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The items in the menu shown here to the left contain controls having to do with the playback of tablatures, MIDI setup and settings. In addition, it provides access to the Reading List which controls the playback order of the different sections of a tune. It also contains several functions designed to be of assistance when learning new tunes.

 

Play>

 

This opens a sub-menu, illustrated below right, allowing you to select which portion of the current tablature is to be played back.

The "This measure only" item (or its shortcut [F10]) plays only the measure in which the cursor is currently located.

"Selection only" (or [Shift]+[F10]) plays back a selected block of notes. No limitation is imposed on the size of the block.

"From this measure" plays from the measure containing the cursor up to and including the final measure of the tablature. Repeats included in the "Reading List" are ignored. The latter contains a specific function for this type of playback.

"From this position" functions in the same way as "From this measure" (see above) except that the playback begins from the exact cursor position rather than the beginning of the measure.

"All", plays back the entire tablature (including all repeats, da Signos, etc indicated by the "Reading List") from first to final measure no matter where the cursor is located when the item is selected.

When TablEdit encounters the text "%Show" in a given module during playback, this module is automatically activated and the played measure becomes the first measure on the screen.

The  appearance of the tool bar changes during playback:

Pause

This does pretty much what you would expect it to do. Selecting this item or pressing [Pause] or clicking on the button of the same name will pause playback. Selecting the item (or pressing [Pause])  a second time restarts playback from the point where it was paused.Playback can also be paused by pressing [Space bar]. In this case, however, pressing [Space bar] a second time resumes playback from the beginning of the measure during which it was paused. Playback is stopped immediately and can only be resumed by pressing [Space bar] again.

Stop

Immediately stops MIDI playback. Playback can be resumed by re-selecting "Play" from the menu, pressing the button or pressing [Space bar].

You can also use the scroll bar at the bottom of the TablEdit window to Fast Forward or Rewind the tablature.

Repeat

"Loops" the tablature for continuous replay. You can also activate the repetition mode by clicking on the icon to the right of the time counter.

Relative speed...

This function allows you to vary the playback speed of a piece in percentual increments of your own choosing. Eventual tempo changes within the tablature are automatically converted. The converted tempo change is displayed for informational purposes, only. This allows you to learn a tune more comfortably.

TablEdit also allows you to select specific measures to repeat.

If the "Increased speed" option has been selected, the playback tempo is increased at each repetition until it reaches the percentual limit shown in the "Up to:" field.

Changing the value labeled "Tuning Fork" allows you to modify, in real time, the pitch of the MIDI output to make it finely match the tuning of your instrument.

Metronome...

This simple dialog provides you with a metronome to mark time.

There are three settings that can be made here:

"Volume" allows you to set the MIDI volume for the metronome.

The "Patch" popup menu allows you to select the sound to be used for it from the list of percussion instruments supported by your sound card.

The final item in this dialog is the "Metronome only for n measure(s)" check box. If this is selected, TablEdit will initiate the metronome for the indicated number of measures prior to commencing MIDI playback. The default value is for a single measure but this can be increased in the field to the right, giving you time to pick up your instrument and to feel the required tempo.

You turn the metronome off by setting the volume to "0". The metronome can also be activated, while the tab is playing back, by clicking on the icon to the right of the time counter.

Reading List...

Selecting this item opens the "Reading List" dialog.

MIDI Options...

Selecting this option opens the dialog of the same name. This where you make the basic MIDI settings to be used for your tablatures.