Using the Mixer

As you listen to your document, you may discover a need to adjust the balance of individual staves. For example, you may want to increase the volume of the flute section or move the trumpet section to the right side of the stage using panning controls. You can use Finale’s Mixer controls to make these adjustments. The Mixer allows you to make real-time playback adjustments to the full score, or each staff individually. The mixer settings you apply are post-processed on top of existing playback data, so all existing MIDI data, including Human Playback, is left as-is (as if you were sending the music from your computer through a conventional mixer). Mixer settings appear in the Mixer window and Staff Controls. There is even a view, Studio View, explicitly specifically for auditioning your score.

To use the Mixer

Noteman says: Volume, panning, and instrument controls in the ScoreManager, Mixer and Studio View Staff Controls are linked. A change to a setting in one of these applies to all three.

  1. Choose View > Studio View. Your music is stretched across the page as if you were in Scroll View. The Staff Controls appear to the left of your staves. The Staff Controls are permanently affixed to the left of your staves in Studio View (and only available in Studio View).
  2. Choose Window > Mixer. The Mixer window appears, along with the staff controls in score order. In the following example, the Mixer is minimized. Move your cursor over the edge until you see a double-sided arrow, then click and drag to resize the mixer.
    Studio View with Mixer

    The Master controls apply to the full score and include a volume slider, reverb knob, and room size dropdown menu. Staff Controls include a volume slider, pan knob, and instrument selector, as well as Solo, Mute, and Record buttons. All Staff Control settings are redundant to the staff controls in the Mixer. All Mixer/Staff Control settings are saved with the document, so your music will sound the same the next time you open it.

    Now, let’s take a quick tour of the Mixer controls and explore some real-time playback effects:

  3. Click the Play button in the Playback Controls. The following steps should be performed during playback.
  4. Click the Master Volume Slider in the Mixer and drag to adjust the volume. Then, to make fine adjustments, use the UP and DOWN ARROW to move the slider incrementally.

    You can also view these changes, or enter them manually, in the ScoreManager.

  5. Click the INST. LIST button at the bottom of the Master control pane. The ScoreManager appears. Position it so it is not obstructing the Mixer or Staff Controls.
  6. In the Staff Controls on the left side of the screen, click and drag a Pan knob counterclockwise as far as possible for one of the Piano staves. When you release the mouse button, a small box displays the current value. Notice the piano shifts to the left speaker or headphone.

    You can also type a MIDI value (1-127) in any of these text boxes to specify a precise value.

  7. To the left of the String staff, click the S button in the Staff Controls. You are now listening to a string solo. Click “S” again to hear all the staves. The M performs the opposite function of muting a staff.

    You can mute or solo as many staves as you want.

  8. Finally, if you have Play Finale Through MIDI selected, click the Reverb knob and drag clockwise.

    The Reverb and Room Size effects apply only to the overall output.