Finale allows you to add mid-score instrument changes automatically, along with an expression that applies a patch change when using MIDI (or VST) for playback. See To add mid-score instrument changes. The following instructions show you how to apply a patch change manually when Play Finale Through MIDI is selected under the MIDI/Audio menu.
These instructions tell you how to create
an expression marking that produces a patch change during playback (such
as “To strings”). If you don’t need a visual indication to appear in the
score, you may find it faster to use the MIDI tool to create patch changes
(see To set
up patch changes using the MIDI tool, below).
- Click the Expression tool
.
- Click on, above, or below the note at which
you want the patch to change. The Expression Selection dialog box
appears. If you’ve previously created the patch change marking, double-click
it. The expression appears in the score, where you can adjust its position
(see below).
- Click Create. The Expression Designer
dialog box appears.
- Type a patch change indication (“To Clarinet,”
for example). You can label the patch change any way you like,
or you can leave the text box empty (if you want no graphic marking at
all).
- Click the Playback tab. The playback
options appear.
- Choose Type > Patch.
- The Patch drop-down menu appears, choose the type of patch change needed,
select the appropriate Bank and Program changes.
-
Click OK or Select or Assign in each
dialog box until you return to the document. Depending
on your playback settings, you may need to begin playback at a measure
prior to the patch change for it to take effect. To avoid this problem
you can set Finale to “chase” the patch changes up to the point where
you’re beginning playback. That is, Finale will quickly scan the piece
all the way from the first measure, noting (and transmitting to your MIDI
keyboard) any patch changes along the way, so that playback always begins
using the current patch. See “To
‘chase’ patch changes before playback,” below. Chase only supports
playback in non-scrolling mode.
