Inputting notes and notations onto multiple staves

You can input notes and notations onto multiple staves simultaneously, including automatically exploding the notes in chords that you play on a MIDI keyboard onto the appropriate staves. For example, if you want to input notes onto both piano staves or input the same dynamics for multiple instruments.

Inputting notes and notations onto multiple staves is most useful for multiple adjacent pitched instruments whose music is only a single voice.

Prerequisite

If you want to explode individual notes in chords onto multiple staves during note input, you have connected a MIDI keyboard. You can only input the different notes in chords onto separate staves when using a MIDI keyboard.

Procedure

  1. In Write mode, select an item at the rhythmic position where you want to input notes/notations onto multiple staves.
  2. Start note input in any of the following ways:
    • Press Shift-N.

    • In the Notes toolbox, click Start Note Input Start Note Input button.

    • Double-click the staff.

  3. Extend the caret to another staff in any of the following ways:
    • To extend to the staff above, press Shift-Up Arrow.

    • To extend to the staff below, press Shift-Down Arrow.

  4. Optional: Repeat step 3 for as many staves as you require.
  5. Input the notes and notations you want.
    Note

    You must input notes using a computer keyboard or MIDI keyboard. If you use the mouse, notes are only input on the staff you click. Similarly, you must use the corresponding popover to input notations on multiple staves. When inputting notations using the corresponding panel, they are only input on the top staff.

  6. Stop note input in any of the following ways:
    • Press Esc or Return.

    • In the Notes toolbox, click Start Note Input Start Note Input button.

Result

The notes and notations you input are input at the caret position on all staves across which the caret extends. If the caret extends across both staves of a grand staff instrument, notes are input on either the top or bottom staff according to their pitch. However, this does not apply to grand staff instruments with extra staves.

When inputting notes using a MIDI keyboard, the individual notes in any chords you input are automatically exploded across the staves.

Tip

You can change whether notes in chords are exploded onto multiple staves or all notes are input onto all staves on the MIDI Input page in Note Input Options.