Quickscribe Notation

[sugardilly]

Hope someone can help.

I wrote horn parts using DP6 for a band that uses Trumpet, Alto Sax and Trombone.

The song is written in the key of 'A'.

The transpose means that the Trumpet is in the key of B, the Trombone is in the key of A and the Alto should be in F #.

However, Quickscribe writes it as Gb. Does anyone know how I can change the Key signature from Gb to F#.

Thanks.

[MIDI Life Crisis]

I cannot help you in your request, but I can tell you that quickscribe is not really the best tool for writing orchestral or band scores. If you plan on doing this with any degree of success (and certainly if you are serious about doing that kind of work) you really should look at Finale or Sibelius. They both have demo versions online. Personally, I like Finale and know many who also do. But a lot of folks love Sibelius. Rarely does someone like them both equally.

But that's another discussion. Hope someone can solve your problem. One thing you might try is isolating the alto part into a different sequence (chuck) or project and setting the key signature in the track (as opposed to in quickscribe).

[Frodo]

However, Quickscribe writes it as Gb. Does anyone know how I can change the Key signature from Gb to F#.

Thanks.

To answer your question, the easiest way to do this in QS is to place the cursor over the key signature until it turns into a sharp/flat icon. Click/hold the mouse, and choose F# from the menu. This is a GLOBAL score setting and all staves will be effected.

However, if you are using transposed instruments and want everything to PLAY BACK in concert key you MUST...

Go to QuickScribe's mini menu in the upper left hand window frame (in DP5). It's the very tiny triangle on the upper right window frame in DP6.

Choose TRACK OPTIONS and set your transpose settings accordingly-- PER TRACK. Make sure you are editing the right track-- which can be a little awkward without double checking the track sticky menu. The key signatures created in this particular menu will be display-only and won't effect the pitch of the playback while each transposed staff will have the proper key signature independently.

Downside-- DP continues to avoid speaking in more mutable musical terms. For example, the transpose setting presupposes you are in the key of C. It's unfortunate that it asks the user to pick among 7 specific keys in combination with an octave interval up or down rather than just using intervals.

If a project is in the key of D-flat, DP will still ask for the user to set transposition preferences based on the key of C, and then there are no semi-tone options to choose from. Regardless of project key, the options are limited to C-D-E-F-G-A-B with an octave up or down.

It *is* possible to nab whatever transposition you want, but it may take a little second guessing.

[mhschmieder]

What Frodo said .

Buying a separate standalone notation/scoring package is less important, if you're patient with QuickScribe.

The main benefits are workflow when doing a lot of parts extraction in transposed notations to hand out to orchestra or band members, and of course, score markings that do not translate directly to MIDI (e.g. sforzando).

Should you choose to augment Quickscribe with a dedicated notation program, I recommend Notion or Encore, unless you are in the publishing business. Both those packages are more oriented towards composers and their workflow; whereas the two programs with the largest installed base, Sibelius and Finale, are more oriented towards publishers.

As all of these programs mature, the differences become diminished, as with many other categories of software.

[sugardilly]

Thank you Guys very much for your responses.

I have been using QuickScribe as my skill in notation are not very good and it works well for me using MIDI to do charts for my horn section.

I will continue to play with it to see if I can make it do those small changes. Meanwhile I will look into a standalone program that makes life a little easier.

Thanks again.

[mhschmieder]

Most of them let you download demos to try out. You learn a lot on first impression, but remember that it may take a bit of real world usage before any particular notation program grows on you and you find your groove with it. So be careful about making superficial judgements during demo evaluation.