Percussion

You've been writing your latest masterpiece in Finale, and you've decided that it needs a cajón. Fortunately, Finale makes it easy to add the instrument to your document because it automatically configures both display and playback for you.

1. Choose Window > Score Manager. The Score Manager appears.
2. In the Instrument List tab, click Add Instrument and choose All > Percussion > Cajón. A standard 5-line percussion staff named Cajón is added to the document.

   The staff is automatically configured to play using the first available playback device that has a patch containing a cajón sound. With a default installation of Finale and playing back through VST, one of two configurations will be selected (depending on your Sound Map priority):

   • Playback device (Device): Garritan Instruments for Finale
     Patch (Sound): Ethnic Percussion
     Percussion MIDI map (Perc. MIDI Map): Ethnic Percussion
     Percussion layout (Notation Style > Settings): Ethnic Percussion
     
   • Playback device (Device): SmartMusic SoftSynth
     Patch (Sound): World Percussion
     Percussion MIDI map (Perc. MIDI Map): World Percussion
     Percussion layout (Notation Style > Settings): Ethnic Percussion
3. Choose the Simple Entry tool .
4. Choose a note duration tool, such as the Quarter Note tool , from the Simple Entry palette.
5. Hover your mouse over the third staff line of the new staff until one of the Cajone techniques appears, and click in the staff. The note appears in the staff with the appropriate notehead depending on the type of technique (X for regular, triangle for slap, or normal for low), and the corresponding sound is played. When you play the document using the Playback Controls, the same sound is played.

Here's the nitty-gritty of why this works, using Garritan Instruments for Finale as the example:

• In the Ethnic Percussion percussion layoutA percussion layout is a list of percussion instrument variables available for use in a staff. These variables include staff position, notehead style, and Note Type (snare drum, cymbals, etc.). Percussion Layouts are defined in the Percussion Layout Designer dialog box., three Note TypesA Note Type is the instrument assignment paradigm used for percussion notation and is part of a staff's percussion layout. Note Types and their corresponding MIDI notes can be referenced and edited in the Percussion MIDI Map Editor dialog box. The staff position and noteheads of a Note Type can be edited in the Percussion Layout Designer dialog box. exist as mentioned in step 5 above. They all have a Staff Position of 6, corresponding to the third staff line, and they have different noteheads. These settings, found in the Percussion Layout Designer dialog box, are why the cajón notes are displayed correctly in the document.
• In the Ethnic Percussion percussion MIDI mapA Percussion MIDI Map is simply a list that matches each percussion instrument in a sound library with a particular MIDI note number (e.g. bass drum = 36, snare drum = 38, etc.). These maps are required to properly assign the same percussion notation to various playback devices, and are also used to accommodate the many different percussion sound banks that can be used for input with an external MIDI device., the same three Note Types are defined. They are assigned MIDI Notes 53, 52, and 51 respectively, which are the MIDI note numbers in the GIFF Ethnic Percussion patch that produce those sounds. Finally, the Ethnic Percussion map is assigned to the Garritan Instruments for Finale category of maps. These settings, found in the Percussion MIDI Map Editor dialog box, are why the cajón notes are played correctly in the document.

A fuller explanation, along with part two of this example, is given below in the section entitled Configuring custom percussion staves.

When you create a document with the Setup Wizard, you are asked what instruments you want in the document. If you have already created a document and want to add a percussion instrument to it, follow the usual steps for adding an instrument.

1. Choose the Simple Entry tool .
2. Use the mouse or caret to enter notes as you normally would using Simple Entry.

   All instruments available in the staff's percussion layoutA percussion layout is a list of percussion instrument variables available for use in a staff. These variables include staff position, notehead style, and Note Type (snare drum, cymbals, etc.). Percussion Layouts are defined in the Percussion Layout Designer dialog box. are available for entry. If your percussion layout includes more than one instrument sound on a single staff position (e.g., snare and side stick both on the fourth space), you can scroll between them by dragging up or down with the mouse or using the UP and DOWN ARROW keys. Refer to the visual cue that displays the note you are about to enter.

If you want to use a MIDI keyboard to enter percussion notes in Simple Entry, see To map your MIDI keyboard for percussion note entry and playback below.

