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capella professional

Introduction - Description - Feature List - How to Order

Introduction
capella

capella is one of the world's best notation programs

Are you looking for a tool to write extremely complicated scores, or perhaps simple songs? Would you like to start immediately rather than having to work through heavy and bulky manuals? Over 250,000 enthusiastic users worldwide are already using capella. It is the notation editor that combines the simplicity and affordability required by the amateur with the power and flexibility demanded by the professional.

Description

Notation solutions for professionals and hobbyists

PC Keyboard

With the PC Keyboard feature the keyboard becomes a notation typewriter. The c key on the keyboard is used to notate the note C. In combination with the shift key it becomes a top C. Using a symbol in the toolbar to change the octave register, six octaves can be written. Intelligent key combinations have been developed to make learning easy and turn notation into child's play. You can also listen to the notes as they are entered.

Real-time, and step-entry notation using your MIDI keyboard

real-time entryNotes are entered either step-by-step or in real time. Using real-time entry, whole sections are played in several parts and at the correct rhythm on the MIDI keyboard.

Using your MIDI keyboard, music is played into the piano roll in several parts. Any little mistakes made while the music was captured can be ironed out using the quantization function. And while it may sound a little complicated, even beginners will find it easy to use.

Another click and the notes are entered into the score: your ideas have turned into notation!

Mouse notation

Simply place the notes onto the staff using the mouse.

Virtual piano

capella's virtual piano has its own toolbar for you to select the note's value. Simply click on the piano's keys to enter notes. Here too, notes are entered lightning fast using the built- in note-entry aids ("zebra-crossing mode", short key). Virtual piano

MIDI file

capella supports the import of MIDI file formats 0 and 1. If required, the notes can be broken down into single systems during the capturing process.

Fully comprehensive range of notes...
Be it cue notes, grace notes, unusual note heads (flageolet, diverse percussion notations etc.) or notes without necks or stems - capella has no limits.

Notation fonts and styles
capella offers you six different notation fonts from renaissance music to jazz.
You can also save your own new fonts or variations and "crossbreeds" taken from existing fonts in separate styles.
Style templates can be individually allocated to your scores.

gently rounded ecclesiastical style capella jazzy tablature handwritten mensural notation

Given that capella lets you present "notes" without stems and/or without heads, those who like experimenting, will find almost no end to the possibilities available in defining individual notations. Indeed, with only a little effort you can also create tablatures. The capella software package comes complete with all the tools necessary to do this, as well as aids for creating Mensural notation and notation for the Gregorian Chant.

Change clef, bar and key at any point

You're free to change the clef, bar and key at any point. Simply enter the new clef, bar or key and capella automatically takes care of presentation: reduced key change and single or double bar line.
Key change type can also be set: either to traditional notation with redundant naturals or to modern notation with naturals only after changing to C major/A minor.

Ingenious automatic slur function
Capella's automatic slur function makes editing scores even easier. The software takes care of 99% of editing work. Simply highlight the notes you want to edit with the mouse and click on the slur symbol - done! capella sets the slur, taking into account note flow, stem direction, the possibility of it being in two parts and much more.

Listening and playback
You are free to choose from one of 128 instruments for each of the score's staves. The cursor follows during playback. The total number of sounds for each score is 16.

Automated lyrics function
capella's automated lyrics function takes care of the spacing between syllables: Simply type in your lyrics (including separating strokes) and capella will allocate the individual syllables to their correct position against the notes. If things start to get a little tight, the notes are spread apart accordingly.
Thanks to the intelligent spacing aid, a syllable can also cover several notes. Lyrics covering several verses are also possible. Verse numbers are set automatically. You are free to choose any Windows font and size for your lyrics.

The fret diagram

Fret WizardUsing the Fret Wizard for stringed instruments, you are free to click and choose your own frets for all stringed instruments. The symbols generated can be automatically transposed along with the score!

Adding graphics to the score

The palettes

PalettesGraphic objects are selected from pre-defined palettes using the mouse. Beginners will find the illustrated palettes a great help. Using the menu options, you can select from over 120 symbols.
Experts can define their own individual palettes from the symbols available in capella's character set.

Welcome to the graphics gallery!

A graphics gallery can be created for each score. The gallery stores your graphic objects:
  • Performance symbols for dynamics, fermata, pedal symbol
  • Graphics symbols designed using capella's symbol functions - perhaps a pumpkin for Thanksgiving.
  • Imported graphics from a clip art library.
capella already offers several interesting galleries that contain special notations, guitar frets and much more.

Positive properties

Each graphic object can be influenced in a variety of ways using the properties dialog. You can:
  • Place images in front or behind notes
  • Group images together with other graphic objects
  • Apply them in color
  • Link graphic objects individually to reference notes: For instance, you might want to set the properties of the guitar fret's image to make it appear at a fixed distance above the notes or to set the properties of an individually designed articulation sign to make it always appear below the lowest note in a chord, regardless of how high the note is positioned.

