EXPLODE MUSIC FOR BAND OR ORCHESTRA?

[composerfinale]

Hello.

Is Explode Music function useful for band or orchestra instrumentation? I mean: Does it use logical steps for distributing voices into appropiate instruments, tessituras etc leaving you only the job of outlining final details and putting the final touches?

Thanks

[N Grossingink]

No - Finale doesn't orchestrate. That's your job.

Here is a good reference if you're new at this:
http://www.alfredpub.com/Products/Essen ... 17894.aspx

N.

[composerfinale]

However I would like to know what´s the máximum that Explode Music function can do. It seems many composers use it for making instrumental arrangements. What´s the máximum number of instruments you can distribute a keyboard score? Thank you very much.

[zuill]

I don't think there is a limit.

Zuill

[composerfinale]

And if you use for example an orchestra score, can you select passages in which some instruments play and other keep silence? Can you select orchestration details? Thanks

[motet]

It seems many composers use [Explode Music] for making instrumental arrangements.

I'm very skeptical of that.

[Michel R E]

And if you use for example an orchestra score, can you select passages in which some instruments play and other keep silence? Can you select orchestration details? Thanks

No, that's what university orchestration courses are for.

There are definitely limits to what the "Explode Music" feature can do.
It can take a simple 4 part (or more) harmony and evenly distribute it across multiple staves.
Don't expect it to intelligently know which instruments to give what notes to in anything remotely resembling a competent orchestration.

[N Grossingink]

It seems many composers use [Explode Music] for making instrumental arrangements.

I'm very skeptical of that.

Quite a few arrangers/composers use explode to break apart multiple voiced MIDI staves and piano reductions into single lines for winds, brass and strings. Commercial orchestrator Tim Davies uses this technique liberally - here's a video of his workflow:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeCuJfXhS9s

Tim uses TG Tools "Smart Explosion" rather that Finale's own Explode utility. It offers more control and copies dynamics, articulations, smart shapes and any other entries from the source to the exploded staves, which Finale doesn't always do.

N.