What are the Staff and Lead-Sheet Views?

The Staff View presents MIDI notes in standard musical notation.  It also displays other elements such as lyrics and chords.  The Staff View is presented as one unbroken "line" that scrolls from right to left.

The Lead-Sheet view is very similar to the Staff View.  However, it's designed to be used as a type of "fake book."  Ideally a single track is selected for display that contains chords, lyrics, and a melody line.  The Lead-Sheet view is presented as an unbroken "page" that scrolls up a line at a time.  In addition, the current measure is highlighted.

All editing is done in the Staff View.  The Lead-Sheet view is for display only.

How do I draw a note?

The toolbar at the top of MIDI Maestro's window contains a number of tools that are used to draw in the Staff View:

The Arrow tool is used for selection.  The Pencil tool is used to draw.  The Line and Freehand drawing tools are used in the Tempo View.

Select the Pencil tool and the type of note that you would like to draw.  You may also add a dot, a triplet, or an accidental.  The Dot tool adds 50% to the note's duration.  The Triplet tool decreases the note's duration such that 3 will fit into a space where normally only 2 would be played.  The Accidental tool allows you to draw "between" the notes in the scale (as determined by the current key signature).

When you select a note or the dot or triplet, you will see the number in the box in the toolbar change value.  This number represents your note duration selection in ticks (the smallest unit of time in a MIDI file).  If you require, you may enter any value into this box.  If that value corresponds to a standard note type, MIDI Maestro will update the other tools accordingly.

The last two tools on the toolbar configure the "snap-to" grid.  When the Grid tool is enabled, each measure will be divided according to the note selection box to the right of the Grid tool button.  You will only be able to place notes precisely on these division boundaries.  As you select the note duration that is drawn, you will notice that different note durations have different default grid divisions.

Finally, move the cursor over the Staff View, and click the mouse button.  While the button is depressed, you may move the cursor until the note is correctly placed.  As you move the cursor, the note will be sounded (if the track is configured to play sound).

How do I select a note?

Click on a note to select it.  Hold down Shift as you click to add additional notes to the selection.  Hold down Ctrl as you click to "toggle" the selection.  Right-click on a note to edit its event properties.

If you have selected the Arrow tool in the toolbar, you may also draw a selection rectangle.  To do this, click anywhere in the Staff View that's note over a note or other object.  "Drag" the mouse to draw a rectangle.  All notes and objects within the rectangle will be selected.  As with individual notes, you may also use the Shift and Ctrl keys to add to and toggle the selection.

How do I move a note?

You simply click and drag it to a new position.  If the Accidental tool is enabled, you will be able to move to notes "between" the scale.  If you have selected more than one note, all notes will move simultaneously.

Can I override the notation?

If you see a sharp, and you'd rather have a flat, or vice-versa, simply edit the event's properties and change the note name.

Each track's properties specifies a "split" note for keyboard notation (typically middle-C).  In the Staff View, you can override this by moving a note between the two staffs.  Here a G is moved from the bass to the treble clef:

What other objects may be drawn?

There are several tools in the toolbar to the left of the notes which may be used to draw additional staff "objects."

The "A" tool allows you to draw a number of text objects.  As you move the cursor over the Staff View either over or below a staff line, you will see the cursor change.  The Pedal tool and Wedge are also described in this table:

	Tool		Cursor		Object
					Chords			When you draw a chord, the chord database window opens.  The chord grid is optional.
					Lyrics			Typing lyrics into the Staff View is one way to import lyrics.
					Dynamics			You may enter any text.  If you type one of the common dynamic markings, a high-quality image is used.
					Pedal			When you draw a pedal (sustain), you also get the pedal-up which may then be moved to its correct position.
					Wedge			Also called a "hairpin."  Used to show gradual dynamic change.

Chords, Dynamics and Wedges are MIDI Maestro-specific objects, and will not be visible if the song is opened in another music software.

Can I print these views?

Yes, use the File/Print Preview command to open the Print Preview window:

There's a Print button here, as well as buttons to Zoom and to turn the page.  Press Esc or use the Close button to return to the Staff or Lead-Sheet View.  Do not click the X icon (it will close MIDI Maestro).

Are there notation options?

There certainly are!  See the Setup/Options/Staff page for details.

First, I play in a rock band and was looking for a nice Midi
sequencer that can be use to play live jam/gig and also have FULL
control over the midi. Having a Start button, with TAP for tempo, and
also playing the introduction until I decide to start the song was a
most. Other sequencer I found did'nt give you the control like
MidiMaestro does.--Steve Hollingsworth