User Guide

Chapter 7: Notation and Printing 102
Tip: The notation of Jazz Swing music will often be improved by a Tick Offset
setting of about minus 5. This is because Jazz music is typically played a little after
the beat or, in Jazz terms, “laid back.”
Minimize Rests
The “Minimize Rests” checkbox, when checked, will cause Band-in-a-Box to
display the music with minimal rests. Use this setting if notes are displayed as
shorter than you intended. For example, if eighth notes are displayed as
sixteenth notes because you recorded them staccato.
Engraver Spacing
This is an intelligent option that spaces the Notation to avoid overlapping
notation, and accounts for space required by accidentals, rests etc. It should
normally be set to “On.” The only reason to set it to “Off” would be to speed up
the Notation redraws, but then you will see a mathematical spacing, which
results in overlapped notes in some situations. It is only operative in (non-
editable) Notation mode.
Clefs Split at
The “Clefs Split” at setting determines the split point for placing notes on the
Bass or Treble clef. The default setting is C5, which is middle C. For example,
you can use a higher split point, such as C6 if you want some notes up to a G
above middle C to be displayed on the bass clef with ledger lines instead of on
the treble clef. If the split point is above middle C, and a note in the music is
high enough that any of the ledger lines above the bass clef would overwrite the
treble clef, the note will be placed on the treble clef.
Inserted Note Defaults
- If the Snap to Grid Lines checkbox is checked, the inserted note will be
lined up with the closest grid line (quantized). So you don't have to click
exactly on the beat to have the note inserted exactly on the beat.
- Duration % is the duration that will be assigned. For example, if a whole
note is inserted with a duration of 80%, the note would last 4*80% = 3.2
beats.
- The Channel # and Velocity settings determine the MIDI channel and
velocity of inserted notes.
Play Inserted Notes
If the “Play Inserted Notes” checkbox is checked, notes that you insert will
sound briefly as they are inserted. This lets you hear that the note you inserted
sounds correct.
Entering Chords Using the Notation Window
This is identical to the operation of the chordsheet. You use the Current Time
Indicator (time bar) to see where you are in the bar. Then type in the chords as
you do in Band-in-a-Box.