warn you.
To Delete an Instrument
· Select main tab "Score" "Remove Instrument..." to display the Remove Instrument dialog.
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· In the Remove Instrument dialog box, select the checkbox next to the instrument you
wish to remove.
Use the Select buttons at the bottom of the list to quickly check or uncheck all boxes.
Click OK to remove the instruments.
Add Measures
Add Measures
A measure groups a specific number of beats together according to the time signature
indicated at the beginning of the staff.
When adding measures, the new measures will contain the same staff information, layout,
time signature changes and other score markings as found in the music document.
To Add a Measure
· Select the main tab "Score" then click on "Add Measures..." to display the Add Measures
dialog.
· In the Add Measures dialog box, type the number of measures you want to add.
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· Specify where to place the measure(s) - Before or After the specified measure or at the
End of the score.
· Click the OK button to add the measures.
Remove Measures
Remove Measures
You may remove measures from your music score so that it no longer appears in the music
document.
Note: To delete the contents of a measure without removing the actual measure, select the
notes, text or other symbols, then use the Cut or Delete command.
To Remove a Measure
· Select the main tab "Score" and click on "Remove Measures..." to display the Remove
Measures dialog.
· In the Remove Measure dialog, type the number of measures you want to delete.
· In the Remove Measures area, specify the range of measures to remove by entering
measure numbers in the From and To controls.
· Click the OK button to remove the specified measures.
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Understanding Midi and Instruments
Understanding MIDI and Instruments
Understanding MIDI and Instruments

Any music that you create can be played through an instrument. An instrument can be
anything from a sound card in a computer to a sophisticated external synthesizer. All
instruments translate signals from the computer into specific musical equivalents. Different
instruments synthesize sounds which can be dramatically different from one another. The
problem of how to ensure that the resulting performance really sounds the way the composer
(or arranger) intended requires the adoption of a standard set of sounds, shared by software
and hardware vendors alike.
The First Standard
The first such standard was called General MIDI (GM), a set of definitions for MIDI program
changes. Under this standard, for example, program change 0 is always a piano, program
change 23 is always a harmonica, and so on. Other extensions to General MIDI were later
created by Roland Corporation (GS) and Yamaha International (XG). In all cases, the goal is
the same: to agree on a numbering scheme so that compositions sound more-or-less the
same as they are performed on different instruments.
Other Supported Standards
These standards are only half the story, however. Many instruments support standards such
as GM, GS and XG, but also offer additional sounds or features that are unique to each
instrument. The precise manner in which each instrument responds to the computer's
instructions may differ from instrument to instrument. To solve this problem a special text file
isUsed to describe the mapping between certain MIDI messages and the desired outcome for
a specific device.
There are actually 2 different instrument map files required to describe an instrument
completely - one to describe melodic sounds and one to describe percussive sounds. This is
because many percussive instruments do not have anything that could be described as a
"pitch" (what is the pitch of a hand clap?) -- most instruments instead utilize each pitch
value to represent a different percussive sound. These "drum maps" are also quite specific to
each instrument and are usually displayed with a specific symbol or notehead type. You can
edit the drum map to automatically associate display styles with percussive values -- see the
Notation Options for more details.
Nearly every instrument you find these days supports General MIDI, so the map files for
General MIDI instruments is the default. If you are using, say, a Roland SC-88 Pro or a
Yamaha synth, it makes sense toUse appropriate map files so that you have access to all the
features and sounds for your device. To change the map files for a device, select Options
Sequencer… command from the menu, display the MIDI Out tab, and then select the
Properties button for the selected device.
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Note that the terms instrument and device have beenUsed interchangeably in these
discussions. For the most part a device is the piece of hardware through which MIDI
instructions are sent, whereas an instrument is the actual equipment that translates MIDI
messages into sounds. The MPU-401 device on your sound card, for example, may be
connected with a MIDI cable to your K-2000 keyboard, which creates the actual sounds.
When viewing routing connections with the Track Properties Palette you can view the
connections by device name or by instrument.
Adding Instruments to Staves
Adding Instruments to Staves

When you add a staff to the score, a program change, or patch, is added at the start of the
very first measure. The program change tells the receiving MIDI device which instrument
toUse, and that instrument isUsed throughout the entire performance of the piece. Often,
you may want to change patches in the middle of the piece, to simulate arco strings
switching to pizzicato, for example. To achieve this you need to add a program change to
the staff.
To Add a Program Change to a Staff
Inspect a staff by double-clicking on a measure.
-OR-
Select a staff on the Mixer and select the Properties Palette from the main tab "Home" or
press "ALT+2"
· Go to the Instrument tab and select the List >> button. Additional controls will become
visible on the Instrument tab.
· To enable the time control, click the New Patch button.
· Enter a time other than 001:01:000 in the time control field.
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· Select the new patch from the list of patched and hit the Apply button. The new patch
will appear in the patch list box.
To Remove a Program Change from a Staff
Inspect a staff by double-clicking on a measure.
-OR-
Select a staff on the Mixer and select the Properties Palette from the main tab "Home" or
press "ALT+2"
· Go to the Instrument tab and select the List >> button. Additional controls will become
visible on the Instrument tab.
· Select the patch in the patch list by clicking the piano icon or the Measure:Beat:Tick
area.
· To remove the patch, click the Delete Patch button.
Instrument File Format
Instrument File Format

The Instrument File Format (IFF) isUsed to specify instrument maps for physical devices and
aids in translating MIDI program changes and bank numbers into legible, easy-to-read strings.
IFF files appear as .ini files in the Instruments folder of the directory where you have FORTE
installed. IFF files for several common MIDI synthesizers are provided in this folder.Users can
create their own map files for other instruments using the guidelines in this document.
One special note about the Yamaha XG files: the file "Yamaha XG.ini" contains a list of the
complete set of what Yamaha terms "basic voices." The file "Yamaha XG Ext.ini" includes all
the voices in the basic set, plus the voices which Yamaha terms "extended voices." Please
note, however, that not all XG instruments support the complete basic set. If you have a
Yamaha XG instrument which supports less than the full set, you may want to make a copy
of the basic XG file, and then simply remove those voices which your instrument does not
support.
The IFF file is a standard Windows INI file which is organized according to sections, keys and
values, like so:
[Section1]
Key1=Value1
Key2=Value2
[Section2]
Key1=Value1
Key2=Value2
Note that there cannot be any spaces around the equality ("=") sign.
There are several required sections: [Info], [Groups], and [Banks]. In addition, each value in
the [Groups] section corresponds to an additional section that describes voices in that
group. Each of these sections is detailed in the following paragraphs.
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Info Section
The [Info] section contains basic header information about the instrument, such as its name
and how it handles bank selection.
[Info]
Name=Filename
Type=BankMSB
Name
The value for this key is the actual filename of the INI file (without the INI extension). If
your instrument file is called "My Instrument File.INI", for example, the entry should read:
Name=My Instrument File
Type
This key indicates the type of device and isUsed to indicate the bank selection protocol
followed by the instrument. Some instruments ignore all bank change messages. Some
instruments recognize only bank change MSB (controller 0), and some recognize both bank
change MSB and LSB (controller 32). The key must be one of the following:
NoBank
BankMSB
BankMSBLSB
If you are unsure, use a value of NoBank.
Groups Section
This section isUsed to group voices with similar characteristics together. For example, all
piano variations can be placed under a single group called "Piano". The General MIDI (GM)
specification breaks the 128 different program changes down into 8 different groups. Other
grouping categories can be defined as needed to best organize the different voices on a
particular instrument. It should be noted, however, that the GM specification is a widely
adopted standard and should be used whenever possible for grouping different voices. For a
listing of specific groups in the GM specification, see the "General Midi.ini" file located in the
Instruments directory.
[Groups]
1=Pianos
2=Basses
3=Strings
…etc.
The key for each entry in this section (e.g. 1, 2, 3 above) is ignored but must be unique.
Banks Sections
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This section lists bank names, which areUseful if you view the instrument file organized by
banks.
[Banks]
0=General Midi
1=MyBank
2=TheirBank 1
3=TheirBank 2
… etc.
Unlike the [Groups] section, the key for each entry is NOT ignored and represents the MIDI
bank number (from 0-127). In this example, bank 0 would be labeled "General Midi" in the
instrument view.
A file of type NoBank has one bank entry (yes, w e know it doesnʼt make sense, but, you
know, computers…). Examples of this type are "General Midi.ini" and "Korg M-1 Native.ini".
A file of type BankMSB may have several bank entries. An example of this type is "Alesis QS-
8.ini".
A file of type BankMSBLSB will probably have many bank entries. The key value in this type is
the decimal equivalent of the bank MSB and LSB represented as a 14-bit number. To
calculate this number, multiply the bank MSB by 128 and add to it the bank LSB. The result is
the key value. Some examples to illustrate this:
MSB LSB calculation key
0 12 (0 * 128) + 12 12
40 3 (40 * 128) + 3 5123
127 127 (127 * 128) + 127 16383
The file "Roland SC-88 Pro.ini" is an example of this type.
Other Sections
For each value in the [Groups] section there must be a corresponding section containing
voices for that group. Using the values above we must therefore have sections entitled
[Pianos], [Basses], [Strings], and so on.
Each voice entry represents the name of the voice, the bank number and the program
change number, in that order. Note that bank numbers are zero-based (0-127) whereas
program changes are one-based (1-128). The preferred method is to separate each value by
a comma, as follows:
[Pianos]
0=Acoustic Grand Piano, 0, 1 ; Bank 0, Program Change 1
1=Bright Acoustic Piano, 3, 1 ; Bank 3, Program Change 1
2=Electric Grand Piano, 6, 2 ; Bank 6, Program Change 2
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3=Electric Piano 2, 13, 5 ; Bank 13, Program Change 5
etc.
If an entry does not have a bank and program number, bank zero is assumed, and the
program number is taken from the key (the number of the left side of the "=" sign). In this
case the key number is significant and should be 1-based rather than 0-based:
[Pianos]
1=Acoustic Grand Piano ; Bank 0, Program Change 1
2=Bright Acoustic Piano ; Bank 0, Program Change 2
5=Electric Piano 2 ; Bank 0, Program Change 5
etc.
If an entry has a bank value but does not have a program change value, the key isUsed as
the program change. For example:
[Native Drums]
1=Standard, 0 ; Bank 0, Program Change 1
9=Room, 8 ; Bank 8, Program Change 9
17=Power, 16 ; Bank 16, Program Change 17
etc.
An entry must NOT be empty. In other words, donʼt do t his:
[Pianos]
1=Piano
2= ; This entry is INVALID!
3=Bass
Note:
EnterprisingUsers who manage to create a well-behaved IFF file and who wish to share it
with other owners of the same instrument are encouraged to e-mail the fruits of their labor
to [email protected]. We will include it with future releases of our products.
System Exckusive Messages
System Exclusive Messages
System Exclusive Messages

MIDI System Exclusive (Sys/Ex) messages are special messages which lie outside the domain
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of normal musical elements. They are intended to set performance parameters on specific
hardware devices, exclusive of other devices in your set-up. Sys/Ex messages may be
edited, added and deleted from your music in the Sys/Ex dialog.
Four of the most common messages (General MIDI On/Off, Yamaha XG On, and Roland GS On)
are provided as conveniences. You may also create your own custom messages. Ordinarily,
Sys/Ex messages are added "in-line," that is, you give them a timestamp like any other
element in music, and they will be performed at that time. In many cases, however, it is
desirable to have a short sequence of Sys/Ex messages (for example, General MIDI On
followed by XG On) which will be transmitted before the beginning of the song. We call this
the Pre-Start sequence. The purpose of a Pre-Start sequence is to perform important
initialization and set-up procedures in your playback devices before the music begins. The
reason these messages should be transmitted before the piece, and not right at the
beginning, is that synthesizers typically require from 300 to 500 milliseconds after reception
of a system configuration message before they are ready to begin performing "normal" data
such as notes and controllers.
Messages in the Pre-Start list are automatically spaced 500 milliseconds apart. Thus, for
example, if you have four messages in the Pre-Start list, there will be a delay of 2 seconds
after you hit the "Play" transport control button before your music actually starts.
To Add Pre-Start Messages
1. Display the System Exclusive dialog by selecting SysEx… from the main tab "Playback".
2. Click the New… button to bring up the System Exclusive Editor dialog.
3. Select the Pre-Start Message check box to the right of the time control field.
4. Click the Add button and select from among pre-defined sysex messages or New to
define your own.
-OR-
Click the Import button to load a SysEx binary from a file.
1. When defining your own custom message, give it a descriptive name in the Name field
and enter the data directly into the Message Data box.
2. Click OK to apply the changes.
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To Add In-Line Messages
2. Click the New button to bring up the System Exclusive Editor dialog.
3. Set the time for the message in the time control .
4. Click the Add button and select from among pre-defined sysex messages or New to
define your own.
-OR-
Click the Import button to load a SysEx binary from a file.
3. When defining your own custom message, give it a descriptive name in the Name field
and enter the data directly into the Message Data box.
To Export SysEx binaries (files)
You can export any SysEx message to a binary file forUse in other files.
2. Select the message you would like to save.
3. Click the Edit… button to bring up the System Exclusive Editor dialog.
4. Click the Export button to bring up the Save As dialog.
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To Reorder Pre-Start Messages
2. Select the message you would like to move in the Pre-Start Messages list.
3. Click the up arrow or the down arrow to move the message.
To Edit Messages
2. Select the message you would like to edit in either the Pre-Start Messages list or the
Normal Messages list.
3. Click the Edit… button to bring up the Edit System Exclusive dialog.
4. Edit the message data and click OK to apply the changes.
To Remove Messages
2. Select the message you would like to remove in either the Pre-Start Messages list or
the Normal Messages list.
3. Click the Remove button.
Note: if you have messages in the Pre-Start list and you save your music as a MIDI file, then
an extra measure (or more if required) will be created at the beginning of the MIDI file to
contain your Pre-Start messages. The reason for this is that the standard MIDI file format
does not have a concept of Pre-Start, or "negative" time, and must therefore delay the
entire song in order to accommodate the messages in the Pre-Start list.
Channel Mode Messages
Channel Mode Editor
Channel Mode Editor

The Channel Mode Editor is where you set the message type, time, channel, and receiving
device of a channel mode message.
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Channel Mode Messages provide a way to control how the receiving device will respond to all
incoming voice messages (like notes and pitch bends). In addition, some channel mode
messages may be used for such specialized tasks as controlling lights on a MIDI controlled
lighting console or for clearing buffers on a MIDI controlled signal processor.
To Add Channel Mode Messages
1. Display the Channel Mode dialog by selecting "Channel Mode" from the main tab
"Playback".
2. Click the New… button to bring up the Channel Mode Editor dialog.
3. Select the message type, the insertion time, the MIDI channel for the message, and
the device to receive the message.
4. Click OK to insert the message. Click OK again to close the Channel Message dialog.
To Remove Channel Mode Messages
"Playback".
6. Select the message you would like to remove by clicking on the message name.
7. Click the Remove button.
To Edit Channel Mode Messages
"Playback".
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2. Select the message you would like to edit and click the Edit… button
-OR-
Double click on the message you would like to edit.
3. From the Channel Mode Editor edit the message type, change the time, change the
channel, or change the receiving device.

Views
Views
Views
Views are the primary work area that you use to create and edit music. There are several
different views available. If you want to display a different view, click on the main tab "View"
and select the desired view from the ribbon.
Each view is very different from the rest and emphasizes a different aspect of the music. The
Music Score, for example, is Used when one is interested in creating music notation; the
Audio Sequencer, on the other hand, is Used only when setting up digital audio tracks to play
along with the MIDI data. Different people have different preferences, so try out each view
to see which one works best for you.
Click one of the following topics for more information about each view:
Music Score
This view displays music as standard music notation. The notes are organized
into measures and systems along staff lines which represent the pitch of the
notes.
Audio Sequencer
This view displays the digital audio files which are to be played along with the
MIDI information. The view displays wave files as bars along a timeline and
provides basic controls for adjusting wave performance parameters.
Piano Roll
This view represents music much as the scrolls on a player piano -- the notes
are represented as bars along a grid which represents the underlying
measures. The width of each bar represents the duration of the note.
MIDI Events
This view is a simple table of events such as notes, dynamic markings and
tempos. Different underlying properties such as note pitch, duration, etc. can
be edited directly in the table.
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Page View
Page View
In Page View, the music is displayed as it would be on a piece of paper. Measures are
arranged horizontally across the page and begin a new line when they reach the right margin.
If there is more than one staff, the staves are grouped into systems. Systems are arranged
vertically on the page and begin a new page when they reach the bottom margin. On rare
cases a measure may split a line break, but a system may never split a page break.
There are dozens of ways to control how the music looks on a piece of paper. Sometimes
you may want smaller notes in order to fit music with many staves on a page, other times
you may want larger notes when printing out a part extraction.
All of these formatting preferences are defined in what is known as a layout. A layout is
essentially a style sheet that describes how the music looks on a piece of paper - it defines
the page size, margins, fonts, tiling options and so forth. You can edit and create new
layouts to suit your needs.
Keep in mind that the layouts define global settings for the score. You can always edit
spacing and layout settings independently for each system on the page. For example, you
could specify 3 measures on the first system and 7 measures on the next system. Simply
select a system and use the Properties Palette to edit its appearance. Every symbol in the
music can be edited using the Properties Palette to get your music looking crisp and
professional.
You can choose from a variet y of page view s for t he score youʼre w orking on.
Within the main tab “View”, please select “page”.
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The dropdown menu offers the following views:
Two by two Book Vertically
Horizontally
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Screen View
Screen View
The new Screen View automatically adjusts your score to the size of your screen and makes
it easier
to enter, revise, read and play the score.
Please note that you cannot print from this view. Printing is only possible from the Page View.
Track View
Track View
In Track View, the measures are displayed horizontally in one long scrolling view. There are
no line breaks or page breaks in Track View and there is no limit to the number of tracks that
can be displayed. You can display all tracks or any combination of tracks using the Track
drop list found in the Notation Bar above the score.
A margin on the left side displays basic characteristics of each staff (clef, key, name, etc.).
Move the mouse to the edge of the margin to resize or hide the margin.
Track View is often an easier way to enter notes into the score since you do not need to
continually scroll the page left/right as you must when working with systems in Page View.
Later, when you're ready to print the music you can switch to Page View for any fine-tuning
adjustment to the appearance or location of musical symbols.
Layouts
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Layouts
Layouts
Layouts are style sheets that control page layout, sizing and positioning options. Each layout
stores allUser overrides in the score, making it possible to adjust measure spacing, notes and
other symbols independently of other layouts. Properties Palette pages for controlling the
appearance of measures and systems can be used in conjunction with a layout to get the
music looking just right.
Each music document contains its own set of layouts - you can add as many layouts as you
wish. A common scenario is to create a full score layout for the conductor, and individual
part layouts for each performer.
Layouts control only the visual appearance of your music - they do not affect the music
itself. This makes it very easy for you to work on compositions and create printed parts
without the hassle of creating different documents for each part.
As an example, suppose you have written a string quartet and you'd like to try it out with
your musician friends. You would create a layout for each part and print out the 4 parts so
your friends could try it out. After hearing the result and feedback from the performers, you
might decide to add or rearrange some sections of the composition. You could do this in the
main "Full Score" layout where you can see all the parts and how they interact - then, you
couldUse the same layouts you originally created to print out revised parts for each
performer. The music you added would appear in all the different layouts, saving you the time
and effort of entering the new portions for each part.
Click on a topic below to learn more about using Layouts with your music document.
How Music is Displayed
Create a Layout
Layout Properties
Edit a Layout
Edit a Layout with the Properties Palette
Remove a Layout
Track View Layout
When displaying music on a piece of paper it becomes necessary to break the measures
apart into lines, just like words in a book. A "system" is a horizontal block of staves on a
piece of paper. Depending on how many staves are in the music, a system can be large or
small. Measures in each staff are displayed within the system.
The illustration below depicts a composition that contains 3 staves as it might be displayed
on a piece of paper:
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The number of systems that fit onto a page depends on many factors, including the page
and staff size, spacing around each system, and the number of staves that are in the music.
A composition containing 6 staves, for example, takes more vertical space on the page than
does a single-staff piece.
The number of measures that can be reasonably displayed within a given system depends
entirely on the music - lots of 32nd notes, for example, takes more horizontal space to
display, whereas a single whole note doesn't take much room at all.
Note in the illustration that the second system contains more measures than does the first
system. By changing the number of measures in each system to fit your music you can
create professional-looking printouts that are clean and easy-to-read.
Create parts (layouts) automatically
Create parts (layouts) automatically

With the help of this function you can now automatically create parts for every instrument of your
score with the push of a button. Of course you can still manually create layouts and parts for
groups of instruments. You will find this new function under the tab "Sheet Music" in the group
"parts". Click on the "+" symbol to create a new part or click on "Create all parts" to create an
excerpt for all of your score's instruments. The layout is then based on the settings of your score
layout.
After the parts have been created you can view them via the drop-down menu under the "score"
or "start" tab.
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Create a New Layout
Create a New Layout
By default, a layout named "Full Score" is created when a file is loaded.

As its name implies, this layout has all staves visible, a regular staff size, and default settings
for measures per system and systems per page.
You can also create as many new layouts as you like, edit and remove existing layouts.
By default the new layout will be created as an individual part extraction, meaning only one
staff is displayed in the Display Staves field.
To Create a New Layout
· Display the main tab "Score".
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· Go to group "Parts" and click "+" to add a part.

· Make desired changes to layout using the Layout Dialog.
· Click the OK button to save the new layout and close the dialog.
- OR -
Layout Dialog
Layout Dialog
Layout Dialog
The Layout Dialog isUsed to specify overall properties of new layouts or to change the
properties of an existing layout. In addition to the Layout Dialog, you can change the
position and spacing of your music using the Properties Palette - these changes are stored
along with the layout.
The layout dialog is organized into the following tabs (click on the name of the tab in the
table below for details):
Setup Basic information about which staves

are visible, title page style, staff size
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and fonts.
Margins Margin information for left and right

pages and first system. Paper sizes and
orientation and tiling
Spacing Default measures/system and

systems/page, and spacing around
staves.
Options Miscellaneous options such as multiple-

measure rests and measure and page
numbering options
The Layout Sample window is a crude representation of how staves and system will fit onto a
piece of paper. As you change the staff size, tiling options and so on the layout sample
window changes to give a general idea of how things will look on the page.
Layout Setup
Layout Setup
This tab contains settings for the layout name, which staves to display, title page style,
staff size, and fonts.
Layout Margins
Layout Margins
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Click on an area in the image below for details on each control:
This tab contains settings for left page and right page margins, and first system indent.
Layout Spacing
Layout Spacing
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This tab contains settings for measures per system, systems per page, spacing above and
below the staves, and spacing of lyrics and other symbols. These are defaults only - you can
alwaysUse the Properties Palette to change values for a specific system or page.
Layout Options
Layout Options
This tab contains various settings for page numbering, measure numbering and multiple
measure rests.
Edit a Layout
Edit a Layout
You can edit any existing layout. The Edit Layout dialog is exactly the same as the
dialogUsed to create new layouts.
To edit an existing layout
1. Switch to the main tab "Score"

2. Select the desired part/layout you want to edit
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3. Click on the pencil to edit the layout of the selected part
Make desired changes to layout using the Layout Dialog.
Click the Apply button to see how the music looks using the current settings. Click the OK
button to save the changes and close the dialog.
Edit Layout with the Inspector
Edit Layout with the Properties Palette
Rarely does a score contain the same number of measures per system throughout. For
general readability, four measures per system is usually recommended.
However, dense musical passages, measures containing only footballs, page turn
considerations, and what looks good may require that some systems contain more measures
than others. Spacing between staves may also vary from system to system.
The Properties Palette provides a way to quickly modify these parameters at a per-system
and per-page level.
To Display the Appropriate Properties Palette
1. Display the Music Score in Page View.

2. In Select Mode, click on a measure.
3. After clicking on a measure, the system that contains the measure is highlighted.
4. Click the right mouse button to display a popup menu, and choose Extend Selection to
Page, Extend Selection to End or Select Staff to select related items.
To Edit the Layout
1. Select the systems you want to edit.

2. Select the Staff Spacing or System tab in the Properties Palette.
3. Make changes to appropriate fields.
4. Click the Apply button to apply the changes to the score.
Remove a Layout
Remove a Layout
Sometimes you may wish to delete layouts that you are no longer using.
You can delete any layout except the default layout -- you can edit the default
layout, however.
To Delete a Layout
1. Switch to the main tab "Score"

2. Select the layout you want to remove in the Layout combo box.
3. Remove Layout from the View by clicking on "-"
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Note that you cannot remove the original "Full Score" layout from a document
Track Layout
Track Layout
The Edit Track Layout Dialog controls the appearance of track view. Like the layouts for page
view, this layout contains settings for staff spacing, symbols spacing, measure options, and
fonts. It differs from the page view layouts in that there is only one track layout. There is no
concept of systems, pages, and part extractions in track view. To view only specific staves,
see the Layout/Track discussion in the topic The Notation Bar .
Working with Large Scores
Working with Large Scores
When working with large orchestral scores or MIDI files with many staves, the layout may
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need to be edited to fit all of the staves onto a single page.
If this is the case, you will be prompted to edit the layout before Music Score is first
displayed. If you do not edit the layout such that all systems can properly fit, you should
switch to Track View to do your editing.
There are many ways to modify the layout so that everything to fits. The most common
approach is to select a smaller staff size (Giant is the largest, Pearl is the smallest). This
reduces the size of the font and allows for more music to fit on a page. Another approach is
to create a larger virtual page by tiling 2 or 4 pages together. For an 8 ½ X 11 piece of
paper, selecting a tiling value of 2 X 1 with landscape mode creates a virtual page of size 11
X 17, for example.
The Music Score
The Music Score
The Music Score
The Music Score represents a music document as standard music notation.

