Finale Forum

Hi,

I'm using Finale 2008 on Windows. I used the Document setup wizard to create a flute part, but now want to change this to tuba (!). I get how to change the staff name, but the playback instrument remains the flute. How can I change this?

And even when I unfreeze the playback controls by selecting 'current counter measure' (which I have to do each time), I seem unable to alter the tempo from what is specified when I create the document using the wizard.

Thanks a lot,

Peter

Welcome to the forum!

Finale 2008!
A quite old version which I do not have installed anymore.
The following is from memory:

1) To change the playback sound, go to the window called Instrument List.
Window menu > Instrument List

2) Finale will look at the recorded tempo changes first, then the expression tempo changes, then the playback controls.
In Other Words:
If you want to control the playback tempo via the Playback Controls,
- clear the tempo changes (if there are any) in the document’s MIDI data (Edit menu > Clear Selected Items…)
- delete the initial tempo expression (or change its Playback effect to none).

Thanks so much Peter! That fixed the playback instrument issue, I'm saving that reply! I found the 'clear selected items' button but it's grayed out, so I don't know what I would select to enable that?

Thanks again,

Peter

Select something first with the Mass Edit tool.

Ah ok, I did that, and deleted all MIDI data, but changing the playback tempo in the window above the music still doesn't affect anything.

Thanks Ron, I just tried that expression tool, but changing to quarter=300 or 40 seems to make no difference to the playback speed.

Maybe we need to examine the file for you.

Zuill

Sure Zuill, here it is attached. I just tried making up a quick test file, and adjusting the tempo metre window does change the playback speed, so I guess that it's something to do with when I start with a tempo definition as part of an expressive instruction, from the new file wizard.

Thanks a lot,

Peter

What tempo do you want? Quarter=?

Zuill

What I want to do is to be able to change the tempo up (or usually down)...I'm just curious how to override whatever setting is locking in the playback...

You have 2 tempo expressions there. If you delete both of them, you will then have control with the setting in the playback tempo slot. If you want to keep one of them, delete the other one. Then, in the definition for the expression, select the Playback tab. Set playback type to None.

Zuill

Oh I see, even when I hand-deleted the tempo expression part of that instruction, it stayed 'embedded'. Deleting the existing one, and re-writing as just "Allegro moderato" fixed the issue. Thanks so much!!