Command to add rests to complete voices

• Feb 1, 2018 - 16:08
Reported version
2.1
Type
Functional
Severity
S5 - Suggestion
Status
active
Project
  1. Create 4 quarter notes in a 4/4 bar, say.
  2. Click on the third note (say) and change it to voice 2 (say) using [Ctrl] + [Alt] + [2].

Expected result: Rests are created before and after the note to complete the measure duration.
Actual result: Rests are not created before the note.


Comments

I disagree that this is a bug. I use this as a feature. If I want to start voice 2 on a beat later than 1 I will create a chord in voice 1 and change one of the notes to voice 2 so I don't have to go back and delete rests.

In instruments that allow for multiple voices to be played at once, it is common to not have rests in voices other than 1, unless they are preceded by notes or clarify the beat a rogue note* starts on.

*Rogue note: A note that starts on a different beat than any other note in the measure, such as a 1/4 note starting on beat 2 in voice 2, while voice 1 has only a whole note.

Title Rest(s) not added before a note after the voice is changed Command to add rests to complete voices
Severity S4 - Minor S5 - Suggestion

I have mixed feelings about this, but can confirm the current behavior is by design. We specifically did not want to force extra rests. That said, it can sometimes be useful. Right now the trick to fill out a measure is to swap the voice with voice 1 and then back - the swap into voice 1 will force the rests to complete the voice. Might be nice to have a single "fill out measure" command. Ooh, even better if it auto-detected and fixed common corruptions :-).

Anyhow I'm leaving this open but changing it to a feature request.