    • Versatile graphics

    All graphics can be scaled (enlarged or reduced in size on a sliding scale), stretched and compressed. This means that watermarks covering the entire page can be placed underneath the score or other objects can be scaled to fit the proportions in the score. capella also offers a great number of more unusual features.
    The note examples on this page offer just a small taste of the virtually unlimited number of possibilities open to more sophisticated notation professionals. Please click here to view the violin clef graphics.

    Colored notes
    You can even set notes or individual note heads in a specific color as a teaching aid for students. You can then print the score in full color.

    Triplets, quads, septets and more...

    Triplets Triplets are set at the click of a mouse. In addition to this, all irregular divisions (from duals to 15 tuplets) are possible. The corresponding bracket is set above the notes at the same time. Using the mouse, brackets can be tilted, height-adjusted or deleted. It is also possible just to leave the figure standing (for beam triplets).

    Powerful zoom function and publishing-house printing quality
    capella comes with a powerful zoom function that allows you to edit your score in whatever size you want - including the page's split with borders, headers and footers. You can also split the score window to provide a better overview of your work. Using the page view function, you can display as many pages on your screen as you want simultaneously. Printing on both sides is also possible - and you won't need to reorganize your paper pile following the first print run. You can also print in A3 and landscape format (flute and organ books!).

    Notation in adjacent staves

    capella also lets you set notes into adjacent staves. Beams can also be entered as "knee beams", that is, with notes pointing upwards and downwards. You can also set the tilt of the beams along with the length of note stems.

    Always in touch with the outside world (I): MIDI
    capella professional can read standard MIDI files (format 0 and 1) and write format 1. This means that the entire MIDI world is available as both source and target. Using capella you can put a professional finishing touch to every MIDI song's typography before printing it out in publishing-house quality.
    Conversely, you can export capella scores in MIDI-file format and incorporate them into programs such as multimedia applications.

    Always in touch with the outside world (II): MusicXML
    capella professional can write files in MusicXML 1.1 format. MusicXML has become the standard music notation interchange format, supported by 70 applications. So if your friends and colleagues use other notation programs, you can still share your music with them.

    Always in touch with the outside world (III): Graphics
    You can insert any graphics or images created using other Windows applications into your capella score using the copy-and-paste function. Conversely, you can export the capella monitor interface to other programs (word processing software, picture editors, desktop publishing software etc.).
    Files can be exported in two ways:
    • Windows meta file (Windows standard),
    • TIFF-format.
      • Using Tiff, sections of your capella scores including all symbols, text etc. can be integrated into your word processing software (or any other application). Once there, scores can be mapped in any size without loss of quality.
    The score export function offers you unlimited possibilities:
    • For clerics and cantors to create attractive sheets for church services.
    • For teachers to design attractive working sheets.
    • For specialists to illustrate publications.
    • For publishing houses to design the layout of song books.
    • For you to...?

    Always in touch with the outside world (IV): Web publishing
    Thanks to the TIFF-export function, capella scores are published onto the Internet with only a few mouse clicks. capella also supports printing to PDF.

    capella file format is the standard
    Because more than 250,000 registered users are already working with capella, capella's file format has become a standard as far as notation programs are concerned. Indeed, you will find thousands of free scores in private collections across the Internet.

    Make no mistake!
    Notation is no different to other software applications in that a number of different programs are vying for customers.
    As far as functions and features are concerned, you will find that, on paper at least, there is very little difference between the different notation programs.

    Yet other programs often forget to mention that . . .

    . . . to work successfully, ease-of-use and ergonomics are just as important as a comprehensive range of tools. And as far as these aspects are concerned, capella's designers have merged professional functionality into an interface, that is intuitive, clear and easy-to-operate. They have done so, while paying a great deal of attention to detail and demonstrating in-depth knowledge of users' requirements and preferences.

    Feature List

    Main features
    Comfortable score wizard
    Number of notes or chords per stave
    Number of lines per stave (usually: 5) 1-11
    Number of voices per stave (each voice can include notes and chords) 6
    Number of staves per system
    Number of systems per score
    Small and large staves in the same score/system
    Free toolbar positioning, symbols also appear in menu
    Split score windows. Page layout view (fully editable) in all magnifications
    Powerful zoom function. An unlimited number of pages can be displayed next to each other.
    Zoom function from 1% to 1000%
    Slur and beam smoothing function
    Numerous keyboard short cuts for almost all menu and dialog instructions; this makes work efficient and ergonomic for all including visually impaired users.
    Lightning-fast orientation and movement using status bar located at the edge of the window offering direct access to staves systems, note values etc.
    Undo and redo function. Function also available using list with clear instruction descriptions. Number of undo and redo steps:
    Note values: Breve note to 1/128
    MIDI Import (Format MIDI 0 and 1, MIDI Export (Format MIDI 1)
    MusicXML 1.1 Export for exchanging music with users of other applications
    Search function for finding melodies in the score
    Sound scrutinizer: step-by-step listening to active voice
    Comprehensive, easy-to-understand help file
    Integrated programming language (Python) to create additional features as plugins
    Easy to use ready-made plugins, downloadable free from this website

