SmartMusic Customize Window

You get to the Customize window by choosing any of the items in the Customize menu or choosing SET in the bottom right of the SM module.

Set Intelligent Accompaniment (IA)
IA is a feature which allows SM to follow your performance - to speed up and slow down with you. IA can be set from 0 to 10, where 0 is off and 10 follows every nuance. The number beside “INTELLIGENT ACCOMPANIMENT” on the bottom right of the SM module, shows you the current level of AI in the piece while it is playing. You can totally shut off IA by changing the “ON” to “OFF”.

In the Customize window you can see levels which exist in the piece. You can also change the levels and/or add new ones of your own.

Proper set up and input level of the microphone is extremely important for IA to function correctly. In addition, you might have to adjust the “Fine Adjustments” (see below) if you feel that SM is rushing or dragging.

TIP: In the solos which I have edited, I have only used three different levels of IA, basically, Regular (2), Medium (5) and Strong (8). Only change or add IA after you have worked on a piece for a while - then shut off IA and see where you feel it needs to be added or changed.

Set Wait For Note
When you choose “Add” and pick a measure and note (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.) in playback, SM will wait until you play that note before playback continues. The note will now appear blue on the screen. With Clarinet, SM seems to be a little confused by the transposition and lists the wrong pitch (a tone or, with Clarinet in A, a minor third too high) so don’t be concerned.

Set cuts
To set cuts in the music (e.g., skipping over tutti sections) click “Add” and specify a cut from the bar number and beat to bar and beat. The “cut’ section will still be visible on screen but will be jumped over in playback. There is also an “Allow Skips Over Rests” function (see below).

TIP: If you are cutting a Tutti section which occurs at the beginning of a work, it is easier to simply set the “start” to a few measures before the solo enters.

Set Breath Marks
To set breath marks you specify the note before which a breath mark would appear. You have a choice of “Large” or “Small” breath.

Breaths are accomplished by delaying the music slightly, or with the large breath, more noticeably. You might want to test one or two breath marks before you add a large number - they can become very distracting.

Remember Tempos
Use this for setting up gradual changes from one tempo to another (ritardandos, accelerandos, etc.). You “tap” in a tempo using the space bar on your computer. These changes can be edited again and again, until you are completely satisfied, then saved as a custom file.

Set Tempo Marks
Use this to specify an exact tempo and the range you want it to be used (e.g.., 60 from bar 1 to bar 49, beat 2; then 66 from bar 49 beat 3 to bar 70, etc.). These changes can be edited again and again, until you are completely satisfied, then saved as a custom file.

Skip Over Rests
This function only works when there are no notes in the solo part. Because my solos parts include cues of the tutti sections this function does not work with the solos which I have edited.

Repeats
This allows you to shut off most but not all repeats. Because of the terminology used, works with many repeats (including DC & DS) can be a little confusing.

There also seems to be a limit on the number of repeats which SM will play. More than 15 repeated sections and SM becomes very unpredictable. Because of this, some works (the ”Complete” versions of Bach’s Suite in B Minor & Telemann’s Suite in A Minor) have had to have some repeats omitted.

Fine Adjustments
If you feel that SM is rushing or dragging, you can adjust this for the program (i.e., all accompaniments) or just the current accompaniment.

Open/Save Customs
If you have made any changes to a file, you will be asked if you want to save the changes before closing. SM allow you to save any changes (i.e., the changes, not the file). To retrieve your changes, you open the original file, then go to “Open/Save Customs” and choose your file.

You can save as many custom versions of each piece as you like - so be sure to name them so that it is easy to tell them apart.

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