I searched the forums and I didn't see this anywhere. I may be wrong, but here we go. My director told me that there is a way to change the sounds in finale so that they actually sound like snares, basses, etc. He was going to show me how to do it, but I didn't have any time. Does anybody know how to do this?

It's called Virtual Drumline.

I know about Virtual Drumline. That's not what I'm talking about. My director said the sounds are actually in finale. His friend knew how to find them and set them as the defaults. This is what I'm talking about.

Oh, you're talking about setting up drum-maps by selecting sounds from the General MIDI percussion patch.

There's actually a lot you can do with the general midi sounds to make them more realistic, but it takes a little cleverness.

First, I'd suggest making a snare map.

Set up a new "default" document, just for testing purposes. Then, select the staff tool (looks like a G clef) and then double-click on the only staff you have on screen. This should bring up a dialog box, and at the bottom, you should see a little text box where you can select the notation style. Select Percussion, and then click on the button that says "Select". This will bring another dialog up, with a few pre-programmed percussion maps. highlight the one that says "general MIDI" (by clicking on it) and then click "edit" on the right. You will see all the possible notes, in a table, with the corresponding sounds that they will trigger.

Start looking for snare sounds that you like. I suggest the electric snare, (E2) but you can pick one that you like better. Some people use the woodblock or whatever.

In order to play the "electric snare" sound, you must place a note on the staff on the E2 pitch. You must also bring up the "instrument list" window, (by using the Window menu) and set the staff's instrument to "percussion", which will set the midi channel to 10. Channel 10 is the percussion channel.

Then, when you place a note on E2, (7 lines below the staff) you will hear a sound that is known in the general midi percussion map as electric snare. When you find a snare sound you like, take note of the MIDI Pitch and the number that corresponds to it.

Obviously it's not very convenient to write all your snare notes that far below the staff, and in fact, you want to be able to write the notes on A4, and have Finale recognize that you really mean to trigger the electric snare sound (E2).

So, you're going to create your own snare map. Select the staff tool again, and double click on the only staff on the screen. Then, select Percussion from the "Notation Style" drop-down menu, and then click the "Select" button. When you get to the list of available percussion maps, click the button marked "Create."

You're now in the "Percussion Map Designer" dialog, which will allow you to mix and match the percussion sounds as you see fit. First, give your new percussion map a name, like "My Snare" or something. Then, highlight the desired appearance note from the table on the left by clicking on it. This will be the A on the staff, or A4. next, give this note a name, like "regular hit" or something. Now, put the desired triggered note number in the text box called "playback note." If you don't remember what it was, you can just scroll up until you find the desired (triggered) pitch in the table and look up it's number. For example, E2 triggers the electric snare sound, and it's corresponding number is 40, so I would type "40" in the "playback note" text box.

You must also set the display note so that the notehead looks right. That is the little sqare window on the right, with a section of staff in it. click and drag the noteheads so that they show up on the A space instead of middle C like they start off on.

You're almost done now; but you still have to check the box that says "Highlighted Note" to make sure that Finale will actually use this note when interpereting your music.

Now click "done", "select", and "ok", and you should be back on the regular screen. Try writing some notes on the A line, and on playback, you should get the electric snare sound (or whatever else you chose to define).

If you want to add more sounds to the snare map, like rim clicks, stick clicks, or rim shots, go ahead! If you understand the process, you should have no trouble picking out sounds that you think are appropriate.

Whenever you get around to making the rest of the instruments, the process is similar, but probably not as difficult.

That's enough for now, but feel free to ask again if you have questions about the other staffs, (especially cymbals) or saving your work as a template, or re-using your percussion maps in other pieces you've already written.

Hope this helps,
~Terry

Wow terry, I've been waiting along time to figure this out. Very well done, man. This is getting pinned. VERY useful. Thanks a lot!

Anyone have any example MP3's of this? Thanks for the info!

So if i had soundfonts set up, how would i get that A4 to sound like the soundfount for a snare?

The post Terry made refers to the general midi percussion sounds, not soundfonts.

Soundfonts are a whole different topic.

ok guys, i have finale 2001d, and i have tried what Terry posted many of many times and it has failed for me. so i was wondering, if it is a different set up in 2001 or if it's just me being too stupid and i need some one to guide me through it.

bottom line - I need help to get the snare midi playback to be the electric snare or acoustic snare.

Then you did it wrong or missed a step because that is the way for it to work properly. I've used that same process from Finale 97 all the way through Finale 2003 and it has worked every time.