1. Choose the Speedy Entry tool .
2. Enter notes as you normally would using Speedy Entry.

   All instruments available in the staff's percussion layoutA percussion layout is a list of percussion instrument variables available for use in a staff. These variables include staff position, notehead style, and Note Type (snare drum, cymbals, etc.). Percussion Layouts are defined in the Percussion Layout Designer dialog box. are available for entry. If your percussion layout includes more than one instrument sound on a single staff position (e.g., snare and side stick both on the fourth space), you can scroll between them by dragging up or down with the mouse or using the UP and DOWN ARROW keys. Refer to the visual cue that displays the note you are about to enter.

If you want to use a MIDI keyboard to enter percussion notes in Speedy Entry, see To map your MIDI keyboard for percussion note entry and playback below.

1. Choose MIDI/Audio > Device Setup > MIDI Setup. The MIDI Setup dialog box appears.
2. Under MIDI In, ensure your MIDI keyboard is chosen from the Device drop-down menu and click OK.
3. Choose MIDI/Audio > Device Setup > Percussion Input Maps. The Percussion Input Maps dialog box appears.
4. Choose a percussion MIDI map for input. If you are using one of Finale's included sound banks for playback, choose Match Input Map to Output Map. If you do not see the desired percussion MIDI map, you can define one specifically for use with your external MIDI device.
5. Click OK to return to the score.
6. If you are using your external MIDI device as a controller only (and do not wish to use its sounds), choose MIDI/Audio > Device Setup and ensure MIDI Thru is selected so that Finale performs the percussion sounds during entry.

   The percussion sounds that Finale plays are designated for the staff in the Score Manager through a combination of an assigned percussion MIDI map and an assigned percussion layout for the staff. For an in-depth discussion of how these work together to produce playback, see Configuring custom percussion staves below.

7. Choose the HyperScribe tool .
8. Enter the music as you would normally with HyperScribe.

You can input and play percussion using an external MIDI device's percussion sounds, such as a percussion patch on a MIDI keyboard. To do so, you need to identify the key on your MIDI keyboard for each percussion instrument (depending on the percussion MIDI map assigned to the staff) and resolve any conflicts using Finale's Transpose Percussion Notes command. (To setup an external MIDI device with Finale, see Setting up your MIDI system.)

1. Open the document that includes percussion staves and choose Window > Score Manager. The Score Manager appears.
2. Under Perc. MIDI Map, note the name of the map assigned to the staff you want to enter into.
3. Choose MIDI/Audio > Device Setup > Percussion Input Maps. Ensure Match Input Map to Output Map is selected for all channels assigned to staves you will be entering into. For these steps we will be using the same MIDI pitches for entry that are used for output.
4. Click OK.
5. Choose MIDI/Audio > Device Setup > Edit Percussion MIDI Maps. The Percussion MIDI Map Editor dialog box appears.
6. For Device, choose the playback device assigned to the staff.
7. For Map, select the percussion MIDI map you identified for the staff in Score Manager.
8. Under the Note Type column, find the instrument sound you would like to enter, and identify the MIDI Note assigned to it in the column to the right. This is the note you need to play on your MIDI keyboard to enter the percussion sound in your document. To identify the key on your MIDI keyboard that corresponds to this number, see MIDI Note to Pitch Table.
9. Click OK.

In some percussion MIDI maps, multiple Note Types are assigned to the same MIDI note number. If this is the case, Finale uses the first Note Type in the list, which may not be the percussion sound you intend to enter. Also, if the note is orange, the Note Type isn't included in the Percussion Layout for the staff. To resolve both these problems, follow these steps.

1. Choose the Selection tool and highlight the region containing the percussion notes that are incorrect.
2. Choose Utilities > Transpose Percussion Notes.
3. Under Note in Selected Region, choose the MIDI note number of the incorrect note.
4. From the Change Selected Note To drop-down menu, select the desired percussion sound.
5. Click OK. Notes in the region are updated to the correct percussion Note Type.

When you switch percussion instruments, Finale applies all related instrument changes automatically, even if the new instrument requires a different percussion MIDI mapA Percussion MIDI Map is simply a list that matches each percussion instrument in a sound library with a particular MIDI note number (e.g. bass drum = 36, snare drum = 38, etc.). These maps are required to properly assign the same percussion notation to various playback devices, and are also used to accommodate the many different percussion sound banks that can be used for input with an external MIDI device. for proper playback. See Adding mid-score instrument changes.

