beaming 4 eighth notes

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mmike
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Post by mmike » Sun Mar 22, 2020 4:01 pm

When entering 4 eighth notes (Speedy with MIDI keyboard), they are always beamed 2 and 2. I don't seem to be ablet to find a setting in document options that would automatically beam them in groups of 4. I can also not find a plug-in that would quickly beam them in fours afterwards. Neither JW Change nor Patterson or TG Tools seem to have this function. If so, where is it? It's such a basic thing, I must be missing something somewhere ...
P.S.: It does it correctly in 4/4 (as per the setting in document option), but I am working in a 7/4 time signature, and there they are not beamed in fours.
Last edited by mmike on Sun Mar 22, 2020 4:44 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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oldmkvi
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Post by oldmkvi » Sun Mar 22, 2020 4:14 pm

It's in System Preferences/Beams.

mmike
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Post by mmike » Sun Mar 22, 2020 4:18 pm

Where? I see nothing in Preferences relating to beaming
Last edited by mmike on Sun Mar 22, 2020 4:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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oldmkvi
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Post by oldmkvi » Sun Mar 22, 2020 4:20 pm

Sorry, it's in Document Options/Beams.

mmike
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Post by mmike » Sun Mar 22, 2020 4:27 pm

I've been there ... it only has a setting to beam four eighth notes together in common time (and unchecking this does also not do it in 7/4). any other ideas?
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oldmkvi
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Post by oldmkvi » Sun Mar 22, 2020 4:49 pm

There's another Beaming option under Utilities.

mmike
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Post by mmike » Sun Mar 22, 2020 4:53 pm

yes, but that also doesn't work for this particular problem
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oldmkvi
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Post by oldmkvi » Sun Mar 22, 2020 4:56 pm

If you have pairs of 8th notes to connect, click on the first one with the Simple entry 8th.
That has changed them into groups of 4 for me.
If it doesn't, there's a setting in Doc Options that will allow it, don't remember which one, give it a try...

oldmkvi
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Post by oldmkvi » Sun Mar 22, 2020 4:59 pm

If that doesn't work, maybe post the File here.

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miker
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Post by miker » Sun Mar 22, 2020 5:03 pm

Set your time signature as a composite: 4+4+4+4+4+4+4 over 8, set to display as 7/4.
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motet
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Post by motet » Sun Mar 22, 2020 5:09 pm

You can also use Utilities/Rebeam to Time Signature: 3/2 on ordinary 7/4 if you've already entered music.
Last edited by motet on Sun Mar 22, 2020 5:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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motet
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Post by motet » Sun Mar 22, 2020 5:11 pm

I think you'd want something like 4+4+4+2/8, Mike. What you've shown there looks like 14/4.

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N Grossingink
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Post by N Grossingink » Sun Mar 22, 2020 5:21 pm

I might be wrong, but it seems 7/4 should always beam eighths in 2s. Otherwise, you run into 4+4+4+2, or 2+4+4+4, or 4+2+4+4, or ?????
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motet
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Post by motet » Sun Mar 22, 2020 5:24 pm

I think it depends on the feel of the music. If it's always 4+4+4+2, then beaming that way seems appropriate and is certainly easier to read.

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miker
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Post by miker » Sun Mar 22, 2020 5:34 pm

You’re right, of course, Motet. Blame it on not enough coffee.
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Peter Thomsen
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Post by Peter Thomsen » Sun Mar 22, 2020 5:55 pm

For a 7/4 time signature you would probably need one of these three 8th note beaming patterns:

6+4+4 (= 7/4 grouped as 3+2+2)

4+6+4 (= 7/4 grouped as 2+3+2)

4+4+6 (= 7/4 grouped as 2+2+3)

Finale can do that.
Here is the solution for the first one:

CompositeTimeSignature.jpg

TimeSignature.jpg
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mmike
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Post by mmike » Sun Mar 22, 2020 6:21 pm

Wow .... I guess it's a somewhat ineresting problem. Thanks for all the effort. For me, however, for something that doesn't occur all that often, it's just simpler/quicker to connect the beams in Speedy with the slash where necessary ...
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