Notes, text, dynamic markings, clefs, meters and dozens of other symbols are added directly
to the music simply by choosing a symbol from the Input Palette and clicking the mouse at
the location in the music where the symbol should be added.
The Music Score further operates in two different view modes: Page View and Track View.
Both views display standard music notation - the difference is how staves and measures are
displayed. (You can switch between the two views in the main tab "View")
The Music Cursor
The Music Cursor

When you enter symbols into the Music Score, the Music Cursor provides you with visual
feedback to help you position and place elements.
If you select a note in the Input Palette and move the mouse to enter a note in the score,
for example, a light frame appears around each measure as the mouse moves through it.
Above the measure is a Music Ruler which displays the beat marks in the measure. In
addition to the measure feedback, the "note cursor" displays a dotted line and a small
indicator box at an appropriate pitch value in the staff. These help you locate a precise time
location and pitch where the note is to be added.
Cursors for other elements provide different feedback to help you place music symbols more
easily. The table below gives a brief description of the different cursors and their behavior.
Symbol Description
Note, Gracenote When the mouse enters a measure, a light frame is drawn
around the measure along with a Music Ruler indicating
the beats and subdivisions in the measure.
A dotted vertical line appears at the current time location

of the mouse in the measure -- the line snaps to the tick
marks in the Music Ruler.
A small indicator box is also displayed at the current pitch

location in the measure (with ledger lines if necessary).
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The vertical line and indicator box allow you to precisely

control where notes are inserted in the score.
Tuplet Same as for notes, with the following addition:
When the mouse enters a measure, the tick marks

displayed in the Music Ruler change to display the irregular
tuplet divisions.
Rest Same as for notes, except the pitch indicator box does not
appear (since rests do not have a pitch).
Accidentals Pointer changes to a "bulls-eye" when the cursor is over a

note or chord; otherwise, the cursor is a standard cross
Accents cursor.
Dots You can click and drag out a selection rectangle to select
notes. When you release the mouse, new elements are
Ornaments added to the selected notes.
Slurs The mouse pointer appears as a cross. You click and drag
a selection frame to select 2 or more adjacent notes. The
Ties selected notes are tied/slurred together when you release
the mouse
Chords A vertical line appears - just as for entering notes - for

specifying the location of the symbol.
Dynamics
For tempos and dynamics that areUsed to specify constant
Pedals values (e.g. mf, andante) the line indicates the location of
the element.
Repeats
For symbols that specify changing values (e.g. cresc.,
Tempos accel.), the dotted vertical line represents only one side of
the symbol. After clicking the mouse once, another line
appears for specifying the other end of the symbol. After
both positions have been specified, the symbol is added.
Text Same as above with the following addition:
Clicking the cursor above the staff will add the text above
the staff, below the staff will add the text below the staff.
Clicking the cursor between the upper and lower staff of a
grand staff will add the text between the upper and lower
staff.
Clefs The cursor is a pointing hand. As the mouse moves over

each measure, a dotted line appears to indicate where the
clef will be added.
Key The cursor is a pointing hand. As the mouse moves over

each measure, the measure highlights. If the mouse is
Meter released while over a highlighted measure, the symbol is
added at the beginning of that measure.
Entering Music in Music Score
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Entering Music in the Music Score
Entering Music in the Music Score

When you add music symbols to a document the notation engine properly aligns and positions
them according to standard music notation practices. Notes are beamed together or flagged,
rests are added around notes, measures resized, etc. in order to get the music to fit
properly.
Entering music begins with selecting a symbol from the Input Palette. This places the
application into Insert Mode (if it was not already), and changes the cursor to the
appropriate type for the element that is selected in the Input Palette.
In order to control where elements are added, the Music ScoreUses several different music
cursors to guide the process. Essentially, the music cursor ensures that you place symbols
in meaningful locations. For example, you cannot place a key signature on a dynamic marking
-- after all, what would that mean?
When appropriate, the music cursors provide additional visual feedback so it is clear
exactly where the music symbol will end up. For example, as you move the mouse, the note
cursor displays a small rectangle where the note will be placed so you can see exactly what
the pitch will be for the note.
Inserting the selected music symbol is normally as simple as clicking the mouse in the
music at the location currently displayed by the music cursor. In some cases, additional input
is required before the symbol is added. For example, when entering lyrics you still need to
type in the actual text.
Click on one of the following topics to learn how to add the symbol to your music:
General Editing Notes
Accents Octavas
Accidentals Ornaments
Chord Symbols Pedal Marks
Clefs Repeats
Dynamic Markings Rests
Grace Notes Slurs
Images Tempos
Key Signatures Text
Lyrics Ties
Meters Tuplets
Accents
Add and Remove Accents
Add and Remove Accents
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There are several types of accents displayed in the Input Palette such as articulations,
breath marks and bowing symbols.
All accents are associated with particular notes and are added to the music in the same
manner. When you add an accent to a note it is automatically positioned either above or
below the note, depending on a variety of factors such as the stem direction of the note,
voicing and staff type.
Accents affect the playback of the note that they have added to. However, they do not
change the performance data of the note. To return the note to it's original state, simple
delete the accent.
Once an accent is added to your music you can edit its position, appearance and
performance properties.
To Add an Accent to a Note
1. Select the Accents tab in the Input Palette, then select one of the accents.
2. Move the cursor over the note to which you want to add the accent. Notice that the
cursor changes into a bullseye and the note highlights when the cursor is over the
note.
3. Click the mouse to add the accent to the note.
To Remove Accents
Select the accents with the mouse and press the Delete key.
To Add Accents to Several Notes
1. Select the Accents tab in the Input Palette, then select one of the accents.
2. Click - but do not release - the mouse in an empty area that is not over a note.
3. Drag the mouse to sweep out a rectangular area. Notice that notes that are
included in the selection area are highlighted.
Release the mouse to add accents of the specified type to all the selected notes.
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Edit Accents with the Properties Window
Edit Accents with the Properties Palette

The Properties Palette is a useful tool for changing the properties of any symbol, including
accents.
Be sure the application is in Select Mode, then select the accents you want to edit.
You can select several different accents and change all of their properties at once.
Edit Accents with the Properties Palette
· Select the accents you want to edit, then display the Properties Palette .
· To change how the accent appears in the notation, select the Appearance tab in the
Properties Palette and adjust the appearance properties.
· To change how the accent sounds during a performance, select the Performance tab in
the Properties Palette and adjust the performance properties.
· Click the Apply button when you are done making changes.
Edit Accents with the Shortcut Menu
Edit Accents with the Shortcut Menu
If an accent is selected you can right-click the mouse to display a special shortcut menu.
The menu contains commands for changing accent properties. For simple operations this
method can be faster and easier than using the Properties Palette.
Using the Shortcut Menu
· Be sure the current mode is Select Mode, then select the accents you want to edit.
· Right-click the mouse to display the shortcut menu.
· Select an item from the context menu to perform the command.
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Reminder Accidentals (Courtesy Accidentals)
Reminder Accidentals (Courtesy Accidentals)
Reminder Accidentals are accidentals placed in front of notes where the accidental is already
implied from the rules of notation. For example, if a C sharp is in a previous measure, and a C
natural is in the following measure, a natural is not needed in front of the C since the sharp
only carries through the previous measure. However, to make things absolutely clear to the
player, you may want to put a natural in front of the C as a reminder. Click here for some
more examples of where reminder accidentals areUsed.
To Add Reminders to Existing Notes
· Select the Notes tab in the Input Palette.

· Choose an accidental in the Notes tab.
· Click on the reminder symbol (the parentheses to the right of the accidentals).
· Make sure that no note values is selected (To unselect a note value, click on it).
· Place the cursor over the note that you want to add the reminder to (The cursor will turn
into a bullseye and the note will become highlighted when you are positioned over the
note). Click to place the reminder.
Entering Notes With Reminders
· Select the Notes tab in the Input Palette.

· Choose a note in the Notes tab.
· Choose an accidental in the Notes tab.
· Click on the reminder symbol. All three symbols should be selected.
· Enter the note as you would normally.
Removing Parentheses from Reminder Accidentals
· See the topic Editing Accidentals with the Menu.
To Add Reminders to Tied Notes
When you tie two notes together that have accidentals, the second accidental is hidden. If
the tie is over a system break, you may want to unhide the second accidental to turn it into
a reminder.
· From the Voice drop list in the Notation Bar , select Hidden.
· The second accidental will appear in a grayed state. Select it, and with the Properties
Palette, uncheck the Hidden box.
Accidentals
Add and Remove Accidentals
Add and Remove Accidentals
Accidentals (sharps, flats, etc.) areUsed to represent notes whose pitches do not
correspond to the normal staff lines or spaces.
Depending on the clef and key signature, a given pitch may need to be displayed with sharps
or flats. Likewise, adding an accidental to a note effectively changes the note's pitch. As
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you add or remove accidentals to notes, keep in mind that you are really changing the pitch
of notes, and the accidentals you originally added may or may not be displayed in the score
(depending on the clef and key).
You can add an accidental to an existing note, or you can attach an accidental to new notes
as they are added. Once an accidental is added to your music you can edit its position and
appearance properties.
To Add an Accidental to a Note
Select the Notes tab in the Input Palette, then select one of the accidentals.
Move the cursor over the note to which you want to add the accidental. Notice that the
cursor changes into a bullseye and the note highlights when the cursor is over the note.
Click the mouse to add the accidental to the note.
See Reminder Accidentals to add an accidental that is already in the key or an accidental
that already appears in the measure.
To Enter a Note with an Accidental
Select the Notes tab in the Input Palette and choose a new note to add.
Choose an accidental to go along with the note.
Enter the note as usual.
To Add Accidentals to Several Notes

Select the Notes tab in the Input Palette, then select one of the accidentals.
Click - but do not release - the mouse in an empty area that is not over a note.
3. Drag the mouse to sweep out a rectangular area. Notice

that notes that are incuded in the selection area are highlighted.
Release the mouse to add accidentals of the specified type to all the selected notes.
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To Remove Accidentals
Select the accidentals with the mouse and press the Delete key.
Note that removing an accidental effectively changes the pitch other accidentals may be re-
added to properly represent the note in the current clef and key.
Edit Accidentals with the Properties Window
Edit Accidentals with the Properties Palette

accidentals.
Be sure the application is in Select Mode, then select the accidentals you want to edit.
You can select several different accidentals and change all of their properties at once.
To Edit Accidentals with the Properties Palette
· Select the accidentals you want to edit, then display the Properties Palette .
· To change how the accidental appears in the notation, select the Appearance tab in the
· To change general properties of the accidental, such as its position, visibility and color,
select the General tab in the Properties Palette and adjust the general properties.
Edit Accidentals with the Shortcut Menu
Edit Accidentals with the Shortcut Menu
If an accidental is selected you can right-click the mouse to display a special shortcut menu.
The menu contains commands for changing accidental properties. For simple operations this
method can be faster and easier than using the Properties Palette.
· Be sure the current mode is Select Mode, then select the accidentals you want to edit.
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Chord Symbols
Add and Remove Chord Symbols
Add and Remove Chord Symbols
Chord grids and chord names are two commonly-used ways to represent the overall harmonic
structure of the music.
Chord symbols are displayed above measures - much like tempo markings. Once a chord
symbol is added to your music you can edit its position and appearance properties.
Chord grids depict the underlying chords as finger patterns on a 6-string guitar. There is one
vertical line for each string on the guitar.
The horizontal lines give the guitarist a guide for which fret to play. An "x" above a string
means it's not played and an "o" above a string means it's played open. You will most often
find these symbols in popular music.
There are hundreds of different sorts of chords that areUsed by guitarists, each a different
combination of fingers, strings, tunings and patterns. 256 of the most common chords are
supported.
To Add a Chord Symbol to a Measure
· Select the Text/Chords tab in the Input Palette, then select the chord grid symbol.
· Move the cursor over the measure to which you want to add the symbol. Notice that the
cursor changes into a chord grid and a red dotted line is displayed at the current location
in the Music Score.
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· Align the dashed red line with the beat on the Music Ruler where you want the chord
symbol.
· Click the mouse to display the Insert Chord dialog.
· In the Insert Chord dialog, specify the properties of the chord, then click the Insert
button to add the chord at the specified location in the measure.
Chord names can be used in addition to, or in place of chord grids. Many performers prefer
chord names since they take up less space than grids. They also allow the performer some
flexibility as to a specific fingering or voicing required to play the chord.
If you want to enter a chord that does not have a corresponding chord grid, you can always
enter it as a chord name.
You can use special formatting characters to create chord names using a variety of
shorthand styles. For example, you may prefer "-7" instead of "minor7", "min7", or "m7" to
represent a minor 7th chord.
To Remove a Chord Symbol
To remove a clef, simply select it with the mouse and press the Delete Key.
Edit Chord Symbols with the Properties Window
Edit Chord Symbols with the Properties Palette

chord symbols.
Be sure the application is in Select Mode, then select the chord symbol you want to edit.
You can select several different chord symbols and change all of their properties at once.
Note: If you are finding that you need to move all of the chord symbols higher to clear some
notes, consider adjusting the Symbol Spacing Above setting for the system instead of
adjusting their position.
Edit a Chord Symbol
· Select the chord symbols you want to edit, then display the Properties Palette .
· To change the type of chord symbol select the Appearance tab in the Properties Palette
and adjust the appearance properties.
· To change general properties of the clef, such as its position, visibility and color, select
the General tab in the Properties Palette and adjust the general properties.
· To perform an action, such as transpose or move, select the Actions tab in the
Properties Palette.
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Insert Chord Dialog
Insert Chord Dialog
The Insert Chord dialog is displayed immediately when you are just about to insert a chord
into the music. The dialog isUsed to specify the type of chord you wish to insert.
Move Chord Symbols
Move Chord Symbols
Sometimes you may wish to move an existing symbol to a different location.
Although you can certainly achieve the same results by adding a new symbol and deleting
the old one, it may be easier to simply move the symbol.
First, be sure the application is in Select Mode.
Move an Symbol
· Click - but do not release - the mouse on the symbol that you wish to move.
· As you drag the mouse, the music cursor changes to the sameUsed when entering a new
symbol from the Input Palette.
· Align the dashed line with the beat where you want the symbol moved to.
· Release the mouse to move the symbol to the specified location.
-OR-
Select the symbol you wish to move with the mouse.

Press and hold the CTRL Key on your keyboard while you press one of the arrow keys.
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Chord Suffix
Chord Suffix
In addition to root (and possible bass) pitches, every chord also has a suffix that further
characterizes the chord. You can select from many common chord suffixes using the list, or
you can "roll your own" if the desired chord does not appear among the list of choices.
The text field directly below the chord list provides a place for you to edit the name of the
chord. As you select different options from the list the text updates to reflect the new
selection.
The text field displays a special, unformatted version of the chord name. For many chords
this value is exactly the same as the chord name displayed in the list. However, some chords
(augmented, diminished, 7 flat 9, etc.) can be displayed using a special shorthand notation.
For example, rather than writing out "dim" or "diminished" you can use the special symbol that
takes less space on the page.
Special format characters (e.g. ^N, ^A, etc.) areUsed in the unformatted text field to
indicate shorthand symbols in the chord. Click the small button next to the text field to
display a popup menu. Select an item from the menu to add the appropriate formatting code.
The chord example updates to show how the chord will actually appear in the music.
How it looks Format Shortcut for...

character
^M major
^N minor
^A augmented
^D diminished
^R minor-major
^S Sharp or raised
^F Flat or lowered
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If you want symbols or text to appear as superscript at

the end of the chord, enclose the text in brackets [ ].
Below are several example of the chord suffix as it

appears in the music as well as the corresponding
unformatted suffix:
How it looks Corresponding suffix
maj7[^S4]
^M7
m7[^F5]
Clefs
Add and Remove Clefs
Add and Remove Clefs
There are nine standard types of clefs in the Input Palette that you can add to your music
at any location. The clef defines what pitch each line in the staff represents. In a treble clef,
for example, the lowest line in the staff is an E; in a bass clef, however, the lowest line
represents a G that is nearly 2 octaves lower.
Clefs are added at a particular location in a measure. When you view the music in Page View
(vs. Track View) the clef is drawn at the left edge of each system - just as it should be
when printed. The notation engine automatically handles correct display of clefs on each
system as well as "reminder clefs" at the end of a system when a clef begins at the start of
the next system.
Once a clef is added to your music you can edit its type, position and appearance.
To Add a Clef
1. Select the Clef tab in the Input Palette, then select one of the clefs.
2. Move the cursor over the measure to which you want to

add the clef. Notice that the cursor changes into a pointing finger and a red dotted
line is displayed at the current location in the Music Score.
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1. Align the dashed line with the beat on the Music Ruler where you want the clef.
2. Click the mouse to add the clef at the specified location in the measure.
To Remove a Clef
Select the clef and press the Delete key.
Note: You cannot remove the first clef and you cannot remove the clefs that appear at the
start of each system. To make it such that clefs do not appear at the start of each system,
see Lead Sheet options in the Edit Layout topic.
Edit Clefs with the Properties Window
Edit Clefs with the Properties Palette
clefs.
Be sure the application is in Select Mode, then select the clef you want to edit.
You can select several different clefs and change all of their properties at once.
Edit a Clef
· Select the clefs you want to edit, then display the Properties Palette .
· To change the type of clef or its location in the music, select the Appearance tab in the
· To change general properties of the clef, such as its position, visibility and color, select
-OR-

Move Clefs
Move Clefs
Sometimes you may wish to move an existing clef to a different location.
Although you can certainly achieve the same results by adding a new clef and removing the
old clef, or by editing the start time of the selected clef, it may be easier to simply move the
clef.
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Move a Clef
· Click - but do not release - the mouse on the clef you wish to move.
clef from the Input Palette.
· Align the dashed line with the beat where you want the clef moved to.
· Release the mouse to move the clef to the specified location.
Dynamic Markings
Add and Remove Dynamic Markings
Add and Remove Dynamic Markings
Dynamic markings effectively vary the volume of each track during a performance, and can
be divided into 2 distinct groups: dynamic expressions areUsed to set a particular volume,
and changing dynamic markings - such as crescendos and hairpins - are instructions to
slowly change from one volume level to another.
Dynamic markings are generally associated with a particular staff. During a performance, MIDI
volume controller messages added to the performance correspond to the various dynamic
markings.
Once a dynamic marking is added to your music you can edit its appearance and performance
properties.
To Add a Dynamic Expression
1. Select the Dynamics tab in the Input Palette, then select one of the dynamic
expressions. This includes all the symbols from pppp to ffff.
2. Move the cursor to the location in a staff where you wish to add the dynamic. Notice that
the cursor changes into a pencil and a dotted line is displayed at the current location in the
Music Score.
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1. Align the dashed line with the beat on the Music Ruler where you want the dynamic
expression.
2. Click the mouse to add the dynamic at the specified location in the staff.
To Remove a Dynamic
To remove a dynamic, simply select it with the mouse and select Edit Delete from the menu.
-OR-
Select the dynamics and press the Delete key.
To Add a Changing Dynamic
1. Select the Dynamics tab in the Input Palette, then select one of the changing
dynamics. This includes all symbols except the expressions from pppp to ffff.
2. Move the cursor to the location in a staff where you wish to add the dynamic. Notice
that the cursor changes into a pencil and a dotted line is displayed at the current
location in the Music Score.
3. Align the dashed line with the beat Music Ruler where you want the dynamic to
begin, then click the mouse.
This is the "anchor position" for the dynamic and typically represents the start point for a
changing dynamic such as a crescendo.
As you move the mouse a solid line remains at the anchor position, while a second dotted
line tracks your mouse movements.
Click the mouse again to define the end point of the dynamic.
Note: You can also click and drag the mouse to define both the start and stop positions.
Edit Dynamics with the Properties Window
Edit Dynamics with the Properties Palette
dynamic markings.
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Be sure the application is in Select Mode, then select the dynamic you want to edit.
You can select several different dynamics and change all of their properties at once.
Note: If you are finding that you need to move all of the dynamics lower to clear some
notes, consider adjusting the Symbol Spacing Below setting for the system instead of
Edit a Dynamic Marking
· Select the dynamics you want to edit, then display the Properties Palette .
· To change how the dynamic appears in the notation, select the Appearance tab in the
· To change how the dynamic sounds during a performance, select the Performance tab
in the Properties Palette and adjust the performance properties.
· To perform an action, such as move, select the Actions tab in the Properties Palette.
Edit Dynamics with the Shortcut Menu
Edit Dynamics with the Shortcut Menu
If a symbol is selected you can right-click the mouse to display a special shortcut menu. The
menu contains commands for changing symbol properties. For simple operations this method
can be faster and easier than using the Properties Palette.
· Be sure the current mode is Select Mode, then select the symbols you want to edit.
Move a Dynamic
Move a Dynamic
Sometimes you may wish to move an existing dynamic marking to a different location.
Although you can certainly achieve the same results by adding a new dynamic and deleting
the old one, or by editing the start time of the selected dynamic, it may be easier to simply
move the dynamic marking.
The move operation changes only the start time of the dynamic. Markings such as
crescendos and hairpins still retain their original durations.
Move a Dynamic
· Click - but do not release - the mouse on the dynamic marking you wish to move.
dynamic from the Input Palette.
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· Align the dashed line with the beat where you want the dynamic moved to.
· Release the mouse to move the marking to the specified location.
-OR-

Grace Notes
Add and Remove Grace Notes
Add and Remove Grace Notes
Grace notes are ornaments that are placed prior to the note that they embellish. They
appear as smaller notes in the music, normally slurred to the note they embellish. You can
add multiple grace notes to a single note to create more sophisticated embellishments.
Multiple grace notes are beamed together just like normal notes.
Grace notes are always added to an existing "normal" note. Once a grace note is added to
your music you can edit its position, appearance, and performance properties.
To Add a Grace Note
Select the Notes tab in the Input Palette, then select the grace note symbol (next to the
parentheses).
Move the cursor just to the left of an existing "normal" note in the music. Notice that this
note is highlighted to indicate where the grace note will be attached, and that a small red
dot appears to indicate the pitch of the grace note.
Align the red dot on the pitch you would like for the grace note.
Click the mouse to add the grace note to the highlighted note at the specified pitch.
To Add Multiple Grace Notes
Follow the same steps for adding a single grace note. You can place new grace notes before,
after or between existing grace notes.
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To Remove Grace Notes
Select the grace notes and press the Delete key.
Note: If you remove a note that has a grace note attached, the grace note is discarded as
well.
Edit Grace Notes with the Properties Window
Edit Grace Notes with the Properties Palette
grace notes.
Be sure the application is in Select Mode, then select the grace notes you want to edit.
You can select several different grace notes and change all of their properties at once.
To Edit Grace Notes with the Properties Palette
· Select the grace notes you want to edit, then display the Properties Palette.
· To change how the grace note appears in the notation, select the Appearance tab in
the Properties Palette and adjust the appearance properties.
· To change how the grace note sounds during a performance, select the Performance
tab in the Properties Palette and adjust the performance properties.
Images
Add and Remove Images
Add and Remove Images
In order to display images, it is necessary for some kind of image-viewing application or

component to be installed on your computer. This application must also be capable of being
what is known as an OLE server.
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The server application does the work of actually displaying a given image, but it does so
inside of the Music Score instead of in a separate window. Normally, the Microsoft
application, MSPAINT, is included with every Windows operating system which satisfies these
requirements for Windows bitmap (BMP) files.
If you insert images that are not bitmap files (Adobe Photoshop images, for example) or have
installed other software which is associated with BMP files, it is crucial that the application
be able to render the image as an OLE server. If this is not the case, the image will not
display in the Music Score.
To add an image
Drag & Drop
Drag a selection of an image from the other application into your score.
Copy & Paste
1. Copy a selection of an image in the other application.

2. Left-Click at the location where you want to insert the image in your score.
3. Paste the selection in your score.
To remove an image
Select the image and press the Delete key.
Edit an Image
Edit an Image
Images that you add to the Music Score can later be edited, if desired.
The program does not perform the actual editing of images - instead, it is up to the server
application associated with the image to do the editing.
You can double-click the mouse on the image to perform the default command listed in the
menu.
Make appropriate changes to the file in the associated application.
Move and Resize an Image
Move and Resize an Image
Once an image has been added to your music score, you can move or resize it.
Be sure the application is in Select Mode.
To Move an Image
· Click - but do not release - the mouse in the center if the image you wish to
move.
· As you drag the mouse, a rectangular frame is displayed, indicating where the
image will be moved to.
· Release the mouse to move the image to the specified location, or press the
Escape key to cancel the operation.
Note: If you hold down the Control key when you release the mouse, the image is
copied to the new location instead of moved.
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To Resize an Image
· Select the image you wish to resize. Notice that the 8 "handles" are displayed
around the border of the image:
· Place the mouse cursor over one of the handles. Notice how the cursor
changes into a double-headed arrow, indicating the resizing
· Click - but do not release - the mouse on one of the handles. As you drag the
mouse, a thin border is displayed to show the new size of the image.
· Release the mouse button to perform the resize, or press the Escape key to
cancel the operation.
Key Signatures
Add and Remove Key Signatures
Add and Remove Key Signatures
There are 15 standard types of keys in the Input Palette that you can add to your music.
The key displays the accidentals (sharps and flats) normally required to define the pitches on
the staff. For example, in the key of G Major the sharp on the F indicates that all F notes
that do not have an explicit accidental (such as a natural) are to be played as F-sharp.
Keys are always added to the beginning of a measure. When you view the music in Page
View (vs. Track View) the key is drawn at the left edge of each system - just as it should be
when printed. The notation engine automatically handles correct display of keys on each
system as well as "reminder keys" at the end of a system when a key begins at the start of
the next system.
Adding key does not change or transpose the playback of the music. Instead itUsed to
makes the notation less cluttered by removing accidentals.
To Add a Key
Select the Key tab tab in the Input Palette, then select a key to insert.
Move the cursor over the measure to which you want to add the key. Notice that the cursor
changes into a pointing finger and that each measure highlights as you move the cursor over
it.
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Click the mouse to add the key at the beginning of the highlighted measure.
Once a key is added to your music you can edit its type, position and appearance.
To Remove a Key
Select the key and press the Delete key.
Note: You cannot remove the first key and you cannot remove the keys that appear at the
start of each system. To make it such that keys do not appear at the start of each system,
see Lead Sheet options in the Edit Layout topic..
Edit Keys with the Properties Window
Edit Keys with the Properties Palette

keys.
Be sure the application is in Select Mode, then select the key you want to edit.
You can select several different keys and change all of their properties at once.
Note that changing the key does not change or transpose the playback of the music.
Edit a Key
· Select the keys you want to edit, then display the Properties Palette .
· To change the type of key or its location in the music, select the Appearance tab in the
· To change general properties of the key, such as its position, visibility and color, select
Move Keys
Move Keys
Sometimes you may wish to move an existing symbol to a different location.
Although you can certainly achieve the same results by adding a new symbol and deleting
the old one, it may be easier to simply move the symbol.
Move an Symbol
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-OR-

