Scores

NoteStand reads two kinds of scores:

• PDFs: scanned or exported scores, shown as they are;
• interactive scores (MusicXML files, .musicxml, .mxl or .xml): engraved by NoteStand, they can be played back, transposed and shown part by part.

To add a score to a piece, see Adding documents.

#Reading a PDF

• Turning pages: previous page / next page buttons; the counter shows the current page (“2 / 5”). In the run, a page-turn pedal or the keyboard arrows also turn pages (see Programmes and run mode).
• Zooming: the zoom out and zoom in buttons, or pinch with two fingers (or with a computer’s trackpad). Tap the zoom value to go back to “Fit width”.

#Playing an interactive score

1. Open the piece’s MusicXML score.
2. Tap “Listen”: the score plays and a cursor follows along. Tap again to pause; the ■ button stops playback.
3. To start somewhere else, tap a note: the cursor moves there.

“Follow” scrolls the score to keep the cursor in view; turn it off to keep the view still.

#Choosing the parts you hear and the instruments

The “Parts” button opens the “Parts you hear” console:

• mute or unmute each part (“All” / “None” to change them all at once);
• set each part’s volume;
• choose each part’s instrument (piano, choir, organ, strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion…);
• “Instruments”: “Recorded” (real recorded instruments) or “Synthesised” (sounds computed by the device, lighter).

These choices are specific to your device. Recorded instruments are downloaded the first time they are used (a few megabytes each), then stay available offline. While they download, you can “Play synthesised” without waiting.

The default for all pieces is in “Settings” › “Audio & display” › “Default playback instruments”.

#Transposing

• In the piece (local space or manager): the document’s ⋮ menu › “Transposition”. The transposition is saved with the piece and applies for everyone, in the run as in My stand. The starting notes follow.
• For a concert: in a programme, each piece can have a “Key for this concert” (see Programmes and run mode).
• For the session: in the run (“Tools”) or in My stand (“Piece tools” › “Transpose”), you can transpose temporarily, without saving anything. “Reset” goes back to the planned key.

NoteStand respells the accidentals for the resulting key (sharps or flats).

#Showing only some staves

In the run and in My stand, “Staves” (or “Staves shown”) chooses which staves to display. “Highlight my part” highlights your part’s staff.

#Annotating a score

You can draw on PDFs and on interactive scores: breaths, dynamics, fingerings, reminders…

1. Tap “Annotate”.
2. Choose the tool:
   • “Pen” to draw;
   • “Remove”: tap an annotation to take it off whole;
   • “Rub out” (PDF): erases only where you pass.
3. The “Ink” panel sets the colour and width of the stroke.
4. “Undo last stroke” undoes the last change.
5. Tap “Close” (or “Annotate” again) to finish.

Annotations are saved automatically.

#Ensemble annotations and personal annotations

In a shared space, each score has two layers:

• the ensemble’s annotations, visible to every member, drawn by the managers;
• your annotations, visible to you only, on all your devices.

A member always draws in their own annotations. A manager chooses in “Annotate for”: “Ensemble” or “Me”. In a local space, there is a single layer.

The “Annotations” button (“Show on the score”) shows or hides each layer: “Ensemble” and “Me”.

#Moving your annotations to the ensemble

A manager who annotated a score for themselves can share it with the whole ensemble: “Annotations” › “Move my annotations to the ensemble”, then “Move to the ensemble”. Their personal annotations on this document join the ensemble’s and leave their personal layer.

#Playing an audio recording

An “Audio” document (.mp3, .m4a, .aac, .ogg, .wav) plays directly in the piece: handy for a reference performance or a recorded part.