Notation solutions for professionals and hobbyists |

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PC Keyboard
With the PC Keyboard feature the keyboard becomes a notation typewriter. The c key on
the keyboard is used to notate the note C. In combination with the shift key it becomes a top
C. Using a symbol in the toolbar to change the octave register, six octaves can be written.
Intelligent key combinations have been developed to make learning easy and turn notation
into child's play. You can also listen to the notes as they are entered.
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Real-time, and step-entry notation using your MIDI keyboard
Notes are entered either step-by-step or in real time. Using real-time entry, whole
sections are played in several parts and at the correct rhythm on the MIDI keyboard.
Using your MIDI keyboard, music is played into the piano roll in several parts. Any little
mistakes made while the music was captured can be ironed out using the quantization
function. And while it may sound a little complicated, even beginners will find it easy to use.
Another click and the notes are entered into the score: your ideas have turned into
notation!
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Mouse notation
Simply place the notes onto the staff using the mouse. |

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Virtual piano
Capella's virtual piano has its own toolbar for you to select the note's value. Simply click on
the piano's keys to enter notes. Here too, notes are entered lightning fast using the built-
in note-entry aids ("zebra-crossing mode", short key).
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MIDI file
capella supports the import of MIDI file formats 0 and 1. If required, the notes can be
broken down into single systems during the capturing process. |
Fully comprehensive range of notes... |
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Be it cue notes, grace notes, unusual note heads (flageolet, diverse percussion notations
etc.) or notes without necks or stems - capella has no limits. |
Notation fonts and styles |
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capella offers you six different notation fonts from renaissance music to jazz.
You can also save your own new fonts or variations and "crossbreeds" taken from existing fonts in
separate styles.
Style templates can be individually allocated to your scores.
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Given that capella lets you present "notes" without stems and/or without heads, those who
like experimenting, will find almost no end to the possibilities available in defining individual
notations. Indeed, with only a little effort you can also create tablatures. The capella software
package comes complete with all the tools necessary to do this, as well as aids for creating
Mensural notation and notation for the Gregorian Chant.
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Change clef, bar and key at any point |
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You're free to change the clef, bar and key at any point. Simply enter the new clef, bar or key
and capella automatically takes care of presentation: reduced key change and single or double bar line.
Key change type can also be set: either to traditional notation with redundant naturals
or to modern notation with naturals only after changing to C major/A minor. |
Ingenious automatic slur function |
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Capella's automatic slur function makes editing scores even easier. The software takes care
of 99% of editing work. Simply highlight the notes you want to edit with the mouse and click
on the slur symbol - done! capella sets the slur, taking into account note flow, stem direction,
the possibility of it being in two parts and much more. |
Listening and playback |
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You are free to choose from one of 128 instruments for each of the score's staves. The
cursor follows during playback. The total number of sounds for each score is 16. |
Automated lyrics function |
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capella's automated lyrics function takes care of the spacing between syllables: Simply type
in your lyrics (including separating strokes) and capella will allocate the individual syllables to
their correct position against the notes. If things start to get a little tight, the notes are spread
apart accordingly.
Thanks to the intelligent spacing aid, a syllable can also cover several
notes. Lyrics covering several verses are also possible. Verse numbers are set
automatically. You are free to choose any Windows font and size for your lyrics.
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The fret diagram |
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Using the Fret Wizard for stringed instruments,
you are free to click and choose your own frets for all stringed instruments.
The symbols generated can be automatically transposed along with the score!
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Adding graphics to the score |

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The pallets
Graphic objects are selected from pre-defined pallets using the mouse. Beginners will
find the illustrated pallets a great help. Using the menu options, you can select
from over 120 symbols.
Experts can define their own individual pallets from the symbols available in capella's
character set. |

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Welcome to the graphics gallery!
A graphics gallery can be created for each score. The gallery stores your graphic
objects:
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Performance symbols for dynamics, fermata, pedal symbol
- Graphics symbols designed using capella's symbol functions - perhaps a pumpkin for Thanksgiving.
- Imported graphics from a clip art library.
capella already offers several interesting galleries that contain special notations,
guitar frets and much more. |

