Expressions MidiIllustrator Maestro Only Feature

Command Location: Insert Menu

Expressions are rich text objects which can be customized to suit your needs.  Expressions differ from other rich text objects (such as Free Text items) as they can be associated with MIDI events which alter the performance of a piece during playback.  See also Expression Menu commands.

Expressions are created using the Expression dialog and can be created and edited only in Edit Mode.

The Expression Dialog

With the expression dialog you can quickly choose from a range of common musical expressions from to insert directly into your score.  Alternatively you can customize these preconfigured expressions or create your own.  As well as decorating your score, expressions can also instruct playback changes such as tempo and volume using MIDI instructions.

Key steps to Insert an Expression:

Expression Anchors

When created, an expression will be automatically anchored to the score in one of two ways.  Items can be cut, copied and pasted but their anchor type does not change.

1)  Anchored To Time & Staff
Expressions which contain MIDI volume and/or pan instructions will always be anchored to a particular staff as well as a particular time since these MIDI instructions are staff specific.  This type of item will not be visible if the anchor staff is hidden and it will move if, for example, other measures are inserted or deleted earlier in the score.  Items anchored in this way appear in all views.

2)  Anchored To Time
Expressions which contain MIDI tempo instructions will be anchored to the highest visible staff in the measure at the given time since tempo changes apply to the entire score.  This type of item will always be visible even if staves are hidden or measures are compressed and it will move if, for example, other measures are inserted or deleted earlier in the score.  Items anchored in this way appear in all views.

Moving Expressions

When selected, a link between an anchored item and its anchor is displayed using dotted lines.  A single expression can be selected and dragged with the mouse to a new position on the score.  Its new position is always considered relative to its anchor's position.  If the anchor moves, so will the item.

Parts of the Expression Dialog Description
Expression List

The expression list contains a range of common musical expressions including:

  • Dynamics
  • Metronome Tempos
  • Tempo Marks
  • Tempo Alterations
  • Mood Marks
  • Articulations
  • Miscellaneous

Click a tab above the list to see the desired expression type.

Expression Fonts

Most expressions use one or two fonts; for example the MidiIllustrator font or Times New Roman.  The MidiIllustrator font is typically used to display musical items such as dynamics or metronome note marks.  Times New Roman is the default font used for displaying textual expressions such as Tempo Alterations and Mood Marks.

The default expression text font can be changed for each score using the Fonts Tab in the Score Options Dialog.  Changing this default font will update all the items in the Expression List with the new font however existing expressions in your score will not be changed.  Changing the size and color of this default font will also change the size and color of all the items in the Expression List.

To customize the fonts used in a particular expression, use the right-click context menu in the Expression Text edit box.

Expression Text Customize Expression

This text box contains the expression which will be inserted into your score.  Expressions are rich text objects so font formatting is possible using the right-click context menu in the edit box.

You may enter any text in this field using any font, thereby creating your own expression.  You can have your expression apply MIDI playback changes even if it does not explicitly contain them in the text (see below).

Playback Changes (MIDI) for this Expression Expressions can be associated with MIDI events which alter playback performance.  Specifically you can make changes to:
  • Tempo
  • Volume or Velocity of notes
  • Pan (the separation of the playback across the left and right stereo channels)

Anchors and MIDI Playback Changes

Tempo events associated with an expression will be applied to all staves in the score.  Volume and Pan events associated with expression will be applied to only the staff to which they are anchored.

Synchronize tempo with expression text

If this option is enabled, when you update the tempo metronome values in the expression text, MidiIllustrator will attempt to synchronize the values in the tempo controls with the new text value.  This synchronization is also attempted in reverse when values change in the tempo controls.

See also: Free Text.