Tip: This technique can also be used to change from non-pitched to pitched percussion instruments.

Your 5-line "Cajón" percussion staff from part 1 of this example is doing its job just fine, but you realize that the performer is only going to be responsible for that one instrument, not a whole range of percussion: it's time to change to a 1-line staff. Additionally, you decide that when you play the score in Finale, you'd rather hear the cajón sound that your SuperMIDIBoss-brand MIDI keyboard makes instead of Finale's sounds.

1. Choose Window > Score Manager. The Score Manager appears.
2. In the Instrument List tab, select the Cajón staff.
3. From the Staff drop-down menu, choose 1-line with Full Barline.
4. Next to Notation Style, click Settings.
5. Click Duplicate to make a copy of the Ethnic Percussion layout.

   Alternatively, you could click Create and start from scratch. However, the Ethnic Percussion layout already has the correct settings for the cajón, so to save time we'll use it as a starting point.

6. Click Edit, and next to Layout Name, type Cajón.
7. In the Note Type list, select any Note Type that is not a cajón technique and click the - button in the lower left to delete it.
8. Repeat step 7 until only the three cajón techniques remain.
9. Click OK and click Select.

Returning to the document, the Cajón staff now has a single staff line, and hovering over it with the Simple Entry tool shows that only the three cajón techniques are available for entry. Now, let's switch the sound.

1. Because you're playing through your MIDI keyboard, choose MIDI/Audio > Play Finale Through MIDI.
2. Choose Device Setup > MIDI Setup. The MIDI Setup dialog box appears.
3. Under MIDI Out, select your MIDI keyboard from the Device drop-down menu and click OK.
4. In the Score Manager's Instrument List, select the Cajón staff. The Device column already lists your MIDI keyboard. In the Sound column, select Edit Patch from the drop-down menu. The Set Patch To dialog box appears.
5. Choose the correct settings to match the patch on your MIDI keyboard that contains the cajón sounds and click OK.

   Fortunately, your SuperMIDIBoss keyboard's spectacular user manual tells you exactly which settings to use. Naturally, that's why you bought it.

6. Finally, Finale needs to know how the cajón sounds are mapped on your MIDI keyboard. Choose MIDI/Audio > Device Setup > Edit Percussion MIDI Maps. The Percussion MIDI Map Editor dialog box apears.
7. Next to MIDI Device, click New. Type SuperMIDIBoss and click Save.
8. The Map drop-down menu displays (New Map). Next to Display Name, type Cajón.
9. From the Select a Note Type to Add drop-down menu, choose World 1 > Cajone > Cajone.
10. Click Add Note Type and enter the corresponding MIDI Note number (see MIDI Note to Pitch Table).
11. Repeat step 10 for Cajone Slap and Cajone Low.
12. In the Score Manager's Instrument List, select the Cajón staff.
13. In the Perc. MIDI Map column, select SuperMIDIBoss > Cajón from the drop-down menu.

You're all set: when you press the Play button, Finale sends the MIDI data from your correctly-configured staff to your SuperMIDIBoss keyboard, and you hear the cajón sounds in all their glory.

1. Choose Window > Score Manager. The Score Manager appears.
2. In the Instrument List tab, choose the percussion staff that you want to change.
3. Next to Notation Style, click Settings. The Percussion Layout Selection dialog box appears.
4. Choose the desired percussion layout from the list and click Select.

If any notes in the document now appear with orange noteheads, either edit the percussion layout you just selected or re-assign the notes to Note Types included in the selected percussion layout.

1. Choose Window > Score Manager. The Score Manager appears.
2. In the Instrument List tab, choose a staff that has Percussion selected for its Notation Style and click the adjacent Settings button. The Percussion Layout Selection dialog box appears.
3. Click Create to start a new, empty percussion layout, or choose an existing percussion layout and click Edit. The Percussion Layout Designer dialog box appears.

   You can also click Duplicate to make a copy of an existing percussion layout and then edit that copy.

