How to play 1 semitone down

[tognaco]

I want to write F Bb C D but when I press the play button get E A B C#. I have tried every possibility in "Transposition" in the Score Manager but don't seem to be able to get it done. Thanks in advance

[Peter Thomsen]

What you need, is a B♮ Transposition (B natural Transposition).

It is not clear to me whether you need a {Key Signature Transposition} or a {Chromatic Transposition}.

Here is the {Key Signature Transposition} (it works for me):

[tognaco]

Mmmm doesn't work for me. Whatever I set in the Key SIgnature Transposition changes the notes written and the key, when the only thing I want to be changed is the sound. I want the program to read something and play it a semitone down but without changing the score at all.

[engelbach]

It sounds like you might have the instrument set to transpose in the Score Manager.

Make sure you chose "None."

[motet]

Sounds like maybe you're trying to play back at baroque pitch.

The transposition settings affects how the notes are written, not how they're played back. After you've changed the transposition, use the Key Signature tool to change to the old key signature, choosing "Transpose down," which should put the notes back looking like they did, but with half-step-lower transposition now.

[Peter Thomsen]

I want to write F Bb C D but when I press the play button get E A B C# …

This was in your first post.
It sounds like you have not yet written the notes: “I want to write F Bb C D”.

Mmmm doesn't work for me. Whatever I set in the Key SIgnature Transposition, changes the notes written and the key, when the only thing I want to be changed is the sound. I want the program to read something and play it a semitone down but without changing the score at all.

But in this post it sounds like you have already written the notes.

If you have already written the notes, Finale will assume that the the Concert Pitch must remain the same (while the written notes get changed).
After you have changed the Transposition, you can change the written pitches so that they are as needed,
Platback will be a ½-step lower than written,

What happens if you first create an empty Finale document with the B Transposition, then enter some notes, and then press the Play button?
Does that work?

By The Way:
You still have not told us what Transposition Type you need (Key Signature Transposition or Chromatic Transposition).