Boy Did I Screw Up! (Finale 2007)

[Jay Norem]

I finally decided to get (or to let myself be talked in getting) Finale 2007, for my new Macbook, after using Encore on an ancient Mac IIci for years. Everything was going okay but then I got to where I needed to do some basic things like copying notes, assigning the number of systems per-page, placing chord symbols over "blank" measures (for the solo section) and so on, none of which works. I'm at a complete standstill, and all the manual can do is tell me how to make a chart of "Auld Lang Syne." Could they have made this program any more difficult, any more counter-intuitive?
Have I been taken to the cleaners to the tune of $400? And I've got to have four complete charts ready for a rehearsal next Wednesday. Boy did I screw up! Why am I so STUPID?!

[Phat Boi]

on a related note. HOW THE HELL DO YOU MAKE QUINTUPLETS IN FINALE (it would make my life less difficult).

[Jay Norem]

When I try to transpose a concert part up to a Bb part for the tenor sax, a Bb note is transposed to a Cb. What?
Okay I figured out that part....now I've got to move the chords back down a second, because trumpet and sax player like to see the chords in concert pitch...hey Phat. You obviously know a little about this thing. How about some help here?

[EthanW]

If Finale isn't for you, you may want to check out Sibelius. Personally it's been way more intuitive when I began using it. Of course I know that this is all a personal thing and some people will find Finale more intuitive and vice-versa, just a matter of taste.~pimp:

[Jay Norem]

Well I just got off the phone to my main music guy that I met on this forum and I think I'll be cool with this Finale. He said it's the best, it's what he uses and that once I get the hang of it I'll love it. It's just so frustrating to have to go through this damn learning curve, and I only have until Wednesday to get these charts up. Well, things could be worse...

[EthanW]

You're right, your keyboard and the finale program could all be in Chinese :shrug:

That might screw you up. ;)

But anyway, good luck getting the charts down and seeing as we don't live so far from eachother if I'm in Georgia visting relatives we should jam?

[Jay Norem]

if I'm in Georgia visting relatives we should jam?

Oh hell yeah I'd love that. Just let me know man.

[Jackie]

Wow, this story sure makes me glad that Sibelius is the standard in this part of the world. Pretty easy once you get the hang of it...

[Slant]

on a related note. HOW THE HELL DO YOU MAKE QUINTUPLETS IN FINALE (it would make my life less difficult).

Phat,

I don't think you can do quints in Finale. Let me know if you figure it out -- I'd like to know.

[Jakeweiser]

You can do quints in finale.

Select the tuplet tool and click on the first note in the phrase. The tuplet division box will come up and if you're doing with Quarter notes it will say 3 in 4... switch the first number to 5, the next number to 4, bang.

Unfortunate that you're having trouble Jay. I wish I could help you, they are all easy things. Throw the manual away and use the program's help menu which should drop down from the start. You should beable to find anything there. Unfortauntely, I can't give you help because I don't use Mac and the hot key controls are different

[Jay Norem]

Well I just finished my first chart using Finale and it's a lot easier than I first thought. The folks at tech-support are cool, too. Yeah, I'll be okay. Thanks folks...