4. To change the name of the layout, edit the text next to Layout Name.
5. Select an existing Note Type to edit or add one to the percussion layout:
   • To edit an existing Note Type, choose it from the list on the left.
   • To add a Note Type not already in the list, click the + button in the lower right of the dialog box to add a new Note Type to the percussion layout.

   By default, Only View Note Types is selected in order to limit the list of Note Types to those contained in the percussion MIDI mapA Percussion MIDI Map is simply a list that matches each percussion instrument in a sound library with a particular MIDI note number (e.g. bass drum = 36, snare drum = 38, etc.). These maps are required to properly assign the same percussion notation to various playback devices, and are also used to accommodate the many different percussion sound banks that can be used for input with an external MIDI device. currently assigned to the staff, which appears at the top right next to Current Percussion MIDI Map. You can deselect this option to display the full list of Note Types that Finale offers. You can also click the Add All button to add every note type listed in the current percussion MIDI map.

6. Use the options under Note Definition on the right to edit the Note Type, staff position, and/or notehead(s).
   • Enter a Staff Position, counted in steps from middle C, for your percussion notes. Or, you can click and drag the handle to choose the staff position.
   • Click the Select button next to Closed/Half/Whole/Double-Whole Notehead. Finale opens the Symbol Selection dialog box in the staff's notehead font.
7. Click OK and Select to return to the score. Now, when you choose the Simple Entry tool or Speedy Entry tool , these Note Types will be available for entry.

If Finale displays your percussion notes with the wrong noteheads and you’re sure the percussion layout is set up properly, the staff may have a staff style applied, or Notehead Font may be selected under Independent Elements in the Staff Attributes dialog box.

1. Choose Window > Score Manager. The Score Manager appears.
2. In the Instrument List tab, click Add Instrument and choose the desired percussion instrument (or, Blank Staff to start from scratch).
3. From the First Clef drop-down menu, select one of the percussion clefs.
4. From the Staff drop-down menu select one of the preset staff line setups.

   You can also choose Other to display the Staff Setup dialog box, where you can define a custom staff setup.

5. Choose Notation Style > Percussion. The Percussion Layout Selection dialog box appears.

   If the staff's Notation Style is already set to Percussion, click the Settings button.

6. Create or edit a percussion layout containing note definitions for a percussion staff.
7. Click Select and OK. Any notes that appeared in the staff will be remapped.

Once you've created one or more custom percussion layouts, you can save them in a percussion layout library so that you can load them into any new file you create. Alternatively, you can load them into the Maestro Font Default file, so the percussion layouts are ready for use in new documents created in the Setup Wizard.

1. Choose File > Save Library. The Save Library dialog box appears.
2. Select Percussion Layouts and click OK.
3. Enter a file name for the percussion library, then navigate to the folder where you want to save your library.
4. Click OK. Finale saves the all the percussion layouts in your document to the new library, then returns you to the document.

Use these steps to load your custom percussion layouts into another document. Or, if you've accidentally deleted one of Finale's default percussion layouts from your document, you can load the Percussion Layouts.LIB file into your document. It is located in the Libraries folder in your Finale folder.

1. Choose File > Load Library. The Load Library dialog box appears.
2. Locate and select the percussion library that you want to open.
3. Click OK. Finale loads the library into the current document, then returns you to the document.

   The percussion layouts contained in the library appear in the Percussion Layout Selection dialog box. The most recently loaded libraries appear at the bottom of the list.

Deleting a percussion layout removes it from that document only. The percussion layout will still be available for use in other documents created with the Setup Wizard or using the Maestro Default document.

1. Choose Window > Score Manager. The Score Manager appears.
2. In the Instrument List tab, choose a staff that has Percussion selected for its Notation Style drop-down menu.
3. Click the adjacent Settings button. The Percussion Layout Selection dialog box appears.
4. Choose the desired percussion layout and click Delete.
5. Click Cancel to return to the Score Manager, or choose a different percussion layout and click Select to assign it to the selected staff.

Whether or not a percussion note is assigned to a Note Type or percussion layout, it is assigned to a MIDI note number. To display this number for every percussion note in your document, choose View > Show > Percussion MIDI Values. Small numbers in parentheses accompany every percussion note on the page; these numbers are only for display and are not included when you print the document.