Lyrics
Add and Remove Lyrics
Add and Remove Lyrics
You can enter up to 16 separate lyric verses (FORTE Premium) into your music document
either beneath a staff, above a staff, or as block text at the end of the piece. You can also
enter any number of single or double line chorus (refrain) sections throughout the piece. The
program automatically justifies lyrics under notes, spaces hyphens between syllables, and
extends extenders over multiple notes. Although you can enter lyrics on staves of any type,
using a Vocal Staff will automatically position articulations, dynamics, and other symbols
using established rules of vocal notation.
Once lyrics are added to your music you can edit their text and appearance.
To Add Lyrics
· Select the Text/Chords tab in the Input Palette, then select the button labeled "Lyric".
Notice how the Input Palette resizes to display additional controls. See the topics on
adding verses and choruses for an explanation the additional controls.
· Move the cursor over the note to which you want to add the lyric. Notice that the cursor
changes into a standard text insert cursor and a red dotted line is displayed at the
current location in the Music Score.
· Click the mouse either in the staff or below the staff to display a text edit box, then type
in text for the new lyric:
· Press the space bar or the Tab key to add the lyric and advance the text box to the next
note. You can also press Shift-Tab to move the lyric box to the previous note.
· Press the Return or Escape keys on the keyboard to cancel adding lyrics.
To Add Hyphens Between Syllables
Syllables should be separated by hyphens.
Type a dash ("-") to add a hyphen to the word and advance the text box to the next note.
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If there are one or more notes between the two syllables, continue adding dashes to
advance the text box.
To Add Extender Lines
One-syllable words sung over more than one note or the last syllable of a word sung over
more than one note should have an extender line.
Type an underscore ("_") to add an extender to the word and advance the text box to the
next note. Continue adding underscores to continue the extender line over many notes.
To Remove Lyrics
Select the lyrics and press the Delete key.
-OR-
Edit the lyric and give it an empty value.
Add and Remove Multiple Verses
Add and Remove Multiple Verses
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Often a section is repeated, or the entire form is repeated, and each time through different
text is sung over the same music. To display lyrics in a multi-line fashion, the lyric must be of
type Verse.
To Add Multiple Verses
· From the Input Palette , select Verse from the Lyric Type drop list and either Below Staff
or Between Staves from the Lyric Position drop list.
· Below Staff will position the lyrics using the symbol spacing settings from the system.
Between Staves will center the lyrics between the staff that the lyrics are in, and the
staff directly below. If you are entering lyrics into a Grand Staff, or a four voice
arrangement (such as a hymn or a barbershop quartet), we recommend using the
Between Staves setting.
· Add lyrics as discussed in the Add Remove Lyric topic. Verse Numbers will
automatically be added when a new verse is added to the staff.
· When all the notes on a track have lyrics, pressing the space bar or the Tab key
advances the lyric cursor to the next verse.
· You can continue to fill up all 16 verses simply by typing from the keyboard.
· You can also click the lyric cursor below existing lyrics (or in an area that is not currently
occupied by a lyric) to add a new verse.
· If the lyrics are too high or too low in the score and they were entered using the Below
Staff or the Above Staff setting, you can adjust them by inspecting the system and
editing the symbol spacing or you can edit the entire layout.
To Add a Verse Above the Staff and a Verse Below the Staff
Some vocal styles have two independent lines of music on one staff, each singing different
text. The line sung by the upper voice should go above the staff, and the line sung by lower
voice should go below the staff.
· To add the upper line, from the Input Palette, select Verse from the Lyric Type drop list
and select Above Staff from the Lyric Position drop list.
· Enter the lyrics in the staff.
· To add the lower line, from the Input Palette, select Verse form the Lyric Type drop list
and select Below Staff from the Lyric Position drop list.
· Enter the lyrics in the staff.
· If the lyrics are too high or too low in the score and they were entered using the Below
Staff or the Above Staff setting, you can adjust them by inspecting the system and
editing the symbol spacing or you can edit the entire layout
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To Remove a Verse
Selecting and deleting all of the lyrics in a verse including the verse number will remove the
verse. Subsequent verses will replace the deleted verse. To redo a verse without moving
subsequent verses, do not remove the verse number.
To Edit a Particular Verse
Be sure the application is in Insert Mode, then select the Lyric button in the Input Palette
(just as if you are entering a new lyric). Select Verse from the Lyric Type drop list.
Move the lyric cursor over a word in the verse you want to edit, and then click and release
the mouse. A text box should appear with the old verse selected.
Type a new verse to replace the old one and hit the Return key. Press the space bar to
proceed to the next lyric (as usual).
Edit Lyrics with the Properties Window
Edit Lyrics with the Properties Palette
lyrics.
Be sure the application is in Select Mode, then select the lyrics you want to edit.
Note: If you are finding that you need to move all of the lyrics lower to clear some notes,
consider adjusting the Symbol Spacing Lyrics Below setting for the system instead of
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To Edit Lyrics with the Properties Palette
· Select the lyrics you want to edit, then display the Properties Palette.
· To edit the lyrics as a text block, select the Text tab in the Properties Palette.
· To change how the lyrics appear in the notation, select the Appearance tab in the
· To change general properties of the lyrics, such as their position, visibility and color,
Edit Lyrics with the Shortcut Menu
Edit Lyrics with the Shortcut Menu
If a lyric is selected you can right-click the mouse to display a special shortcut menu. The
menu contains commands for changing lyric properties. For simple operations this method can
be faster and easier than using the Properties Palette.
· Be sure the current mode is Select Mode, then select the lyrics you want to edit.
Add Remove Verse Numbers
Add Remove Verse Numbers

Verse Numbers are automatically added whenever a new verse is added. However, there may
be times when verse numbers need to be added or removed.
To Add a Verse Number
Be sure the current mode is Select Mode, then select the first lyric in the verse where the
verse number should appear.
Right-click the mouse to display the shortcut menu.
Select the item Display Verse Numbers from the context menu to perform the command.
To Remove a Verse Number
Be sure the current mode is Select Mode, then select the Verse Number and hit the Delete
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key.
To Edit a Particular Verse Number
Verse Numbers can be edited just as lyrics are using the Lyric Properties Palette .
Add a Chorus or a Refrain
Add a Chorus or a Refrain

Often in vocal music where the entire form is repeated, there is a section where the same
text is sung each time through. This is called a chorus or a refrain. When denoting a chorus
or a refrain in a multi-verse setting, the lyric must be of type Chorus.
To Add a Chorus
1. From the Input Palette , select Chorus from the Lyric Type drop list and either Below
Staff or Between Staves from the Lyric Position drop list.
2. Below Staff will position the lyrics using the symbol spacing settings from the
system. Between Staves will center the lyrics between the staff that the lyrics are in,
and the staff directly below. If you are entering lyrics into a Grand Staff, or a four
voice arrangement (such as a hymn or a barbershop quartet), we recommend using
the Between Staves setting.
3. Add lyrics as discussed in the Add Remove Lyric topic.
To Add a Two Line Chorus
Some vocal styles contain multi-line choruses or refrains. Typically one line is sung by the
upper two voices and the other line is sung by the lower two voices (call and response).
Other times the additional chorus line may be an alternate chorus.
1. To add the upper line, from the Input Palette, select Chorus from the Lyric Type drop
list and select Below Staff from the Lyric Position drop list.
2. Enter the lyrics in the upper staff.
3. To add the lower line, from the Input Palette, select Chorus form the Lyric Type drop
list and select Above Staff from the Lyric Position drop list.
4. Enter the lyrics in the lower staff.
5. If the lyrics are too high or too low in the score and they were entered using the
Below Staff or the Above Staff setting, you can adjust them by inspecting the system
and editing the symbol spacing or you can edit the entire layout
To Edit a Chorus
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1. Be sure the application is in Insert Mode, then select the Lyric button in the Input
Palette (just as if you are entering a new lyric). Select Chorus from the Lyric Type
drop list.
2. Move the lyric cursor over a word in the chorus you want to edit, and then click and
release the mouse. A text box should appear with the old verse selected.
Type a new chorus to replace the old one and hit the Return key. Press the space bar to
proceed to the next lyric (as usual).
Block Lyrics
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Add and Remove Block Lyrics
Add and Remove Block Lyrics
Block lyrics are normallyUsed when there are far too many verses to display beneath the
notes.
In cases where there are many verses the first few verses are typically displayed beneath
the notes, and the last few verses are displayed as block text at the end of the score.
To Add Block Lyrics
· Select the Text/Chords tab in the Input Palette, then select the button labeled "Lyric".
Notice how the Input Palette resizes to display additional controls.
· Check the Block text box to display a large text entry field.
· Enter text for the verse into the field exactly how you want it to appear in the block.
· Press the Insert button in the Input Palette to insert the block text at the end of the
score.
Note: Additional lyric blocks always appears after existing text blocks.
To Remove Block Lyrics
To remove block lyrics, simply select it with the mouse and press the Delete Key.
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Edit Block Lyrics with the Properties Window
Edit Block Lyrics with the Properties Palette

lyric blocks.
Be sure the application is in Select Mode, then select the lyrics you want to edit.
Inspecting lyric block is mainlyUsed for controlling how many blocks appear per line.
Edit a Lyric Block
· Select the lyric block you want to edit, then display the Properties Palette .
· To change the text in the block lyric, alignment, or number of blocks per line, select the
Appearance tab in the Properties Palette and adjust the appearance properties.
· To change general properties of the block lyric, such as its position, visibility and color,
Meters
Add and Remove Meters
Add and Remove Meters
Meters define how many beats there are in each measure (the top number) and which note
value gets the beat (the bottom number). For example, 4/4 means there are 4 beats to a
measure and the quarter note gets the beat. When you add or remove meters, all measures
on all staves are effected by the new meter.
Meters are always added to the beginning of a measure. When you view the music in Page
View (vs. Track View) the meter is drawn at the left edge of each system - just as it should
be when printed. The notation engine automatically handles correct display of meters on
each system as well as "reminder meters" at the end of a system when a meter begins at the
start of the next system.
Once a meter is added to your music you can edit its type, position and appearance.
To Add a Meter
Select the Meter tab in the Input Palette, then select one of the meters.
Move the cursor over the measure to which you want to add the meter. Notice that the
cursor changes into a pointing finger and that each measure highlights as you move the
cursor over it.
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Click the mouse to add the meter at the beginning of the highlighted measure.
If a meter already exists in the measure, it will change to the one you have selected.
To Remove a Meter
Select the meter and press the Delete key.
Note: You cannot remove the first meter, you can only edit it.
Edit Meters with the Properties Window
Edit Meters with the Properties Palette
meters.
Be sure the application is in Select Mode, then select the meter you want to edit.
You can select several different meters and change all of their properties at once.
Edit a Meter
· Select the meters you want to edit, then display the Properties Palette .
· To change the type of meter or its location in the music, select the Appearance tab in
the Properties Palette and adjust the appearance properties.
· To change general properties of the key, such as its position, visibility and color, select
Octavas
Add and Remove Octavas
Add and Remove Octavas

Octavas are instructions to the performer to play the notes higher or lower than the written
values (by octaves). Octavas are typicallyUsed make the music easier to read since the
performer doesn't have to read numerous clef changes or numerous ledger lines above or
below the staff.
Octavas have a start time as well as a duration during which they are active. During a
performance, octavas cause the performed music to transpose (just as a real player would
do) so you can hear how the music is supposed to sound.
To Add an Octava
Select the Clef tab in the Input Palette, then select one of the octavas.
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Move the cursor to the location in a staff where you wish to add the octava. Notice that the
cursor changes into a pencil and a dotted line is displayed at the current location in the
Music Score.
Align the dashed line with the beat on the Music Ruler where you want the octava to begin,
then click the mouse.
This is the "anchor position" for the octava and typically represents the start point for the
octava.
As you move the mouse a solid line remains at the anchor position, while a second dotted line
tracks your mouse movements.
Click the mouse again to define the end point of the octava.
Types of Octavas
8va Transpose notes up by one octave.
8vb Transpose notes down by one octave.
15ma Transpose notes up by 2 octaves.
To Remove an Octava
Select the octava and press the Delete key.
Edit Octavas with the Shortcut Menu
Edit Octavas with the Shortcut Menu
1. Be sure the current mode is Select Mode, then select the symbols you want to edit.
2. Right-click the mouse to display the shortcut menu.
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3. Select an item from the context menu to perform the command.
Move Octavas
Move Octavas
Sometimes you may wish to move an existing octava marking to a different location.
Although you can certainly achieve the same results by adding a new octava and deleting
the old one, it may be easier to simply move the octava.
The move operation changes only the start time of the octava. The octava still retains its
original duration.
Move an Octava
· Click - but do not release - the mouse on the octava that you wish to move.
octava from the Input Palette.
· Align the dashed line with the beat where you want the octava moved to.
Ornaments
Add and Remove Ornaments
Add and Remove Ornaments
Ornaments are symbols which embellish notes. There are all sorts of ornaments which
instruct the player to trill, twist and vary the main note in different ways.
There are essentially 3 classes of ornaments (listed below) - all ornaments within each group
are added to the music in the same way:
Single-Note Ornaments
Glissando
Arpeggio
Once an ornament is added to your music you can edit its position and appearance
properties.
To Add an Ornament to a Note
Select the Ornaments tab in the Input Palette, then select one of the single-note
ornaments (e.g. trill).
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Move the cursor over the note to which you want to add the ornament. Notice that the
cursor changes into a bullseye and the note highlights when the cursor is over the note.
Click the mouse to add the ornament to the note.
To Add an Arpeggio
Select the Ornaments tab in the Input Palette, then select one of the arpeggios.
Move the cursor over a chord to which you want to add the arpeggio. Notice that the cursor
changes into a bullseye and the chord highlights when the cursor is over the note.
Click the mouse to add the arpeggio to the chord.
To Remove Ornaments
To remove ornaments, simply select them with the mouse and select Edit Delete from the
menu.
-OR-
Select the ornaments and press the Delete key.
Note that removing an accidental effectively changes the pitch other accidentals may be re-
added to properly represent the note in the current clef and key.
To Add an Ornament to Several Notes
Select the Ornaments tab in the Input Palette, then select one of the single-note
ornaments (e.g. trill).
Drag the mouse to sweep out a rectangular area. Notice that notes that are included in
the selection area are highlighted.
Release the mouse to add ornaments of the specified type to all the selected notes.
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To Add an Glissando
Select the Ornaments tab in the Input Palette, then select the glissando symbol.
Drag the mouse to sweep out a rectangular area. Notice that notes that are included in the
selection area are highlighted.
Using the selection rectangle, select two adjacent notes that you want the glissando to go
between.
Release the mouse to add a glissando between the two selected notes.
-OR-
Select two adjacent notes you want a glissando between.
Use the shortcut menu to add a glissando to the selected notes.
Edit Ornaments with the Shortcut Menu
Edit Ornaments with the Shortcut Menu
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Pedal Marks
Add and Remove Pedal Marks
Add and Remove Pedal Marks
Pedal markings are instructions to the performer to press and release the sustain pedal. On a
piano, for example, this allows notes to continue to sound, even after the note has finished
playing.
Pedal markings are generally associated with a particular staff. During a performance, MIDI
pedal controller messages added to the performance correspond to the various pedal
markings.
Once a pedal marking is added to your music you can edit its appearance and performance
properties.
To Add a Pedal Marking
Select the Text/Chords tab in the Input Palette, then select the pedal marking symbol.
Select a pedal marking style from the Pedal Style drop-down list.
Move the cursor to the location in a staff where you wish to add the pedal marking. Notice
that the cursor changes into a pencil and a dotted line is displayed at the current location in
the Music Score.
Align the dashed line with the beat on the Music Ruler where you want the pedal to begin,
then click the mouse - this is the "anchor position" for the pedal.
As you move the mouse a solid line remains at the anchor position, while a second dotted line
tracks your mouse movements.
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Click the mouse again to define the end point of the pedal.
To Remove a Pedal Marking
Select the pedal and press the Delete key.
Edit Pedal Marks with the Properties Window
Edit Pedal Marks with the Properties Palette
pedals.
Be sure the application is in Select Mode, then select the pedal you want to edit.
You can select several different pedals and change all of their properties at once.
Note: If you are finding that you need to move all of the pedal markings lower to clear some
notes, consider adjusting the Symbol Spacing Below setting for the system instead of
Edit a Pedal
1. Select the pedals you want to edit, then display the Properties Palette .
2. To change the start time or its MIDI data, select the Performance tab in the
Properties Palette and adjust the performance properties.
3. To change general properties of the pedal, such as its position, visibility and color,
4. To perform an action on the pedal, such as moving it, select the Actions tab in the
Properties Palette.
5. Click the Apply button when you are done making changes.
Edit Pedal Marks with the Shortcut Menu
Edit Pedal Marks with the Shortcut Menu
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Move Pedal Marks
Move Pedal Marks
Sometimes you may wish to move an existing pedal marking to a different location.
Although you can certainly achieve the same results by adding a new pedal and deleting the
old one, or by editing the start time of the selected pedal, it may be easier to simply move
the pedal marking.
The move operation changes only the start time of the pedal - the marking still retains its
original durations.
Move an Symbol
Move a Pedal Marking
· Click - but do not release - the mouse on the pedal marking you wish to move.
pedal from the Input Palette.
· Align the dashed line with the beat where you want the pedal moved to.
Repeats
Add and Remove Repeats
Add and Remove Repeats
Repeats areUsed to control the flow of your music. The repeat bars, endings and
expressions direct the performer to repeat certain sections of your music and/or jump to
other specially marked sections during a performance. Often, repeats areUsed to reduce the
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amount of music that is written on a page.
Repeats are added to particular staff, although they affect the performance of the entire
piece of music. During a performance, the sequencer determines where to repeat and where
to jump to based on the types of repeat expressions that are in the music.
Once a repeat is added to your music you can edit its position and appearance properties.
To Add a Repeat Sign or Expression
Select the Repeats tab in the Input Palette, then select one of the repeat signs.
Move the cursor over the staff where you wish to add the repeat. Notice that the cursor
changes into a pencil and a dotted line is displayed at the current location in the Music
Score.
Align the dashed line with the beat on the Music Ruler where you want the repeat.
Click the mouse to add the repeat at the specified location in the staff.
Note: To add a repeat end bracket at the very end of the piece, insert the repeat on the
last div mark of the Music Ruler. This is a special way to give the repeat a time that is
outside the measure. If you really want a repeat bracket with a time of the last div, see the
Repeat Properties Palette topic to change the time of the repeat.
To Remove Repeats
Select the repeats and press the Delete key.
To Add a Repeat Ending
Select the Repeats tab in the Input Palette, then select the repeat ending symbol.
Move the cursor over the staff where you wish to add the ending. Notice that the cursor
changes into a pencil and a dotted line is displayed at the current location in the Music
Score.
Align the dashed line with the beat where you want the repeat. You should normally place a
repeat ending at the start of the measure.
Click the mouse to insert the repeat ending at the specified location in the staff. Notice that
the ending is automatically positioned to cover the entire measure.
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Note: In general, the repeat is automatically sized so that it continues until the next end
repeat sign. If no such repeat can be found, a duration of one measure isUsed.
Edit Repeats with the Properties Window
Edit Repeats with the Properties Palette
repeats.
Be sure the application is in Select Mode, then select the repeats you want to edit.
You can select several different repeat markings and change all of their properties at once.
Edit Repeats
1. Select the repeats you want to edit, then display the Properties Palette .
2. To change how the repeat appears in the notation, select the Appearance tab in the
3. To change performance properties of the repeat, such as time location, and how
many times to repeat, select the Performance tab in the Properties Palette and
adjust the performance properties.
4. To change general properties of the repeat, such as its position, visibility and color,
Move a Repeat
Move a Repeat
Sometimes you may wish to move an existing repeat to a different location.
Although you can certainly achieve the same results by adding a new repeat and deleting the
old one, it may be easier to simply move the repeat marking.
Move a Pedal Marking
· Click - but do not release - the mouse on the repeat marking you wish to move.
· Use As you drag the mouse, the music cursor changes to the sameUsed when entering a
new repeat from the Input Palette.
· Align the dashed line with the beat where you want the repeat moved to.
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Notes
Add and Remove Notes
Add and Remove Notes
There are several different ways to add notes to your music. The most straightforward
approach is toUse the mouse to add notes from the Input Palette (you can also record
pitches directly into your score).
Notes are always added to measures in a particular staff. When you enter a new note, the
notation engine automatically determines stem direction, spacing, and so forth. If necessary,
the measure is widened to accommodate the new note. If you add a note that will not
musically fit into the time span of a measure, the note is tied to a complementary note in the
next measure.
There are dozens of other parameters that affect how a given note is displayed: key
signature, measure width, layout properties, part, and so on. Once a note is added to your
music you can edit its appearance and performance properties, slur and beam notes together
and perform dozens of other actions on groups of notes to get the music looking just right.
To Add a Note
Select the Notes tab in the Input Palette, then select one of the notes.
Select the voice for the note from the Voice drop list on the Notation Bar if you are going to
be notating more than two lines of music on a single staff .
Move the cursor over the measure to which you want to add the note. Notice the feedback
provided by the note cursor:
The Music Ruler is drawn around the measure to indicate the beats and subdivisions
within the measure.
The dotted red line shows the time location where the note is to be added.
The small highlighted dot shows the pitch for the new note.
1. Align the dashed line with the beat on the Music Ruler where you want the note, then
align the dot with the desired pitch.
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2. Click the mouse to add the note.
To Remove a Note
Select the note and press the Delete key.
Edit Notes with the Properties Window
Edit Notes with the Properties Palette

notes.
Be sure the application is in Select Mode, then select the notes you want to edit.
You can select several different notes and change all of their properties at once.
Edit Notes
1. Select the notes you want to edit, then display the Properties Palette .
2. To change how the note appears in the notation, select the Appearance tab in the
3. To change how the note sounds during a performance, select the Performance tab
Edit Notes with the Shortcut Menu
Edit Notes with the Shortcut Menu
If a note is selected you can right-click the mouse to display a special shortcut menu. The
menu contains commands for changing note properties. For simple operations this method
1. Be sure the current mode is Select Mode, then select the notes you want to edit.
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Notes and the Drum Staff
Notes and the Drum Staff

Most MIDI devices reserve a single MIDI channel for their indefinite pitched percussion
sounds (snares, kicks, toms, cymbals, ect). Each percussion instrument is then assigned to
an individual pitch. For example, to get your GM device to play a Kick 2 sound, you would
send it MIDI note number 35 (the B two octaves below middle C) on MIDI channel 10. To get
the Snare 1 sound, you would send it MIDI note number 38 (the D two octaves below middle
C) on MIDI channel 10. Below is an example of what a percussion part with snare, kick, and
hi hat would look like on a regular staff:
However, when notating indefinite pitched instruments, a special staff, the Drum Staff,
should be used instead of a regular staff. The Drum Staff allows you to assign any staff
space to any indefinite pitched instrument. Below is the same percussion example notated on
a Drum Staff:
Adding Notes on a Drum Staff using the Input Palette
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When you add notes onto a drum staff using the mouse, the percussion instrument is
determined by two things; where in the staff the note is dropped, and the note shape
selected in the Input Palette. You may want to set the status bar to update using drum
names instead of note names when entering onto a drum staff. You can do this by
inspecting the performance of a note and right clicking on the Pitch control. Below are some
common note shape/staff locations and their default mappings for percussion instruments:
For example, to add a Crash Cymbal you would select the notehead style X from the Input
Palette and enter the note on the first line above the top line of the drum staff. To add a
Kick Drum you would select the notehead style Normal form the Input Palette and enter the
note on the first space above the bottom line of the drum staff.
Adding flams, ruffs, and rolls
Many special notational elements may be achieved by combining percussion notes with
various articulation symbols. Click on an area of the score below to see what symbols are
involved in notating flams, ruffs, and rolls.
Notes and the Grand Staff
Notes and the Grand Staff

The Grand Staff is a special staffUsed for notating keyboard music. The staff consists of two
parts, an upper staff and a lower staff. When adding notes onto a Grand Staff with the
mouse, notes entered above "middle C" will be placed in the upper staff ,and those below
"middle C" in the lower staff. If notes from the upper staff need to go into the lower staves
territory, or visa-versa, then the additional step of specifying a voice needs to be done.
When specifying a voice from the Notation Bar , voices 1-4 will be placed in the upper staff,
and 5-8 in the lower staff. A very common scenario is to have two independent voices on
each part of the staff. To do this, use voices 1 and 2 for the upper staff, and voices 5 and 6
for the lower staff.
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When only part of the measure has independent voices, you can either hide or delete
unwanted rests.
Move Notes
Move Notes
Sometimes you may wish to move existing notes to a different location.
This technique is especiallyUseful when you want to move large groups of notes while
preserving their time and pitch locations relative to one another.
Move Notes
· Select the notes you wish to move.

