Adjusting the Volume Level of Selected Tracks During Playback

During playback you can increase the volume of selected tracks relative to other non-selected tracks, so that you can focus your listening on these tracks. This is a useful aid for studying orchestrations and arrangements.

You can control volume with your mouse and the volume control in the toolbar; or by typing V+ or V+; or by playing special notes on your keyboard, using the Pitch-to-Command feature.

The volume control is in the toolbar, and looks like this:

During playback, the volume control primarily affects the one or more tracks you have selected. As you increase the volume, the selected tracks will sound louder. If the volume control is adjusted to the right of the middle point, then not only will the selected tracks sound louder, the non-selected tracks will sound softer. This feature is useful to emphasize the sound of the selected tracks, so that you can focus your listening on these tracks.

If the volume control is adjusted to the left of the middle point, the selected tracks will remain at their normal volume level, while the non-selected tracks will become softer.

If no tracks are selected, then the volume control applies uniformly to all of the tracks in the score.

If you are familiar with the distinction between MIDI track volume control events and individual MIDI note-on velocities, then you might find it useful to know how Composer's volume control is implemented. The volume control affects both individual MIDI note velocities and the overall MIDI track volume (via controller event 7). The reason for this design is that some soundcards do not implement track volume controller events well or at all. Composer's design, which relies on both MIDI note-on velocity adjustments and track volume controller events, produces more reliable volume control across a wider variety of soundcards.

If you find that the overall volume level is too soft, then you might find it preferable to increase the volume level of your computer speakers, or use the Windows volume control, rather than to use Composer's control. Otherwise, some of the expressiveness of volume changes in the song, as well as some instrument panning, will be lost, the more you increase Composer's volume level.

To change the volume of selected tracks relative to other tracks:

1.      Select one or more tracks as follows: Choose Show Track Controls from the View command. Click the track selection button to select a track. While holding down the SHIFT key, click the track selection button to extend the range of tracks.      

2.      Increase (or decrease) the volume of the selected tracks, using one of these methods:

(a) Drag the volume control button to the right (or left).      

-- OR --

(b) Type V+ (or V+).

-- OR --

(c) Choose the Increase Volume (or Decrease Volume) command from the Perform menu.

-- OR --

(d)      If you have enabled Composer's Pitch-to-Command feature, while holding down the "trigger key" on your music keyboard, play the first Eb above Middle C to increase the volume, or the C# to decrease the volume. See Controlling Composer From Your Music Keyboard.

To reset the volume level back to normal:

1.      Type V+ENTER.

-- OR --

2.      Choose the Reset Volume command from the Perform menu.

-- OR --

3.      If you have enabled Composer's Pitch-to-Command feature, while holding down the "trigger key" on your music keyboard, play the first D above Middle C. See Controlling Composer From Your Keyboard.

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