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Individual Instruments

I use the NWC to not only make music, but to hear my parts in a concert etc. But, I have learned that NWC only plays in concert pitches. Is there any way I can change that to where it isn't concert pitch, but a Bb? Please Help!!

Re: Individual Instruments

Reply #1 –
You can write individual parts in whatever keys you want and then you just need to set the correct transposition to get it to sound correctly.  For example, if you entered an alto saxophone part from a band score exactly as it was originally written and wanted to listen to it as it would sound in the correct key if played by an alto saxophone, you would need to select the staff, then staff properties (keyboard shortcut F2), click on the midi tab and set the transposition to -9 (an alto saxophone sounds 9 semitones lower than written).
 

Re: Individual Instruments

Reply #2 –
Hi Reggie,
to add to what Chris said, for a Bb instrument like Trumpet, Soprano Sax or Clarinet, the transposition is -2.

To explain, when a Bb instrument instrument plays "C" the note heard is actually a concert Bb.  Similarly, an Eb instrument playing "C" is actually playing a concert Eb.

So, when using NWC, you need to specify on each staff the appropriate transposition so NWC can tell your soundcard what concert pitch note to play.

If the instrument you are notating is at concert pitch no transposition is necessary.

When I'm arranging, I usually do everything at concert pitch, then use the transpose staff option to give me a correct printout.

If you are transcribing from charts that are already transposed then you simply need to tell the staff the midi translation as described above.

Clear as mud, I bet.
Lawrie