If you have imported a file created in a version of Finale prior to Finale 2011 that includes percussion notation, you may notice some notes are colored orange. While orange percussion notes may play properly, they are not assigned to a percussion layoutA percussion layout is a list of percussion instrument variables available for use in a staff. These variables include staff position, notehead style, and Note Type (snare drum, cymbals, etc.). Percussion Layouts are defined in the Percussion Layout Designer dialog box.. Follow these steps to correct this.

1. Choose the Selection tool and select the region including the percussion notation you want to change. See Selecting music.
2. Choose Utilities > Transpose Percussion Notes. The Transpose Percussion Note Types dialog box appears.
3. From the list, select the instrument or MIDI note you want to assign to a Note Type.
4. From the Change selected Note To drop-down menu, choose the desired Note Type. Repeat for any additional instruments or MIDI notes in the region. Finale assigns the selected notes to a Note Type in the staff's percussion layout, creating a new Note Type if necessary.

Orange noteheads can also indicate several other things. If the above steps do not resolve the problem, the notes may be out-of-range for the staff's instrument definition, or certain properties of a note may be unlinked.

1. Choose Window > Score Manager. The Score Manager appears.
2. In the Instrument List tab, choose the percussion staff that you want to change.
3. Under the Perc. MIDI Map column, click the name of the current map. In the drop-down menu that appears, choose the appropriate playback device menu and the specific map you want to assign to the staff.

   If the Perc. MIDI Map column is not displayed, click Customize View and select Percussion MIDI Map. If you are unable to select a percussion MIDI map, make sure that the selected staff has its Notation Style set to Percussion.

4. The percussion MIDI map is assigned to the staff. If you want to check that playback produces the expected sounds, use the Playback Controls to listen to your music.

Noteman says: Remember that edits made to an existing map apply globally across Finale, not just in the current document you are working on.

1. Choose MIDI/Audio > Device Setup > Edit Percussion MIDI Maps. The Percussion MIDI Map Editor dialog box appears.
2. From the MIDI Device drop-down menu, choose the playback device that the map you want to edit refers to.
3. From the Map drop-down menu, choose the percussion MIDI map you want to edit.
4. Make the necessary edits:
   • To change the name of the map as it appears in the Score Manager, edit the text next to Display Name.
   • To change the MIDI note number assignment for an existing Note Type in the map, find the sound under the Note Type column, click the corresponding number under the MIDI Note column, and press ENTER.
   • To add a Note Type to the map, click the Select a Note Type to Add drop-down menu and use the menus to find the appropriate sound. Click Add Note Type, enter the corresponding MIDI note number, and press ENTER.
   • To delete an existing Note Type from the map, click its name under the Note Type column and click Remove Note Type.
5. Click OK. The percussion MIDI map is updated globally: the change affects any document using that map, and any new document that uses it includes the changes as well.

1. Choose MIDI/Audio > Device Setup > Edit Percussion MIDI Maps. The Percussion MIDI Map Editor dialog box appears.
2. From the MIDI Device drop-down menu, choose the playback device that the map you want to edit refers to.

   If the playback device does not appear in the drop-down menu, or if you simply want to create a custom category for easy access to your custom maps, click New. Name the device/category, click Save, and skip to step 4.

3. From the Map drop-down menu, choose (New Map).
4. Next to Display Name, type a name for the new map.
5. Click the Select a Note Type to Add drop-down menu and use the menus to find the appropriate sound.

   Finale includes an extensive list of percussion sounds to choose from. However, if the Note Type you need is missing, you can choose an item from the Custom category.

6. Click Add Note Type, enter the corresponding MIDI note number, and press ENTER.

   If you selected a Custom Note Type in step 5, you can name the Note Type once it is added. Simply enter the name next to Custom Note Type Name.

7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 for each Note Type needed in this map.
8. Click OK. The percussion MIDI map is saved to the specified playback device in the MIDI Device Annotation folder and can be used in any document.

WARNING! Deleting a percussion MIDI map removes it from Finale for all documents. Only delete a percussion MIDI map if you are sure that you will never need it for any document and that no document you have already created uses it.

