Split points

To specify a point at which a measure may split across a system (line) break, see To split a measure across a system break.

You’ll need to specify a different kind of split point when you use Finale’s real-time transcription tool to transcribe a two-handed keyboard performance. Since the computer can’t “see” your hands, you must tell it how it should split your performance onto the two staves. To adjust the split point based on a defined ‘hand width’ for regions of your score, or the entire document, use the Smart Split Point plug-in.

To specify a fixed split point

To enter HyperScribe, click the HyperScribe Tool. The HyperScribe Menu appears. To enter the Transcription window, click the Transcription Mode, then click the measure where the transcription is to begin. See Recording with HyperScribe orTranscribing a sequence. 

1. From the Record submenu of the HyperScribe Menu choose Split into Two Staves or from the Split Point submenu of the Transcription Menu choose Fixed. The Fixed Split Point dialog box appears, letting you enter a number. The number refers to a specific note on your MIDI keyboard; middle C is key number 60.
2. Click Listen. Finale displays a message, telling you that it’s listening.
3. Play the MIDI note you want to designate as the split point for your transcription. If your MIDI equipment is set up properly, the number in the Split MIDI Note text box changes. (You can also type a number directly into the text box.) When Finale transcribes your performance, all notes below the note indicated will be put on the lower staff; all notes above, including the specified note, will be on the top staff.
4. Click OK (or press return). If your piece has no clear split point, you may find it easiest to record the right-hand part an octave higher than written. After Finale transcribes the piece, it’s a simple matter to transpose that staff to the proper register (see Transposing: by interval).

To specify a movable split point (Transcription Mode only)

If the piece you intend to transcribe doesn’t have any one split point—in other words, if the ranges of notes played by your right and left hands during the piece aren’t completely distinct—you can use Finale’s Moving split point feature. Finale will split a two-handed performance onto the correct staves (usually treble and bass clef) by tracking the positions of your hands as they move up and down the keyboard. As long as there’s a discernible gap between your two hands at any given moment, Finale can adjust the split point on a note-by-note basis automatically.

1. From the Split Point submenu (of the Transcription Menu), choose Moving. A dialog box appears.
2. Click Listen, and play a one-hand-width interval on the synthesizer keyboard. Don’t necessarily play the widest interval you can reach. Instead, play the largest interval you played with one hand in the piece; strike the two notes comprising your hand width more or less simultaneously. The number in the Hand Width text box, measured in half steps, changes to reflect the interval you played. (Instead of clicking Listen, you can also enter a number directly into the Hand Width text box.)
3. Click OK. If Finale still makes a few errors in the resultant transcription—for example, if your hands were, at some point, too close together for Finale to track them—see  To correct split point errors.

To correct split point errors

Occasionally, because there is no clear split point, or because your hands cross, a HyperScribe or Transcription Mode transcription will contain left-hand notes in the treble-clef staff, or right-hand notes in the bass-clef staff. Using the Note Mover Tool, you can quickly restore the notes to the proper staves. See Note Mover Tool.

1. Click the Note Mover Tool  . The Note Mover Menu appears.
2. Choose Delete After Merge from the Note Mover Menu. In other words, you’ll delete the incorrectly split note from its current staff, and merge it with the correct staff.
3. Click the measure containing the incorrectly split notes. A handle appears on each notehead.
4. Select the notes to be moved. Select one note by clicking its handle, several adjacent notes by drag-enclosing them, or additional notes by shift-clicking (or shift–drag-enclosing them). The handles you select are highlighted.
5. Drag any highlighted handle onto the target staff. Don’t drag it to any particular line or space; just drag it anywhere onto the correct staff. The notes are automatically transferred to the correct lines or spaces of the new staff.

Note: If you are not pleased with the results check your quantization settings in Quantization Setting dialog box in the MIDI/Audio Menu. Also the More Quantization Settings dialog box. See Quantization Settings dialog box and More Quantization Settings dialog box.