Options Dialog

The options dialog lets you customize the appearance, notation rules, playback characteristics, metronome, and general behavior of Shakuhachi Assistant.

General

• Show properties of notes in tooltips: Display additional information when hovering over notes.
• Open last Shakuhachi Song on default: Automatically reopen the last song at startup.
• Show Top Toolbar: Show or hide the main toolbar.
• Show Notes Toolbar: Show or hide the notation toolbar.
• Show Virtual Shakuhachi: Display the virtual instrument.
• Shakuhachi Song Folder: Select the folder containing your compositions.
• Default Song Template: Choose a .shaku1 file to use as the default template.

Style

Adjust the playback characteristics of the virtual shakuhachi.

Volume

Set relative volume percentages for:

• Slight, Moderate, and Severe chin tilt
• Oh Kari chin tilt
• Kan register

Breath Noise

Oh Kari: Adjust the breath-noise level for Oh Kari notes.

Humanize

Volume: Adjust volume variation to make playback sound less mechanical.

Layout

Customize the appearance of the musical score.

• Title Font: Choose the font used for score titles.
• Page Numbers: Display page numbers.
• Column Numbers: Display column numbers.
• Note Size: Adjust the size of notation symbols.
• Note Color: Set the color of notes.
• Lines Color: Set the color of score lines.
• Selection Color: Set the highlighting color.
• Paper Color: Set the background color.

Metronom

Configure two independent metronome beats.

• Down-Beat: Enable or disable the downbeat.
• Up-Beat: Enable or disable the upbeat.
• Sound: Choose a MIDI percussion sound for each beat.
• Volume: Adjust the volume of each beat independently.

Sound and volume controls are enabled when their corresponding beat is selected.

Notation

Configure automatic notation behavior according to Shakuhachi notation conventions.

Change octave rule

Controls automatic octave changes. The dialog describes separate Kinko and Tozan conventions for octave changes following particular notes.

Default octave rule

Controls the default octave interpretation of Ou and Ri according to the notation convention.

Atari

Enables the Atari articulation sign, used in Kinko notation for successive notes of the same pitch.

Saving and resetting preferences

• OK: Save your preferences and close the dialog.
• Cancel: Restore the preference values that were present when the dialog opened.
• Default: Reset the dialog controls to their predefined values after confirmation. Click OK to save them.

Tip: If you are experimenting with playback or notation settings, use Cancel to discard your changes.