Add notes to the score

In general, you add notes to a score by recording on software instrument tracks, as described in Record software instruments. You can record directly in the Score Editor following the same procedure as in the Tracks area, with one exception: rather than clicking a track header, you click the staff for the track.

There are two alternative ways to add notes to a score: using the pointer, and using step input.

Step input lets you add notes from a music keyboard or your computer keyboard. You can input notes and other symbols, such as rests. Step input differs from real-time recording in that you select rhythmic values for notes you want to enter, then select the pitch, rather than playing notes in real time. As with real-time recording, you start by selecting the staff for the track you want to work on. If there are no MIDI regions on the track, you must add a MIDI region before starting to add notes. For information about step input recording, see Use step input recording techniques.

You can add notes directly using the pointer. While viewing a score in Linear view, you can choose note values from the Insert pop-up menu in the local Score inspector.

When Advanced Score Options is selected in the Advanced preferences pane, you can also add notes and other symbols from the Part box.

Add notes using the pointer

Do one of the following:

Choose a note value from the Insert pop-up menu in the local Score Editor inspector, then Command-click at the point where you want to add a note.
The Insert pop-up menu is available when Show Advanced Tools is not selected in the Advanced preferences pane.
Click a note in the Part box, then Command-click at the point where you want to add the note.
The Part box is available in the inspector when Show Advanced Tools is selected in the Advanced preferences pane.

You can create a new, empty region by Command-clicking in a software instrument track.

Prepare for step input

In the Region inspector, edit the following display settings for the selected track or region:
- Turn off Interpretation. (See Change the syncopation or interpretation of notes.)
- Set the Quantize parameter to the smallest note value that you plan to insert. (See Quantize the timing of notes in the Score Editor.)
Option-click the staff at the point where you want to begin adding notes. A help tag shows the pointer position while the mouse button is pressed.
This function is especially helpful in Page view, where no ruler is displayed.
Note: You can only set the playhead position when playback is stopped.