· Click - but do not release - the mouse on one of the selected notes.
note from the Input Palette.
· Align the dashed line with the beat where you want the note, then align the dot with the
desired pitch.
When you move a group of notes, the first note serves as the "guide note" - all other notes
are placed relative to the guide note, just as they were originally.
· Release the mouse to move the notes to the specified location.
Note: If you hold the Control key down when you release the mouse, the notes are copied to
the new location instead of moved.
Rests
Add and Remove Rests
Add and Remove Rests
The application automatically adds rests around notes that are added to the score. Usually
the default rests are what you want, but sometimes it is desirable to change the rests. You
can enter rests in the Music Score similarly as you enter notes.
You can also think of rests as "anti-notes" - when a rest is inserted in the Music Score the
notation automatically fills the remaining time of the measure with rests of the required value
(just like a note) but a rest is entered instead of a note.
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You can edit the position and appearance of rests using the Properties Palette.
To Add a Rest
Select the Notes tab in the Input Palette, then select one of the notes. Notice how the
Input Palette resizes to display additional controls.
In the Input Palette, check the box labeled Display Rests. Notice how all the notes in the
Input Palette change to their rest equivalents. Select a different rest if desired.
Move the cursor over the measure to which you want to add the rest. Notice the feedback
provided by the rest cursor:
The Music Ruler is drawn around the measure to indicate the beats and subdivisions
within the measure.
The dotted red line shows the time location where the rest is to be added.
Align the dashed line with the beat on the Music Ruler where you want the rest, then click
the mouse to add the rest.
To Remove a Rest
Select the rest and press the Delete key.
Note: Whenever you add notes or rests to a measure, the notation engine fills in the space
from the insert point to the end of the measure with appropriate rests.
Edit Rests with the Shortcut Menu
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Edit Rests with the Shortcut Menu
Slurs
Add and Remove Slurs
Add and Remove Slurs
Slurs are markings that instruct the performer to play the specified notes smoother. Slurs are
always displayed above or below the notes they affect.
Once a slur is added to your music you can edit its position and appearance properties.
To Add a Slur
Select the Notes tab in the Input Palette, then select the slur symbol.
Select adjacent notes that you wish to slur together, then release the mouse to add the
slur.
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-OR-
Select the notes that you want to slur together - the notes must be adjacent.
Use the shortcut menu to add a slur to the selected notes.
To Remove a Slur
Select the slurs and press the Delete key.
Edit Slurs with the Properties Window
Edit Slurs with the Properties Palette
slurs.
Be sure the application is in Select Mode, then select the slurs you want to edit.
You can select several different slurs and change all of their properties at once.
Edit Slurs
· Select the slurs you want to edit, then display the Properties Palette .
· To change how the slur appears in the notation, select the Appearance tab in the
· To change general properties of the slur, such as its position, visibility and color, select
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Tempos
Add and Remove Tempos
Add and Remove Tempos
Tempo markings vary the tempo of a performance, and can be divided into 3 distinct groups:
tempo expressions areUsed to set a particular tempo, changing tempo markings - such as
accelerandos and ritardandos - are instructions to slowly change from one tempo to another,
and pauses are instructions to pause the performance briefly before continuing.
Although tempo markings are displayed above a particular staff, they affect the performance
of the entire piece. During a performance, the tempo is automatically changed according to
the various tempo markings.
Once a tempo marking is added to your music you can edit its appearance and performance
properties.
To Add a Tempo Expression
Select the Tempo tab in the Input Palette, then select one of the tempo expressions. Notice
how the Input Palette resizes to display additional controls.
In the Input Palette, type in text for the tempo expression if desired (e.g. "Not too fast").
You can also select the small button next to the text field to display a list of standard tempo
expressions such as Andante, Adagio and so on.
Move the cursor to the location in a staff where you wish to add the tempo. Notice that the
Music Score.
Align the dashed line with the beat where you want the tempo expression.
Click the mouse to add the tempo at the specified location.
To Remove a Tempo
Select the tempos and press the Delete key.
To Add a Changing Tempo or a Pause
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Select the Tempo tab in the Input Palette, then select one of the changing tempos or a
pause.
Move the cursor to the location in a staff where you wish to add the tempo. Notice that the
Music Score.
Align the dashed line with the beat where you want the tempo to begin, then click the
mouse.
This is the "anchor position" for the tempo and typically represents the start point for a
changing tempo such as an accelerando.
As you move the mouse a solid line remains at the anchor position, while a second dotted
line tracks your mouse movements.
Click the mouse again to define the end point of the tempo.
To Add a Fermata or a Comma (Breath Mark)
Select the Tempo tab in the Input Palette for the Fermata, or the Accents tab for the
Comma.
Move the cursor over the note or rest to which you want to add the fermata or comma.
Notice that the cursor changes into a bullseye and the note highlights when the cursor is
over the note.
Click the mouse to add the fermata or comma to the note.
Edit Tempos with the Properties Window
Edit Tempos with the Properties Palette
tempos.
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Be sure the application is in Select Mode, then select the tempo you want to edit.
You can select several different dynamics and change all of their properties at once.
Note: If you are finding that you need to move all of the tempos higher to clear some notes,
consider adjusting the Symbol Spacing Above setting for the system instead of adjusting
their position.
Edit a Tempo
· Select the tempos you want to edit, then display the Properties Palette .
· To change how the tempo appears in the notation, select the Appearance tab in the
· To change how the dynamic sounds during a performance, select the Performance tab
Move a Tempo
Move a Tempo
Sometimes you may wish to move an existing tempo to a different location.
Although you can certainly achieve the same results by adding a new tempo and removing
the old, or by editing the start time of the selected tempo, it may be easier to simply move
the tempo.
Move a Tempo
· Click - but do not release - the mouse on the key you wish to move.
· Use As you drag the mouse, the music cursor changes to the sameUsed when entering a
new tempo from the Input Palette.
· Position the cursor over the measure where you want the tempo moved to, then release
the mouse to move the tempo.
Note: If you hold the Control key down when you release the mouse, the tempo is copied to
the new location instead of moved.
Text
Add and Remove Text
Add and Remove Text
You can add text expressions anywhere in your music. In general, text expressions are simple
messages to a performer for reminders about how a given section should be played. You can
also add special title page text that isUsed for the song title, composer and so forth - for
details, click here.
Although text symbols have no performance value, rehearsal markings and text act as
reference points within a document. When you press the Previous/Next buttons in the
transport controls, the document jumps to the previous/next marker in the music.
Text is always added to a particular staff. Once text is added to your music you can edit its
appearance.
To Add Text
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Select the Text/Chords tab in the Input Palette, then select one of the text symbols. This
includes the Text and Marker symbols as well as the two rehearsal markings.
Move the cursor over the staff where you want to add the text. Notice that the cursor
changes into a standard text insert cursor and a red dotted line is displayed at the current
location in the Music Score.
Click the mouse to display a text edit box, then type in text:
Clicking above the staff will add the text above the staff. Clicking below the staff will add the
text below the staff. On a Grand Staff, clicking between the staves will add the text
between the staves. Note that Markers and Rehearsal Markings are always above the top
most staff.
Press the Return key to add the text, or the Escape key to abort the operation.
To Remove Text
Select the text and press the Delete key.
Rehearsal Markings
Rehearsal numbers and letters are commonly Used by performers to mark certain sections of
the music for rehearsals ("Let's start at letter D").
Typically, rehearsal markings are single letters or numbers (A, B, C, S1, S2, etc.)
When you add rehearsal markings a box is automatically displayed around the text.
Add and Remove Title Page Text
Add and Remove Title Page Text
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Title page text is displayed on the first page (the title page) and includes the song title,
subtitle, composer, arranger, text author, a dedication and copyright information.
All title page text is automatically formatted and positioned according to what title page
style is selected in the layout . For example, with the "classic" style selected, the song title
is displayed in a larger font and centered at the top of the page, the copyright information is
centered in small type along the bottom edge of the first page, and so forth.
Once you've added title page text, you can edit its position and appearance properties - just
like normal text.
To Add Title Page Text

1.
1. Select the Text/Chords tab in the Input Palette, then select the button labeled
"Text". Notice how the Input Palette resizes to display additional controls.
2.
2. Check the Title page text box to display additional controls, including a drop-down list
and a large text entry field.
3.
3. Select the type of title text you wish to add from the drop-down list, then enter text
for the symbol into the text entry field.
4.
4. Press the Insert button in the Input Palette to insert the text at the end of the score.
Edit Text with the Properties Window
Edit Text with the Properties Palette
text.
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Be sure the application is in Select Mode, then select the text you want to edit.
You can select several different text symbols and change all of their properties at once.
Note: If you are finding that you need to move all of the text higher to clear some notes,
consider adjusting the Symbol Spacing Above setting for the system instead of adjusting
their position.
Edit Text
· Select the text you want to edit, then display the Properties Palette .
· To change the text formatting and size, select the Appearance tab in the Properties
Palette and adjust the appearance properties.
· To change general properties of the text, such as its position, visibility and color, select
Edit Text with the Shortcut Menu
Edit Text with the Shortcut Menu
If text is selected you can right-click the mouse to display a special shortcut menu. The
menu contains commands for changing text properties. For simple operations this method can
be faster and easier than using the Properties Palette.
· Be sure the current mode is Select Mode, then select the lyrics you want to edit.
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Move Text
Move Text
Sometimes you may wish to move an existing text symbol to a different location.
Although you can certainly achieve the same results by adding new text and removing the
old, it may be easier to simply move the text.
Move Text
· Click - but do not release - the mouse on the text you wish to move.
· Use As you drag the mouse, the music cursor changes to the sameUsed when entering
new text from the Input Palette.
· Align the dashed line with the beat where you want the text moved to.
· Release the mouse to move the text to the specified location.
Multi-Line Text
Multi-Line Text
Often, copyrights and other text symbols have multiple lines. You can achieve this by editing
the text symbol with the Properties Palette. Below is an example of a multiple line copyright
text symbol and some multiple line general text symbolsUsed as figured bass.
To Enter Multi-Line Text
· Select the text you want to edit, then display the Properties Palette.
· Select the Appearance tab in the Properties Palette.
· Place your cursor at the end of the text in the edit box and hit the Enter key. The cursor
will now be at a new line.
· Type in the new line of text. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for each new line.
Note: You can select a copyright symbol © from inside the text edit box, right click, and
select Copy. Then you can right click Paste it on a new line or in a different text edit box.
Ties
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Add and Remove Ties
Add and Remove Ties
Ties are notational markings which visually break a single note into two or more notes
without affecting the performance. The tied notes are grouped together within the tie
marking and have a total duration equal to the original note. Tied notes are typicallyUsed
when notes do not logically fit within a measure.
When you tie notes together they appear as several different notes, but they are performed
as a single note with a longer duration. Ties are always displayed above or below the notes
they affect.
Once a tie is added to your music you can edit its position and appearance properties.
To Add a Tie
Select the Notes tab in the Input Palette, then select the tie symbol.
Select adjacent notes with the same pitch that you wish to tie together, then release the
mouse to add the tie.
-OR-
Select the notes that you want to tie together - the notes must be adjacent and have the
same pitch.
Use the shortcut menu to add a tie to the selected notes.
To Remove a Tie
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Select the ties and press the Delete key.
Edit Ties with the Properties Window
Edit Ties with the Properties Palette

ties.
Be sure the application is in Select Mode, then select the ties you want to edit.
You can select several different ties and change all of their properties at once.
Edit Ties
· Select the ties you want to edit, then display the Properties Palette .
· To change how the slur appears in the notation, select the Appearance tab in the
· To change general properties of the tie, such as its position, visibility and color, select
Tuplets
Add and Remove Tuplets
Add and Remove Tuplets
A tuplet is a group of notes that form an irregular subdivision of the beat. Triplets (the most
common being 3 8ths in a beat), quintuplet (5 divisions of a beat), and sextuplet (6 divisions
of a beat) are some examples.
Adding tuplets is the same as adding notes, but you must also specify the type of tuplet you
are creating. The notation engineUses this information to properly notate the notes in the
tuplet. The tuplet type is defined by 3 values: a note value, the number of these values that
make up the "beat", and the number of irregular divisions against the "beat".
Once a tuplet is added to your music you can edit its position and appearance properties.
You can also edit the notes contained within the tuplet just like any other note.
To Add a Tuplet
Select the Notes tab in the Input Palette, then select both a note and the tuplet symbol.
Enter appropriate values for the tuplet using the controls in the Tuplet controls of the
Input Palette.
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Move the cursor over the measure to which you want to add the tuplet. Notice the feedback
provided by the note cursor:
The Music Ruler is drawn around the measure to indicate the beats and tuplet
subdivisions within the measure.
The dotted red line shows the time location where the note is to be added.
The small highlighted dot shows the pitch for the new note.
1.
1. Align the dashed line with the beat where you want the note, then align the dot with
the desired pitch.
2.
2. Click the mouse to add the note. The tuplet is automatically positioned above or
below the note you added.
3.
3. Continue adding other notes to the tuplet following the same steps. You can select
any other enabled note in the Input Palette.
To Remove a Tuplet
Select the notes in the tuplet and press the Delete key.
Edit Tuplets with the Properties Window
Edit Tuplets with the Properties Palette

tuplets.
Be sure the application is in Select Mode, then select the tuplet you want to edit.
You can select several different tuplets and change all of their properties at once.
Edit a Tuplet
· Select the tuplets you want to edit, then display the Properties Palette .
· To change the appearance or placement of the tuplet, select the Appearance tab in the
· To change general properties of the tuplet, such as its position, visibility and color, select
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Edit Tuplets with the Shortcut Menu
Edit Tuplets with the Shortcut Menu

About Tuplet Values
About Tuplet Values
One of the difficulties of notating a tuplet is determining what note values toUse. Even in
published music, there are many examples of incorrectly notated tuplets, such as 7 32nds
against 4 16ths (it should be 7 16ths against 4 16ths).
The notation engine automatically calculates the correct tuplet note values for you - when
you set up a tuplet all that is needed is a representation of the beat that the tuplet is set
against.
To Setup Tuplet Values
1. Note the duration that the tuplet will occupy in normal beats. For example, you might
say something like, "I want five notes equally spaced in two beats". So the duration
would be two beats.
2. Find a note value that can represent that duration. In the above example, two
quarters would work, or 4 8ths, or 8 16ths. However, if your duration was a dotted
quarter, then a quarter note value would not work, but 3 8ths or 6 16ths would.
3. Take the note value that can represent the duration, and the number of values
needed to represent the duration. Set the note value in the Tuplet drop list, and set
the number in the Against field. The above example wouldUse Quarter Note for the
value and 2 for the Against.
4. Now set the tuplet number in the Number of notes field. A note value will update to
the right of the field. That is the value to select in the palette if you want the notes
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at equally spaced intervals. The above example wouldUse 5, and 8th notes would be
the value to choose to get 5 equally spaced notes in the span of 2 quarter notes.
Below are some tuplet examples with their corresponding palette settings.
About Tuplets
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About Tuplets
A tuplet is a group of notes that form an irregular subdivision of the beat. In an 8th note
triplet, for example, 3 8th notes (which normally take 1½ beats in a 4/4 meter) are played in
the time normally occupied by 2 8th notes (only 1 beat). As a result, each note of the tuplet
is slightly shorter so that the notes take the same amount of time to play.
There are many types of tuplets (duplet, triplet, sextuplet, quintuplet, etc.) that can be
added to your score. For example, a 16th quintuplet is a group of 5 16th notes played in the
time that is usually taken up by only 4 16th notes. Another description of this tuplet is "5
against 4" - 5 represents the "irregular" divisions of the beat and the 4 represents the
"regular" divisions. The 16th note specifies the size of each regular division.
Notice how the ruler changes to display divisions for the quintuplet. The ruler always displays
the correct subdivisions of the beat for the type of tuplet you are entering.
You do not have to confine yourself to the "regular" notes that define the duration of the
tuplet. You can place any note in the tuplet, as long as it fits within the total duration of the
tuplet. Contrast the quintuplets above with those in the following example:
Depending on the tuplet and the note type, there are specific tuplet types that can be
created. For example, in the time that 2 8th notes normally take, you can create a triplet
that consists of 3 8th notes, a quintuplet that consists of 5 16th notes, a nonuplet that
consists of 9 32nd notes, and so on. Some tuplets are neverUsed in certain meters. For
example, you cannot have a half-note triplet in a 3/4 bar since the triplet spans 4 beats and
there are only 3 beats in the measure.
Nudging Symbols
Nudge
Nudge
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The arrow keys can be used to "nudge" elements and symbols in the view.
To Nudge an Element
· Select the element(s) you want to nudge. You can select multiple elements and types
and nudge an entire group of symbols together.
· Hold down the CTRL key and press an arrow key to nudge the element up, down, left or
right.
Nudging Beams
Nudging Beams
Nudge using Shortcut Keys
· Hold down the Ctrl key, then use the arrow keys to move the beam up or down. The
beam will retain its beam angle (all stems will lengthen or shorten equally). To change the
beam angle, use the Properties Palette or edit an individual stem length .
· The left and right arrow keys have no effect.
Nudging Barlines
Nudging Barlines
· Hold down the Ctrl key, then use the arrow keys to move the barline left or right. The
measure will lengthen or shorten accordingly, and notes in the measure will reposition
themselves. To move the barline without affecting the measure, use the Properties
Palette instead.
· Once a barline has been moved, the measure will remain at that width (even if notes are
added or removed). If a meter is added, or if measures per system are changed, then the
measure will lose its barline override.
· The up and down arrow keys have no effect.
Nudging Notes
Nudging Notes
· Hold down the Ctrl key, then use the arrow keys to nudge the note right or left. The
actual performed start time of the note does not change, just how it appears in the
score. To change the performed start time, use the Properties Palette instead.
· Hold down the Ctrl key, then use the arrow keys up and down to chromatically change
the pitch up or down. To just change the position of the note, use the Properties
Palette instead.
Nudging Symbols
Nudging Symbols
When music symbols are added to the music, the notation engine automatically places and
positions them. Sometimes you may wish to make adjustments to the default positions - this
is what nudging is for.
For example, if a dynamic marking is overlapping a note you can move the dynamic marking
up, down, left, or right. You can nudge the symbols using the Properties Palette or by using
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shortcut keys.
When using shortcut keys to nudge, the symbols will move as you press the arrow keys. This
is nice because you immediately see what your changes look like.
Note: There is a difference in slightly adjusting the position of something, and moving it's
performed location. For example, you may want to nudge a note head to the right to avoid
an interval of a second collision, or you may want to move a note head to another beat. See
the Move topics for discussions on moving performed locations.
Nudge with the Properties Palette
· Select the symbols you wish to nudge.

· Display the Properties Palette, then select the General page.
· Use the Position controls to specify offsets from the default values.
· Select the symbols you wish to nudge.

· Hold down the Ctrl key, then use the arrow keys to move the symbols.
Some symbols have slightly different behavior when using the shortcut keys for nudging. See
the following topics for more information:
Nudging Barlines
Nudging Beams
Nudging Notes
Nudging Symbols that split System Breaks
Nudging Systems
Nudging Systems
Nudging Systems
· Select a system by single clicking in a measure.

· Hold down the Ctrl key, then use the arrow keys to move the system up or down.
· The left and right arrow keys have no effect.
Many symbols are capable of splitting the system break, that is, they span across the last
measure on a line and the first measure on the next line. You can nudge these independently.
· Select the segment of the symbol you would like to nudge. For segment that are just
lines, you may find it easier to set your Mouse Drag Options and drag select the line.
· Hold down the Ctrl key, then use the arrow keys to move the symbol up, down, right, or
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left. The symbol will move independently from it's other segments. To move all of the
splits simultaneously, use the Properties Palette instead
Music Ruler
Music Ruler
Symbols that need precise musical start times such as notes, tuplets, and clefs, use the ruler
when they are entered in the score. The ruler provides a way of specifying which beat or
sub-beat in the measure the symbol is to be entered. The ruler is divided into a series of
different sized marks that correspond to strong beats (the longest), weak beats (slightly
shorter), and sub-beats (the shortest). Below are some examples different rulers over
different meters.
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The music ruler allows you to enter notes anywhere in the measure without first having to
enter rests. By default, the ruler is at a resolution of 16th notes allowing you to enter a note
on the "1", "e", "and", or "a" of the beat. You can globally change the resolution of all of
the measures, or you can just change the current measure's resolution by entering a note
with a value less than a 16th note.
As you move the cursor across a measure, a dotted vertical line (in the selection color)
snaps to the beats and sub-beats of the measure, and the current beat and tick is displayed
in the status bar. Clicking the mouse will enter the symbol on the beat or sub-beat where
the vertical line is. If the measure is without notes, and you are entering notes, you can
enter on any beat or sub-beat of the measure. However, if there are notes in the measure,
the cursor will not allow you to enter a note that starts within the duration of a previous
note. See below for some examples:
Advanced Techniques
Advanced Techniques
Advanced Techniques
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Once you've mastered the ins and outs of entering and editing notes, you may find itUseful
to try out some advanced techniques.
Select from the following to learn more:
Notating two lines of music on one Create staves that contain

staff (Multivoicing) independent lines of music on the same
staff.
Beaming Control how notes are beamed together

to emphasize different rhythms or
phrasing.
Hidden Symbols Any music symbol can be hidden so

that it does not appear when printed -
using this feature you can create
pickup measures, split measures
between systems and create meterless
music.
Pickup Measures Pickup measures are used for phrases

that start before the initial barline.
Splitting Measures For phrasing considerations, you may

wish to display part of a measure on
one system, and another part on a
following system.
Small Meter Changes If you want to insert a meter over a

small range of measures (for example,
to split the measure or perform other
"tricks" with the score) without
affecting the entire score, a few extra
steps are necessary.
Notating two lines of music on one staff (Multivoicing)
Notating two lines of music on one staff

(Multivoicing)
Each staff can support up to 8 different voices(parts) for notating several melodic lines
together on the same staff. Quite often in keyboard, instrumental, and vocal music, two
distinct lines of music occupy the same staff. If the two lines differ rhythmically, they should
be notated using separate voices so that their independent rhythms are preserved. If the
two lines share the same rhymic pattern, they may be notated using a single voice.
The example below illustrates how multivoicing looks in the Music Score:
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The notation engine automatically handles many of the nuances of multivoicing music. For
example, there are different rules for stem direction and length, and for how slurs, ties and
accents are displayed. Note that the notation engine automatically fills each voice with it's
own set of rests. In keyboard music, one may want to hide rests for improved readability.
You can use multivoicing in your score by selecting the desired voice before you start to
write down your music.
Select the voice you want to enter in the main tab "Home" in the group voice:
Change voice with the Properties Palette
· Select the notes you want to change.

· Display the Appearance page in the Properties Palette.
· Select the desired voice from the Voice dropdown list, then hit the Apply button to apply
the changes.
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Beaming
Beaming
Beaming
A beam is a connecting line that joins 2 or more notes that are subdivisions of a beat in a
measure.
Beaming decisions are based on the metric divisions within a measure. In general, the notes
are beamed so that the note groups match the intended rhythmic beat as specified in the
current meter.
Certain phrasing considerations, hemiolas, old vocal notation, and emphasizing different beats
are all reasons to override the default beaming patterns.
Select from the following to learn more
Break and Join Beams
Change Metric Division
Metric Division Example
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The most direct way to override a beaming decision is to break or join beams.
To Break a Beam
1. Select any two adjacent beamed notes

2. Click the right mouse button to display a popup menu. Select Break Beam from the
menu.
3. It is also possible to select a group of beamed notes and break all beams at once by
selecting Break Beam.
To Join a Beam
1. Select any two adjacent notes

2. Click the right mouse button to display a popup menu. Select Beam Notes from the
menu.
Change Metric Divisions
Change Metric Divisions
Often an easier way to achieve desired beaming patterns is to redefine the metric division of
the meter.
Since the underlying beaming patterns are based on divisions of the beat, changing those
divisions (or the beat itself) results in different beaming patterns.
This method is far more efficient than individually breaking/joining beams (which can be
tedious for a long piece) when changing beaming patterns throughout the score.
An example should help explain things:
In 5/8 meter, the default metric division is 2 8th notes + 3 8th notes, so it will beam 8th
notes in groups of 2 + 3.
But another common metric division of 5/8 is 3 + 2. If the underlying meter is changed from a
5/8 to a (3+2)/8 meter the 8th notes will be beamed in groups of 3 + 2 instead of the default
2 + 3.
To Change the Metric Divison of the Meter
1. Select the appropriate meter for the section you want to affect.
2. Display the Properties Palette for the meter. Select the Appearance tab.
3. Change the meter type to an equivalent custom meter to get the desired beaming
pattern. In our 5/8 example, we would change the 5/8 meter into a (3+2)/8 meter.
4. Check the Display As box at the bottom of the Properties Palette and type in the
meter you want displayed in the score. In our example we would type in 5/8.
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5. Click the Apply button. The beaming patterns should now match the underlying meter,
as it really is (i.e. not the "displayed" version).
Metric Divisions Example
Metric Divisions Example

The samples below illustrate several beaming patterns one may achieve with the same notes
and the same displayed meter. All 4 samplesUse a meter that has 4 quarter notes in a
measure, and all meters are displayed as the normal 4/4 meter.
Example A really is a genuine 4/4 meter, where the default is to beam 8th notes into 2 groups
of 4.
In Example B, the meter is really a (1+1+1+1)/4 meter, which causes the 8th notes to be
beamed with each beat. This changes the beaming patterns in every measure that is
affected by the meter.
Example C shows the effects of a (1+2+1)/4 meter, with the first and last beats in each
measure separate from the middle two beats.
Example D shows how a (1+4+2+1)/8 meter affects the beaming decisions. Note that we've
actually changed the underlying beat in this sample -- it's now an 8th note instead of a
quarter note.
The actual value of the meter is what ultimately affects how many notes can be added to a
measure, but the displayed value can be anything. WhenUsed in combination with hidden
symbols, this feature makes it possible to create pickup measures and measures which cross
systems, among other things.
Hiding and Displaying Hidden Symbols
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Hiding and Displaying Hidden Symbols
You can hide any symbol in the Music Score. This becomes an extremely powerful tool
whenUsed in conjunction with different meters.
Use the General page of the Properties Palette to hide or unhide any symbol in the Music
Score.
To display Hidden Symbols
· Select the "Voice" combo box in the main tab "Home" and choose from list "Hidden"
· All symbols that have been defined as hidden are now displayed in light gray.
To Hide a Symbol
· Select the symbols you want to hide and display the Properties Palette.
· Select the General tab in the Properties Palette and click the "Hidden" checkbox
To Unhide a Symbol
· Display hidden symbols in the view and select the symbols you want to unhide.
· Display the General tab in the Properties Palette, and uncheck the "Hidden" checkbox.
· Click the Apply button.
Pickup Measures
Pickup Measures
Pickup measures (also known as an Anacrusis or Upbeats) are used for phrases that start
before the initial barline.
A pickup measure can be created, edited or removed by clicking on the menu "Document" and
selecting "Pickup Measure...".
· Duration
The duration of the pickup measure consists of the total duration of the selected note
values. The information about which note values are selected is irrelevant, only the total
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duration will be used to create or edit the pickup measure.
· Options
a) "Insert new bar at the beginning" – If this option is not selected, the first bar of the
music piece will be reduced to a pickup measure. Any content that exceeds the duration of
the pickup measure will be removed. This option is only available while creating a pickup
measure.
b) "Donʼt change end measure" – If this option is not selected, the last bar of the music
piece will be reduced to an incomplete end measure. And any content that exceeds the new
duration of the end measure will be removed.
You can also use custom meters and hidden symbols to display pickup measures. This is
necessary if you have a repeat sign and the measures must be incomplete.
Note: We recommend that you create a pickup measure before you really start working in a
piece. This is because changing meters after there are lots of notes in the score can result in
loss of any user formatting or other customizations you may have done.
To Create a Incomplete Measure
· Add a new measure at the beginning of a piece

· Add the same kind of meter that is in measure 1 to what is now measure 2.
· Select the meter in the first measure and bring up the Properties Palette.
· Change the meter type in the first measure to correspond to the number of beats you will
need in your pickup measure. Select the Display as checkbox and enter the same meter
that appears at measure.
· Select the meter at measure 2, then display the General tab in the Properties Palette and
check the Hidden checkbox. Click the Apply button to hide the meter.
Split Measures Across Systems
Split Measures Across Systems
You may want to break a measure across a system break to denote phrasing that starts on
an upbeat.
Like pickup measures, splitting measures involves custom meters and hidden symbols.
Note: Before splitting measures, make sure that you are finished adding and removing
measures and staves. Where the measure is split depends on its relationship to the systems
in Page View. Adding measures and Staves will change these relationships. Also, like pickup
measures, it is recommended to split measures before adding any notes.
To split a Measure Between Two Systems
· Insert a redundant meter two measures after the measure that you want to split.
· Insert a meter at the measure you want to split. Set the meter to correspond with the
number of beats that the end of the phrase will go over the barline.
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· Insert a meter at the beginning of the next measure. Set the meter to correspond to the
number of beats needed for the upbeat.
· Hide all 3 meters that you added in the previous 3 steps.
· Hide the barline at the end of the measure in the first system
Small Meter Changes
Small Meter Changes

Insertion of a new meter affects all the music from the measure of insertion until either the
end of the piece or until the next meter is found, whichever comes first. If you want to
change the meter of a section of your music without affecting the entire piece, a few extra
steps are necessary.
As an example, let's say that you are working on a song which is in 4/4 time. You would like
to change the meter in measures 10-19 to 3/4, leaving subsequent measures in the original
4/4 meter. The first step is to define the endpoint of your new 3/4 section by inserting
another 4/4 meter at measure 20. A dialog box appears, warning you that the new 4/4 meter
is redundant (strictly speaking, it is, but the notation engine doesn't know what you intend
to do - hence the warning). Click on the OK button; the 4/4 time signature at measure 20
appears. Now you can insert your 3/4 meter at measure 10, and only measures 10 through
19 will be affected.
One word of warning, though. If you are changing the meter such that there are fewer beats
per measure in the new meter than in the old, and you've got notes throughout the entire
section that you are changing, you run the risk of some of these notes getting displaced into
the following section. This is because the length (in beats) of your original section may be
longer than the new section will allow, given the same number of measures.
The Audio Sequencer
The Audio Sequencer

