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Making the Most of SongWriter

If you’ve followed the step-by-step procedures to this point, you’ve seen most of SongWriter’s tools at work. You’re not expected to remember all this material, of course; you can always re-read the in-depth discussions presented in this volume and consult the User Manual and QuickStart Video Tips at any time (under the Help Menu).

But knowing which tools are at your disposal is only half the learning process. Now you need to learn how to maximize the program’s speed and power to produce the most music, with the fewest false steps, and in the shortest time.

Editing the Maestro Font Default

If there are items that you want to appear on every new document, such as a copyright at the bottom of the page, you can edit the Maestro Font Default file and save it. Then, each time you start a new default document, or begin a new document from the Setup Wizard, this item will appear in the score. As mentioned earlier, you can also edit any document option and apply it to the Maestro Font Default. Here’s how:

From the File Menu, choose Open. Navigate to the SongWriter/ Component files folder. On Windows, from the Files of Type drop down list, choose *.FTM.
Double-click the file Maestro Font Default. A new default file opens.
Make any desired changes. For example, from the Document Menu, choose Select Default Fonts to change default fonts for various document elements.
From the File Menu, choose Save.
On Windows, from the Files of Type drop-down list, choose Finale Template File. Mac users skip to the next step.
Name the file “Maestro Font Default” and click save. You replace the old Maestro Font Default with your new one. Now, the settings you made apply for new documents.

Note that you will only be able to use this feature if the Maestro Font Default file is located in the SongWriter/Component Files folder. If this file is removed from the Component Files folder, SongWriter will open a completely blank unformulated, one measure score when you choose File > New > Lead Sheet.

Order of Entry

In general, you can make the most of your time by creating your documents in the following order. Save your work frequently. The list below is just one possibility; you may find a different order suits your style better.

Use the Setup Wizard or a template to define the instruments and basic layout of your piece. If needed, add, delete or edit staves with the Staff tool.
Enter the music using the Simple Entry tool or HyperScribe.
Edit the music with the Simple Entry tool. Get familiar with the numeric keypad commands, including duration shortcuts and keystrokes for selecting other tools. Remember, you can right-click (Mac -click) any entry to edit it with a context menu, or -click (Mac -click) to select any note and use a modifier keystroke to edit the note. To see a list of keystrokes, from the Simple Menu, choose Simple Edit Commands.
Using the Playback Controls, listen to your piece to check for mistakes.
Put in the lyrics using either Type into Score or Click Assignment.
Use the Repeat tool to place any repeats.
Add chord symbols and fretboards.
Put in all the expression markings: articulations, dynamics, slurs, and so on.
Use the Resize tool to specify the overall size of the music (by clicking the upper-left corner of the page).
Add rehearsal notes, subtitles, and page numbers with the Text tool.
Use the Page Layout tool to make final adjustments to your score and parts.

Links to the Rest of the World

SongWriter is the most well-connected program you can imagine. It can share its music with sequencers, or other notation programs. With the Finale Showcase, you can even post your files on the Finale music website www.finalemusic.com and share with friends across the globe.

One of the most useful examples of SongWriter’s cooperation with other software is its ability to handle standard MIDI sequencer files. These special files contain MIDI playback data. Most sequencer programs (Digital Performer, Sonar, Cubase, and so on) can generate and read them, and so can SongWriter. That means that you can create your music in your favorite sequencer; when it’s polished and ready to be notated, save it on your disk as a MIDI file and open it with SongWriter; it will turn into standard notation. When you attempt this process, you’ll discover that SongWriter offers literally dozens of options for separating and recombining the music on the various tracks of the sequencer file. If you want, SongWriter will even retain the velocity, rhythmic “feel,” and controller information from the original sequence. See MIDI Files in the User Manual for more details.

Note, too, that SongWriter can read files created in other music notation programs from MakeMusic, including SongWriter, Finale, Allegro, Finale Guitar, and NotePad. Files created in earlier versions of any of MakeMusic’s notation programs can be opened in SongWriter directly, even in the opposite platform. For example, files created in SongWriter 2007 for Windows can be opened in SongWriter for Macintosh. IMPORTANT: None of MakeMusic's older products can read SongWriter files directly. To share your files with others who do not own the most recent version of SongWriter, have them download Finale Reader which is available at www.finalemusic.com/reader and will open any file saved from SongWriter.

The Next SongWriter

Your response to SongWriter is extremely important to us; the version of SongWriter you’re now using reflects the comments and suggestions of thousands of users. Please send us your ideas and “wish lists” as you get to know the program. We’ll read and consider everything we receive; SongWriter will continue to become better, faster, and easier to use.

In the meantime, you have at your disposal a musical tool of tremendous power and flexibility. You’ve seen some of what SongWriter can do, and you’ll discover other useful features as you become acquainted with it. With this volume and the User Manual as your guides, you should now be ready to work on a project of your own.

A fascinating experience awaits you. Here’s hoping that SongWriter enhances your musical productivity and creativity in ways you’ve never imagined possible.

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