Just an observation that I saw and need a clarification from other users.
1. Load any song. 2. Click on the little box to the right of the Key Signature. See 1st attachment. 3. Look at the popup box and let me know if the checked boxes are the default settings you get. 4. I am curious why the Trombone (bass clef) is always checked and and cannot be toggled off. 5. Also I understand why the 3 top choices are checked. I assume that means everything is in normal concert settings.
See 2 two screen shots.
BIAB2026 Windows 10 Pro (Never Windows 11!) WA6NCB
Interesting observation. All I can think of is that the blue / checked indicators are any transposition that could be appropriate with the settings as they are. For example, try clicking on Soprano Sax. Immediately, several things change: Trumpet and Clarinet (although only a Bb clarinet and not an A clarinet) are also highlighted, as well as the transpose=+2 in both the list below, and in the little space to the right of the key signature that was blank. Same for Guitar and Bass, which each sound an octave lower than written. However, Alto Sax and Bari Sax are both Eb instruments, but they have different numbers because alto is in a register an octave higher, so why isn't this handled the same as bass/guitar? Hint: because of Preferences, Channels, bass -1.
Trombone, despite being a Bb instrument in terms of the tubing fundamental harmonic series, is notated in concert pitch, so it shows with piano as standard concert pitch, no transposition. No other 'band' instrument that is included in the list is notated in concert pitch.
Now, does it help to display transposition options in this way, or confuse? I leave that to others. I had not even noticed it did this until you pointed it out; I just chose the transposition I wanted and didn't look further. And you're right, you can't change it. What USED to annoy me, until I requested it, was the fact there was no indication a transposition was in effect. As someone who plays instruments in many keys, including several trumpets that are not in Bb, this used to get quite confusing.
Thanks for a fun-filled few minutes. Hope that helped you. Or at least, perhaps what I wrote might someday help someone.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
I did find out something new in using the Transpose function.
In my case, when playing the guitar or banjo to a song written in say the key of A, guitar players and banjo players will capo 2 frets and play out of G formations especially in banjo playing since the banjo is normally tuned to open G tuning.
In order to have the chord sheet show the chords in the key G but play in the key of A, I have usually just used the Chord Display option for Guitar Capo (visual transpose).
I found that I can also use the Transpose -2 semitones in the screen shot I sent up in the 1st post.
It does the same thing for changing the chord sheet visualizations. It does not change the actual key when playing, it only changes the visualization on the chord sheet. You just have to remember to set everything back to concert pitch or it will carry over on the next song you load.
As the Help Manual says: The Visual Transpose setting is displayed in a small font next to the key. You can click on it to launch a menu for selecting the setting.
Last edited by Joseph Land; 05/12/2406:19 PM.
BIAB2026 Windows 10 Pro (Never Windows 11!) WA6NCB
Interesting again. I don't play guitar and never used any setting to do with the Capo. I am going to assume that either way does not, as you say, change the key or pitch of the song, only the display. If it did, then there could be consequences in 1) notation enharmonic spelling, and 2) choices of tones within chords.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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