Correcting Percussion Playback in Compose using Drum Maps

Introduction

Occasionally, documents uploaded to Compose can exhibit incorrect playback sounds on percussion staves. We expect that a file set up correctly in Finale will also play back correctly when imported into Compose in the majority of cases, but here are some items to review if the imported file doesn't play back as expected.

• Best practice is to ensure percussion plays back correctly in the source program (Finale, Sibelius, Musescore, etc.) before exporting as a MusicXML file.
  
  • We’re always working to improve MusicXML. If you encounter a situation where a document is set up correctly in Finale but imports incorrectly into Compose, please click Submit a Request above and include both your .musx file and your .musicxml file for the technical support team to review.
  • We cannot make a similar claim about other notation software as the level of MusicXML support varies.
• There may be some instances where the document needs to be edited in Compose to correct playback either as a result of incorrect setup in the source program or as a result of limitations in Compose. This article addresses the tools available in Compose to edit percussion staves and to correct playback.

Checking playback after import

• If you need to know how to import, see Importing your own music into MakeMusic Cloud.
• The first thing to do is confirm the instrument assignment for the percussion staves.
  • If you need a variety of sounds on a single staff, make sure to choose either Percussion or Drum Set as the instrument, because Drum Maps are only available for these instruments.

Pitched Percussion

• Assigning the correct pitched percussion instrument to the staff should be enough to ensure correct playback. Compose sometimes assigns suggests Piano, so keep an eye out for that and switch to the appropriate instrument if necessary.
• Switching instruments on a single staff (from Xylophone to Bells, for example), is a common practice. Unfortunately, Compose doesn’t support mid-score instrument changes at this point. You will need to add separate staves for each pitched percussion instrument.

Unpitched Percussion

• Just like pitched percussion, individual instruments such as Bass Drum or Wood Blocks cannot switch to another instrument mid-score. If you need multiple sounds on the same part, choose Percussion or Drum Set.
• Percussion and Drum Set staves: using Drum Maps
  1. Choose the Score > Staves and Bars tool. Pencil icons appear on each staff and above each measure.
  2. Click the pencil icon for a staff. Staff properties appears on the left side of the screen.
  3. Make sure either Percussion or Drum Set is the chosen instrument.
  4. Expand the Drum Map section.
     
     
     
  5. Choose a Drum Kit from the drop-down menu. All sounds for the staff will come from the same Drum Kit, so choose wisely.
  6. Add notes to the staff, position as desired, and choose noteheads.
  7. Assign sounds to each note.
  8. Select Apply to existing notes (optional: Keep existing noteheads) and click Apply.

Tips and Best Practices

• After defining the Drum Map, you can change notes individually by selecting the note (press the Esc key for selection tool) and using the Percussion instrument drop-down on the left.
• If it’s difficult to pick out the percussion parts while playing back in Compose, use the Mixer to solo the percussion parts (choose Playback and click the Mixer icon or press SHIFT+M).
• Save the Compose User Guide in a handy location.