Dynamics popover

The dynamics popover allows you to input all types of dynamics, including whole dynamic phrases containing immediate and gradual dynamics simultaneously, such as p<f>p.

You can open the dynamics popover in Write mode in any of the following ways when either an item is selected or the caret is active:

  • Press Shift-D.

  • In the Notations toolbox, click Popovers Popovers button, then Dynamics Dynamics button.

  • Select an existing dynamic and press Return.

  • Choose Write > Create Dynamic.

The icon on the left-hand side of the popover matches the corresponding button in the Notations toolbox on the right of the window.

Figure 1. Dynamics popover with an example entry
Figure 2. Dynamics button in the Notations toolbox

Dynamics popover entries

Dynamic or modifier

Popover entry

pianissimo:

pp

piano:

p

mezzo piano:

mp

mezzo forte:

mf

forte:

f

fortissimo:

ff

fortepiano without separator:

fp

fortepiano with separator, such as -

f-p, f:p, or f/p

subito

subito, sub, or sub.

possibile

possibile, poss, or poss.

poco

poco

molto

molto

più

piu or più

meno

meno

mosso

mosso

crescendo (appears as by default)

<

cresc. text only (property override)

cresc

cresc. text with continuation line (property override)

cresc...

diminuendo (appears as by default)

>

dim. text only (property override)

dim

dim. text with continuation line (property override)

dim...

messa di voce hairpin: (crescendo then diminuendo)

<>

messa di voce hairpin: (diminuendo then crescendo)

><

A pair of grouped hairpins that looks like a messa di voce hairpin

Note

You must separate hairpins with a space.

< > or > <

niente hairpins that start/end with a small circle

o< or >o

niente hairpins that start/end with the letter “n”

n< or >n

sforzando:

sfz

rinforzando:

rfz

This list is not comprehensive as you can enter anything as a dynamic modifier. It is intended to illustrate how you can structure your entry to input different types of dynamics.

Note

  • Pairs of separate hairpins are treated differently than messa di voce hairpins. For example, separate hairpins each have start and end handles in Write mode, whereas messa di voce hairpins share a single center handle.

  • You can input hairpins and messa di voce hairpins directly, without using the popover.

    • For a crescendo hairpin, press <.

    • For a diminuendo hairpin, press >.

    • For a crescendo/diminuendo messa di voce hairpin, press Shift-Alt/Opt-,.

    • For a diminuendo/crescendo messa di voce hairpin, press Shift-Alt/Opt-..

  • You can change the appearance of all gradual dynamics project-wide on the Dynamics page in Engraving Options. You can also change the appearance of individual gradual dynamics.

Inputting modifiers into the dynamics popover

You can enter modifiers into the dynamics popover, such as poco, molto, subito, espressivo, or dolce. Modifiers appear in the correct italic font beside the dynamic. However, you must also enter an accompanying immediate dynamic, such as p or f, and separate the two with a space; for example, f molto or p espressivo.

You can hide immediate dynamics if you only want to show the modifier.