1. Choose MIDI/Audio > Device Setup > Edit Percussion MIDI Maps. The Percussion MIDI Map Editor dialog box appears.
2. From the MIDI Device drop-down menu, choose the playback device that the map you want to delete refers to.
3. From the Map drop-down menu, choose the percussion MIDI map you want to delete.
4. Click Remove and click OK.

You can set up percussion playback using an external MIDI device's percussion sounds, such as a percussion patch on a MIDI keyboard. To do so, configure a percussion MIDI map to correspond with your external MIDI device's MIDI note to instrument mapping for the desired percussion patch. Once you have done this, you can easily choose the percussion MIDI map whenever you wish to use the those sounds for either input or playback. (To setup an external MIDI device with Finale, see Setting up your MIDI system.)

Noteman says: If you would like to use the General MIDI percussion sounds on your external MIDI device, there is no need to create a custom output map. In the Score Manager, set the staff's Perc. MIDI Map to General MIDI.

1. Choose MIDI/Audio > Device Setup > Edit Percussion MIDI Maps. The Percussion MIDI Map Editor dialog box appears.
2. From the MIDI Device drop-down menu, select the appropriate playback device.
3. From the Map drop-down menu, select a map to edit. Rename it as desired. This should be a map you are unlikely to use in the future.

   Alternatively, you can click New to create a new map from scratch by selecting each Note Type and adding it to the list.

4. Assign the appropriate MIDI note to each percussion instrument.

   To identify the MIDI Note for each instrument of your sound bank, consult the external device's documentation.

5. Click OK.
6. Choose Document > Playback/Record Options. The Playback/Record Options dialog box appears.
7. Ensure Send Patches to MIDI Device on Playback is selected, and click OK.
8. Choose MIDI/Audio > Play Finale Through MIDI.
9. Choose Window > Score Manager.
10. Under the Perc. MIDI Map column, select your custom map.

    If the Perc. MIDI Map column is not displayed, click the Customize View button and select Percussion MIDI Maps.

11. If required by your external MIDI device, ensure the staff is set to channel 10, the old standard MIDI percussion channel.

    If the Channel column is not visible, click the Customize View button and select Channel.

12. Under the Prg column for the staff, select the patch of the percussion sound you want to use. See To establish MIDI patch settings for a score instrument for details.

    If the Prg column is not visible, click the Customize View button and select Program Change.

13. Press Play.

In order for Finale to properly attach stems to the alternate notehead shapes you use in percussion notation (such as X noteheads), Stem Connections must be enabled. Stem connection settings tell Finale precisely how to attach stems to the edges of noteheads. Stem connections are turned on by default and have been defined for the most common percussion noteheads in several fonts. Should you notice that the stems are not connecting properly to the notehead, follow these instructions.

1. Choose Document > Document Options and select Stems. The Document Options - Stems dialog box appears.
2. Make sure Use Stem Connections is selected, and click Stem Connections. The Stem Connections dialog box appears.

   The initial settings in the dialog box are for the Maestro font’s X notehead character.

3. Select the notehead that you want to change and click Edit. The Stem Connection Editor dialog box dialog box appears.
4. Select a new symbol for the notehead. Click Set Font to choose a font other than the Default Music Font, then click OK. For example, choose Tamburo, or any other font that contains noteheads. Click Select to choose a notehead character from the font you specified or the Default Music Font, then click Select.
5. Enter new H: and V: values for Upstem and Downstem, and click OK.
6. Repeat steps 3-5 for any other characters you want to change.
7. Click Done, and click OK to return to the document. Finale now uses these settings when it draws a stem on any of the noteheads you defined.

In most jazz scores, the drum kit part is not written out in full. Instead, the part usually contains slash marks (indicating that the drummer should play time), with important ensemble figures cued above the staff.

Use the following steps to combine this slashes-with-cues drum notation with invisible notes used only for playback purposes, so that the drum part appears correctly in the score and also plays back correctly. Note that these instructions assume that you intend to reserve Layer 4 for cue notes.

1. Enter the playback notes. You can enter these notes manually, or (if you are using one of the GM Drum Kits) using the Drum Groove plug-in to automatically generate a drum part. You can use Layers 1, 2, and 3 for the playback notes - we will use Layer 4 for the cues.

