[saxdude48]

I'm really confused, on Finale Allegro it seems impossible to enter chords where-ever you want. If I have a whole note, and want to enter 4 chords over that measure, I can't. If I have a solo section with slashes, I can't enter chord symbols above them!
I tried doing the layer 4 option with dummy notes that the manual suggests, but then when I go to playback my song, it plays my dummy notes as well!There has to be an easier way to do such a common task as this.
Help anyone?

 

[-88-]

I know you want an easy answer. I wish that the current raft of composing software was better, but they all succumb to corporate think inimical to artists. Finale is obtuse, and Sibelius is worse. There is a great opportunity for anyone who can put out composing software for musicians. DigiDesign just bought Sibelius, maybe they'll start fixing it.

May you find the short term answer you seek. I have the same problem with Finale too and have yet to find composing software worth it's name.

 

[stefank]

You can "turn off" the instrument setting for that layer - but it's quicker to enter rests rather than notes, and hide them (click "o" when in Speedy Entry).

 

[saxdude48]

stefank that's a brilliant idea, my goodness why didn't I think of putting in rests earlier? Thanks for the help.
Could you please also tell me how to turn off playback for a certian layer?

 

[stefank]

stefank that's a brilliant idea, my goodness why didn't I think of putting in rests earlier? Thanks for the help.
Could you please also tell me how to turn off playback for a certian layer?

This is what I do in Finale - it probably works in Allegro as well.

Go to the "Window" dropdown menu, then to "Instrument List". If you then click on the dropdown arrow next (to the left) of each "Staff Name" it expands things so you have the option of not only selecting a different instrument sound for each layer (quite useful when you want strings to go from arco to pizz. & the like), but also selecting no instrument at all. This is also quite useful when you don't want chords to actually play - put them in a silent layer.

Cheers,

Stefan