Insert

Top  Previous  Next

Scale Diagram

Tempo Change...

Voice Change...

Crescendo - Accent...

Legato...

Special Character...

Syncopation Change...

Automatic Rests

Percussion Event...

Endings and Repeats...

Scale diagram

When a scale has been entered into the tablature, this function allows the display of a diagram showing the finger pattern. The function analyzes the contents of the measure from the insertion point of the diagram to the end of the measure or until a new such diagram is inserted, whichever occurs first.

Tempo change...

This  opens a simple dialog containing a field displaying the general tempo set for the current tablature. Entering a new tempo setting and exiting the dialog by clicking on [OK] inserts a tempo change marker above the tablature. The tempo change will remain in effect until a new tempo change instruction is inserted or until the end of the piece..

Voice change...

This allows you to insert a temporary change of MIDI voice (instrument) within a tablature. After you've selected the new voice to use and clicked on [OK], a marker (anchor point) is inserted at the cursor position. When TablEdit gets to the selected point during playback it will automatically switch over to the instrument you've selected. The voice change remains in effect until TablEdit encounters a new voice change marker or the end of the tablature is reached.

Drum event...

This dialog allows the insertion of individual percussion events. Simply enter the desired volume level for the event in the filed at the top of the dialog and select the event type (patch) from the popup menu at the bottom. Clicking on [OK] enters the event at the cursor position. The anchor point can be placed on any string but the same care should be taken with the placement as with any other anchor point. The event will also be marked with a diamond-shaped icon directly above the 1st string line. If you intend to use extensive, repetitive percussion patterns we recommend that you go to the trouble of creating a separate "Drum tablature" module.

Crescendo/decrescendo - Accent...

MIDI velocities (dynamics) are coded as a number between 0 and 127. In earlier versions of TablEdit these could be adjusted only in 16 step intervals.  Thus, from 127 (fff) one went directly to 111 (ff) and so on.

The Crescendo/Decrescendo feature allows the use of progressive, intermediary values.

If, for example, you wish to make a smooth transition from f to fff in a single 4/4 measure, simply mark all of the notes of first measure as f and the following measure (or, at least, the first note of the following measure) as fff. Then enter a crescendo with a duration of sixteen 1/16th notes (enter the figure "16" in the editable field labeled "1/16th notes") and that's it. TablEdit will augment the dynamic level progressively whether or not there are actually any notes to be played.

But be careful ! As usual, TablEdit exercises a minimum of control. This means that it's quite possible to enter a crescendo on notes already set to fff. This, of course, means that there won't be any noticeable effect. Worse, if TablEdit encounters a single note already set to fff the crescendo function will be nullified.

The graphical symbol is placed above either the notation or the tablature. As with texts, symbols placed relative to the notation or the tablature appear on printouts only if the system relative to which they are assigned is included in the printout.

In contrast to the crescendo/decrescendo, which is progressive in nature, the Accent allows instantaneous variation of the intensity of individual notes. During MIDI playback, all the notes in the designated position have their intensity augmented by the value set in the editing field. For example,  for a note corresponding to a value of 63 with an accent value of 8, TablEdit would play a note with a velocity of 71. TablEdit will also display a '>' symbol above the affected position. The position of this symbol can be adjusted in the same fashion as the crescendo/decrescendo marking.

See also the related discussion in the "Using dynamics" section of the tutorial.

Legato...

This function allows you to insert an arch between two notes. The start is taken from the nearest note. The end point is determined by the duration of the legato. Indeed, TablEdit takes the first note found at the end point.

The dialog box allows you to define the legato duration, the arch amplitude and eventually a number (from 1 to 15).

By default the arch is oriented downward. To invert the orientation, select the legato marker and type [A]. To restore the downward orientation type [E] or [Z].

The vertical position of the arch can be finely adjusted by placing the cursor on it's anchor point in the tablature and pressing [+] or [-].

Musical symbol...

The dialog presents itself in two forms, depending on whether or not the "Musical Symbol" check box is selected or not:

1.If the "Musical symbol" box is selected, you can insert specialized musical symbols such as trills, mordents, fermata and emphasis points in the score. The radio buttons at the lower left allow you to select the placement of the selected symbol is to be placed.  As in the case of text insertions, symbols attached to the stave will only be displayed and printed out if the stave is included (the same, of course, is true as concerns symbols attached to the tablature). Note that these symbols are only graphical in nature and have no effect whatsoever on playback!
2.If the box is not selected, you can insert a single character enclosed within a square frame or circle. For example:

Syncopation change...

This allows you to make temporary changes of the basic syncopation value selected in the dialog displayed when you select {Play}{MIDI Options...}. The anchor point is, as usual, placed at the cursor location. You may want to anticipate the change by placing the anchor point one step to the left of the point where you actually want it to take effect. The change remains in effect until a new syncopation change is inserted or until playback reaches the end of the tablature.

Automatic rests

This allows the rests that TablEdit deduces automatically from the position and note duration in each measure to be displayed in the musical stave. These automatic rests will be printed out in both the stave and the tablature if the option is active when printout is begun.

You may also enter rests manually. Such rests are always printed out regardless of the state of this option.

Endings & Repeats

This allows you to force the display of repeat signs, da Signo markings and section endings. This feature is primarily intended for the use of those users wishing to create personalized printouts. If you intend to use this feature, we strongly recommend that the Reading Guides option in {File}{Preferences...}>Display be turned off.

Signs inserted in this manner are strictly graphical in nature and have no effect whatsoever on the order of MIDI playback. This is strictly controlled by the entries that you make in the Reading List.