Inputting notes in the Key Editor

You can input notes in the Key Editor, in either the piano roll editor for pitched instruments, or in the percussion editor for unpitched percussion instruments and percussion kits. Notes you input in the Key Editor also appear in all applicable layouts.

Prerequisite

  • The lower zone is shown.

  • Key Editor is selected in the lower zone toolbar.

  • You have selected the instruments you want to show in the Key Editor.

  • If you want to input notes into a specific voice for an instrument, you have created that voice in Write mode and input at least one note into it.

  • You have chosen the appropriate rhythmic grid resolution.

Procedure

  1. Optional: If you want to input notes into a specific voice, select it from the voice selector in the Key Editor panel toolbar.
  2. Select the Draw tool in any of the following ways:

    • Press Shift-Alt/Opt-2.

    • In the Key Editor panel toolbar, click Draw .

    • In the Key Editor, right-click and hold to show the quick tool selector, move the mouse pointer to Draw , then release the mouse.

  3. Click Rhythmic Grid and choose the default note duration you want.
  4. Input notes in any of the following ways:

    • To input single notes with the default note duration, click in the piano roll/percussion editor at each rhythmic position where you want to input a note.

    • To input notes with any duration, click and drag horizontally in the piano roll/percussion editor at the required pitch position and for the required duration.

      As you drag, highlights help you to reference durations against the ruler, pitches against the piano keyboard in the piano roll editor, and notes against instruments/playing techniques in the percussion editor.

Result

For pitched instruments, notes are input at the pitches indicated by the piano keyboard on the left of the piano roll, and into the active voice indicated by the voice selector in the Key Editor panel toolbar.

For unpitched percussion instruments and kits, notes are input into the instrument in the corresponding row of the percussion editor.

When you click once, notes are input with the default note duration, set by the Key Editor rhythmic grid resolution. When you click and drag, their duration is determined by the width of your drag.

After Completing This Task

You can change both the notated and played durations of notes.