Is it possible to create a version of a score that has all instruments transposed up a half step? I am working on an orchestral arrangement for a rock band that tunes down a half step, so for their purposes they would like to see the arrangement appear in the key that they are familiar with.
To be specific, the piece is in Db, but the band would like to see a score that is in D.
Transposing is easy. If you want to keep both keys, duplicate the flow first.
- Edit > Select All (or don’t select anything – it works either way)
- Write > Transpose…
- On the right side of the dialog, select D♭ and D♮ and hit Apply to have it calculate the interval for you. Or just choose an augmented unison up.
Let us know if have any key changes within it, because that could be trickier.
Is it possible to add a layout that transposes ‘dynamically’?
Interesting! I suppose you could make a layout with clef and transposition overrides on every instrument …
Couldn’t the OP create a custom instrument that transposes? A C# instrument I guess.
I’ve tried to do that but could not understand it. If you have any time to write a nice guide I’d appreciate it. No hurry though.
I got it working in Sibelius once, but I have no idea how I did it. I think DS helped me set it up. Not my ‘forte’.
I would do as @dan_kreider suggested, but you need the Instrument in Cb.
Go to Setup Mode and edit each Instrument from the"…" menu. Then set the score to Transposed View.
My brief acquaintance with that dialog was confusing to me too. I am traveling today, and can probably work on this tomorrow, if no one chimes in before that!
Yes, this would be one solution for some instruments. But it is not so practical in an orchestral context, where many of the instruments already have existing transpositions.
Now I’ve tried it, and for @schlagzeuger’s purpose it’s quite simple. Overrides are assigned at the layout level, so if you want a Rock Band score:
- In Setup, make a new Custom Score layout
- Check the box on the flow (otherwise no music will appear!), and the boxes on the rock band instruments
- Right-click the layout card and choose Clef and Transposition Overrides…
The dialog summarizes the current settings at the top. Since the clefs stay the same, the only control you need is “Written middle C sounds as:” at the bottom, under “Transposed pitch”. Switch it on and choose C♭ to display in D major instead of D♭ major. You’ll need to display the layout in transposed pitch. You can do this with individual part layouts as well.
Mark is perfectly right (from the start): this is whzt Clef and Transposition overrides is made for. Use it
Duplicate layout can be a good tool in conjunction with clefs and Transposition overrides.