The Audio Sequencer is used to record, position and configure digital audio files which are
played along with your music. The Audio Sequencer is so named after the commonly-used
file format (.WAV).
The Audio Sequencer displays digital audio files as horizontal bars positioned along a timeline.
By arranging the bars along the time ruler you can specify precisely when a digital audio file
will begin playing. After creating your music score, for example, you could try singing along
with it and have both the music and the singing playing together.
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On the left side of the window, each track contains a set of controls that affect the volume,
pan and frequency of the sounds on that track. Other controls for each track are identical
to those in the Mixer and are used to set mute, solo or record/play status of a wave track.
Wave files which occur at the same time are mixed together in realtime so that the end result
is a single left/right channel combination. By adjusting the relative volumes and pans of each
track, you can change the composition.
The Piano Roll
The Piano Roll
The Piano Roll
The Piano Roll view displays notes as bars along a timeline, much like an old player piano. The
piano roll is the preferred method of editing MIDI for many people, either because they do not
know how to read notated music or because they find it more intuitive andUseful.
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The controls at the top of the window areUsed to specify which track and voice is currently
displayed in the Piano Roll and Envelope View.
The Vertical Scale Controls in the lower right-hand corner of the piano roll areUsed to control
the height of the bars in the Piano Roll, which affects how many pitches are visible. Vertical
scaling also changes the height of the piano keys on the left side of the window.
The Envelope View and Controls at the bottom of the window areUsed to create and edit
envelopes. An envelope is a representation of how a musical parameter, such as tempo,
volume or balance, varies over time.
Envelope View
Envelope View
Envelope View
The Envelope View is included in the same window with the Piano Roll, and graphically
illustrates how different musical parameters change with time. The Envelope View is
integrated with the Piano Roll view in a single window, aligned along the horizontal (time)
axis.
What is an Envelope?
What is an Envelope?
An envelope is a representation of how a particular musical parameter changes with time. An
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envelope itself is a graph with the horizontal axis (x) representing time and the vertical axis
(y) representing the value of the parameter. By changing the shape of an envelope you can
change how different parameters (such as volume, pan, reverb and so on) change with time.
The continuous line displayed in the Envelope View represents the envelope. Sometimes the
envelope fades continually from one point to the next, other times it seems to change
abruptly. The shape of the envelope (and the musical parameter it represents) is controlled
entirely by the envelope points.
Envelopes allow you to shape different parts of your music for richer compositions. Rather
than specify each individual controller for, say, master volume, you can create a master
volume envelope that describes how the master volume changes with time. You can always
reshape the envelope simply by moving around displayed points on the envelope.
It's also fun to loop perform a particular area and adjust various envelopes while the music is
playing until you get the sound you want.
Envelope Types
Envelope Types
The following types of envelopes may be added to your document. Click on an envelope type
to learn more about the envelope.
Tempo Create envelopes which change the

tempo dynamically during a
performance. This can be used to add
rubatos, expressions and other "human"
elements.
Controller Choose from 128 standard MIDI

controllers for specifying volume, pan,
reverb, chorus and dozens of other
choices.
RPN Create an envelope to change a

Registered Parameter Number (RPN)
dynamically.
NRPN Create an envelope to change a Non-

Registered Parameter Number (NRPN)
dynamically.
Pitch Bend Create an pitch-bend envelope for

each track.
Poly Pressure
Channel Pressure
Displaying Envelopes
Displaying Envelopes
There can be literally dozens of different envelopes that are applied to a piece of music. For
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each track there might be volume and balance, possibly reverb and chorus effects. For 8
tracks this totals 32 different envelopes, not including tempo or master volume. The controls
at the bottom of the Envelope View areUsed to divide envelopes into specific categories and
types. In addition, the controls at the top of the window may affect which envelope is
displayed in the Envelope View.
The Envelope Category box displays several categories. Depending on which category is
selected the Envelope Type box may or may not be activated.
The table below summarizes the behavior:
What is Selected Which Envelope is Displayed
Controller When this is selected the Envelope Type box is filled with
the names of all MIDI controller envelopes defined for the
currently selected track/voice combination. The
displayed envelope will be whatever is selected in the
Type box. If there are no controller envelopes defined
the envelope view indicates this.
Pitch Bend The Envelope View displays the MIDI pitch bend
envelope for the currently selected track/voice
combination. The Envelope Type box is deactivated since
there is only one pitch bend envelope available for each
track/voice.
Chan Pressure The Envelope View displays the channel pressure

(aftertouch) envelope for the currently selected
track/voice combination. The Envelope Type box is
deactivated since there is only one channel pressure
envelope available for each track/voice.
Poly Pressure The Envelope View displays the polyphonic key pressure
envelope for the currently selected track/voice
combination. The Envelope Type box is deactivated since
there is only one poly pressure envelope available for
each track/voice.
RPN When this is selected the Envelope Type box is filled with
the names of all RPN (Registered Parameter Number)
envelopes defined for the currently selected track/voice
combination. The displayed envelope will be whatever is
selected in the Type box. If there are no RPN envelopes
defined the envelope view indicates this.
NRPN When this is selected the Envelope Type box is filled with
the names of all NRPN (Non-Registered Parameter
Number) envelopes defined for the currently selected
track/voice combination. The displayed envelope will be
whatever is selected in the Type box. If there are no
NRPN envelopes defined the envelope view indicates this.
Tempo The Envelope View displays the tempo envelope for the
document. The Envelope Type box is deactivated since
there is only one tempo envelope for the entire piece.
You can add and remove MIDI controller, RPN and NRPN envelopes. When one of these
categories is selected in the Envelope Category box the buttons next to the Envelope Type
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box are enabled. These buttons areUsed to add and remove envelopes.
Add and Remove Envelopes

To Add an Envelope
1. Select the appropriate envelope category. Only MIDI controller, RPN and NRPN
envelopes can be added or removed.
2. Click the Add Envelope button next to the Envelope Type box or select Add
Envelope… from the View menu.
A dialog appears for you to select or define an appropriate envelope. When adding a MIDI
controller envelope, for example, the dialog contains a list of all available MIDI controllers
along with their familiar association (e.g. Volume for controller 7).
To Remove an Envelope
1. Display the envelope you want to remove
2. Click the Remove Envelope button next to the Envelope Type box or select Remove
Envelope from the View menu.
Envelope Points
Envelope Points
Envelope points are the backbone of an envelope. By adding, removing and adjusting
envelope points you can dramatically change the way the envelope looks as well as how the
music sounds.
You should understand the visual appearance of the various envelope points displayed in the
Envelope View. The figure below describes the different types of points you may see in an
envelope.
Points that look "hollow" represent "normal"

envelope points. These are points that
comprise most envelopes and have
absolutely no connection with any notated
symbol in the Music Score.
The "solid" envelope points correspond to

notated symbols. If these points are
moved the symbol in the Music Score is
also moved. Similarly, if the symbol in the
score is deleted the points in the envelope
are also deleted.
Some symbols in the Music Score actually correspond to 2 envelope points since they have
both a start time and a duration - crescendos and accelerandos, for example. For these
symbols there is one point representing the start time of the element and another point
representing the stop time. Adjusting the second point effectively changes the duration of
the element as it is notated in the score.
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Envelope Transitions
Envelope Transitions
Envelope points have another property called its flavor, which describes how the shape of
the envelope behaves around that point. The shape of an envelope depends entirely on the
position and flavor of each envelope point.
You can always change a point's flavor simply by selecting it and clicking the right mouse
button to display a popup menu. Currently we have two flavors, Constant and Dynamic.
A constant point means the value of the

envelope is the same after the point. This
type of point is normallyUsed for notated
symbols such as ff and mp since those
symbols mean to set the dynamic marking
to a certain value.
A dynamic point means the value of the

envelope changes dynamically from the
point to the next point. This type of point
isUsed for markings such as a crescendo
where the meaning is to gradually increase
the dynamic value.
It can be helpful to loop over a region and experiment with different envelope points,
positions and flavors to see how things change.
Select Envelope Points
Select Envelope Points

· Move the cursor over the point until it becomes a pointing finger.
· Click and release the mouse to select the point beneath the cursor.
· Drag-Select Several Envelope Points

· Move the cursor in Envelope View so that it is not on top of a point.
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· Click and drag the mouse to sweep out a rectangular region. As points are included in this
rectangle they are selected, as they fall outside the rectangle they are unselected.
· Release the mouse when the desired points are selected.
Add and Remove Envelope Points
Add and Remove Envelope Points
You can control the shape of the envelope by adding, removing and positioning envelope
points. Once added, you can edit the location and value of any envelope point.
To Add an Envelope Point
Be sure the current mode is Edit Mode.
Move the cursor over the envelope until the cursor turns into a pointing finger:
Click (but do not release) the mouse. A new point is created directly beneath the cursor:
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As you drag the cursor the new point moves along with it:
Release the mouse to add the point at the desired position.
To Remove Envelope Points
Select the envelope points and press the Delete key.
Note: You cannot remove the first or last envelope point.
Associate Envelope Points with Notation
Associate Envelope Points with Notation
Some envelope points may represent parameters that are also notated in the Music Score.
For example, a crescendo marking in the score actually sends a MIDI volume controller to
implement the crescendo. If you move the crescendo the underlying envelope points must
also move. Likewise, if you delete an envelope point in the Envelope View that corresponds
to a crescendo, the symbol in the Music Score should be deleted.
As a general rule, symbols entered into the Music Score will create corresponding envelope
points in the Envelope View, whereas symbols entered directly into the Envelope View will not
create corresponding symbols in the Music Score.
Edit Envelope Points with the Inspector
Edit Envelope Points with the Properties Palette

envelopes.
The appropriate Properties Palette for the envelope point depends on the type of envelope it
is part of.
For example, the volume controller envelope corresponds to dynamic markings in the Music
Score, so the dynamic markings Properties Palette isUsed. Similarly, when editing points in
the tempo envelope, the Properties Palette for tempo markings isUsed. For all other points,
the Properties Palette shows generic performance properties.
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Be sure the application is in Select Mode, then select the envelope point you want to edit.
You can select several different points and change all of their properties at once.
Edit an Envelope Point
1. Select the point you want to edit, then display the Properties Palette.
2. Select the Performance page in the Properties Palette to change the time and value
for the selected envelope points.
3. If you have selected a symbol which also has notational equivalents, select the
appropriate Appearance tab and adjust the appearance properties, if desired.
Move Envelope Points
Sometimes you may wish to move existing envelope points to a different location.
This technique is especiallyUseful when you want to move several envelope points together
because they define a certain "shape" to the envelope.
Vertical changes correspond to larger or smaller envelope values and horizontal changes
correspond to time.
Certain symbols in the Music Score have 2 envelope points in the Envelope View. Changing
the horizontal position on the second point corresponds to editing the duration of the
element.
· Select the envelope points that you want to move.

· Click - but do not release - the mouse on one of the selected points.
· As you drag the mouse, the points move along together as a group.
· Release the mouse to move the points to the specified location.
Entering Music in Piano Roll

To Add Notes
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· Be sure the current mode is Insert Mode.

· Display the Input Palette and select the Notes tab.
· Select a note you want to add.
· Click in the piano roll to add the note. As long as the mouse button is held down you can
drag the bar representing the note to the desired pitch and time.
· Release the mouse to add the note.
To Remove Notes

· Select the notes you want to remove.
· Press the Delete key
To Select a Note

· Click and release on a bar representing a note to select the note.
-OR-
Click and drag the mouse to sweep out a rectangular region. As you drag the cursor the
notes which intersect the rectangle are selected.
To Move Notes
· Be sure the curr.ent mode is Select Mode.

· Select the notes you want to move.
· Click and drag the mouse to move the bars representing the selected notes.
· Release the mouse to insert the notes. If during the drag you decide not to move the
notes, simply hit the escape key to abort the operation.
To Change the Duration of a Note
· Select the note you want to change.

· Move the cursor the right edge of the bar representing the note. When the cursor
changes to the horizontal resize cursor you know the mouse is in the correct place.
· Click and drag the mouse to reposition the right edge of the note bar. . If during the drag
you decide not to change the note, simply hit the escape key to abort the operation.
· When you release the mouse the note's duration is changed.
The MIDI Events
The MIDI Events
The MIDI Events

The MIDI Events view displays a list of events in a table. Different columns in the table
describe important event parameters, such as the start time, the MIDI information and the
track the events occur on.
You can sort the MIDI events in different ways - by time, by duration, by channel - making it
easy to find all the notes of a particular duration, or all the dynamic markings which occur
within a specific time region, for example.
Click on an area of the image below for more details:
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List Area
List Area
The List Area is a table containing a display of events. The rows in the table represent
individual events, the columns represent specific bits of information about the event.
As you make different selections in the Overview Area, the items in the list change to reflect
the new selection. If you select an item which contains a very large number of events, a
dialog warns you - this is because displaying a large number of items (more than 5000) can
consume a lot of your computer's memory and resources. You can always select a smaller
portion of the document.
The items in the list can be sorted in a variety of ways - by name, event type, start time,
duration and so on. Select one of the column headers in the list to sort alphabetically or
numerically by that column. As the list updates, different items are automatically added to
the end of the list. If you check the Sort box at the top of the Event List window, the list
will remain sorted at all times.
The following table describes each column displayed in the list:
Description
A general description of the event, such as "Note" or "Tempo". An icon for the event is also
displayed in this column.
Chan
The current MIDI channel that the event is performed on. You cannot edit this value here -
you must change the routing of a track in the Track Properties.
Start
The start time - in bars, beats and ticks - of the event
Duration
The duration if the event. This field is blank for events that do not have a duration
Pitch
This field is used only for notes - it provides a more "user-friendly" way to view the pitch of
the note (rather than MIDI numbers)
Data1, Data 2
These are the MIDI data byte fields. Depending on the event, these values may represent
completely different parameters.
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Info
A description of what the numbers in Data1 and Data2 really mean for the event.
Overview Area
Overview Area
The Overview Area contains a hierarchical list containing the document, the staves in the
document, and the measures in each staff. As you select different items in the Overview
Area, the List Area updates to reflect the appropriate events for the selected items. You
can select multiple items, make discontinuous selections and so on so that you can display
as much or as little in the Event List as you want.
Filtering Events
Filtering Events
The buttons at the top of the Event List window are used to select the types of events that
you want to display in the list.
Depending on the situation, you may be interested only in notes, for example, or only
program changes or controllers of a particular type. When a button is depressed (on) the
event type is displayed; otherwise, it is not.
As you change the filter settings, the list updates to reflect the new choices. Usually there
is a slight delay to allow you to select many different choices.
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions are plug-in effects for changing music. Sometimes you might want toUse an action to
transpose and move notes, or perhaps you'd like to merge 2 staves into a single Grand Staff.
Other times, however, you might simply want to experiment with the music. Actions are good
way to accomplish both tasks.
Actions are always applied to the current selection. As the selection changes, so does the
set of possible actions that can be applied. The Actions tab in the Properties Palette displays
all actions possible for the current selection. Just as the Properties Palette changes as the
selection changes, so too do the contents of the Actions tab.
Whenever there are any actions available for the current selection an Actions menu appears
next to the Music menu. When you select an item from the Actions menu the appropriate
form in the Properties Palette is displayed.
For more information about actions, click on one of the topics below.
Using Actions
Chord Symbol Actions
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Document Actions
Dynamic Actions
Note Actions
Octava Actions
Pedal Actions
Staff Actions
Tempo Actions
Text Actions
Using Actions
Using Actions
Once you've got something selected it's a simple matter of seeing what actions are available.
These actions are highlighted in the different tabs of the ribbon.
Examples of available actions
Available actions in the tab "Edit":
Available actions in the tab "Notes":
Available actions in the tab "Home":
Applying an Action
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Simply click on one action in the ribbon menu to take effect on your selected element or your
score. F.e.: You will find the "Transpose by key" action in the main tab "Home" in the group
"Transpose". If you have selected only one note there will be only the action "transpose by
interval" available. To select a whole track just double click on the staff. Then you will be
able to define a key only for that selected track (transposed instruments). If you don't select
anything you can change the transposition of the whole score.
-OR-
You can use the dropdown list in the Properties Palette as an alternative to selecting an item
from the Actions. In either case, the appropriate controls are displayed in the Properties
Palette for the chosen action.
Once you have configured the controls for an action, simply press the Apply button to apply
the action to the current selection.
One of the easiest ways to try out an action is to select a loop region and play it while
applying different actions. Most actions can be undone, so you can change your mind later.

Once you have chord symbols selected it's a simple matter of seeing what actions are
available. Look at the Properties Palette.
To View Available Chord Symbol Actions
· Click on the chord symbols you want to perform an action on.

· Select an available item from the ribbon menu (f.e. change color in the tab "edit"), or
click on the Actions tab in the Properties Palette.
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Note: Chord Symbol actions are also available when you select a staff, and apply to all chord
symbols on the selected staff.
Click on one of the topics below for more information about each action:
Move
Transpose
Identify Chords
Identify Chord
Identify Chord
The Identify Chord action analyzes selected notes and adds a chord symbol that reflects the
basic chord structure of the selected notes.
For example, if you've selected an F, E-flat, A and C, the analysis would conclude that the 4
notes are part of an F7 chord.
Note that this action treats all of the notes selected as one chord for analysis. This allows
you to analyze notes that dont share the same start time, which can be important for
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compensating for chord anticipations, suspensions, or appoggiaturas.
To analyze chords, simply draw an rectangle around the notes and click on "Identify" in the
main tab "Notes":
-OR-
You double click on your selected notes and choose the action from the drop down menu of
the Properties Pallet.
Identify Chords
Identify Chords
The Identify Chord action analyzes selected notes and adds a chord symbol that reflects the
basic chord structure of the selected notes.
For example, if you've selected an F, E-flat, A and C, the analysis would conclude that the 4
notes are part of an F7 chord.
Note that this action treats all of the notes selected as one chord for analysis. This allows
you to analyze notes that dont share the same start time, which can be important for
compensating for chord anticipations, suspensions, or appoggiaturas.
To analyze chords, simply draw an rectangle around the notes and click on "Identify" in the
main tab "Notes":
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-OR-
You double click on your selected notes and choose the action from the drop down menu of
the Properties Pallet.
Chord Analysis Settings
Chord Analysis Settings
The Chord Analysis dialog is used to specify different analysis choices that areUsed by the
Analyze Chords action. Chord analysis is a theory rather than a science, and these options
allow you to more precisely control the behavior of the algorithm.
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To display the Chord Analysis settings dialog select one of the Identify Chords actions and
press the Settings… button in the Properties Palette.
Document Actions
Document Actions
Many actions that normally apply to individual notes or staves can also be applied to the
document as a whole. When nothing else is selected the Properties Palette displays the
properties for the active document. The available "document actions" are displayed in the
ribbon menu (most of them in the tab "Score") as well as the Actions tab of the Properties
Palette.
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For example, suppose you want to transpose (Tab: "Home") or quantize (Tab: "Record") the
entire document. One way would be to select each staff individually, then apply the action
on the selected staves. An easier way, however, is to clear the selection and apply an
action to all staves at once.
To View Available Document Actions
· Select a blank area in the Music Score.

· Select an item from the ribbon menu, or click on the Actions tab in the Properties Palette.
Staff Actions
The actions listed below can be applied to the document as a whole, or to individual staves:
Copy
Group
Identify Chords
Merge
Order
Split
Note Actions
The actions listed below can be applied to the document as a whole, or to individual notes:
Quantize
Retrograde
Transpose
Velocity
Voice
Note Actions
Note Actions
Once you have notes selected it's a simple matter of seeing what actions are available. You
can use the tabs of the ribbon or look at the Properties Palette.
To View Available Note Actions
· Select the notes you want to perform an action on.

Note Actions
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Duration
Identify Chord
Inversion
Move
Quantize
Retrograde
Transpose
Velocity
Voice
Dynamic Actions
Dynamic Actions
Once you have dynamics selected it's a simple matter of seeing what actions are available.
You can use the tabs of the ribbon or look at the Properties Palette.
To View Available Dynamic Actions
· Select the dynamics you want to perform an action on.

Dynamic Actions
Move
Octava Actions
Octava Actions
Once you have octavas selected it's a simple matter of seeing what actions are available.
You can use the ribbon menu or look at the Properties Palette.
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To View Available Octava Actions
1. Select the octavas you want to perform an action on.

2. Select an item from the ribbon menu, or click on the Actions tab in the Properties
Palette.
Octava Actions
Move
Staff Actions
Staff Actions
Once you have a staff selected it's a simple matter of seeing what actions are available. You
can use the ribbon menu or look at the Properties Palette.
Many actions that normally apply to individual notes can be applied to the staff as a whole.
When a staff is selected the available actions includes those that also apply to notes.
To View Available Staff Actions
· Select the staves you want to perform an action on.

Staff Actions
Copy
Group
Identify Chords
Merge
Order
Split
Note Actions
The actions listed below can be applied to the staff as a whole, or to individual notes:
Duration
Inversion
Move
Quantize
Retrograde
Transpose
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Velocity
Voice
Pedal Actions
Pedal Actions
Once you have pedals selected it's a simple matter of seeing what actions are available. You
To View Available Pedal Actions
· Select the pedal markings you want to perform an action on.

Pedal Actions
Move
Tempo Actions
Tempo Actions
Once you have tempos selected it's a simple matter of seeing what actions are available. You
To View Available Tempo Actions
· Select the tempos you want to perform an action on.

Tempo Actions
Move
Text Actions
Text Actions
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Once you have text selected it's a simple matter of seeing what actions are available. You
To View Available Text Actions
· Select the text you want to perform an action on.

Text Actions
Move
Transposition
Transposition
Transposition
Transposition is moving pitches up or down by some interval. All pitches are raised or
lowered the same number of half-steps, so melodic contour is preserved and all that has
really changed is the "key" or pitch.
There are several transposition options that allow you to do such things as transpose entire
scores into a new keys, transpose individual parts for part extractions, work in transposed
scores, and transpose sections of music.
You can change the transposition by clicking on one of the three transposition items in the
main tab "Home":
Click on a topic for more information:
Working with Transposed Scores
Working with C Scores
Transposing to new keys
Transposing sections of music
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Some instruments, such as B-flat clarinet, do not sound as written. For example, when a
clarinet reads a C off of a sheet of music, what is actually heard is a B-flat. Instruments
which do not sound as written are known as transposing instruments.
When working with scores containing transposing instruments, it is common practice to work
with what is known as a transposed score as well as a C score.
A transposed score contains all of the parts as written. That is, a B-flat clarinet part on the
score is transposed such that when played by a clarinet, it will sound correctly. Many older
scores are transposed scores (one way to tell is that many staves will be in different key
signatures). One benefit of using transposed scores is that when it comes time to print out
the individual parts, the parts are already transposed.
To Turn a C Score into a Transposed Score
· Select the staff/track you want to change.

· Select Transpose by Instrument from the drop down menu of the action tab in the
Properties Palette
- OR -
Select Transpose by Instrument from the ribbon menu in the main tab "Home".
· In the From drop list, choose Concert C (assuming that the part was entered as sounds).
In the To drop list, select the instrument for which you are transposing into (for example,
Alto Saxophone).
· Uncheck the Performance box in the Transposition Affects section. This is so that the
actual playback will not be altered.
· Check the Notation box.
· Check the Change Key box.
· Click the Apply button to transpose the music.
Entering Music from a Transposed Score
· Determine the key of the piece. You can do this by finding the key signature that a non-
transposing instrument is in (such as Flute, Piano, or Violin).
· Transpose the entire piece into that key.
· Following the steps for changing from a C score to a transposed score, setting each staff
to the instrument that it is scored for.
· Now you can enter the music, as it appears written on the score, and it will playback as
it is supposed to sound.
Some instruments, such as B-flat clarinet, do not sound as written. For example, when a
clarinet reads a C off of a sheet of music, what is actually heard is a B-flat. Instruments
which do not sound as written are known as transposing instruments.
When working with scores containing transposing instruments, it is common practice to work
with what is known as a transposed score as well as a C score.
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A C Score contains all of the parts written as they sound. So a B-flat clarinet playing in
unison with a flute on the score would appear identical. However, if a flute player and a
clarinet player were to play that same unison part, it would sound a major 2nd off. The
benefit of working in a C Score is that you work with all parts as they sound, and it is easier
to "see" the harmonic and melodic relationships between instruments.
Working in a C Score involves no transposition until it comes time to extract and print out
individual parts.
Since FORTE 6 Premium it is much easier to work with transposing instruments. With just a
few clicks you can now insert these instruments and choose between the transposing and
sounding view. You can find this function in the tab called "Home" inside the "Transposition"
group.
Furthermore, a vast number of transposing instruments was added to the score wizard to
allow for a quick score creation.
To Transpose an Extracted Part
· Select the extracted staff/track you want to change.

· Select Transpose by Instrument from the list of Actions in the Properties Palette
-OR-
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Select Transpose by Instrument from the ribbon menu in the "Home" tab.
· In the From drop list, choose Concert C. In the To drop list, select the instrument for
which you are transposing into (for example, Alto Saxophone).
· Uncheck the Performance box in the Transposition Affects section. This is so that the
actual playback will not be altered.
Transposing to New Keys
Transposing to New Keys
There are many reasons to transpose an entire score up or down. You may need a new key
to accommodate the range of a vocalist, or perhaps after transposing a part for extraction,
you realize that the part goes out or the range of the instrument.
Transposing to a new key transposes both the Performance (sound) and Notation (display) of
the music.
To Transpose to a New Key
· Select the staff/track you want to change. You can transpose all of the staves at once
by running this action on the selected document.
· Select Transpose from the list of Actions in the Properties Palette
- OR -
Select Transpose from the ribbon menu in the "Home" tab.
· In the Interval section, select the interval of transposition from the drop list. Predefined
intervals range from Prime (no transposition) to Augmented 13th (1 octave + 10 half
steps).
- OR -
Set the octave and number of half steps in the Octave and Half Steps fields.
· Check the Performance box in the Transposition Affects section.

Transposing Sections of Music
Transposing Sections of Music
Often you may just want to transpose just a small section of music. Perhaps you are
experimenting and want to try the "bridge" in a different key relative to the rest of the song,
or for compositional purposes, you are transposing a theme or motive.
You can also select notes and/or chord symbols and transpose them individually.
To Transpose a Selected Portion of Music
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· Select the notes you want to change.

· Select Transpose from the list of Actions in the Properties Palette
-OR-
Select Transpose from the ribbon menu in the "Home" tab.
· In the Interval section, select the interval of transposition from the drop list. Predefined
intervals range from Prime (no transposition) to Augmented 13th (1 octave + 10 half
steps).
-OR-
Set the octave and number of half steps in the Octave and Half Steps fields.
· Check the Performance box in the Transposition Affects section.

