You can set up percussion playback using an external MIDI device's percussion sounds, such as a percussion patch on a MIDI keyboard. To do so, configure a Percussion MIDI Map to correspond with your external MIDI device's MIDI note to instrument mapping for the desired percussion patch. Once you have done this, you can easily choose the Percussion MIDI Map whenever you wish to use the those sounds for either input or playback. (To setup an external MIDI device with Finale, see Setting up your MIDI system.)

To create an Output Map for playback through an external MIDI device

Note. If you would like to use the GM (General MIDI) percussion sounds on your external MIDI device, there is no need to create a custom Output Map–set the Instrument to General MIDI under the Perc. MIDI Map column of the Score Manager.

1. Choose MIDI/Audio > Device Setup > Edit Percussion MIDI Maps. The Percussion MIDI Map Editor dialog box appears. Here, you can specify a MIDI value for each percussion instrument.
2. Click the Map drop-down menu and choose a map to edit. Rename it as desired. This should be a map you are unlikely to use in the future. Or, click New to create a new map from scratch by selecting each Note Type and adding it to the list.
3. After Name, enter the name of the device and/or sound bank.
4. Assign the appropriate MIDI note to each percussion instrument. See Percussion MIDI Map Editor dialog box. To identify the MIDI Note for each instrument of your sound bank, consult the external device's documentation.
5. Click OK.
6. Choose Document > Playback/Record Options.
7. Ensure Send Patches to MIDI Device on Playback is checked, and click OK.
8. Choose MIDI/Audio > Play Finale Through MIDI.
9. Choose Window > Score Manager.
10. Under the Perc. MIDI Map column, select your custom map. (If the Perc. MIDI Map column is not visible, click the Customize View button and click Percussion MIDI Maps.)
11. If required by your external MIDI device, ensure the Instrument is set to Channel 10, the old standard MIDI percussion channel. (If the Channel column is not visible, click the Customize View button and click Channel.)
12. Under the Prg column for the Instrument, select the program/patch of the percussion sound you want to use. See To establish MIDI patch settings for a score Instrument for details.
13. Press Play.

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