Apple Logic Pro - Score Hints & Tips

SCORE TIPS

To view the full score choose screenset 3. You can view one sequence only in the score window by double clicking on it’s staff. Click on the black square (top left) to view the entire score again. The same process applies to other editors, e.g. in the event list you will either see a list of sequences or the contents of one sequence. Double click on a sequence in the list to display the contents, click on black square to see the list (see: link mode). There are various ways of viewing only one track instead of the whole score: 1) mute all the other tracks (not very efficient as they have to be muted in the arrange window) 2) Double click on the track (see above). 3) create instrument set with just one instrument and choose that set from the flip menu in DPB. This is the best way to print individual parts, you can choose an individual instrument set, then print, choose another set, then print etc. You can leave the printer to print all the parts while you do something else.

Pedal on and off signs from the partbox will affect MIDI sustain: if you input a pedal on, no MIDI note off commands will apply on that channel until there is a pedal off sign.

When editng sequences that contain MIDI sustain commands, it is often best to convert the sustains to actual note lengths. You can do this by going to Functions menu> Note events> Sustain Pedal to note length.

You can set MIDI meaning, ie staccato dots will actually shorten a MIDI note event, accents can add real velocity. Available in the Layout Menu of the score window.

Notes can be positioned and spaced graphically on the staff (i.e. without altering their musical position) by dragging while pressing <ALT> OR with the layout tool. (pointer with white arrow head)

Rests are displayed automatically where there are no notes, but rests can also be entered manually from the partbox and freely positioned as with notes, usually only required when placing a fermata over a rest or graphically repositioning rests, or:

With compound time signatures, user rests can be placed to change the display of how notes are tied, eg placing a dotted crotchet user rest on top of beats 1, 4, 7, 10 in 12/8 will display dotted crotchets instead of dottted minims or other default displays.

In addition to the single grace notes available in Attributes Menu> Independent, you can have double beamed grace notes by setting up one or all score style(s) as polyphonic, one channel with no rests just for grace notes. You apply small note size and stems upwards by double clicking on the note to get a note attributes box.

Always use the appropriate score style to supply the initial clef, clefs from the part box are for when you need a change of clef.

A handy tip for jazz scores: A display quantize of 8 & 12 will display swing quavers as straight quavers.