Transposing By Intervals
Transposing By Intervals
This actions shifts pitches up or down by some interval. All pitches are raised or lowered the
same number of half-steps, so the melodic contour is preserved.
Click on the image below for details about each control:
Transposing by Instrument
Transposing by Instrument
This action is similar to the Transpose action, except that the interval settings are pre-set
for creating transposed part extractions. This is so that you're not saddled with questions
like "what is the transposition for an English Horn" or "do I transpose a B-flat Tenor up or
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down a major 2nd".
To use this action just select where you're transposing from (usually Concert C) and what
you're transposing for (for my B-flat clarinet playing friend).
Move
Move
The Move action applies to several different types of elements, including notes, dynamics,
pedal markings and tempos. This action will move elements forward or backward in time in
your music.
You can move elements using other methods (drag and drop, for example) but the Move
action can be used to move by specific time values or when you want to move many
elements at once.
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Duration
Duration
This action changes the duration of notes in a variety of ways.
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Note: Changing the duration from this page changes the performed duration, but may not
change the notated duration. If the note carries into another note of the same voice, the
following note will not be moved and it's possible that the note will be displayed in the score
unchanged. If you want the following notes to "make room" for the new duration, see the
topics on changing the duration using the Performance tab or on Moving elements using the
actions tab.
Inversion
Inversion
This action flips a melodic line about a horizontal axis (pivot point) in such a way that the
melodic intervals between any two notes merely changes direction. For example, if the first
interval was an ascending Perfect 4th, after inversion the interval would be a descending
Perfect 4th.
Velocity
Velocity
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The velocity is the intensity of a sound, such as whether you pluck a guitar string or press a
piano key hard or softly. Pressing the key softly creates a low-intensity, high-velocity sound;
plucking a string hard creates a high-intensity, high-velocity sound. You can use velocity
scaling to "fade out" at the end of a song.
The Velocity action allows you to scale velocity for all notes between specified points for a
selected track.
Retrograde
Retrograde
Retrograde reverses the order of the notes, yet retains each notes duration. The effect is
that of rotating the notes around a fixed vertical line in the middle of the selection.
There are no User settings for retrograde. Just click the Apply button.
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Group Staves
Group Staves
This action allows you to group multiple staves with either a bracket or a brace.
Order Staves
Order Staves
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The Order Staves action lets you to rearrange the order of the staves on the Music Score.
You can change the order of staves as often as you'd like.
Quantize
Quantize
Quantize is a feature that adjusts the start times and durations of elements as a way to fix
up a performance in which notes were played too soon or too late (relative to the exact
beats). A quantized performance sounds more rhythmically "perfect".
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Split Staff
Split Staff
This action splits notes on a staff into other staves. This can be useful, for example, when
you have a Grand Staff and you'd like to turn it into two separate staves. The Merge Staves
action, in contrast, performs the reverse operation by mergin a range of staves into a new
track.
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Copy Staff
Copy Staff
This action copies an existing staff (track) and inserts the new copy at a specific location in
your music.
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Voice
Voice
This action quickly changes voices for all selected notes (or all notes in the selected
staff/document).
There are often many voices (or parts) in a piece of music. In choral music, soprano and alto
share the upper staff, and tenor and bass share the lower staff. In keyboard scores (grand
staff), the voices may not be quite as clear cut, but there still is typically more than one. A
great example of multivoicing occurs in Bach's Preludes and Fugues. There are often as
many as four voices occurring at any one time in the piece.
Each staff can have up to 8 different voices. The piano grand staff, however, has a total of
eight voices. Four voices in treble clef and four voices in bass clef. You can move your
melodies to a different voice line using the voice action.
Merge Staves
Merge Staves
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Use the Merge Staves action to combine two or more staves together. This can beUseful, for
example, when you have two separate staves that you'd like to combine into a single Grand
Staff. The Split Staves action, in contrast, performs the reverse operation by splitting a
given staff into several new tracks.
Input Palette
Input Palette
Input Palette
The Input Palette contains notes, accents, dynamics, meters and dozens ofOther music
symbols grouped into different music "tabs" or "pages". Similar symbols are grouped together
on the same tab. For example, notes, accidentals, slurs, ties, tuplets and dots are all
grouped in the Notes tab, since they all have to do with notes.
To Display the Input Palette
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Use any of the following methods to display the Input Pallet.
Switch to the main tab "Home" and choose "Elements" from the group Palettes from the
menu.
-OR-
Press "ALT+1"
To Select Music Pages
To view a set of notation elements, click a tab to bring it to the front of the palette. If a
tab is not visible, use the small arrow keys to move the tabs left and right.
Right-click the mouse anywhere in the Input Palette to display a shortcut menu:
Select an item from the menu to display the corresponding music page.
Notes Tab
Notes Tab
The Notes tab contains the tools for adding notes with durations ranging from double whole
notes to 128th notes. The Notes tab also containsOther symbols generally associated with
notes, such as accidentals, tuplets, slurs, ties and grace notes.
Accents Tab
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Accents Tab
The Accents tab contains symbols for accent marks, string and wind instrument marks, and
abbreviated accent terms.
Fingering [All Editions]
If you would like to write fingering into your score:

1. Select the tab “Accents” from the input palette (“ctrl+1”).
2. Select the desired symbol with a click.
3. The cursor turns into crosslines, as soon as you reach the note head.
4. Click once to place the element.
To edit the element, double-click on it.

A properties window opens. Confirm your choice by clicking on “apply”.
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Dynamics Tab
Dynamics Tab
The Dynamics tab contains dynamic markings, divided into two basic groups. The upper
portion of the window contains symbols that set a particular dynamic value; those in the
lower portion contain markings that change from one value to another.
Tempo Tab
Tempo Tab
The Tempo tab contains symbols for tempo marks and expressions, tempo changes, and
pause marks.
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Fermata [All Editions]
If you would like to write a fermata, please open the input palette (“crtl+1”) and select the
tab “Tempo”. Select the fermata.
If you write a score with several staves per system, the fermata is usually applied to all
staves.
To edit the fermata, double-click on it.
A properties window opens. Confirm your choice by clicking on “apply”.
Text/Chords Tab
Text/Chords Tab
The Text/Chords tab contains a variety of text and graphics symbols, including simple text,
rehearsal markings, lyrics, chords and pedal markings.
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Easier Input of Title Information – including header and footer [All

Editions]
FORTE 8 has improved options for writing the title information. Select the tab “Text / Chords”
from the input palette (ctrl+1) and click on “Title Text”.
You can also add header and footer information to be displayed on each single page of your
score.
Confirm your input and choice by clicking “OK”.
Key Tab
Key Tab
The Key tab contains options for selecting or creating key signatures. All keys, including
those with up to seven sharps or seven flats, are available.
Meter Tab
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Meter Tab
The Meter tab contains symbols you can use to enter meters, also known as time signatures.
The left portion of the tab contains some common meters; the controls on the right portion
of the tab allow you to enter custom meters, including compound and complex meters.
Click on an area in the image below for more information:
Clef Tab
Clef Tab
The Clef tab contains 12 different clef types and 3 octava symbols.
Ornaments Tab
Ornaments Tab
The Ornaments tab contains symbols for adding various ornaments, including trills, mordents,
turns, arpeggios, tremolos, and some modern notational ornaments.
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Repeats Tab
Repeats Tab
The Repeats tab contains symbols for adding repeat signs, repeat expressions, and repeat
bars. Repeat indicators serve as road signs that instruct players to go back to a specific
point or to repeat a certain portion of the music.
Mixer
Mixer
Mixer
The Mixer isUsed to control the interaction of different tracks during a performance, and to
change the overall properties of the music such as tempo and master volume. If you want
one part to sound louder than another, for example, you couldUse the mixer to adjust the
volumes of the tracks until everything sounds right.
Select the Mixer from the ribbon menu in the "Home" tab.
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Docking and Sizing the Mixer
The Mixer can be docked or undocked to the main application window, just like a toolbar.
When the Mixer is undocked you can resize it horizontally to take up less screen space.
Move the mouse over one side of the window until the cursor changes to a resize cursor,
then click and drag to resize the window.
Display Modes
The Mixer can be displayed in different modes: Full, Normal and Mini.
In Full mode, all controls are displayed for each track, including knobs for specifying Reverb,
Pan, Chorus and Modulation. In Mini mode, only the track name and state controls are
displayed.
The 3 icons in the upper left-hand corner of the Mixer are buttons you use to change the
Mixer's display mode:
Full
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Normal
Mini
Track Controls
Track Controls
Each track in a music document is represented in the Mixer as a group of track controls in a
scrolling list. Every track module has several controls for specifying track name, volume, and
other performance settings.
Master Controls
Master Controls
The Master Control area in the Mixer contains controls that affect the performance of all
tracks. Click on areas of the Master controls displayed above to learn more about them.
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Located on the Master control console are a volume slider, a VU meter, tempo controls, a
MIDI In indicator, and a MIDI Thru button.
Properties Window
Properties Window
Properties Palette
The Properties Palette is used to modify hundreds of different element properties. Everything
from the pitch of a note, the shape of slurs and ties to the spacing around a staff can be
changed using the Properties Palette.
The usual method of editing a music symbol is to select it andUse the Properties Palette to
change the desired element properties. One of the most powerful features of the Properties
Palette is its ability to modify many different elements at once. You can select several notes,
for example, and with a single operation change all their durations to 8th notes, or all the
stem directions.
To Display the Properties Palette
Select the Properties Palette from the ribbon menu in the main tab "Home".
-OR-
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Double click the mouse on a music symbol.
-OR-
Right-click on a selected element, then select Properties Palette… from the shortcut
menu.
-OR-
Press "ALT+2"
To use the Properties Palette
· Select elements that you want to edit.

· Display the Properties Palette and use the different property pages to change
characteristics.
· Press the Apply button to make the changes to the selected elements.
· If you've made changes in the Properties Palette - but haven't applied those changes yet
- press the Reset button to reset the controls to the current values.
Properties Window Pages
Properties Palette Pages

Common Pages
In general, element properties are classified in terms of the following:
Appearance Properties affect the way the element appears on the score.
Performance Properties affect how the element sounds during playback.
General Properties include some common properties that also affect how elements look on
the score.
Each of these categories is represented by a "page" or "tab" in the Properties Palette.
Action Page
If a selected element has actions associated with it (e.g. notes, staves) the Properties
Palette also displays the Actions tab. This tab contains a list of actions that can be applied
to the selected element(s).
Other Pages
Some elements haveOther pages beyond the standard Appearance, Performance and General.
For example, the Staff Properties Palette has pages for specifying instrumentation and
routing for each track.
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Notation Element Properties
Symbol Properties
Symbol Properties
Click on any music symbol in the image below to learn about its properties, or select an item
from the list below:
Accent Properties Meter Properties
Accidental Properties Note Properties
Barline Properties Pedal Properties
Beam Properties Repeat Properties
Brace/Bracket Properties Slur Properties
Clef Properties Staff Properties
Chord Symbol Properties Staff Spacing Properties
Document Properties System Properties
Dot Properties Tempo Properties
Dynamics Properties Text Properties
Glissando Properties Tie Properties
Grace Note Properties Tuplet Properties
Key Properties Wave Properties
Lyric Properties
Lyric Block Properties
Accent Properties: Appearance
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Accent Properties: Appearance

Use controls on this page to change the accent type and placement. These settings affect
only how the accent appears in the music.
Accent Properties: Performance
Accent Properties: Performance

Use controls on this page to edit parameters that change how the note attended by the
accent mark sounds during playback. These settings affect only the performed music, not
the original note values.
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Accidental Properties: Appearance
Accidental Properties: Appearance

Use controls on this page to change the accidental appearance. These settings affect only
how the accidental appears in the music.
Barline Properties: Appearance
Barline Properties: Appearance

Use controls on this page to change the barline appearance. These settings affect only how
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the barline appears in the music.
Beam Properties: Appearance
Beam Properties: Appearance
Use controls on this page to change the beam appearance. These settings affect only how
the beam appears in the music.
Brace Properties: Appearance
Brace Properties: Appearance

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Use controls on this page to change how the selected braces or brackets appear in the
Music Score.
Chord Symbol Properties: Appearance
Chord Symbol Properties: Appearance

Use controls on this page to change the chord letter and suffix.
Clef Properties: Appearance
Clef Properties: Appearance

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Use controls on this page to change the start time of the clef and the clef type. Note that
changing the clef type will any notes that follow it.
Dot Properties: Appearance
Dot Properties: Appearance

Dynamics Properties: Appearance (constant dynamics)
Dynamics Properties: Appearance (constant

dynamics)
Use controls on this page to change how constant dynamic markings, such as p, mf and ff,
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appear in the music notation.Other dynamic markings, such as crescendos and hairpins, have
slightly different appearance properties.
Click on one of the links below to display appearance properties forOther types of dynamic
markings:
Appearance (changing dynamics)
Appearance (hairpins)
Dynamics Properties: Appearance (changing dynamics)
Dynamics Properties: Appearance (changing

dynamics)
Use controls on this page to change how changing dynamic markings, such as cresc.,
descresc. and dim., appear in the music notation.Other dynamic markings, such as p, mf and
hairpins, have slightly different appearance properties.
markings:
Appearance (constant dynamics)
Appearance (hairpins)
Dynamics Properties: Appearance (hairpins)
Dynamics Properties: Appearance (hairpins)
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Use controls on this page to change how hairpins appear in the music notation.Other dynamic
markings, such as p, mf and crescendos, have slightly different appearance properties.
markings:
Appearance (constant dynamics)
Appearance (changing dynamics)
Dynamics Properties: Performance (constant dynamics)
Dynamics Properties: Performance (constant

dynamics)
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Use controls on this page to change how constant dynamic markings, such as p, mf and ff,
affect the music performance.
Dynamic markings which change over time, such as crescendos and diminuendos, have
slightly different performance properties. Click on one of the links below to display
performance properties forOther types of dynamic markings:
Performance (changing dynamics)
Dynamics Properties: Performance (changing dynamics)
Dynamics Properties: Performance (changing

dynamics)
Use controls on this page to change how changing dynamic markings, such as crescendos,
hairpins and diminuendos, affect the music performance.
Dynamic markings which areUsed to specify constant values, such as p, mf and ff,, have
slightly different performance properties. Click on one of the links below to display
performance properties forOther types of dynamic markings:
Performance (constant dynamics)
Grace Note Properties: Appearance
Grace Note Properties: Appearance

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Use controls on this page to change how a grace note looks in the Music Score.
Glissando Properties: Appearance
Glissando Properties: Appearance

Key Properties: Appearance
Key Properties: Appearance

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Use controls on this page to change the properties of the selected key signatures in the
Music Score.
Grace Note Properties: Performance
Grace Note Properties: Performance

Use controls on this page to change how a grace note looks in the Music Score.
Lyric Properties: Appearance
Lyric Properties: Appearance

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Use controls on this page to change how the selected lyrics appear in the Music Score. The
changes can be applied to a whole verse/chorus or only to the selected elements.
Lyric Properties: Text
Lyric Properties: Text
The Text tab in the Lyric Properties window allows you to enter or edit whole verses as a
single text block. The basic element of the text block is the syllable. Each syllable will be
automatically placed in an appropriated position on your score (under notes or chords).
Beside the syllables, there are three special elements you can use to adjust the position and
appearance of the lyric text:
· The Place Holder (•)

The place holder is represented by the special character "•" and it will always "hold" the
place of a position (note or chord) that contains no syllable. Place holders can seen as
spaces in a normal text. You can add or remove them by pressing <space bar>, <backspace>
or <delete>.
· The Hyphen (-)

The hyphen is represented by a "hyphen" or "minus sign" and can be used to divide a word in
two or more syllables.
· The Extender (_)

The extender is represented by an "underscore" and can be used to extend the duration of a
syllable over one or more positions. Each extended position is represented in the text by a
single underscore character.
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Lyric Block: Appearance
Lyric Block: Appearance

Use controls on this page to change how the selected lyric blocks appear and to control the
number of blocks per line.
Meter Properties: Appearance
Meter Properties: Appearance

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Use controls on this page to change how the selected meters (time signatures) appear in the
Music Score.
Note Properties: Appearance
Note Properties: Appearance

Use controls on this page to change how a note appears in the Music Score.
Note Properties: Performance
Note Properties: Performance

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Use controls on this page to change how a note performs.
Pedal Properties: Performance
Pedal Properties: Performance

Use controls on this page to change how the selected pedal markings affect the music
performance.
Repeat Properties: Appearance (endings)
Repeat Properties: Appearance (endings)

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Use controls on this page to change how the selected repeat endings appear in the Music
Score.
Click on one of the links below to display appearance properties forOther types of repeat
markings:
Appearance (expressions)
Repeat Properties: Appearance (expressions)
Repeat Properties: Appearance (expressions)

Use controls on this page to change how the selected repeat expressions appear in the
Music Score.
markings:
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Appearance (endings)
Repeat Properties: Performance (End Bracket)
Repeat Properties: Performance (End Bracket)

Use controls on this page to change how the selected repeat bracket performs in the Music
Score.
markings:
Performance (expressions)
Repeat Properties: Performance
Repeat Properties: Performance

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Use controls on this page to change how the selected repeat performs in the Music Score.
markings:
Performance (End Bracket)
Slur Properties: Appearance
Slur Properties: Appearance

Use controls on this page to change how the selected slurs appear in the Music Score.
Tempo Properties: Appearance (constant tempo)
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Tempo Properties: Appearance (constant tempo)

Use controls on this page to change how constant tempo markings, such as Andante, Allegro
and q=, appear in the Music Score.
Other tempo markings, such as accelerandos, ritardandos and pauses, have slightly different
appearance properties. Click on one of the links below to display appearance properties
forOther types of dynamic markings:
Appearance (changing tempo)
Appearance (pauses)
Tempo Properties: Appearance (changing)
Tempo Properties: Appearance (changing)

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Use controls on this page to change how changing tempo markings, such as accelerandos
and ritardandos, appear in the Music Score.
Other tempo markings, such as Andante, Allegro and pauses, have slightly different
appearance properties. Click on one of the links below to display appearance properties
forOther types of dynamic markings:
Appearance (constant tempo)
Appearance (pauses)
Tempo Properties: Appearance (pauses)
Tempo Properties: Appearance (pauses)

Use controls on this page to change how pauses appear in the Music Score.
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Other tempo markings, such as accelerandos, Andante, and the beat symbol, have slightly
different appearance properties. Click on one of the links below to display appearance
properties forOther types of dynamic markings:
Appearance (constant tempo)
Appearance (changing tempo)
Tempo Properties: Performance (expressions)
Tempo Properties: Performance (expressions)

Use controls on this page to change how constant tempo markings, such as Andante, Allegro
and q = 60, affect the music performance.
Other tempo markings, such as accelerandos, ritardandos and pauses, have slightly different
performance properties. Click on one of the links below to display appearance properties for
other types of dynamic markings:
Performance (changing tempo)
Performance (pauses)
Tempo Properties: Performance (changing)
Tempo Properties: Performance (changing)

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Use controls on this page to change how changing tempo markings, such as accelerandos
and ritardandos, affect the music performance.
Other tempo markings, such as Andante, Allegro and pauses, have slightly different
performance properties. Click on one of the links below to display performance properties for
other types of tempos:
Performance (constant tempo)
Performance (pauses)
Tempo Properties: Performance (pauses)
Tempo Properties: Performance (pauses)

Use controls on this page to change how pauses affect the music performance.
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Other tempo markings, such as Andante, Allegro and accelerandos, have slightly different
performance properties. Click on one of the links below to display performance properties for
other types of tempos:
Performance (constant tempo)
Performance (changing tempo)
Tie Properties: Appearance
Tie Properties: Appearance

Use controls on this page to change how the selected ties appear in the Music Score.
Document Properties: Info
Document Properties: Info

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This page gives information about the current document such as file name, and date created.
Staff Properties: Instrument
Staff Properties: Instrument

Use controls on this page to change the instrumentUsed for the selected staves, and to
configure the routingUsed to play the specified tracks.
Text Properties: Appearance
Text Properties: Appearance
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Use controls on this page to change how the selected lyrics appear in the Music Score.
Layout Properties: Staff
Layout Properties: Staff

Use controls on this page to change staff spacing settingsUsed by lyrics, text, dynamics,
andOther symbols.
To bring up this Properties Palette, single click on a measure to select the system, right
mouse click, and from the context menu, select Properties Palette…
Staff Properties: Performance
Staff Properties: Performance
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Use controls on this page to change the transpositionUsed for the track during a
performance. These settings affect only the performance - they do not change how the
music looks in the Music Score.
Staff Properties: Instrument (advanced)
Staff Properties: Instrument (advanced)

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Use controls on this page to change the instrumentUsed for the selected staves, and to
configure the routingUsed to play the specified track.
Layout Properties: System
Layout Properties: System

Use controls on this page to change measures per system on a system by system basis and
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systems per page on a page by page basis.
Staff Properties: Appearance
Staff Properties: Appearance

Use controls on this page to change the staff type, name andOther appearance properties.
General Properties
General Properties
Nearly all notation elements have some common display properties (color, visibility, position)
that are represented in the General page.
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Tuplet Properties: Appearance
Tuplet Properties: Appearance

Use controls on this page to change how the selected tuplets appear in the Music Score.
Wave Properties: Performance
Wave Properties: Performance

Use controls on this page to change how the selected tuplets appear in the Music Score.
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Options
Options
Options
You will find several Options which are located in the different main tabs of FORTE.
E.g.: You will find layout options under the main tab "Score", options concerning the
recording equally under "record" and so on.
There are a lot of specific options as well which you can find under the main tab "Options".
For more information, click on a topic below:
General Options
Notation Options
Sequencer Options
Performance Options
General Options
General Options
General Options
The General tab contains miscellaneous options for specifying how the application behaves as
a whole. You will find the program options in the main tab "Options" in the group "Program".
Click on the image below for details on each control.
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Workspace Options
Workspace Options
You will find the workspace options under the main tab "Options" in the group "Program".
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Save Options
Save Options
The Save tab contains options used when saving files. You will find the save options in the
main
tab "Options" in the group "Program".
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Notation Options
Notation Options
Notation Options
The Notation tab contains options for controlling how music is notated in the Music Score.
You can set these options by clicking on "Notation" under the main tab "Options".
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Drum Notation Tab
Drum Notation Tab
The Drum Notation tab contains options for controlling how drum notation is displayed and
entered in the Music Score.
You can set these options by clicking on "Notation" under the main tab "Options".
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Sequencer Options
MIDI In Options
MIDI In Options
The MIDI In tab contains various options Used for recording MIDI data from an external
keyboard.
You can set these options by clicking on "MIDI in" under the main tab "Options".
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MIDI Out Options
MIDI Out Options
The MIDI Out tab contains various options Used for playing MIDI.
You can set these options by clicking on "MIDI Out" under the main tab "Options".
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MIDI Thru Options
MIDI Thru Options
The MIDI Thru tab contains options for setting up MIDI Thru..
You can set these options by clicking on "MIDI Thru" under the main tab "Options".
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Sync Options
Sync Options
The Sync tab contains various options so that you can synchronize the performance with
Other devices.
You can set these options by clicking on "Sync" under the main tab "Options".
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Metronome Options
Metronome Options
The Metronome tab contains various optionsUsed for configuring the metronome.
You can set these options by clicking on "Metronome" under the main tab "Options".
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Performance Options
Swing Time
Swing Time
In jazz, there is a convention that pairs of written beats are not played equally, as the
notation isOtherwise understood, but with the first longer than the second and the shorter
second note having an accent. Generally the first note of each of these pairs is twice as long
as the second, giving a triplet feel.
The swing feeling alters the way two eighth notes on the same beat are played. When the
slider is in "No Swing" position, each of the notes corresponds to ½ (50%) and ½ (50%) of
the beat. When the slider is in "Triple-feel Swing" position, the duration of the first eighth
note will be 2/3 of the beat, and the second eighth note will correspond to the remaining
1/3. By changing the slider, theUser is able to smoothly alter the swing level, changing the
duration of the first note of the eighth pair from ½ to 2/3 of the beat.
You can set this option directly in the main tab "Playback":
Parts
Define a New Instrument
Define a New Part
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A part is the collection of the staff type, a clef, a key and an instrument. Use the Define Part
dialog to define these characteristics of a new part.
You can create an own instrument template by clicking on the small arrow after you added a
new instrument to you score.
Remove Instrument
Remove Part
Select the Remove Part command from the popup menu to remove the part currently
displayed in the drop-down list.
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When all parts are removed, the list is repopulated with the standard choices. There must
always be at least one part defined at all times.
Instrument
Instrument
Select an instrument for the new part from the drop-down list. The instruments are listed in
alphabetical order.
You can always change the instrument for the staff after it has been added to the music
using the Properties Palette.
Use VST
Use VST
With the integrated VST-Interface it is possible to load external sound libraries and effects
into FORTE.
For more information please select a topic:
Enable VST
VST-Instrument
VST-Effects
FORTE Player
Enable VST
Enable VST
To enable the VST interface simply click in the main tab "Playback" under "VST" on "Use VST"
If you like to load a new VST instrument or an VST Effect-Plugin, click on "Plugins" and the
VST configuration dialog will appear.
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If you have already installed the FORTE Player (incl. in FORTE Premium) it will be
automatically loaded.
You can also load a soundfont using the SFZ-Player which is integrated in FORTE after the
installation.
Click on "Add" to add a VST Instrument or a VST effect plugin.

"Remove" will delet the selected Plugin.
On "Edit" you can change the settings of the selected plugin.
Example of loaded instrument plugins:
VST-Instruments
VST-Instruments
SFZ-Player
You can find a lot of free VST-Instrument plugins online or purchase high quality soundfonts.
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FORTE comes with the SFZ-Player installed which has been contributed by RGC.
The SFZ-Player is a sample & soundfont player which can be used to load a big variety of
free and
commercial soundfonts. In the program folder "VST-Plugins" you will find the General-MIDI-
Soundfont UNISON.
Attention: Before your load a soundfont into the SFZ-Player be sure to select the DFD mode.
The option enhances the
player to load big sized soundfonts.
FORTE Player
If you have bought the FORTE Premium Edition the FORTE Player should be your standard
VST-Instrument.
The FORTE Player can load up to 16 different soundfonts. You will also find a big sound library
with the most often used
classical instruments. For more information have a look at: FORTE Player
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VST-Effects
VST-Effects
You will find a lot of free and commercial effect plugins which can be used with FORTE.
Click on "Add" to add a VST effect plugin.

