MS3: Saving existing lute tablature as preset in the Instruments panel
Is there an easy way to save an existing lute tablature, with its many settings, as an instrument that I can reuse from the Instruments panel in Musescore 3? The information I'm seeing online talks about saving as a template (an entire score with an instrument I already created hard-baked into it), which is not what I need, or as editing a text-XML file, which is way above my pay grade. My process to date has been to toggle back and forth between a new staff and the staff properties for the tablature staff I'd already created and manually copying everything from the source to its destination. All help would be much appreciated! Thanks.
Comments
Save it as a template, i.e. as a regular score but in the templates directory
The "entire score" can be one measure long and the "template" is what appears in the New Scores dialog. Based on your description, this is precisely what you need.
In reply to The "entire score" can be… by TheHutch
Thanks for writing back so quickly. Will I be able to insert this score into a preexisting score? I already have the music I need in an existing staff-notation score. Now I need to insert a baroque lute tablature staff into it.
In reply to Thanks for writing back so… by RickyChitarrone
On your keyboard press letter “I” to bring up the instruments dialogue box . Then select one or more instruments in the left column, and click Add to score in the middle of the window, or Double-click an instrument in the left column.
The instrument names, and their associated staff lines, now appear in the list of instruments in the right column.
In reply to Thanks for writing back so… by RickyChitarrone
You cannot apply this template to an existing score.
But you can add a linked tab system to your lute, which I assume has normal notes.
In reply to You cannot apply this… by HildeK
I think I am not explaining myself in an understandable way. I understand all of your suggestions, I think. I want to be able to save the lute tablature staff for which I have created custom staff properties (number of strings, tuning of strings, fonts, spacing, etc.) as an instrument that will permanently appear in the left column of the Instruments dialog (Mac ctl + I) as a choice I can reuse whenever I want. Currently I need to insert the generic "lute tablature" from the list, change its tuning, add strings, reset its font, etc., etc.. Is that clearer?
In reply to I think I am not explaining… by RickyChitarrone
You can have an additional instruments.xml
In reply to You can have an additional… by Jojo-Schmitz
Thanks, Jojo. What does that mean, "additional instrument .xml" ? I've seen mention of this before but haven't understood it. It involves editing code or some such thing in a plain text editor or some such? Where do the instrument definitions live?
In reply to What does that mean? by RickyChitarrone
The xml file is in one of the program's folders, 'instruments', and can be modified (but not before making a backup copy) with any text editor. Try searching for 'tab6StrFrench' and you will see all the instruments you are interested in grouped together (lute, archlute, theorbo, etc.). You can modify several things, but not the advanced style properties, as long as you are familiar with the xml language. There is no way to make changes directly with the program, and in my opinion creating a template (as I did) remains the best solution, then you decide...
In reply to The xml file is in one of… by ILPEPITO
Hi Pepito. "Template", which is score of sorts, keeps coming up. If I create a template with one tablature voice in it, how do I add a second tablature staff of the same format to it?
The fact that I can't tweak any of the advanced style properties would defeat the purpose of going the xml route, since it's the time I have to invest in adjusting the note and rhythm values that seems so inefficient to begin with.
In reply to Hi Pepito. "Template", which… by RickyChitarrone
Sometimes, there are no ideal solutions, only solutions that save a little time... if you work with duets or trios create a template with 3/4 tablatures, so you will only get bored once... or complain to the Musescore developers :).