Adding New Tracks

For most types of instruments, there should be one track in the song for each instrument. For piano, keyboard, organ, and some other instruments, there should typically be two tracks-- one for the right hand, and one for the left hand. If the song is written for a large ensemble, then one track might produce the sound for a "section" of instruments, such as cellos in an orchestra.

A newly added track is initially added only to the currently selected part. The next time you view any other part, CompView will ask you whether you would like to make the newly added track visible that part.

There are two ways you can add new tracks in Composer. The first way adds the new track immediately below a currently selected track, or else at the end of the list of tracks. The second way offers you the opportunity to quickly add several tracks and rearrange their order in the Track Setup dialog box.

To add a new track immediately below a currently selected track, or else at the end of the list of tracks:

1.      Select the track below which you wish to add the new track. Select this track by clicking the Select Track button among the track controls. If no track is selected, this procedure will result in adding the new track at the end of the list of tracks.

2.      Choose the Add Track command in the Track menu.

     -- OR --

     Type "qat" for Quick Add Track.

     Composer will display a TrackSetup dialog box, such as the following:

This is the same Track Setup dialog that is displayed when you click the Instrument Sound button among the track controls.

If you selected a track in step #1, then the Track Setup dialog box will be preset with the track name, device, channel, bank, and instrument sound of the track that you selected. This allows you to quickly duplicate the properties of a track when creating a second track.

3.      Fill out the Track Setup dialog box according to how you want the instrument sound to be produced by Composer. For details, see Changing the Instrument Sound of a Track.

4.      Click the OK button to complete the adding of the new track.

     Composer will display the new track in the score at the position you selected in step #1.

To add one or more new tracks using the Multiple Track Setup dialog:

1.      Choose the Track Setup command in the Track menu.

     -- OR --

     Type "qts" for Quick Track Setup.

     Composer will display the Multiple Track Setup dialog, such as illustrated below:

2.      In the list of tracks, click on the track number above where below which you wish to add a new track. (If you wish to add a track at the top of the list, add it initially in the second position in the list, and then use the Move Up button to move it to the first position.)

3.      Click the Add button.

     Composer will add a new track in the list, immediately below the currently selected track.

4.      You can rearrange the order of the new track in the list by clicking the Move Down or Move Up button. The Move Down and Move Up buttons apply to the currently selected track.

5.      You can also change the track name, instrument sound, and other properties of the track as listed in the columns. Details about the track properties in each of the columns are described in the following topics:

     Track and Abbr columns: Editing Instrument (Track) Names

     Hide column: Showing and Hiding Instrument Names

     Mute column: Muting Tracks

     Volume column: Per-Track Channel Volume Level

     Pan column: Left-to-Right Pan

     Device, Channel, Bank, and Instrument columns: Changing the Instrument Sound of a Track

6.      If this is a drum track, then set a checkmark for Drum Instrument, and specify the Drum Instrument Properties, as described in Changing the Instrument Sound of a Track. See also Editing Drum Notes.

7.      Click the OK button to complete the adding of tracks and editing of track properties. Choose among the various options for

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