Apple Logic Express 8 - Manual (Page 787)

Chapter 33 Working With Notation 787
Assigning Notes to Voices and Staffs
You can use two different methods for assigning notes to voices and staffs: by defining
a fixed split point, or MIDI channels for each voice of a staff.
Using a Split Point
You can use a fixed split point to assign notes to voices. This is a defined pitch, which
determines the absolute border between two voices. Notes above it, or at the same
pitch, are assigned to the upper voice. Notes below it are assigned to the lower cross
the border. Quite often, in real life situations, the border between voices needs to be
flexible. A piano piece’s right hand part may dip below middle C (the defined split
point), or the left hand may go above. It’s not possible to notate this properly using a
fixed split point, but you can use this facility to create an almost right version.
To separate voices by split point:
m In the Staff Style window’s Split column, choose the desired note pitch.
Using MIDI Channels
You can use MIDI channels (Chan) to assign notes to voices. Every note belongs to the
voice that “owns” its MIDI channel. The different MIDI channels have no impact on MIDI
playback, as the playback channel is determined by the Track Parameter box setting
(Arrange window). Given the use of MIDI channels for voice assignment, notes that
aren’t assigned to channels will not be displayed at all. This can, however, be used to
your advantage, as it allows you to exclude certain notes from the display (improvised
parts, trill notes, and so on).
To separate voices by MIDI channel:
m In the Staff Style window’s Chan column, assign the desired MIDI channel to each voice.
When you use MIDI channels to assign notes to staffs or voices:
 You can edit the MIDI channel in the same way as for all other events: by selecting
the events and changing the MIDI channel in the Event Parameter box or the Event
List.
 You can quickly change the MIDI channel of selected note events with the Event
Channel +1 and Event Channel –1 key commands. These can be especially useful
when used in combination with the Select Next Region/Event and Select Previous
Region/Event key commands, which allow you to move the selection from note to
note.
In addition, you can also use Score Editor functions designed to speed up the process
of changing the MIDI channel settings of notes, in order to assign them to the desired
voices: These include the Auto Split preference and the Voice Separation Tool.