Configuring instrument playback
Note: Playback sound assignments are saved with the document. If a PrintMusic file is opened on a computer lacking a device used in the document, PrintMusic will display "(missing)" under the Device column for all instruments assigned to that device in the Score Manager after sounds have been loaded. Prior to loading sounds, files last saved in PrintMusic 2014 will list the Audio Units plug-in. For files last saved in PrintMusic 2011 or earlier, the Staff Name appears in place of the missing device prior to loading sounds. (Sounds are loaded at playback, when opening the Audio Units Banks & Effects dialog, or when making edits to the Score Manager.)
Whether you are using Audio Units or MIDI for playback, you can easily change the instrument sound. For new scores created with the Setup Wizard and instruments added with the Score Manager, PrintMusic automatically chooses the best channel assignments for the instruments used in your score. Use these instructions to change the sound assignment for existing scores, which can be particularly useful when working with older scores created in earlier versions of PrintMusic, or when opening the file on a computer with a different sound configuration.
Assigning 3rd party Audio Units sounds
PrintMusic allows you to manually assign any Audio Units sound to one of your score Instruments using the Score Manager.
Note: Consult the documentation accompanying your 3rd party Audio Units library to ensure it is properly installed on your computer.
- Choose MIDI > Play PrintMusic Through Audio Units.
- Choose Window > Score Manager.
- Click the Device column for the instrument you would like to assign and choose your Audio Units device.
If this is the first time you've used the device in the document, it is automatically loaded into the next available bank in the Audio Units Banks & Effects dialog box and assigned to channel 1 in the Score Manager. The next time you choose this device, PrintMusic automatically uses the same bank and assigns the instrument to the next channel, 2 (then 3, 4, etc.) up to 16 channels. If the same device is used for the 17th channel, PrintMusic loads the device into the next available bank in the Audio Units Banks & Effects dialog box and channel numbering starts again at 1. (The bank for each instrument is listed under the Bank column of the Score Manager).
- Under the Sound column, click Edit Player to open the 3rd party Audio Units interface. Select the desired sound, ensuring the slot used for the sound corresponds to the channel assigned to the instrument in the Score Manager.
- Close the Score Manager and playback to audition your selected sound.
Assigning instruments to MIDI sounds
If MIDI > Play PrintMusic Through MIDI is selected, PrintMusic uses the MIDI sound settings assigned to instruments for playback. There are many reasons you might choose to use MIDI sounds for playback:
- to use fewer computer resources than required by Audio Units playback.
- to use General MIDI sounds to ensure your score will sound basically the same on any computer.
- to use an external MIDI keyboard or sound module for playback.
Assigning internal General MIDI sounds
If you would like to playback through MIDI using your computer's speakers, you can use PrintMusic's built-in General MIDI synthesizer ("SmartMusic SoftSynth") or your internal sound card's synthesizer.
- Choose MIDI > Play PrintMusic Through MIDI.
- Choose Window > Score Manager.
- Under the Device column, click the popup menu for the staff you are assigning and choose the desired device (e.g. SoftSynth or another MIDI synthesizer installed on your computer). If the device you would like to use is not available, choose MIDI > Device Setup> MIDI/Internal Speaker Setup to open the MIDI Setup dialog box. For Playback To, choose SmartMusic SoftSynth or QuickTime Playback.
- Under the Sound column, click the popup menu for the staff you are assigning and choose the desired sound.
Assigning external MIDI sounds
If you would like to playback through MIDI using an external MIDI device, such as a MIDI keyboard or sound module, first configure the MIDI Setup dialog box (Playback To > MIDI System). Then, in the Sound column of the Score Manager, click to open the Set Patch To dialog box. See To establish MIDI sound settings for a score instrument.
