Can the tempo of "Swing!" be changed?
Moderators: Peter Thomsen, miker
- Djard
- Posts: 916
- Joined: Sat Nov 20, 2010 2:23 am
- Finale Version: Finale 26
- Operating System: Windows
I find the Swing! expression in Finale useful: it saves me time when writing a section with a triplet feel. But I'm unable to modify the tempo. I found nothing in the manual to change the speed. Surely Finale does not restrict the tempo of swing to 120 BPM?
- Peter Thomsen
- Posts: 6601
- Joined: Fri Jul 25, 2003 6:47 pm
- Finale Version: Finale v27.4
- Operating System: Mac
I really do not understand.
In my own Swing expression the playback effect does not include Tempo, only Swing.
That is, I can set any tempo in the Playback Controls, and I get Swing playback at that tempo.
If your Finale document will only playback at one specific tempo, then the suspected culprit must be Tempo data in the MIDI Data.
Hence:
Edit menu > Clear Selected Items…
De-select everything except Tempo Changes
Three things control the tempo in Finale:
MIDI Tool (= the recorded tempo changes)
Expression Tool (= the expression tempo changes)
Playback Controls
And they work in a hierarchical fashion.
The tempo in the Playback Controls is overridden by an Expression that sets a tempo.
This is overridden by the MIDI Tool, which is at the top of the “Tempo Hierarchy”.
In my own Swing expression the playback effect does not include Tempo, only Swing.
That is, I can set any tempo in the Playback Controls, and I get Swing playback at that tempo.
If your Finale document will only playback at one specific tempo, then the suspected culprit must be Tempo data in the MIDI Data.
Hence:
Edit menu > Clear Selected Items…
De-select everything except Tempo Changes
Three things control the tempo in Finale:
MIDI Tool (= the recorded tempo changes)
Expression Tool (= the expression tempo changes)
Playback Controls
And they work in a hierarchical fashion.
The tempo in the Playback Controls is overridden by an Expression that sets a tempo.
This is overridden by the MIDI Tool, which is at the top of the “Tempo Hierarchy”.
Mac OS X 12.6.9 (Monterey), Finale user since 1996
- Djard
- Posts: 916
- Joined: Sat Nov 20, 2010 2:23 am
- Finale Version: Finale 26
- Operating System: Windows
Thanks for responding and the good info.
I did not consider using the playback control in the upper toolbar because in print, the reader would not know the speed at which I wanted the the swing rhythm played. I solved my problem by adding a second tempo expression: in this instance, a half note = 50 in parentheses. I'm a bit disappointed that the specified tempo cannot be added after the "Swing!" marking. I suppose I can add a text block, such as "100 BPM" in parentheses. Is there another option to specify swing tempo?
I did not consider using the playback control in the upper toolbar because in print, the reader would not know the speed at which I wanted the the swing rhythm played. I solved my problem by adding a second tempo expression: in this instance, a half note = 50 in parentheses. I'm a bit disappointed that the specified tempo cannot be added after the "Swing!" marking. I suppose I can add a text block, such as "100 BPM" in parentheses. Is there another option to specify swing tempo?
- michelp
- Posts: 2045
- Joined: Fri Jul 25, 2003 3:35 pm
- Finale Version: 27.4.1,26.3.1, Mont.
- Operating System: Mac
AFAIK, an expression can only contain 1 playback instruction at this point. So you will need 1 for swing, 1 for tempo. You can of course add a tempo value to the first expression (Swing) but it will only be visual. You'll need a second expression (Tempo).
Michel
MacOsX 12.7.4, Finale 27.4.1 & 26.3.1, Mac Mini Intel Dual Core i7 3Ghz, 16 Go Ram. Azerty kb. MOTU Midi Express XT USB, Roland Sound Canvas SC-88vl, MOTU Audio Express. 2 monitors (27"' pivot, 24'"), JW Lua, RGP Lua
MacOsX 12.7.4, Finale 27.4.1 & 26.3.1, Mac Mini Intel Dual Core i7 3Ghz, 16 Go Ram. Azerty kb. MOTU Midi Express XT USB, Roland Sound Canvas SC-88vl, MOTU Audio Express. 2 monitors (27"' pivot, 24'"), JW Lua, RGP Lua