Finale Question about composite time signatures

[Tobbeh99]

I wonder how do you remove the "+" sign in  composite time signature. I'm arranging a song that alters between 12/8 and 10/8 and I want it to look like this: http://www.ninsheetmusic.org/download/pdf/2431

Does anyone knows how to do it??

[TheMarioPianist]

Well, I don't know how to do it specifically. However, I do know how to manipulate Olimar's file into something you can use. In this file, the 12/8 measures beam like they should, while the 10/8 beam like 5/4. I don't know if that's what you need, but I figured a 5/4 beaming was better than 10 individual eighth notes. If you need anything more specific, PM or Skype me and I can help if necessary.

Of course, after messing with Olimar's file, I actually found out how to do it on my own. If you go to Document>Document Options>Time Signatures, the bottom option on this dialog box is "Composite Time Signature Plus Sign Character." Click "Score," and then you can simply choose a blank character for the plus sign. There you have it; plus sign gone! (If it matters at all, Olimar's file used the blank character numbered 254.)

[Olimar12345]

I sort of cheated and made each measure change time signatures according to what I wanted, then hid all time changes, only displaying the initial one. The character I changed the composite time signature plus symbol to was a minus sign, which is being covered up by the middle staff line lol.

[Bloop]

why didn't you just use 5/4 though

[Tobbeh99]

I sort of cheated and made each measure change time signatures according to what I wanted, then hid all time changes, only displaying the initial one. The character I changed the composite time signature plus symbol to was a minus sign, which is being covered up by the middle staff line lol.

Aah thanks for responding. I figured out the "hiding the time signature" part but couldn't figure out the plus sign, but now I just found out you can change it in the documents menu.

why didn't you just use 5/4 though

Cause the time signatures strong beats are 12/8(3+3+2+2+2) and 10/8(3+3+2+2) I think it makes more sense to write it this way.

[Bloop]

I was actually refering to Olimar's sheet

[Olimar12345]

Rational explanation:

Spoiler

But seriously, we already talked about that sheet here:
http://forum.ninsheetmusic.org/index.php?topic=7006.0
 

[close]

[Dudeman]

Cause the time signatures strong beats are 12/8(3+3+2+2+2) and 10/8(3+3+2+2) I think it makes more sense to write it this way.

Can't you just fiddle with the beaming to communicate that effect, or add in accents to denote emphasis? I think pieces in 6/8 which have both passages with two strong beats and passages with three can be written with different beaming like that.

[JDMEK5]

Cause the time signatures strong beats are 12/8(3+3+2+2+2) and 10/8(3+3+2+2) I think it makes more sense to write it this way.

I would agree. The only other alternative I can think of involves dashed barlines but honestly, this is better.

[Olimar12345]

Nonsense, 6/8 would be confusing and genuinely misleading in this case. Tobbeh has the right idea, as far as I can see (although I don't know what he's arranging).

Edit, misread (using 6/8 in this example doesn't even add up correctly lol). But I still think Tobbeh is using the most logical method to alternate time signatures. Whether or not he displays the time change each bar or puts a composite time signature at the beginning is purely a preference at this point.

[Tobbeh99]

Here's the original song, in case you wonder:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhrKNPHGR8E

And here's how it looks:

Spoiler

[close]

[Olimar12345]

Nice. I see no issue with the way you've notated it.