    Capturing notes

    Native XML data format
    Note entry via PC keyboard
    Keyboard enter-and-listen function (listen to notes as you type them)
    MIDI real-time entry and MIDI step entry
    Notes entered directly into the score using the mouse
    Mouse piano (size adjustable and versatile configuration)
    Support with entering and playing back percussion instruments using sound mapping
    Note entry using piano roll with metronome and comfortable quantizing function

    Playback
    All sound cards, 128 voices, each voice can be selected
    Playback recognizes all performance marks (trills, upper mordents, mordents or turns)
    Standard pitch a' can be tuned
    Automatic scrolling during playback; can be deactivated
    Playback with Multithreading, no delay during score refresh
    Tempo change option within the score
    Transposing instruments taken into account during playback

    Score editing
    Automatic beaming and beam slope function
    Sub-group beams
    Notation in adjacent staves, beam stretch across staves
    Split system at any point in the score
    Split multi-voiced staves into separate staves within same system
    Automatic wrap around (score division with optimized or selected number of bars per system)
    Individually adjustable beam slope and tail length
    Clefs, time signature, key signature, bar lines etc. changeable at any point in the score, including single staves in the current system
    Automatic chord symbols (with analysis of chord)
    Automatic lead sheet
    Course of bar lines freely adjustable including bar lines in the gap between staves
    Automatic part extraction
    Irregular division (duplet, triplet … up to 15-tuplet)
    Diverse range of note heads, stems and heads without stems
    Notes without heads (for lute tablature etc.)
    Notes horizontally adjustable (micro adjustment)
    Vertical note shift (diatonically or chromatically)
    Horizontal accidental adjust
    Forced accidentals (incl. in brackets), suppress accidentals
    Cue notes, grace notes, place holders
    Tremolo bars in note stems
    Edit individual note heads in chord (accidental, head shape, mute during playback etc).
    Block editing function for notes, staves, systems, score; cut-and-paste function between different scores
    Block editing function for system sections with automatic synchronization at beginning and end
    Block editing function between different scores
    Automatic bar lines, fixed bar lines, individual-design bar lines
    Transposing: Individual parts of the score with automatic key signature function; all transposing functions with or without key change
    Easy-to-use Transposing Wizard
    Staccato, tenuto, staccatissimo, etc.
    Individual articulation signs
    Appoggiatura and cue notes
    Lyrics in all fonts and sizes
    Automatic lyric text function for allocating syllables to notes; automatic spacing between syllables and notes
    Note spacing
    Multiple bar rests in varied presentations

    Layout and printing
    System brackets (curly brace and/or straight brackets)
    System justification for each system separately including for the entire score
    Footers, headers, page numbering
    Unrestricted formatting feature for footers, headers, automatic page numbering, watermark (including graphics)
    Vertical page adjustment
    Comprehensive color options for displaying all objects on the note sheet (for teaching purposes)
    Choice of note fonts and note styles (software includes: six note fonts from renaissance to jazz, can be expanded).
    Set print size as you like
    Automatic bar numbering with dynamic refresh
    Printout on any printer supported by Windows and in all paper sizes and formats (letter, legal, A1 - 5 envelopes etc.)

    Text, symbols, graphics
    Text import from other Windows applications
    Text objects in RTF format with free character and paragraph formatting feature
    120 musical symbols available to insert directly from symbol pallets
    Graphic grouping feature
    Free positioning of graphics, including in front or behind notes; sequence selection of overlapping graphics
    Fret Wizard for guitar, banjo etc.
    Symbols can be transposed as you like (chord descriptions, frets, figures etc.)
    Graphic objects: line, ellipse, polygon, repeat box, triplet bracket, wavy line etc.
    Wide ranging design options including dotted slurs
    Administration of individual graphics symbols using the gallery
    Graphic import function from other Windows applications
    Graphics export: Windows meta file (section of interface): Success depends on how far the target application supports this format
    Graphics export: TIFF format (section of interface, current system or entire page); supported by almost all Windows applications: also includes early-stage printing on all platforms (Mac etc.); supports web publishing
    HTML export: One-click procedure to create web-document; also for multiple-voice scores

    How to Order

    capella runs on Windows 98SE, ME, 2000, XP, and Vista. It must be activated within 30 days of installation. Download it to try it out before ordering:

    You may order capella professional from the Recordare Online Store for $199.95. You can also purchase capella at a discount as part of our Big Notation Bundle. The bundle includes capella professional, capella-scan, and capella playAlong all for $439.95 - a $90 savings over purchasing the software separately.

    capella - capella-scan - capella playAlong - tonica
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    Copyright © 2008 capella-software GmbH and Recordare LLC.

    Last updated January 2, 2008.