Logic Pro Score editor - how to create space where I want it?

[JollyRancher]

I have an arrangement with a D.S. al Coda. I would like to have space between the last line of the body and the Coda...more space than that between the other staves of the arrangement. It serves to draw ones eye to the Coda section as a separate section. I have tried and searched with no success. Is this possible? This is just one example where empty space added to a specific portion of a score or part might be very useful.

BTW, this is my first post. Thank you for any help you might offer

 

[Pete Thomas]

There is a sort of workaround that isn't ideal

Create a staff style with more space above the staff and use it for the first line of the coda.

If the coda is longer than a few bars you then need to switch back to the main style you were using

 

[volovicg]

Do you mean more vertical space as in staff 4 is the end of the body and staff 5 is the coda and you want more space between staff 4 and 5 - than 1-2, 2-3 ,etc or....?

Your body ends on staff 5 (say measure 2) and you want a space "next" to staff 5 (to the right) before the coda begins on staff 5 (space on the same staff line?

 

[JollyRancher]

Do you mean more vertical space as in staff 4 is the end of the body and staff 5 is the coda and you want more space between staff 4 and 5 - than 1-2, 2-3 ,etc or....?

Yes that is exactly what I mean. Space vertically between staves. I want to be able to control where that space is and how much if possible. In the scenario you describe, more space between staff 4 and 5 than 1-2-3 etc. Hypothetically, in a different arrangement lets say, I might also want more space vertically between stave 2 -3 and again between 7-8.

I should mention that I do understand that Logic is not an engraving program, but my experience using it over the years is that there is usually a way to create a score visually close to what one wants.

Thank you for your response volovicg.

 

[JollyRancher]

There is a sort of workaround that isn't ideal

Create a staff style with more space above the staff and use it for the first line of the coda.

If the coda is longer than a few bars you then need to switch back to the main style you were using

I see where this might work in the case of a one line Coda. Do I understand correctly that "switching back to the main style" is because providing extra space above the Coda staff style will mean that additional staves of that same style will also include that extra space between staves?

Thank you for your response Pete.

 

[volovicg]

Not an engraving system......Hmmmmm (something I did yesterday)

So Peter's response is more than just a workaround, it is the solution and how spacing between staff systems is achieved.
1/ duplicate the staff style you are using for the previous staff system ( prior to the coda)
2/ cut the region at the measure where the coda begins.
3/ apply the new staff style ( which is a duplicate of the previous one) to the newly cut coda region.
4/ Now, either by clicking and holding on the clef ( of the staff system you want to move) - you can now drag the coda staff up or down without it affecting the other staves. This is because spacing above and below a staff is a function of the staff style....
you could also open up the staff style in use and change space parameters there.... both do the exact same thing...

The top number is the space above the the staff line and the bottom number is the space below the staff line. Each staff in a staff style has its own parameters and each staff style is mutually exclusive from the others relative to this parameter....
Hope that helps....
Greg V.

 

[JollyRancher]

Brilliant! I have played around with this idea a bit and see how it really is the solution. Your example does serve to demonstrate the power of Logic in a skilled users hands.

Several years ago I purchased a book called "The Logic Notation Guide" by Johannes Prischl. It was a terrific resource and dedicated to the scoring side of Logic. I must have misplaced it or sold with my old Atari computer system...not sure. It was as complete a book on the subject of scoring with that vintage of Logic as I have seen. I bet much of it remains pertinent to this day. Unfortunately, I seem to have not absorbed all of the information contained within it's pages 🙂.

Thank you both for your assistance. I'm happy to have come upon this site and will use it as a primary resource going forward.

 

[Pete Thomas]

So Peter's response is more than just a workaround, .

I still wish there was an easier and more intuitive way. e.g. just insert some space. Or at least have an all-purpose space making clef style that is invisible but you can configure the amount of space it takes up.

Doing it it in the way I mentiojed above means making a corresponding coda clef style for each and every clef stul you are using. No problem for a simple vocal and piano score, but for anything with a lot of styles for transposed instruments means double the number of styles.

I have them already made in my starting template, but it's still adds a lot of extra clutter in the clef style list.

 

[volovicg]

While I answered the OP question technically. I have never had to do this. Can you post a screenshot of a score that forces the use of the additional staff style? Shown before use (one which shows the problem) prior to correcting using the above method?

 

[Pete Thomas]

Nothing would force the use, it's more a matter of personal preference. The space is a definite aid in sight reading to help a musician quickly locate the coda.

With space

Without space

 

[volovicg]

Thank you peter - I thought it was due to not enough space to place the coda - now I understand and you are correct. 2nd staff style is the only option for this case. Thanks for posting back so quickly!

 

[Pete Thomas]

And as you can image, it is a real pain on a full score to do that.