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Positive properties
Each graphic object can be influenced in a variety of ways using the properties dialog. You can:
Place images in front or behind notes
Group images together with other graphic objects
Apply them in color
Link graphic objects individually to reference notes: For instance, you might want to set the
properties of the guitar fret's image to make it appear at a fixed distance above the notes or to
set the properties of an individually designed articulation sign to make it always appear
below the lowest note in a chord, regardless of how high the note is positioned.
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Versatile graphics
All graphics can be scaled (enlarged or reduced in size on a sliding scale), stretched and
compressed. This means that watermarks covering the entire page can be placed
underneath the score or other objects can be scaled to fit the proportions in the score.
capella also offers a great number of more unusual features.
The note examples on this page offer just a small taste of the virtually
unlimited number of possibilities open to more
sophisticated notation professionals. Please click
here to view the violin clef graphics. |
Colored notes |
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You can even set notes or individual note heads in a specific color as a teaching aid for students.
You can then print the score in full color.
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Triplets, quads, septets and more... |
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Triplets are set at the click of a mouse. In addition to this, all irregular divisions (from
duals to 15 tuplets) are possible. The corresponding bracket is set above the notes at
the same time. Using the mouse, brackets can be tilted, height-adjusted or deleted. It is also
possible just to leave the figure standing (for beam triplets).
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Powerful zoom function and publishing-house printing quality |
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capella comes with a powerful zoom function that allows you to edit your score in whatever
size you want - including the page's split with borders, headers and footers. You can also
split the score window to provide a better overview of your work. Using the page view
function, you can display as many pages on your screen as you want simultaneously.
Printing on both sides is also possible - and you won't need to reorganize your paper pile
following the first print run. You can also print in A3 and landscape format (flute and organ books!).
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Notation in adjacent staves |
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capella also lets you set notes into adjacent staves. Beams can also be entered as "knee
beams", that is, with notes pointing upwards and downwards. You can also set the tilt of the
beams along with the length of note stems.
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Always in touch with the outside world (I): MIDI |
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capella 2004 can read standard MIDI files (format 0 and 1) and write format 1. This means
that the entire MIDI world is available as both source and target. Using capella you can put a
professional finishing touch to every MIDI song's typography before printing it out
in publishing-house quality.
Conversely, you can export capella scores in MIDI-file format and incorporate them into
programs such as multimedia applications. |
Always in touch with the outside world (II): Graphics |
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You can insert any graphics or images created using other Windows applications into your
capella score using the copy-and-paste function. Conversely, you can export the capella
monitor interface to other programs (word processing software, picture editors, desktop
publishing software etc.).
Files can be exported in two ways:
- Windows meta file (Windows standard),
- TIFF-format.
Using Tiff, sections of your capella scores including all symbols, text etc.
can be integrated into your word processing software (or any other application). Once
there, scores can be mapped in any size without loss of quality.
The score export function offers you unlimited possibilities:
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For clerics and cantors to create attractive sheets for church services.
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For teachers to design attractive working sheets.
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For specialists to illustrate publications.
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For publishing houses to design the layout of song books.
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For you to...?
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Always in touch with the outside world (III): Web publishing |
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Thanks to the TIFF-export function, capella scores are published onto the Internet with only a
few mouse clicks. capella also supports printing to PDF.
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capella file format is the standard |
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Because more than 250,000 registered users are already working with capella, capella's file
format has become the standard as far as notation programs are concerned.
Indeed, you will find thousands of free scores in private collections across the internet.
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Make no mistake! |
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Notation is no different to other software applications in that a number of different programs
are vying for customers.
As far as functions and features are concerned, you will find that, on paper at least, there is
very little difference between the different notation programs.
Yet other programs often forget to mention that . . .
. . . to work successfully, ease-of-use and ergonomics are just as important as a comprehensive
range of tools. And as far as these aspects are concerned, capella's designers have merged professional
functionality into an interface, that is intuitive, clear and easy-to-operate. They have done so, while paying
a great deal of attention to detail and demonstrating in-depth knowledge of users' requirements and preferences.
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capella 1200
capella professional
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List of main features |
| Comfortable score wizard |
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| Number of notes or chords per stave |
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| Number of lines per stave (usually: 5) |
1-11 |
5 |
| Number of voices per stave (each voice can include notes and chords) |
6 |
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| Number of staves per system |
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12 |
| Number of systems per score |
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| Small and large staves in the same score/system |
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| Free toolbar positioning, symbols also appear in menu |
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| Split score windows. Page layout view (fully editable) in all magnifications |
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Powerful zoom function. An unlimited number of pages can be displayed next to each other.
Zoom function from 1% to 1000%
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| Slur and beam smoothing function |
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| Numerous keyboard short cuts for almost all menu and dialog instructions; this makes
work efficient and ergonomic for all including visually impaired users. |
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| Lightning-fast orientation and movement using status bar located at the edge of the
window offering direct access to staves systems, note values etc. |
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| Undo and redo function. Function also available using list with clear instruction
descriptions. Number of undo and redo steps: |
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| Note values: Breve note to 1/128 |
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| MIDI Import (Format MIDI 0 and 1, MIDI Export (Format MIDI 1) |
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| Search function for finding melodies in the score |
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| Sound scrutinizer: step-by-step listening to active voice |
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| Comprehensive, easy-to-understand help file |
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| Integrated programming language (Python) to create additional features as plugins |
