Configuring Percussion Playback

Non-pitched percussion sound libraries differ from pitched sound libraries in that each MIDI note represents a different percussive instrument rather than a different pitch. Imagine playing a MIDI keyboard set to a certain percussion patch; each key plays a different percussion instrument. Change the percussion patch and the keys play different sounds, sometimes completely different instruments altogether. Finale’s percussion output works the same way. If you change the way Finale plays back (from Garritan to SoftSynth, for example), the messages (MIDI notes) sent from your percussion staves may be interpreted as different percussion instruments. Therefore, when you change your playback device, (or send your file to a different computer with different sound libraries), you must also tell Finale how your percussion MIDI notes should be interpreted. Fortunately, Finale includes preset maps for all included percussion playback options, and you can define a percussion MIDI map for any external MIDI device.

The Percussion MIDI Map is set under the "Perc. MIDI Map" column of the Score Manager. Ensure the Percussion MIDI Map selected in the Score Manager matches the playback device specified in the so that your percussion staves playback properly.

If you do not see a map for your external MIDI device, or, if you would like to change the playback of a particular note from one instrument to another throughout your score, you can edit the percussion MIDI mapping. See To setup an external MIDI device for percussion input & playback.

 

 

User Manual Home