"Remove" will delet the selected Plugin.
On "Edit" you can change the settings of the selected plugin.
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FORTE Reverb
FORTE Reverb (Premium & Home)

With FORTE Reverb you can play your music in a virtual reverberation chamber. A few
different chambers are already included as presets. Of course you can create your own
individual reverberation chamber with this plug-in.
You can access Forte Reverb any time through clicking the "Play / Edit effect" tab.
Click "Apply". You can open FORTE Reverb by clicking "Edit". Here you will be able to adjust all
necessary parameters for reverberation. The default presets can be accessed through the
drop-down menu.
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Control Functions:
Size: Defines the size of the room

Width: Width of the reverberation chamber in the stereo panorama
Damp: Dampens the sound to simulate distance.
Gate: The Gate function cuts off the reverberation if the corresponding MODE has
been selected.
Mix: Here you can adjust the ratio between effect and dry signal.
FORTE-Player
FORTE Player
With the FORTE Player VST instrument, you be able to listen to your own compositions.
You can open the FORTE Player by clicking in the main tab "Playback" in the group "VST" on "Edit
Instrument".
Attention: To use the instruments of the FORTE Player you have to activate the option "Use VST".
FORTE Player Overview:
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The player opens new documents in FORTE with default settings where all 16 channels are set
to the general MIDI soundfont UNISON.
If you would like to use a sound from this soundfont go to the right pop-up menu. Here you will
find many sounds that are not available in the player library.
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Sounds from the general MIDI font can be chosen directly from the track properties. Should there
be no entries, click on "Patch", "Device Properties" and choose "Unison" from the left list.
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In addition to the 128 GM sounds you now have hundreds of sounds and effects at your disposal.
Under "Patch" and "Group by bank" you will see many other sound options besides the general
MIDI bank.
If you would like to use one of the better sounds from the player library, you can use the pop-uo
menu on the left. Here you will find all orchestral instruments in excellent sound quality.
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When you save a Forte-file all your player settings will also be saved and loaded up the next time
you open it.
You find more topics about the FORTE Player below:
Channels overview
Load Instrument & Soundfont (SF2)
Save Instrument & Soundfont (SF2)
Save & Load (MULTI)
The FORTE Player mixer
Edit instrument (EDIT)
Global options (OPTIONS)
Channel overview
FORTE Player - channel overview

The FORTE Player can play back up to sixteen different instruments/soundfonts
simultaneously.
The instruments are set to the MIDI-channels 1 to 16. In the channel overview you will see
the channels 1 -8 by default.
To see the channels 9 - 16 you have to click on the button "9 - 16" in the top menu bar.
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Load Instrument & Soundfont (SF2) files
Load Instrument & Soundfont (SF2) files

To load a FORTE Player instrument to a desired channel you have to click on the text
"Empty". A popup menu will open wich shows all
provided FORTE Player instruments.
Choose your instrument and it will be assigned to the respective channel.
Load a soundfont (SF2)

Every channels have its own "Eject"-button.
You can load load a soundfont (sf2) file to a channel by clicking on that button. Please notice that
the instrument settings remains unaltered. Only the source soundfont will be changed.
There are two more fields right beside the filename view which shows the "patch" and "bank"
values.
Attention: This concerns only soundfont files which contains more than one bank and / or patch.
Below you can see the FORTE Player with a loaded soundfont assigned to the first channel.
Save Instrument & Soundfont (SF2) files
Save Instrument & Soundfont (SF2) files

To save a FORTE Player instrument with all settings you have to click on the green disk symbol
in the respective channel.
A dialog window shows up where you can assign a name for the new instrument.
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Click on "save" to save the instrument. You can save the instrument at any folder on your hard
disk. You can find your instrument in the pop-up list with the existing instruments from where you
can load it directly.
Save & Load MULTI
Save & Load MULTI
A FORTE Player Multi is a snapshot of all FORTE Player settings and instruments. If you work
with the same mixer settings and instruments frequently, you can facilitate your work with this
feature, because you don't have to make all settings by hand.
To load a Multi you have to click on "LOAD" in the "MULTI" menu in the top menu bar.
A new dialog window shows up where you can choose which Multi is to be loaded.
Attention: All settings and assignments of instruments will be lost due to this process!
To save a Multi simply click on "SAVE". A new dialog window shows up where you can assign a
name for the new Multi. Click on "save" to save the Multi.
The FORTE-Player mixer
The FORTE Player mixer

The FORTE Player mixer is the central control unit and is used to adjust the different loaded
instruments.
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Additionaly every channel has two effects, one for a reverb and one for a chorus.
Hence you can control the intensity of the given effect for the selected channel-strip.
To mute a channel quickly click on the "M" symbol of the respective channel.
To pre-listing an instrument from a single channel click on the "S" symbol on the respective
channel-strip.
All mixer settings can be exported to a file, so it is possible to use this file later to configure
the mixer again.
Save & Load MULTI

Every instrument that has been loaded into to FORTE Player can be adjusted by different
parameters. To adjust these parameters, simply select the desired channel by clicking on the
channel number
(e.g. "1") or click on the "EDIT" button.
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The selected channel will turn green and it will be shown on the lower right side of the FORTE
Player window.
To leave the "EDIT" mode, click on the tab "MIXER".
With the virtual keyboard you can test the settings for a given instrument.
More topics:
Amplifier
Filter-Envelope
Tuning
Options
Amplifier
Amplifier
With the AMPLIFIER section you can control the amplitude of the volume, according to time,
of the selected instrument.
ATTACK: Attack of the instrument

DECAY: Decay of the instrument
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SUSTAIN: Sustain of the instrument

RELEASE: Release of the instrument
VELO: Defines the velocity values from incoming MIDI events. This knob should be always
turned to the right side for
receiving all control information that are send by FORTE.
Filter-Envelope
Filter-Envelope
With the FILTER section you can edit the envelope of the filter according to time.
ATTENTION:
The filter should be set to "BYPASS" if you don't need it. The filter envelope uses a lot
of system resources.
Tuning
Tuning
With the TUNING section you can easily fine tune the samples of your loaded
instrument/soundfont
if they are not in tune with other instruments.
FINE: Controls the pitch between -100 and + 100 cent.
COARSE: Transposes the instrument between -12 and +12 halftone steps.
Options
Options
MONO: Defines wether the instrument is played polyphone or monophone
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NOTE PRIOR: Defines the last played note of the selected channel. (Only in when MONO ist
active)
OFF: No priorities set.

LOW: The lowest note defines the priority.
HIGH: The highest note defines the priority.
LAST: The last note defines the priority (standard).
RETRIGGER: Defines wether the volume envelope is set back after a new incoming MIDI note,
or not.
PBEND: A list of possible pitch bend values (halftone steps)
GLIDING: Defines the "gliding" between notes. (Only available if the instrument is played in
monophone mode)
VIBRATO: Defines the value of the added vibrato to the instrument while using the pitch bend
wheel of a MIDI Instrument (keyboard).
Global Options (OPTIONS)
Global Options (OPTIONS)

Under "OPTIONS" you can set the sound quality (interpolation) of the loaded
instruemnts/soundfonts and
adjust the effect settings for "CHORUS" and "REVERB".
CHORUS FX
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The CHORUS FX is used to get a smoother and wider sound. The signal will be lightly detuned
and doubled to get a richer stereo panorama.
LOWCUT: Cuts the signal from 20Hz to 11Khz using a High-Pass Filter.
DELAY: Adds a delay to the signal from 1 to 40ms.
AMOUNT: Defines the highest possible value of the detuning.
MIX: Defines the value of the effect from 0 to 100%
REVERB FX
Creates an reverb to simulate acoustic room conditions.
LOWCUT: Cuts the signal from 20Hz to 11Khz using a High-Pass Filter.
SIZE: Defines the size of your virtual room.
WIDTH: Defines the stereo panorama of the effect.
DAMP: Defines how strong high frequencies will be damped.
MIX: Defines the value of the effect from 0 to 100%
Audio Quality
ECO: Good balance between sound quality and CPU usage. It is the standard value.
HIGH: Highest possible sound quality with strong CPU usage. ("SINC-8" interpolation)
LOW: Deactivates the interpolation (best performance for slow systems)

Scan Score
Scan Score
(This function is included in FORTE Premium only)
This integrated scan function allows you to convert a simple notation on paper to a digital
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score. All this is possible due to a technology called Optical Music Recognition (OMR). This
technology doesn't pretend to be infallible. Just as the human eye, it can also make
mistakes. Depending on the quality of the printed score, you may experience some notes to
be wrong or missing. This scan function is designed to assist you in entering music by doing
the main part of the job, but not its whole.
If you need to scan more complex scores, we recommend you SharpEye Music Reader, one
of the most efficient music scanning program on the market. For more information, please
visit www.fortenotation.com.
You can open the scan dialog under the main tab "Import" by selecting "Scan" or over the
Launch Assistant under "Import > Scan...".
Or you can click on "Scan" that is located in the main tab "Import".
Click the following link to open FORTE Scan's Help file:

Manual - FORTE Scan
Note: If you receive a system notification while opening, please confirm this notification by
clicking "Open" to display the Help. It will be displayed as a separate file that needs to be
loaded from the program folder.
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Tutorial: How to scan a score
Tutorial: How to scan a score

1. Open FORTE Scan by clicking on the "Scan" button that is located in the main tab
"Import".
2. After FORTE Scan has been loaded click on the "Scan" button OR choose from
the "File" menu
"Scan picture..."
3. The scan process should start in a few seconds and FORTE will detect the correct
scanner settings.
Otherwise you will be asked by your scanner software which settings to use. Select
"Black&White" picture mode
and set the resolution to 300 dpi. (If you want to display the scan dialog simply click in the
menu "Options/Scanner")
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4. After the scan process you will be informed of the quality of your score.
Confirm the dialog by clicking on "OK".
If you want to know more about the Image Quality dialog please click here.
5. Now, you will see a very close view of your score. Use the "Zoom Out"
button to view the whole score.
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6. There are several parts in our score that should not be recognized by FORTE Scan.
So we have to exclude these regions.
Select the exclude tool and draw several rectangles around the parts you want to
exclude.
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8. Start the recognition process by clicking on:

Now set the key & meter for a correct recognition if selected in the options.
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Click "OK" and close the window.'
9. FORTE Scan hast detected most of the notes correctly. The red symbols can be
ignored by our corrections. On the right side of the score FORTE has detected
additional bars (light blue) that are not part of our score. Exclude this region by
drawing a rectangle like you did in step 6. The orange notes and elements were
corrected by FORTE scan, they should not be a problem. Start the recognition again.
Here the result:
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9. Now you can save your edited picture (File menu) and export the score to FORTE
by clicking on the FORTE icon:
Your scanned score will be imported to FORTE. Sometimes you have to make additional
corrections in FORTE. In our example we had
to correct two notes and had to delete an empty measure.
Here is our finale result:
Tutorials
Tutorials
Tutorials
Hier you find some tutorials on how to perform common tasks in FORTE.
Adding Notes
Changing Intruments within a Track
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Merging Tracks
Multivoicing
Multiple Endings
Adding Notes
Adding Notes
There are several different ways to add notes to your
music. The most straightforward approach is to Use
the mouse to add notes from the Input Palette.
To show/hide the Input Palette, click on the

"Elements" button in the main tab "Home"
(You can also record pitches directly into your score - see Recording from a Keyboard.)
Notes are always added to measures in a specific

staff. When you enter a new note, the notation
engine automatically determines stem direction,
spacing, etc. for the note.
If necessary, the measure is widened to

accommodate the new note.
If you add a note that will not logically fit into

the time span of a measure, the note is tied to a
complementary note in the next measure.
There are dozens of other parameters that affect how a given note is displayed: Key
signature, measure width, layout properties, voicing, etc. Once a note is added to your music
you can edit its appearance and performance properties, slur and beam notes together and
perform dozens of other actions on groups of notes to get the music looking just right.
H e r e ʼs H o w To Ad d a No t e
Select the Notes tab in the Input Palette, then select one of the notes.
Move the cursor over the measure to which you wish to add the note. (Notice the feedback
provided by the note cursor.)
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· The ruler is drawn around the measure to

indicate the beats and subdivisions within the
measure.
· The dotted red line shows the time location

where the note is to be added.
· The small highlighted dot shows the pitch for

the new note.
Align the dashed line with the beat where you want the note, then align the dot with the
desired pitch.
Click the mouse to add the note.
How To Remove a Note
Select the note and press the Delete key on your keyboard.
Changing Instruments within a Track
Changing Instruments within a Track

Selecting an Instrument for a specific
Track is fairly straightforward. Using Select
Mode…. (Main tab "Home" under "Modes")
…double-click on the Staff in

question.
When the Staff Properties Palette

appears, select an instrument from
the Instrument tab.
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Changing Instruments within a Track,

however, is less clearly documented. For
our example, we will select to change
Instruments within a Track on the first
beat of the 16th measure.
Using the same Staff Properties Palette,

we will click once on the List button.
An expanded window will appear

containing the current Instrument
selected. (This is also known as the
Patch or Program Change, but for
our purposes we will stick to the
more generic term of Instrument.)
Note the current Instrument

selected in the expanded List View.
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To change the Instrument beginning

at measure 16 first click on the New
Patch button.
Within the Instrument List select a

different Instrument, for this
exampleUse (07)Harpsichord.
Now click in the Time box and using

the up arrow, move the Time
Counter forward to 016:00:000 and
click Apply.
The new Instrument change will

appear beneath the current
Instrument and include the measure
number in which the change occurs.
The next time the file is played the
new Instrument will begin playing in
measure 16.
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There are times when several different instrument sounds are required within a Track, like
using Tremolo Strings (slash on stem) for one section, switching to Pizzicato (pizz) Strings
and then to back to the regular Violin Instrument sound (arco).
One way to accomplish this would be to have separate tracks for each instrument sound.
However this procedure would be cumbersome for a String Quartet or Full Orchestra.
To conserve Score space the Properties Palette can be used to perform these changes. See
the printed example below:
This is how a string player might expect the music to be written. To hear this played back
appropriately through your computer or MIDI keyboard, the following is a step-by-step
procedure to enter these changes.
· Enter the notes either by playing them in from your MIDI keyboard or by dropping in the
notes from the Input Palette.
· Add Tremolo markings to the notes in measure 2 using the Ornaments Tab on the Input
Palette.
Now that the appearance is appropriate for Tremolo Strings, let ʼs ent er t he Pat ch or
Program Change so the notes sound like Tremolo Strings.
In Select mode double-

click on the Track/Staff in
Score View or Mixer View to
bring up the Properties Palette
containing Staff Properties.
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To expose the Program Change

window click on the List button
[Toggle Patch List Editor]. As
you can see in this example,
the Violin instrument has
already been selected.
To change the sound to

Tremolo Strings for measure 2
click the New Patch button
and edit the Time dialog box
content to reference the first
beat of measure 2. Select
Tremolo Strings and click
Apply.
As you can see in this

example, the Patch or Program
Change List has updated
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reflecting the Tremolo Strings

playing on the first beat of
measure 2.
All that is needed now is to

repeat the process and add
Pizzicato Strings (pizz) to the
first beat of measure 3 and
change back to the regular
Violin Instrument (arco) on the
first beat of measure 4.
This method of using multiple instruments within a track is especially handy when working
with sound effects. Instead of having several tracks, one for each sound effect, all the
sound effects can be entered on one track.
Merging Tracks
Merging Tracks
In some instances it may be more desirable to have two parts together on a Track or Staff
rather than have them occupy separate Tracks or Staves.
When creating a composition, this can be accomplished by entering the first part or
instrument (default Voice number is 1) and then switching to Voice 2, entering the second
part. (See Multivoicing.)
But when working with an existing composition, the Merge command offers a more efficient
way of accomplishing this. This illustration gives step-by-step instructions to Merge two
parts or instruments from two separate Tracks or Staves…
…into one Track or Staff.
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To set this up, change the Voice Assignment for all the Part 2 notes.
This is accomplished by clicking on the main tab "Edit".
Click on "Select Elements"
In the Select Element

window click on the None
button clearing out the
element types.
Scroll down and select

Note.
Click the Advanced

button.
Click to select Filter by

Track.
Click to select Part 2.
Click OK.
All the notes in Part 2 should change to the highlight color (red) indicating that they have
been selected.
Click on the Properties Palette button in the main tab "Home" and bring up the Note
Properties window.
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Using the Appearance Tab change the

number for Voice to 2.
Click Apply. (Nothing will appear to

happen.)
Click the Mixer button in if the Mixer is not

the main tab "Home" or already displayed.
press "ALT+3".
In the Mixer View, double-

click on Track Part 2…
…bringing up the Staff Properties Palette.
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Using the main tab "Score" and

select "Merge Staves".
Click to select Part 1 as well.
Click to select Keep original tracks

and Preserve Voices.
Click Apply.
The Merged Staff will appear along with Part 1 and Part 2.
At this point Part 1 and Part 2 can be hidden in this Layout if you desire. To accomplish this,
click on the Layout Operations button and select Edit Layout.
System Layout
Using the Setup Tab remove the

"checkmarks" from Part 1 and Part 2.
If you do not like the current System

Layout of the page…
…use the Spacing Tab and increase the Systems per page number.
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New System Layout
In this example 8 was selected, but the piece only required 6 Systems.
Click Apply and OK.
The final result will look something like this…
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The stems of what were Part 2 notes are now facing down because we assigned them to
Voice 2. The stem direction default is:
Odd Numbered Voice = Stem Up
Even-Numbered Voice = Stem Down
For more information on using Layouts, see Working with Layouts.
Multivoicing
Multivoicing
Each staff can support up to 8 different voices for notating several melodic lines together on
the same staff. Quite often in keyboard, instrumental, and vocal music, two distinct lines of
music occupy the same staff. If the two lines differ rhythmically, they should be notated
using separate voices so that their independent rhythms are preserved. If the two lines share
the same rhythmic pattern, they may be notated using a single voice. The example below
illustrates how multivoicing looks in the Music Score:
Non-Multivoiced Multivoiced
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The notation engine automatically handles many of the nuances of multivoicing music. For
example, there are different rules for stem direction and length, and for how slurs, ties and
accents are displayed. Not e t hat t he not at ion engine aut omat ically fills each voice w it h it ʼs
own set of rests. In keyboard music, one may want to hide rests for improved readability.
Let ʼs look at an example using a familiar t une.
Change voice with the Properties Palette
Select the notes you wish to change.
Display the Appearance page in the

Properties Palette.
Select the desired voice from the Voice

dropdown list.
Click the Apply button to apply the

changes. See Final Result at the end of
this document.
Change voice using an Action
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Select the notes you wish to change by either

drag selecting or holding down the CTRL key
and selecting each one. [See #1 above –
Changing voice with Properties Palette]
Select Actions / Voice from the menu.
Select Change all voices to voice [2]
Click the Apply button.
Insert notes using a different voice
Display the Music Score in Page View. At the top of the Music Score window, select Voice 2
from the Voice drop-down list. ("Home" Tab)
On the Notes tab, select the half note.
On the Music Score, position the Note Entry

cursor on the Staff where you wish to place
the note. To help with note placement, a
dotted vertical line will extend from the ruler
guide through the Staff. Click on the pitch
location you desire on the Staff and the note
will appear as that pitch. [Note the greyed out
Voice 1 notes. They will return to normal when
Voice All is once again selected.]
Final result
After placing or changing your notes [in this example, Voice 2] this is the end product. Using
multivoicing you allow the possibility of multiple moving/rhythmic lines on the same Staff.
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Multiple Endings
Multiple Endings
In many songs containing multiple verses, the melody is not exactly the same for each verse.
Some times the last measure of the first verse will be slightly different than the last measure
of the second verse. Take for example the song ‘Dixieʼ, or as it is also known, "I wish I was in
the land of cotton."
To shorten the music to one page, multiple Endings wereUsed on the verses.
At the end of the second system (measure 9) is the first Ending and at the beginning of the
third system (measure 10) is the second Ending.
Without doubling up on the verses this composition would be two pages long instead of the
one page seen here.
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Now we will begin a step-by-step process of inserting the Ending(s) and making any other
changes to improve the "look and play of the composition."
After creating the music using either the

Input Palette or recording the MIDI data
from a MIDI keyboard, we will add a repeat
sign at the beginning of the piece, just
after ‘Oh, I". Click on the Input Palette and
choose the Repeats tab. ("Home" tab)
Now select the Left Repeat bar to place at

the beginning of measure 2 so that when
the first Ending is played the performer
(and the software) will know where to
begin to play to the second Ending.
Line the cursor up with the

first beat of the second
measure as seen here and
click the mouse button to
place the Left Repeat bar.
Voila! The Left Repeat bar

appears to the right of
the measure line at the
beginning of measure 2.
Now it is time to enter the First Ending at

the end of the first verse in measure 9.
Once again, using the Input Palette and
the Repeats tab select the Ending marker.
In measure 9 line up the cursor with the

first beat and click the mouse button to
enter the Ending marker appropriately.
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Once again, the selected item (in this

case the Ending marker) appears.
To compliment the Left Repeat bar added

earlier we need to add a corresponding
Right Repeat bar. From the Input Palette
using the Repeats tab select the Right
Repeat bar.
Now place the Right Repeat bar at the

end of measure 9 by lining up the
cursor with the last beat of that
measure and clicking the mouse
button.
The result will be measure 9

containing both the Ending marker
and the Right Repeat bar.
Adding the second Ending entails selecting

t he Ending marker from t he Input Palet t eʼs
Repeats tab.
Line up the cursor with the first beat of
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measure 10.
Click the mouse to place the second

Ending marker appropriately. The Ending
appears, but it still indicates the first
Ending.
To change the Ending number, click on the

Select button to enter Select Mode.
("Home" tab)
Double-click on the number 1 within the

Ending marker to select it. (The Repeat
Properties Window will open.)
In the Repeat Properties Palette change

the Ending Value to 2.
When the number 2 appears in the Value

window, click Apply.
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The Ending marker has now been

changed to the number 2 and the
software will play the Endings
appropriately.
Have fun! And remember, if you have multiple Endings and the composition is not playing
back the Endings appropriately, verify that there is a Right Repeat bar on the last beat of
each Ending. This notifies the program to go back and begin at the Left Repeat bar or other
Repeat indicator
How to tune your instrument

Integrated Tuner [All Editions]
You will find the integrated tuner in the main menu at the far right end. Please plug in a
microphone to your computer. Please set the microphone as the default recording device in
t he operat ing syst emʼs set t ings. If necessary, start FORTE again.
FORTE built in instrument tuner is intended to provide an accurate way to tune

following instruments: Guitar, Violin, Viola, Cello and Double Bass. It is designed to
use any microphone/soundcard setup, with minimal user effort. Before using it,
please make sure you have correctly setup your soundcard and microphone. To
start Tuner, use Tuner Icon, available under Home tab:
Once you start it, Tuner window will appear:
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Figure 1
Tuner window elements brief introduction:
· Instrument combo box, the only user input is to select desired instrument to tune:
Guitar, Violin, Viola, Cello or Double Bass
· Strings of Instrument, according to the selected instrument image will display
corresponding tunable strings, in Western notation. Lower string will appear to the left
side, and higher string to the right side
· Current String, while playing one instrument note, it will display the closest note, in
chromatic scale, Western notation
· Tuner Scale, while playing one instrument note, indicator will display how close we
are to the correct note tune (frequency). Once we reach correct tune, in the middle
of the scale, Ok lamp will start to blink. Tuner scale is divides to 20 steps between
each chromatic scale semitones, for more accuracy.
· Clip, indicate that we have too loud microphone input (blink in red), and user is
expected to either lower down microphone input or to play note a bit less loud. Audio
clipping will affect tuner accuracy.
NOTE: Tuner is designed to use A4=440 Hz
How to use Tuner

First step is to verify you have correct soundcard and microphone setup. Choose preferred
audio input device, under Home->Options->Wave->Recording. Start tuner, by pressing Home-
>Tuner icon. If sound setup is ok, Tuner window will appear.
Select Instrument, place microphone close as possible to the instrument strings.
Adjust microphone volume to avoid Audio clipping, in two steps: First increase microphone
volume, and play lower strings, until you reach Audio clipping. You will notice Clip lamp
blinking for a short period.
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Figure 2
Then decrease microphone volume, until you can play a note without Clip lamp activating.
Play instrument strings, on at time, check Current String for the tone detected. Check
Tuner Scale, for the current string tune. Adjust tune to one approximately one semitone
below correct tune, and slowly tune it up, until it reach correct tune.
While tuning up a strung, and playing it, you will see Tuner Scale moving from left to right,
towards central scale position:
Figure 3
As we move closer to correct string tune, colors will slide form Red (out of tune), Orange and
Yellow (closer), to green (close)
Once we reach correct tune, Ok lamp will start to blink:
Figure 4
NOTE: Only tones displayed under Strings of Instrument (tunable strings) will activate Ok
lamp, other detected tones will just show up central Tuner Scale position. These other
tones are not of interest in tuning procedure. For example, if we choose Guitar, only E2, A2,
D3 G3, B3 and E4 will activate Ok lamp.
Tips
For more accurate tuner results, use following tips:
1. Place your instrument close to microphone, as possible

2. Pay special attention to setup correct input volume, to avoid Audio clipping
3. For Guitar tuning, use guitar picker to produce louder string sounds
4. For Violin, Viola, Cello and Double bass use a bow to play tuneable strings
5. Play longer tones, to allow more time to detect correct tune.
6. One Ok lamp blink is not enough to verify correct tune, repeat tone play and Ok lamp
blinks for several times (3-4)
7. Avoid "Microphone Boost" option in Windows mixers, as it increases noise level, which
affect correct tune detection.
Glossary
Glossary
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A
accelerando
accent mark
accidental
adagietto
adagio
adagissimo
Aftertouch
allegretto
allegrissimo
allegro
alto clef
andante
andantino
arpeggio
articulation
asterisk *
a tempo
attack
B
bar
barline
bass clef
beam
beat
beat value
brace
bracket
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C
Channel
Channel Aftertouch
chord
chord progression
clef
clipboard
coda
common time
complete meter
compound note
controller
counter
crescendo
cut time
D
Da Capo
Dal Segno
decrescendo
default
degree
diatonic
diminuendo
dot
double barline
double flat
double sharp
driver
duplet
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duration
dynamic marks
E
enharmonic
expression
F
fermata
Fine
fine barline
flag
flat
forte
fortissimo
forzato
G
General MIDI
glissando
grace note
grand staff
H
hairpins
half step
I
interval
inversion
IRQ or Interrupt
J-K
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Key Aftertouch
key signature
L
larghetto
larghissimo
largo
lead-in measure
leading tone
legato
ledger line
lentissimo
lento
loop record
M
major
marker
measure
meter
metronome
mezzo forte
mezzo piano
middle C
MIDI
MIDI device
MIDI Event
MIDI file
MIDI instrument
MIDI Thru
MIDI volume
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minor
mode
moderato
Modulation Wheel
mordent
multi-voicing
N-O
natural sign
notation
note
note value
octave
ornament
overdub
P
Patch
pedal mark
phrase
pianissimo
piano
pitch
Pitch Bend
pizzicato
polyphony/polyphonic
port
prestissimo
presto
Program Change
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quantize
R
real-time recording
repeat
rest
RIFF MIDI file
rhythm
rhythmic unit
ritardando
root
ruler
S
scale
score
second
segno
semitone
sequencer
sforzando
sforzato
sharp
single barline
slur
sound source
staccato
step record
system
System Common Message
System Exclusive Message
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System Realtime Message
T-U
tempo
tempo slider
template
tenor clef
third
tick
tie
time signature
tool tips
track
transpose
treble clef
tremolo
triad
trill
triplet
tuplet
turn
V
velocity
vivace
vivacissimo
vivo
voice
W-Z
wave file
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whole step
accelerando
An expression that indicates a gradual quickening of the tempo. (Italian for "abbreviated.")
accent mark
A symbol or term indicating that a note or chord is to be played with emphasis or force. See
staccato, legato, sforzando (sf), and forzato (fz).
accidental
A symbol placed before a note that alters the sound by raising or lowering the pitch one or
two half steps, or, in the case of the natural, by canceling the effect of any other
accidental. See sharp, flat, double sharp, double flat, and natural.
adagietto
A slow tempo that is slightly faster than adagio. Typically less than 60 beats per minute.
adagio
A slow, leisurely tempo that is not quite as slow as largo. (Italian for "at ease.") Around 52
beats per minute.
adagissimo
A slow tempo that is slightly slower than adagio. Typically around 43 beats per minute.
aftertouch
The pressure applied to a key on a MIDI keyboard after the key has been pressed down.
Some MIDI keyboards send this special information, although numerous devices do not
respond to aftertouch. There are two types of aftertouch: key, or polyphonic aftertouch
(each key sends out aftertouch independently), and channel aftertouch (all keys assigned to
one channel send out the same message).
allegretto
A light, brisk tempo that is not quite as fast as allegro. Around 100 beats per minute.
allegrissimo
A lively tempo that is faster than allegro. Typically just over 200 beats per minute.
allegro
A fast, lively tempo. (Italian for "cheerful.") Around 120 beats per minute.
alto clef
The moveable C-clef is

called the alto clef when it
establishes the third line of
the staff as middle C. The
alto clef is usually used in
music for the viola.
andante
A medium slow, walking tempo that is somewhere between adagio and allegro. (Italian for
"walking.") Around 60 beats per minute.
andantino
A slow tempo that is usually slightly faster than andante. Around 70 beats per minute.
arpeggio
An ornament indicating that the notes in a chord are played in succession, one right after
the other, rather than simultaneously. (Italian for "on the harp.")
articulation
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Symbols and terms such as accents, slurs, and phrase markings indicate how notes should be
played or "articulated." These markings point out which notes to play with emphasis, which
to play smoothly together, and which to play separately from each other.
asterisk *
In piano music, an asterisk is the part of a pedal mark that indicates when the sustain pedal
is to be released.
a tempo
An indication to return to the original temp after a change in tempo (accelerando or

ritardando) or after a pause (fermata).
attack
The moment when a sound is articulated.

bar
A term often used to refer to a measure. The space between one bar line and the next, a
measure groups a specific number of beats as determined by the time signature.
barline
The vertical line marked on a staff to indicate the point of division between measures.
bass clef
Also known as the F-clef,

the bass clef establishes
the fourth line of the staff
as the note F. Notes placed
below middle C are usually
written on this clef.
beam
A beam is used to join groups

of flagged notes. Primary
beams link flagged notes
making up a beat, while
secondary beams define the
subdivisions of the notes
linked by the primary beam.
beat
A unit of time in music. A beat is equal to the value of the lower number in the time
signature.
beat value
The lower number of the time signature provides the beat value. For example, in a 3/4 time
signature, the "4" tells you that a quarter note receives one beat.
brace
Braces are commonly used

to connect two or more
staves that are played on
one instrument, such as a
piano or harp, where the
music is to be read and
played by one performer.
bracket
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Brackets are commonly

used in orchestral music
to connect the staves
that belong to a family of
instruments (for example,
violins) and in choral
music to group staves of
individual vocal parts into
systems that will be sung
by more than one singer
(for example, a trio).
Channel
(MIDI term) The General MIDI standard allows 16 MIDI channels. Each channel could be
assigned to a different MIDI instrument. Only instruments "tuned" to a channel will receive
the messages assigned to that channel.
Channel Afterouch
(MIDI term) All the keys on one channel send out the same Aftertouch message.
chord
A simultaneous sounding of three of more pitches.

chord progression
A short succession of logically ordered chords or harmonies that makes musical sense and
can stand as an identifiable or repeatable item.
clef
A symbol placed at the beginning of a staff that determines the pitch of the notes. The clef
fixes the position of one pitch, which is then used as a reference point for other pitches on
the staff. See treble clef, bass clef, alto clef, and tenor clef.
clipboard
A temporary area to which you can copy and from which you can retrieve music data. The
Cut and Copy commands place selected data into the Clipboard, while the Paste command
retrieves the information for placement in a music document.
coda
A short passage of music

often taken from within a
composition that is
repeated at the end to
provide a sense of closure
as the piece concludes.
(Italian for "tail.")
common time
Another name for 4/4 time.

