It is as if Finale applied the initial key change of A-flat at measure 1, and then to A major at measure 44 to the score, but left the MIDI notes in the key of C, giving all the accidentals that appear in the score!

I would hope that Finale can re-interpret the original pitches recorded in the MIDI file in the new key signature set on the score ! ! !

HELP ME PLEASE!

Midi files can be saved with key signatures or without them. If Finale imports it in the key of C, it appears to me that the key signature information is not included in the midi file. It shouldn't matter.

When you add the key signature to place the beginning in Ab major, what transposition option in the key signature dialog box did you use?

Thank you for helping me!

The composer who I've recently partnered with knew nothing about MIDIs before I started working with him. I have no keyboard skills; I compose with Finale using point and click placing notes on the staves. Both my composer and I are MIDI novices.

My composer will not know how to save his keyboard file with key signatures. I will have to do that in Finale. I haven't composed since 2004, but I'm back, and Finale has changed a lot.

I do not know about the "transposition option" of which you speak. I will investigate further. (More questions in a future post.)

I tried what you suggested.
It worked great, including Finale noting that the composer transitioned from A-flat major through another key for two measures, before finishing the song in A major. Very nice!

I sent the exported .pdf to the composer, and if he approves (what's not to like?) then I've got this one fixed! Beau coups of thanks to Jeffrey Turner for the clue ! ! !

I still have a problem. Good news is the song starts in A-flat major. The bad news is that even though I have the key change to A major at measure 42, the rest of the song is full of accidentals, as if Finale applied the key change on paper, but is still interpreting from the previous key.

I've read the manual, but I still need a clue.

As I said in my previous post, which transposition option did you choose when setting the A major key signature?

I don't remember. I tried lots of different options, but which was last? I don't remember. Can you tell me what to do?

… even though I have the key change to A major at measure 42, the rest of the song is full of accidentals, as if Finale applied the key change on paper, but is still interpreting from the previous key …

I suppose that this is a layout problem only, right? (= playback is correct, right?)

The first thing to try:

Utilities menu > Respell Notes

In the sub-menu Enharmonic Spelling you can specify how Finale should respell notes.

However, after respelling you may still see a lot of un-necessary, “frozen” accidentals.

To “un-freeze” the accidentals, try the Finale plug-in Canonic Utilities (Plug-ins menu > Scoring and Arranging > Canonic Utilities…).

Make sure that the key signature for the first part only applies to the needed measures. and then the second key sig is also properly assigned. That would be in the Key Signature dialogue box.

Thank you, Mr Thomsen.

Yes, the playback sounds fine. This is only a score issue. I need the score for the musicians to have sheet music from which to make a song demo.

I opened the .musx file, and tried the Utilities menu, but Respell notes is greyed-out, and I can't get it to un-grey.

Select the part of the score that’s in question. Then, the utilities should be visible.

I selected measure 44, where the key change occurs. The key signature shows A major. That allowed me to Respell the notes. Next, I applied the plug-in Plug-ins menu > Scoring and Arranging > Canonic Utilities . I unfroze the accidentals.

I still have the accidentals from measure 44 to the end.

The beginning key signature was set with "until the next key change." I can try to force it to measures 1 to 43, if you think it will help. At measure 44, the new key signature appears on the visual score, but Finale thinks that the MIDI notes are in the previous key (measures 1-43) and so make them accidentals in the new key signature.

With the key signature tool, double click on measure 44. Choose A major and at the bottom, choose "Hold note to original pitches enharmonically". Then click OK. What does that do?

No change. same problem.

… I selected measure 44, where the key change occurs. The key signature shows A major. That allowed me to Respell the notes. Next, I applied the plug-in Plug-ins menu > Scoring and Arranging > Canonic Utilities . I unfroze the accidentals.

I still have the accidentals from measure 44 to the end …

Instead of selecting only measure 44, select all the measures from measure 44 to the end (you must be in the Selection Tool for this to work).

Then, try Respell Notes.

I used the select tool on measure 44. I shift-clicked on the last measure, selecting all the measures in between. I ran the Respell and still have the accidentals. I reran the Canonical utility, and unfroze the accidentals. The net result is no change.

Maybe we need a Finale programmer / developer to look at providing a straight-forward way / interface to correct the problem that I / we can't see a way to fix?

… I used the Selection Tool on measure 44. I Shift-clicked on the last measure, selecting all the measures in between. I ran the Respell and still have the accidentals. I reran the Canonical utility, and unfroze the accidentals. The net result is no change …

The next thing to try (on a backup copy of the document!):

Selection Tool.

Select the region to be respelled.

MIDI/Audio menu > Retranscribe