Inputting octave lines with the popover

You can input octave lines using the clefs and octave lines popover, both during note input and by adding them to existing music. You can also input octave lines only into specific voices in multiple-voice contexts.

Procedure

  1. In Write mode, do one of the following:

    • Start note input.

    • Select the notes to which you want to add an octave line. If you want to add an octave line for a single voice, only select notes in that voice.

  2. Optional: If you want to input octave lines onto multiple staves at once, extend the caret to those staves.
  3. Press Shift-C to open the clefs and octave lines popover.
  4. Enter the appropriate entry for the octave line you want into the popover.

    For example, enter 8va for an octave line that shifts notes up one octave.

  5. Input the octave line and close the popover in one of the following ways:

    • To input an octave line for all voices on the staff, press Return.

    • To input an octave line only for the currently selected voice, press Alt/Opt-Return.

  6. Optional: During note input, press Space to advance the caret and extend the octave line.

    The octave line also extends automatically as you continue inputting notes.

  7. Optional: During note input, stop any octave line by opening the clefs and octave lines popover again and entering | or stop.

Result

During note input, octave lines are input from the caret position. When you stop octave lines, they end at the caret position.

When adding octave lines to existing music, they are input either above or below your selection, depending on whether the octave line indicates that notes are played higher or lower than notated.

The pitches of notes within octave lines are adjusted automatically. For example, notes within octave above lines appear an octave lower than they do without the octave above line.

Tip

You can also lengthen/shorten octave lines after they have been input.