In common time, four
quarter note beats make
up a measure.
complete meter
The combined information located at the beginning of a composition. The complete meter
includes the clef, the key signature, and the time signature.
compound note
A note written as two or more
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notes tied together; for example,

a quarter note tied to an eighth
note.
Controller
(MIDI term) A device (often an instrument such as a MIDI keyboard or drums) used to output
MIDI messages. A controller can also be an instruction to change the volume or pan the
sound, in which case it would be a type of MIDI event.
counter
The display in the Time Tool that indicates the present location in the music document in a
bar:beat:tick format.
crescendo
A dynamic mark indicating that

the volume is to become
gradually louder. (Italian for
"growing.")
cut time
Another name for 2/2 time.

In cut time, two half note
beats make up a measure.
Da capo
D.C., a repeat instruction that means to "repeat from the beginning."

Dal segno
D.S., a repeat instruction that means to "repeat from the sign."

decrescendo
A dynamic mark indicating that

the volume is to become
gradually softer. (Italian for
"decreasing.")
default
A number, word or setting that a program automatically assumes or provides. For example,
when using the Record button, the default destination track is the first unused (empty)
track. Normally, you can use the Preferences command to change settings from their default
values.
degree
A line or space on a staff.

diatonic
In a diatonic scale, notes occur naturally without modification by accidentals other than
those in the key signature.
diminuendo
A dynamic mark indicating that the volume is to gradually become softer. (Italian for
"waning.")
dot
A single dot placed after a

note or rest increases the
value by 50%, so the note's
length is one and one half
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times its normal duration.

Two dots increase a note's
value by 75%, while three
dots increase a note's value
by 87.5%.
double barline
Consisting of two thin

vertical lines, the double
barline indicates either the
end of a section in a piece
of music or the end of the
composition.
double flat
An accidental symbol
that lowers the pitch of
the note by one whole
step.
double sharp
that raises the pitch of
the note by one whole
step.
driver
Software that enables software applications to communicate with hardware devices. Drivers
are installed with sound cards or MIDI interfaces for recording or playback of MIDI information
with MIDI instruments.
duplet
Two notes of equal value that are played in the time normally occupied by three notes of the
same value; indicated by a 2 above or below the notes. See tuplet.
duration
The length of time a note is played or a rest is held. A note's duration is measured in a
beat:tick format where the number of ticks per beat can be adjusted so that one quarter
note may have a duration of 1:0 while another has a duration of 0:0775. Both notes would
look the same on the score, but during playback, the first note would be held longer than the
second.
dynamic marks
The symbols, terms, and abbreviations used to indicate varying levels of loudness or softness
in volume. Some dynamic marks indicate an immediate change in volume such as forte (loud)
or piano (quiet), while others indicate a gradual change in volume such as crescendo
(gradually getting louder).
enharmonic
Two notes that sound the same but are written differently. For example, F# and Gb
represent the same pitch, but they are notated differently on the staff.
expression
Usually placed following the tempo marking at the beginning of a composition, expressions
suggest the general feeling or mood of the music.
fermata
A sign placed over a note
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or rest to indicate that

the sound or silence is to
be held longer than its
given value. (Italian for
"pause.")
Fine
A term used at the end of a repeated section to mark the end of a song.
fine barline
A double barline consisting

of a thin line followed by a
thick one, that indicates
the end of a composition.
flag
The flags attached to a note stem identify the note value: a note with one flag is an eighth
note, a note with two flags is a sixteenth note, and so on.
flat
that lowers the pitch of
the note by one half
step.
forte (f)
A dynamic mark indicating that the note(s) should be played loudly and strongly. (Italian for
"loud.").
fortissimo (ff)
A dynamic mark indicating that the note(s) should be played louder and stronger than forte.
forzato (fz)
An accent mark indicating

that a note or chord is to
be strongly accented. The
forzato accent, which
represents a stronger
attack than the sforzando
accent, does not change
the duration of the note.
General MIDI
(MIDI term) A standard protocol for communication between MIDI devices. The best known
element of this is General MIDI's standard patch map.
glissando
An ornament indicating a rapid slide up or down between two pitches, sounding all the notes
between them. On a keyboard for example, the effect is produced by sliding your fingers
quickly up or down the keys. (Italian for "to glide.")
grace note
One of the small note ornaments, a grace note is a small-sized note that embellishes another
note. Grace notes are usually not essential to the music, and their value is not included in
the measure, but is subtracted from the preceding or following note.
grand staff
Used commonly in piano music, the grand staff is a combination of two staves. The upper
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staff, in the treble clef, is played by the right hand, and the lower staff, in the bass clef, is
played by the left hand.
hairpins
Also called wedges, hairpins indicate

a gradual increase or decrease in
volume over a range of notes.
half step
Also known as a semitone, a half step is the smallest interval in Western music. On a piano
keyboard, a half step is the distance from one key to the adjacent black or white key.
interval
The difference in pitch between two tones. Intervals can be measured in half-steps. Another
method uses scale tone distance identifiers (e.g. major 3rd, perfect 5th, minor 6th).
inversion
1.
1.One of the different forms a chord can take when the notes making up the chord are
rearranged on the staff so that a note other than the root is the lowest note. In an inverted
chord, the bottom note no longer shares the chord's name.
2.
2.Flipping a melodic line around some horizontal axis. The melodic line is in effect turned
"upside down". This is a common compositional technique found in composers from Bach to
Schönberg.
IRQ or Interrupt
IBM PC compatible computers use interrupts to let peripherals share the time and resources
of the computer. Each peripheral (printer, MIDI interface, modem, etc.) must be assigned a
unique IRQ, or interrupt. If two devices are set for the same IRQ, the result will be anything
from unreliable operation to complete failure.
Key Aftertouch
(MIDI term) Also known as polyphonic aftertouch, individual keys send out an Aftertouch
message independently.
key signature
The group of specifically ordered sharps or flats that follows the clef sign at the beginning of
the staff and indicates the key of the composition. The key signature affects the notes to
which it refers in all octaves, unless canceled by another accidental or a key signature
change.
larghetto
A slow tempo that is slightly faster than largo. Around 60 beats per minute.
larghissimo
A slow tempo that is slightly slower than largo. Around 40 beats per minute.
largo
A very slow, broad tempo. (Italian for "broad.") Around 50 beats per minute.
lead-in measure
The measure that is counted off by the metronome before recording or playing begins. It is
often desirable to hear a lead-in measure to get used to the metronome's timing.
leading tone
A note that "leads" to resolution in the subsequent note which is typically just above it. In
classical scale nomenclature the leading tone is the seventh note of the scale.
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legato

that the attended notes
are to be played in a
smooth, connected
manner. Often, a slur is
used to join the notes in a
passage of music.(Italian
for "tied.") Legato is the
opposite of staccato.
ledger line
The short horizontal lines drawn above and below a staff that extend the range of the staff
for pitches that are too high or too low to be written on the staff. Ledger lines are added
only when they are needed.
lentissimo
An extremely slow tempo that is slower than lento.Typically less than 50 beats per minute.
lento
A slow tempo. (Italian for "slow.") Around 50 beats per minute.

loop record
A special recording mode in which multiple "loops" are recorded one after another without
having to stop, rewind and restart a recording on a different track. Several loop record
variations are supported.
major
The name of a key based on a seven note diatonic scale, made up of intervals that conform
to the following formula (in ascending order where w=whole step, and h=half step): w, w, h,
w, w, w, h. For example, the key of C is made up of these notes: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C
(octave). Any key based on this seven note diatonic scale pattern is called a major key. See
minor.
marker
A point in your music document that contains a bookmark. Markers are easy ways of
navigating around the score using the Transport Controls.
measure
The space between one bar line and the next, a measure groups a specific number of beats
as determined by the time signature.
meter
As indicated by the time signature, meter is the grouping of accented and unaccented beats
in a measure. There are three types of meters: simple, compound, and combined.
metronome
Whether mechanical or electronic, a metronome is a device that marks time with a repeating
tick. You can adjust the number of ticks or beats per minute to reference the desired meter
and tempo.
mezzo forte (mf)
A mark indicating a dynamic level that is moderately loud, or half as loud as forte (f).
mezzo piano (mp)
A mark indicating a dynamic level that is moderately soft, or half as loud as piano (p).
middle C
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The C on the piano that is closest to the center of the keyboard. The note is located on the
first ledger line below the treble staff and the first ledger line above the bass staff. In MIDI
terms, middle C is referred to as C4.
MIDI
Acronym for Musical Instrument Digital Interface. A language that electronic musical
instruments, software, and computers use to communicate information about musical
performance. The program sends and receives messages using the MIDI language so that it
can talk to any instrument that also uses MIDI. MIDI information is typically sent using a
five-pin round (DIN) connector. For example, a MIDI device can communicate and
understand what notes are being played, how fast they are being played (in metronome time
or hours, minutes, and seconds), how loudly or softly they are being played, and other
factors. Each piece of data recorded or sent, such as a note, is referred to as a MIDI event
or MIDI message
MIDI device
An electronic instrument, such as a synthesizer keyboard, that is capable of sending and

receiving MIDI messages. Not all MIDI devices are capable of playback.
MIDI Event
A message sent between MIDI devices such as a MIDI keyboard and a computer. The
message (or event) represents a note or an action on the note or MIDI channel.
MIDI file
A file format for the platform-independent exchange of MIDI sequences. Type 0 are single-
track files. Type 1 are multi-track files. Type 2 files are rare and usually represent
combinations of Type 1 files.
MIDI instrument
A device, such as an electronic synthesizer keyboard, that produces MIDI messages.

MIDI Thru
(MIDI term) MIDI data received at the input is sent on to the output. A MIDI THRU connector
mirrors any data entering the MIDI IN port. Many MIDI software packages provide this
feature. In hardware devices, this is typically a hard-wired connection.
MIDI volume
A MIDI Controller message—on controller 7—that affects the loudness of all notes on a
particular MIDI Channel. (Volume is not the same thing as velocity in MIDI.)
minor (pure)
A key or seven note diatonic scale, made up of intervals that conform to the sequence w, h,
w, w, h, w, w (in ascending order, w=whole step and h=half step). For example, the key of A
minor is made up of these notes: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A (octave). Any key based on this
seven note diatonic scale pattern is called a minor key. Other minor scales include melodic
minor and harmonic minor. See major.
mode
The pattern of intervals of whole and half steps organized within a scale. The mode is
defined by the manner in which the tones are arranged within an octave.
moderato
A medium tempo, around 80 beats per minute. Also an expression that modifies the meaning
of a given tempo: for example, "andante moderato" is not quite as slow as andante.
Modulation Wheel
(MIDI term) A MIDI controller device which allows the user to change a certain parameter
such as the amount of vibrato applied to a note. Typically set to controller 1.
mordent
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An ornament indicating a
single alternation between
the written note and the
note above or below it.
The extra notes are played
quickly and softly before
the written note.
multi-voicing
More than one independent line of music on one staff.

natural sign
that cancels the effect
of a sharp or flat located
either in the key
signature or earlier in the
same measure.
notation
The system of accepted symbols and marks used to communicate music information such as
melody and rhythm in written form.
note
A symbol that represents the pitch (name) and duration of a tone by its position on a staff
and its shape. When grouped in measures, notes also indicate the rhythm used in a piece of
music.
note value
The value or duration of a note is indicated by the different types of notes. Each note has a
value that describes the duration. For example, a quarter note = 1 beat; a dotted half note =
3 beats.
octave
The interval between two notes that have the same name but are not the same pitch; for
example, the distance between middle C and high C is one octave.
ornament
A note or series of notes that do not belong to the main melody or harmony, but are used to
adorn or decorate a music part. Ornaments can make the music more interesting, enhancing
a part by adding feeling or drama. See arpeggio, glissando, tremolo, trill, mordent, and turn.
overdub
Add notes to the existing notes on a track by recording a new layer of music on top of an
existing one.
Patch
Information that a synthesizer uses to define a specific sound wave form (timbre). See
Program Change.
pedal mark
In music written for piano, the pedal mark indicates that the sustain (or right) pedal is to be
pressed. See asterisk.
phrase
A unit of music or a musical thought that is usually two to four measures long, a musical
phrase is similar to a clause or sentence in written language.
pianissimo (pp)
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A dynamic mark indicating that the note(s) should be played very softly.
piano (p)
A dynamic mark indicating that the note(s) should be played softly. (Italian for "soft.")
pitch
The relative highness or lowness of a tone.

Pitch Bend
A MIDI message that changes the pitch of a note by sliding it up or down. The Pitch Bend
action simulates a guitar player bending a string to "stretch" a pitch or a trombone player
sliding from one note to another.
pizzicato
An accent mark for stringed

instruments indicating that the
strings are to be plucked
rather than bowed on certain
notes. Two types of pizzicato
are available: Left Hand
Pizzicato and Snap Pizzicato.
polyphony/polyphonic
A polyphonic tone-generator can play two or more notes at once. A '24-voice polyphonic'
means the tone-generator is capable of 24 voices at once. Some sounds need 2 or more
voices to create a note, so if you use sounds such as these, you are cutting your polyphony
in half.
port
Computer hardware uses ports to transfer data. Each port has a unique address. This is a
common setting on MIDI interfaces and sound cards. This term is also used to refer to a
specific MIDI interface or sound card installed in your computer. See IRQ.
prestissimo
A very fast tempo that is slightly faster than presto. As high as 240 beats per minute.
prestissimo
A very fast tempo that is slightly faster than presto. As high as 240 beats per minute.
Program Change
A MIDI message sent to and from instruments that changes the patch or sound information
for that instrument, resulting in a different timbre.
quantize
A feature that lengthens or shortens notes (and changes where notes begin) to even
multiples of a specified beat subdivision. Quantizing can make somewhat sloppy playing sound
tighter, but can also make a performance sound too rigid if applied incorrectly.
real-time recording
As opposed to step recording, lets you play a song and keeps track not only of the notes
played, but how long and when each note was played so that the exact music can be
reproduced. Audio tape recorders are always real-time recorders.
repeat
A sign or term used to indicate that a portion of music (a note, a measure, a section, and so
on) is to be repeated.
rest
353 / 358
A symbol representing a period of musical or rhythmic silence. The duration of the silence is
indicated by the particular rest symbol used. Rests are counted the same as the note values
they replace.
RIFF MIDI file
RIFF (Resource Interchange File Format) is a file structure that was developed for multimedia
files. A RIFF MIDI file is a particular kind of RIFF file that contains MIDI data. These files have
a .RMI extension.
rhythm
The element of time in music, rhythm is the ordering and grouping of alternating strong and
weak beats and is made up of tempo, accent, and meter.
rhythmic unit
The element of music designated by the bottom number of the time signature, the rhythmic
unit is the note value assigned to the beat.
ritardando
An expression that indicates a gradual slowing of the tempo. (Italian for "retarding.")
root
The note from which a chord is derived. The lowest tone of a triad, the root gives the chord
its name.
adagissimo
A slow tempo that is slightly slower than adagio. Typically around 43 beats per minute.
scale
A graduated series of musical tones within an octave. The pattern of whole steps and half
steps determines the scale's mode (major or minor) and form.
score
Music written out for several performers; for example a choir would use a choral score, and
an orchestra would use an orchestral score. The group of staves upon which all parts of a
piece of music are written.
second
The interval between two notes that are either one half or one whole step apart. If the
notes are one whole step apart, they form a major second. If the notes are one half step
apart, they form a minor second.
segno
The sign that sometimes

marks the beginning and
other times the end of a
repeated passage.
semitone
Also known as a half step, the smallest interval used in Western music.
sequencer
A MIDI multi-track recorder that is used to record, edit, and play back MIDI messages.
sforzando

be strongly accented or
played with sudden
emphasis. The sforzando
354 / 358
accent, which represents a

slightly less forceful attack
than the forzato accent,
does not change the
duration of the note.
(Italian for "forcing.")
sforzato

be played suddenly loud
with gusto.
sharp
that raises the pitch of
the note by one half
step.
single barline
A thin vertical line on a

staff that separates metric
groupings from one another
in measures. Single barlines
define measures by
separating one from the
next.
slur
A curved line used to

connect two or more notes
of different pitches. A slur,
which can be placed above
or below the notes, indicates
that the notes are to be
played legato. See tie.
sound source
The sound source determines whether the metronome signal is sent to the computer speaker
(beeps or clicks) or as MIDI note data to the MIDI output.
staccato

that the notes are to be
played in a short, choppy
manner. A dot placed
above or below a note
usually means it is to be
played staccato. (Italian
for "detached.") Staccato
is the opposite of legato.
step record
A special recording mode in which there is no notion of playing along "with the music".
Instead, you enter notes one at a time at whatever rate you wish. The note value (duration)
is set according to the currently selected note in the Music Palette.
system
355 / 358
A group of two or more staves connected with a single brace.

System Common Message
(MIDI term) One of the three types of MIDI system messages, a System Common message is
a type of MIDI message that is common to all "receivers" in the system.
System Exclusive Message
(MIDI term) A special class of MIDI system message that allows manufacturer-specific
information to be received and transmitted. Also known as SysEx., this message can be used
to transfer sound data or change effects settings.
System Realtime Message
(MIDI term) Another of the three types of MIDI system messages, a System Realtime
message is a type of MIDI message that is used to synchronize a network of sequencers.
tempo
The speed at which a piece of music is to be played. (Italian for "time.") The tempo marking
is usually placed above the staff at the beginning of the piece. Some tempo expressions
indicate an overall tempo for the piece of music such as Adagio (leisurely) or Presto (quickly),
while others indicate a change in tempo such as ritardando (gradually slowing down).
tempo slider
The control located on the master module in the mixer that provides a means to adjust the
overall tempo.
template
A file containing basic information that can be used to create a music document. Templates
contain common instruments for the type of music chosen. You can create your own
template files.
tenor clef
The moveable C-clef is

called the tenor clef when
it establishes the fourth
line of the staff as middle
C.
third (3rd)
The interval between two notes that are either two whole steps, or one whole step plus one
half step apart. If the interval is two whole steps, the notes form a major third. If the
interval is one whole step plus one half step, the notes form a minor second.
tick
Music time is measured in a [bar:beat:tick] format where a measure contains a specific

number of beats, and a beat is comprised of a specific number of ticks. Ticks provide an
incremental measure of time that is much finer than traditional music notation allows.
tie
A curved line used to connect two

or more notes of the same pitch.
A tie, which can be placed over or
under the notes, indicates that
the sound of the first note is to be
held for the value of the second
note with no break in the tone.
See slur.
time signature
356 / 358
The symbol placed at the

beginning of a composition,
following the clef sign and
key signature, that
indicates the number of
beats in a measure. The
pair of numbers resembles a
fraction. In simple time the
top number indicates the
number of beats in a
measure while the bottom
number indicates the note
value equal to one beat.
For example, in 2/4 time
each measure contains the
equivalent of two quarter
notes.
tool tips
short descriptions of controls or other user interface items that are displayed in small popup
windows. You display a tooltip for a control by moving the mouse pointer over the control.
track
A term from sequencers which represents a portion of music or control information that can
be independently controlled. Each track is displayed as a staff on the Music Score and a
track module in the Mixer. Each track can be polyphonic (contain many simultaneous notes),
can be set to more than one MIDI channel, and has its own set of music and performance
features.
transpose
To play or write music in a key different from the one in which the piece was originally
written. Since all pitches are raised or lowered the same number of half-steps when music is
transposed, the harmonies are maintained.
treble clef
Also known as the G-clef,

the treble clef establishes
the second line of the staff
as the note G. Notes
placed above middle C are
usually written on this clef.
tremolo
An ornament indicating
the rapid repetition of a
single note. On a stringed
instrument like a violin,
the effect is produced
using quick up and down
strokes with the bow.
(Italian for "trembling.")
triad
Also called a "common chord," any three note chord containing a root, a third, and a fifth.
trill
An ornament indicating the

rapid alternation between
357 / 358
two notes. The written

note and the note above it
are played back and forth
in quick succession for the
duration of the written
note. See mordent.
triplet
Three notes of equal value

that are played in the time
normally occupied by two
notes of the same value;
indicated by a 3 above or
below the notes. See
tuplet.
tuplet
A notational device used to alter rhythmic values. See duplet and triplet.
turn
An ornament indicating the

rapid play of a series of four
successive notes. The first
note played is the note
above the written note,
followed by the written
note, then the note below
the written note, and finally
ending with the written
note.
velocity
On a MIDI keyboard, velocity is a measure of how hard a key is pressed or released. For
keyboards with velocity control, this can affect the loudness or volume of the sound;
however, velocity is not a measure of volume. (Velocity settings range from 0-127.)
vivace
A fast, lively tempo equal to or faster than allegro. (Italian for "lively.") Around 150 beats per
minute.
vivacissimo
A lively tempo that is slightly faster than vivace. Around 220 beats per minute.
vivo
A brisk, lively tempo. (Italian for "brisk.") About 160 beats per minute.
voice
The different parts or voices used in a composition. When two voices are written on one
staff, for instance a melody and a harmony line, the note stems would point up for one voice
and down for the other. Both voices would also require their own rests.
wave file
A sound file that contains a digital recording of voices, instruments, or other sounds. Wave
files have a .WAV extension.
whole step
Also known as a whole tone and a major second, a whole step is equal to two half steps.
358 / 358

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FORTE 9 Documentation

Playing Music .............................................................................................. 46

The Current Selection ................................................................................... 71

The Music Grid ...................................................................................... 100

Reminder Accidentals (Courtesy Accidentals) ..................................... 133

Add and Remove Octavas ............................................................... 159

Edit Tuplets with the Shortcut Menu ................................................. 187

List Area ............................................................................................... 212

Text/Chords Tab ........................................................................................ 242

Tempo Properties: Appearance (constant tempo) .......................................... 267

Channel overview ................................................................................... 300

About the Documentation

About the Documentation

This documentation is intended to provide a comprehensive explanation of the features of

Click on one of the topics below to learn more:

The following topics describe how to use the program:

Understanding Tracks & Staves

What's new in FORTE 9

New features in FORTE 9

1. New Design and User Interface

4. Dock the Input Palette

5. New Virtual Keyboard

Click “Okay” to confirm your choice of note names.

7. New Playback Options

8. Boomwhacker Notation or Chromanotes

Well, how do you un-do that?

10. FORTE Reader iOS App

11. FORTE supports Unicode

Click the following icon to display the video on full screen.

You can also find the video on YouTube.

The workspace consists of the these elements:

The Main Tabs

The Main Tabs

New Creates a new music document. C

Open Opens an existing music document

Open Opens music documents from the

Save Saves the active music document

Save Saves the active music document

Print... Prints all or a selected portion of y

Print Prints several parts of your score.

Print Creates a Blank Sheet with empty

Controls Use the transport control to play, stop and navigate

Modes Use the Select Mode (CTRL+1) to select elements

Use the (Mouse & keyboard) Insert Mode (CTRL+2)

Palettes Opens the Inputs Palette to select

Opens the Properties Palette to edit score

Opens the mixer to adjust the volume of your

Parts Create und edit parts of your score.

Transposition Transpose your music by key, interval or instrument.

Concert Pitch Switch between sounding and transposing score

History Undo & Redo edit steps.

Clipboard Copy & Paste elements of your score.

Color Select an element of you score and change its color

Properties - Change the duration of one or multiple notes.

- Adds automatically the names of the selected

Composition - Retrogrades selected notes.

Voice - Splits one voice into two.

Time - Moves a note to another time in measure.

Chords - Add a Chord/Symbol