IWBNI it were possible to specify the duration of a beat on the Tempo Adjustment dialog box.

As it is now, the beat duration is derived from the time signature of the measure. This can cause numerical complications when dealing with a piece that consists of a mix of meters such as 4/4, 6/8, 9/16, etc. Since the beat duration is derived from the time signature, this requires one to double the tempo for 6/8 bars and quadruple the tempo for 9/16 bars. For example, in a piece for which the tempo is 120 quarter notes per minute, it will be 120 beats per minute in the 4/4 bars; 240 beats per minute in the 6/8 bars and 480 beats per minute in the 9/16 bars. If the beat duration could be specified in the Tempo Adjustment dialog box, then these doubling complexities could be eliminated (and tempo changes that span such bars would be easier to create).

Created: November 4, 1999
Last Updated: December 1, 1999
Version: Finale 2000b