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| Easy to use ready-made plugins, downloadable free from this web site
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Capturing notes |
| Data interface on XML-Basis
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| Note entry via PC keyboard |
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| Keyboard enter-and-listen function (listen to notes as you type them) |
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| MIDI real-time entry and MIDI step entry |
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| Notes entered directly into the score using the mouse |
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| Mouse piano (size adjustable and versatile configuration) |
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| Support with entering and playing back percussion instruments using sound mapping |
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| Note entry using piano roll with metronome and comfortable quantizising function |
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Playback |
| All sound cards, 128 voices, each voice can be selected |
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| Playback recognizes all performance marks (trills, upper mordents, mordents or turns) |
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| Standard pitch a' can be tuned |
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| Automatic scrolling during playback; can be deactivated |
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| Playback with Multithreading, no delay during score refresh |
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| Tempo change option within the score |
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| Transposing instruments taken into account during playback |
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Score editing |
| Automatic beaming and beam slope function |
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| Sub-group beams |
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| Notation in adjacent staves, beam stretch across staves |
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| Split system at any point in the score |
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| Split multi-voiced staves into separate staves within same system |
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| Automatic wrap around (score division with optimized or selected number of bars per system) |
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| Individually adjustable beam slope and tail length |
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| Clefs, time signature, key signature, bar lines etc. changeable at any point in the score, including single staves
in the current system |
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| Automatic chord symbols (with analysis of chord) |
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| Lead-Sheet-Automatik |
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| Course of bar lines freely adjustable including bar lines in the gap between staves |
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| Automatic part extraction |
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| Irregular division (duplet, triplet … up to 15-tuplet) |
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| Diverse range of note heads, stems and heads without stems |
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| Notes without heads (for lute tabulatura etc.) |
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| Notes horizontally adjustable (micro adjustment) |
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| Vertical note shift (diatonically or chromatically) |
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| Horizontal accidental adjust |
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| Forced accidentals (incl. in brackets), suppress accidentals |
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| Cue notes, grace notes, place holders |
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| Tremolo bars in note stems |
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| Edit individual note heads in chord (accidental, head shape, mute during playback etc). |
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| Block editing function for notes, staves, systems, score;
cut-and-paste function between different scores |
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| Block editing function for system sections with automatic synchronization at beginning and end |
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| Block editing function between different scores |
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| Automatic bar lines, fixed bar lines, individual-design bar lines |
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| Transposing: Individual parts of the score with automatic key signature function;
all transposing functions with or without key change |
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| Easy-to-use Transposing Wizard |
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| Staccato, Tenuto, Staccatissimo etc. |
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| Individual articulation signs |
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| Appoggiatura and cue notes |
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| Lyrics in all fonts and sizes |
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| Automatic lyric text function for allocating syllables to notes;
automatic spacing between syllables and notes |
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| Note spacing |
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| Multiple bar rests in varied presentations |
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Layout and printing |
| System brackets (curly brace and/or straight brackets) |
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| System justification for each system separately including for the entire score |
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| Footers, headers, page numbering |
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| Unrestricted formatting feature for footers, headers, automatic page numbering, watermark (including graphics) |
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| Vertical page adjustment |
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| Comprehensive color options for displaying all objects on the note sheet (for teaching purposes) |
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| Choice of note fonts and note styles (software includes: six note fonts from renaissance to jazz,
can be expanded).
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| Set print size as you like |
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| Automatic bar numbering with dynamic refresh |
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| Printout on any printer supported by Windows
and in all paper sizes and formats (letter, legal, A1 - 5 envelopes etc.) |
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Text, symbols, graphics |
| Text import from other Windows applications |
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| Text objects in RTF format with free character and paragraph formatting feature |
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| 120 musical symbols available to insert directly from symbol pallets |
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| Graphic grouping feature |
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| Free positioning of graphics, including in front or behind notes;
sequence selection of overlapping graphics |
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| Fret Wizard for guitar, banjo etc. |
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| Symbols can be transposed as you like (chord descriptions, frets, figures etc.) |
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| Graphic objects: line, ellipse, polygon, repeat box, triplet bracket, wavy line etc. |
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| Wide ranging design options including dotted slurs |
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| Administration of individual graphics symbols using the gallery |
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| Graphic import function from other Windows applications |
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| Graphics export: Windows meta file (section of interface):
Success depends on how far the target application supports this format |
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| Graphics export: TIFF format (section of interface, current system or entire page);
supported by almost all Windows applications: also includes early-stage printing on all
platforms (Mac etc.); supports web publishing
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| HTML-Export: One-click procedure to create web-document; also for multiple-voice scores |
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