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If you are eager to get started using Composer then you can use this QuickStart Guide to get you going quickly. You can always refer back to this User Guide documentation for specific questions that you may have, but this Guide will show you the basics to get you started. To access this QuickStart Guide at any time from within the software, you can type the quick shortcut "qqsg" at any time and be taken to this page, and have it in the language that you have chosen for viewing the documents.

 

QuickStart Guide for notation composer

This QuickStart Guide is designed for those who want pointers, and then want to explore for themselves.  

For a more “hands on” approach, you may want to check out the “Quick Start Tutorial” which works step-by-step through some of the more common tasks.  There are also Tutorial Videos available that guide you through many tasks.

 

Back up your software (full version only) – Before anything else, please take a moment to back up your installation. The installation is saved in the zip file “Inst_NS_Composer_5_English_Backup_xyz.zip” (xyz = version), which you can find for

Windows 11, 10 at: C:\Users\Public\Documents\Notation_5\Composer_5\Installation

and in the folder where you have started the installation.

Copy this zip file to some safe storage media (e.g. CD, memory stick, external hard drive, etc.)  If you should need to reinstall your software for any reason, simply extract the zip file into one folder of computer hard drive, and then run the file “Installation_Notation_Composer_5_English.msi”.

 

Opening a file from your computer – simply use “Open” or “File/Open” and navigate to your file.

Finding MIDI or Karaoke Files

You can use your browser and favorite search engine to look for “MIDI” plus the name of a song you would like to work with.  

Save the file to your hard drive, and open it in notation composer using “Open” or “File Open.”

Creating a New song

Use the “Create a new song” option (or File/New) to choose options for pre-set templates for a new song.

You can also create your own templates:

1.Set up a blank file with the instrumentation and layout you want.

2.Use File/Save as template.

3.Now you can use File/New, and select your personalized template from the list.

Setting up your Work Space

Window view (quick muting, soloing, Staff Setup via control buttons) or Page view (“Print preview”)

 

Tool placement - Main Palette (Tabs and Palettes) and Detail Palette (Palette tools) are moveable

(only available on Windows).

 

By clicking and holding the palettes, they can be moved to "float" where it is most convenient for you.

 

 

Transcription Options - Setup/Transcription Options affects the appearance of the notation.

If you don’t like how the notation looks, try different options by using Format/Retranscribe.

Adding to or Editing the Score

SmartMode – you will typically be in the correct mode for selecting or adding score elements wherever you are at in your work.  However, you can switch if needed using the following buttons (or right-clicking your mouse.)

Modes – Add, Select, or Region Select

Region Select is for copying/pasting parts of the score.

Tabs, Palettes, and Tools

 

Clicking on an element in the score (eg. a note or key signature) will open the relative tab and palette, with the tools to work on what you have selected.

Clicking on the Tab, Palette, and Tool for an item will also put you in the proper mode that allows you to add that element to the score.

 

Recording/adding notes and MIDI performance

You can add notes four ways:

 

•via mouse in “Add” mode, using the Notes palette tools

 

1.Select the "Notes" tool.

2.Select the note duration.

3.Click on the desired note location.

 

 

•via Virtual Piano Keyboard, using the Notes palette tools

 

1.Select the "Notes" tool

2.Select the note duration

3.type "qsk" to show the keyboard

4."K" + mouse click to set the cursor position for adding notes.

5.Click notes on the keyboard to add notes to the score.

 

 

•“live” recording via MIDI instrument (connect instrument to the computer and turn it on)

 

 

1.Click the "Staff Select" button to select the staff to record into

2.Click the "Record" button to start recording from your MIDI instrument

3.Play your MIDI instrument to record notes.

 

 

•“step time” recording via MIDI instrument (connect instrument to the computer and turn on)

 

 

1.Click the "Step Time recording" button.

2.Select the note duration.

3.Play note/chords on your MIDI instrument

 

 

You can also add, edit, or record MIDI performance data:

 

•via mouse in “Add” mode using Graph Over Notes and selecting the MIDI controller to add/edit

 

1.Select the GraphOverNotes tab.

2.Click the Staff Select button to the select the staff to edit.

3.Select the MIDI controller that you want to edit and then click "Ok" in the dialog box.

4.Select the tool you want to use from the tool palette, and then use your mouse to edit the performance graph.

 

 

“live” recording via MIDI instrument (connect the instrument to the computer and turn it on; do this on an empty staff, then use Region Select/Copy/Paste to paste the graph onto a staff with notes.)

 

 

1.Click the "GraphOverNotes" tab.

2.Click the "Staff Select" button to select the staff you want to record MIDI cc events into.

3.Click the "Ctl?" button to select which MIDI cc you want to record.

4.Click the "Record" button to start recording MIDI cc events using your MIDI instrument.

 

Rearranging

Use Region Select to select regions for copying/pasting sections of the score.

 

Use Edit/Paste Special commands for filling in loops (eg. drums) or other “specialty” tasks into a selected region:

Practicing

 Staff Controls- Use the staff control buttons to silence or solo each staff.

 Practice Sessions – Perform/Practice Setup for practice loop options.

 

Printing – Layout and Formatting

Layout/Page Layout – Tab, Palette and tools for editing the position of bars and systems (“lines”) of the score on the page(s).

Format menu commands – A centralized list of commands and dialogs for other aspects of the appearance such as the Transcription options, fonts, and hiding/showing types of objects in the score.

For details about any of these topics, you can see Help/Users Guide, and then use the Index to look up any topic for step-by-step instructions.

We hope you will enjoy many hours of music making fun with notation composer!

Your Notation Software Team