Tip #43 - Alternate fonts for time signature using Staff Text

Version 2.91 introduced several new "Extended Object" features, including the ability to set alternate fonts for "staff text". You can use this feature to insert time signatures with fonts different from the ones MusEdit supplies. (The MusEdit time signature symbols are actually bitmaps rather than actual text fonts).

To do this, place the caret where you want the font to be inserted (precise location isn't important since you'll adjust it later) and hit the "Insert Staff Text" button (or Ctrl+Shift+T) to open the staff text dialog. If you simply enter one of the time signature digits and hit "OK" the text will appear in the "default staff text font" which is set via File|Set Preferences|Staff Lines. But if you hit the "Text Font" button you can choose any font on your system for the staff text, so for time signatures you'll probably want to choose a bold 16 point font. Times New Roman looks very good, but you may want to choose something else...

NOTE: This technique is also useful for entering compound time signatures out of the range of MusEdit's built in time signatures (such as 56 / 8 )

After entering the text you'll probably have to adjust it's position so it fits precisely on the staff lines. Simply click on the digit with the mouse (once) and you should see a dotted selection box around the digit. You can drag it with the mouse, but it's easier to use the up/down/left/right arrow keys for fine positioning.

Sample MusEdit file:

MusEdit file with alternate time signature fonts

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