   If you use the Drum Groove plug-in, be sure to check the Score Manager afterward to ensure that it has not modified the Channel assignment for your Drum Kit staff. The Drum Groove plug-in also creates a hidden expression, "HP off", that disables Human Playback. You may want to delete this expression. Instead of turning Human Playback off completely, tell Human Playback to incorporate all User MIDI Data by choosing the appropriate settings in the MIDI Data pane of the Human Playback Preferences dialog box.

2. Once the playback notes have been entered, select the Staff tool . The Staff menu appears.
3. Choose Staff > Define Staff Styles. The Staff Styles dialog box appears.
4. Click New to start a new staff style.
5. Name the staff style so you can identify it later, such as "01a. Slash Notation: show notes".
6. Next to Alternate Notation, click Settings. The Alternate Notation dialog box appears.
7. Choose Slash Notation. Under Apply To: Layer 1 and Other Layers, ensure all items are checked.
8. Click OK twice to return to the document.
9. Apply the new staff style to every measure in your drum part where you want slashes to appear.
10. Choose Document > Document Options > Layers.
11. From the Settings For drop-down menu, select Layer 4 and set the following options:
    • Select Freeze stems and ties.
    • From the Freeze Stems drop-down menu, select Up.
    • Select Freeze ties in the same direction as stems.
    • Deselect Hide layer when inactive.
    • Select Adjust floating rests by 6 steps.
    • Select Apply adjustments only if notes are in other layers.
    • Select Ignore layers containing only hidden notes.
    • Deselect Ignore hidden layers.
    • Select Playback.
    • Select Affects music spacing.
12. Click OK to return to the document.
13. Switch to Layer 4 and enter the cue notes in the Drum Set staff. Typically, these cue notes appear as regular noteheads on a single line or space above the staff, and match the rhythms of important ensemble figures (see the example at the beginning of this section).

Finale uses the Maestro Default File as a template when importing MIDI files. If you don’t see all of your percussion layouts, try loading the percussion layout library into the Maestro Default File.

1. Choose File > Open. The Open dialog box appears.
2. From the Files of type drop-down menu, select MIDI File (*.mid).
3. Double-click the desired document name. The Import MIDI File Options dialog box appears, listing various transcription options.

   The Track/Channel Mapping to Staves dialog box allows you to specify complex track and channel splitting, as well as clefs, distances between staves, split points and multiple percussion maps. Finale chooses a clef for each resultant staff based on the range of notes in the track. (If it discovers that the notes in a track have a very wide range, it automatically notates its contents on two staves. For most files, the default Tracks become Staves option will work fine.

4. Under Create Percussion Staves, click Select near Percussion Layout. The Percussion Layout Selection dialog box appears.

   For most percussion staves, you’ll want to choose the General MIDI Entry and Playback. If you’re using a specific instrument, you may wish to select the percussion layout with your instrument’s name, such as Triangle.

5. Click OK to return to the Import MIDI File Options dialog box.

   Under Create Percussion Staves, you can also select a different clef or playback channel for the percussion staves in the file. These settings will affect all percussion staves; for individual settings for more than one percussion staff, see Track/Channel Mapping to Staves dialog box.

6. Click Quant Settings. The Quantization Settings dialog box appears.
7. Click the icon representing your smallest note value.
8. Choose your quantization type.
9. Click More Settings. The More Quantization Settings dialog box.
10. Select the necessary quantization settings.
11. Choose Key and Time Signature options. Most MIDI files contain key and time signature information already, so you usually won’t have to change the default selection (Use the File’s).
12. If you want to hear the sequence played back with its original tempo fluctuations and continuous dataContinuous Data is a broad MIDI term which includes both Controller data, such as volume or aftertouch, as well as patch, pedaling, and pitch wheel information. Continuous Data is not associated with particular notes, but is stored with measures., make sure Tempo Changes and Continuous Data are selected. These options capture some of the MIDI performance data from your sequence.
13. Click OK (or press ENTER). Finale transcribes the MIDI file into standard notation.

    If you discover that your settings weren’t quite right, you can close the new Finale document and try again—the original MIDI file is unaffected by Finale’s transcription efforts. Or, for smaller sectional changes, use the Retranscribe function.