In Finale, a backbeat is the second half
of the beat (in duple meters); thus the second eighth note of every beat
in 
or 
time (or the second quarter note in 
time)
is the backbeat. In triple meters, the last two thirds of the beat are
the backbeats. In both cases, “beat” is determined by the durational
value of the denominator in the Time Signature dialog box. The backbeats
of a 
meter
could either be the second eighth note of each beat (if you represented
the meter with three quarter notes in the Time Signature dialog box) or
the second and third quarter notes of the measure (if you represented
the meter as a dotted half note in the Time Signature dialog box). See
Time
signatures for more information on defining meters.
You can use the MIDI Tool to affect only
the backbeats of a piece. You might, for example, boost the velocity of
the backbeats to give the music a rockier sound. If you’re preparing a
Strauss waltz for playback, you could delay the attacks of the backbeats
for a slightly more Viennese feeling.
A downbeat is the first beat of the measure.
A backbeat is the second half of the beat (or, in a triple meter, the
second and third of the beat). An Other beat is any other beat, where
a “beat” is defined as the lower half of the time signature (a quarter
note in the top example, a half note in the next, and a dotted half note
in the bottom example).
To alter the key velocity of backbeats
- Click the MIDI
Tool
and select the region to be affected. Click to select one measure,
shift-click to select additional measures, drag-enclose to select several
on-screen measures, click to the left of the staff to select the entire
staff, or choose Select All from the Edit Menu.
If you want to edit only one staff (and
the desired region fits on one screen), double-click the highlighted region
to enter the MIDI Tool window.
- Choose Key Velocities from the MIDI Tool Menu.
- Choose Alter Feel from the MIDI Tool Menu.
The Alter Feel dialog box appears.
- Enter the desired amount of key velocity alteration
(a positive or negative number) in the Backbeats By box. The range
of MIDI key velocity is 0 to 127, so the number you enter here, when added
to the existing velocity values of the notes, will not exceed 127. (If
you prefer, you can click the Percent of Original button and type a percentage
value into the Backbeats By box.)
- Click OK (or press return).
To alter the durations of backbeats
See Swing.
To copy or erase MIDI Tool editing
See MIDI —To copy or erase captured (or edited)
MIDI data.
