Finale Quick Tips: Instrument Doubling

10/10/2011 5:56:59 PM #

Now, just add expression markings that say "Switch to Flute" at the end of the previous instrument section and "Flute" at the start of the section, etc., and this will be priceless.  I'm very glad for the functionality that is there, though.  The timing of this addition to the program was PERFECT for my current project!

Steve Sensenig

10/10/2011 6:02:53 PM #

I have the Demo and am LOVING IT. Love the new features like this one.

Jimmy Alexander

10/10/2011 6:20:40 PM #

Nice feature, can I make the change of instrument at mid-measure? Or it applies just to whole measures?

Luis Francisco Soto

10/10/2011 6:50:14 PM #

This is a great feature addition!

Terry Vosbein

10/10/2011 8:08:07 PM #

Hello, I have downloaded Finale 2012 Demo and installed it successfully.

But I can't import HP file I have set by Finale 2011.
I Finale 2011, I can import HP file set by Finale 2007.

How can I do?

Jim

10/10/2011 8:46:27 PM #

I was hoping that MM solved the annoying problem of "Stuck" notes in Finale 2011 to the new version in 2012, but unfortunately, already the very first note I enter in 2012 was "hanging"!
I don't understand that MM can't fix it, especially as more and more users write about the problem on various forums.
I've been using Finale for 20 years but never experienced such incredible bug.

Tomas Dunker

10/10/2011 9:06:46 PM #

Hi Tomas,

As we have discussed before, we have not been able to reproduce this. That makes it virtually impossible for the developers to track down the specific cause. We do know that setting the processor affinity for Finale to one processor does stop the problem, which now can maybe lead us down the right direction to solving this.

-Justin at MakeMusic

Justin W. Phillips

10/10/2011 9:07:36 PM #

Hi Jim,

Have you tried contacting support about this with the file you're unable to import an HP preference for?

Justin W. Phillips

10/10/2011 11:09:53 PM #

This would be great for having multiple mallet instruments on one mallet part. Can't wait 'til I have enough money to upgrade to Finale 2012. Thanks for sharing Justin!

Tyler (@tyty1993 on Twitter)

Tyler

11/4/2011 3:46:03 AM #

I notice the abbreviated instrument name is ALWAYS in Times New Roman 14, even in my JazzFont documents. I can edit each instrument change individually so that the abbr. inst. name is JazzText 14 like all my other staff names, but how can I have this by default? In Document Options my default font for Abbreviated Staff Names is JazzText 14, but this doesn't keep Finale from making new instrument changes in Times.

Christopher Smith

11/4/2011 3:49:02 AM #

Never mind. I just noticed that Finale uses the FULL staff name font for the instrument change, even though it only shows the ABBREVIATED staff name. I find that counterintuitive, but at least I know it now.

Christopher Smith

11/4/2011 2:46:55 PM #

One more little bug. When you switch from a pitched percussion instrument to a non-pitched one, the key signature is changed to C with naturals. This is wrong. I would hide the key change with Measure Attributes, but what happens if there is a key change in the OTHER instruments, or just a system change where the key sig should be displayed? It won't be shown then, which is even MORE wrong.

Now, I could set the Key Signature for that staff to be independent, but then none of the pitched percussion would change keys properly unless I did it manually. This could get very kludgy for a percussion ensemble piece. I'm not even sure I can hide a key signature change on only one staff, even if the key sig is independent.

This should be automatic.

Christopher Smith

11/6/2011 12:23:53 AM #

Hi Christopher,

Absolutely, I'll submit that as a defect and hopefully that can be included soon.

Thanks,

-Justin at MakeMusic

Justin W. Phillips

11/8/2011 7:42:01 PM #

Now, just add expression markings that say "Switch to Flute" at the end of the previous instrument section and "Flute" at the start of the section, etc., and this will be priceless.  I'm very glad for the functionality that is there, though.  The timing of this addition to the program was PERFECT for my current project!

scene games

11/9/2011 11:37:28 AM #

About scene games' comment above mine: Actually, the marking "Flute" would be invaluable, because right now I can't figure out how to know that a different instrument has been selected on a staff. If I display in concert pitch, even instruments with DIFFERENT transpositions show no change, and if two instruments have the SAME transposition (trumpet/ flugelhorn, clarinet/soprano sax or tenor sax) the key signature doesn't even give me a clue. With the old way, transposing Staff Styles showed with a bar over the measures, so I always knew.

I wouldn't want Finale to choose the wording or measure where the expression comes "to Flute" or "Switch to flute". As far as Finale is concerned, the alto sax (or whatever instrument is playing before) plays right up to the bar where the switch is made. Now, I prefer to mark this in the last measure that has notes for the alto sax, but do we really expect Finale to know this? What happens if I put in an alto sax note AFTER this marking shows up? Would the marking be smart enough to move, or will I have to move it manually? Would I be able to edit the marking without changing it elsewhere? What if I WANTED it to change elsewhere? There is too much to manage here with the "Switch to Flute" expression, but I would be in favour of an automatic "Flute" expression.

Christopher Smith

11/10/2011 3:42:16 PM #

Christopher and scene games,

Check out the free plug-in "JW Instrument Change" and let us know how it works for you. While admittedly it's one additional step, it's a quick, easy one, and I think it might offer you both what you're looking for.

To download, go to: finaletips.nu/index.php

Under "Plug-ins" specify Mac or Windows, then scroll down.

Thanks to Justin for sharing the plug-in with me and especially to Jari for creating it and making it free!

Scott at MakeMusic

Scott Yoho