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Messages - Lawrie Pardy

51
User Tools / Re: Audit Bar Lines tool
Hi Warren,
have a snippet from a staff that gives some errors...
Code: (nwc) [Select · Download]
!NoteWorthyComposerClip(2.751,Single)
|TimeSig|Signature:4/4
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:1
|Rest|Dur:4th
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:-2
|Rest|Dur:4th
|Bar
|Note|Dur:Half|Pos:-9
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:-6
|Rest|Dur:4th
|Bar
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:-6
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:-2
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:-2|Opts:Stem=Up,Beam=First
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:-6^|Opts:Stem=Up,Beam=End
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:-6
|Bar
|TimeSig|Signature:2/4
|Note|Dur:Half|Pos:-9
|Bar|Style:MasterRepeatClose
|TimeSig|Signature:4/4
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:-6
|Rest|Dur:4th
|Rest|Dur:Half
|Bar|Style:SectionClose|SysBreak:Y
!NoteWorthyComposerClip-End

If you run the tool over the whole staff, you get a "too few" in the last bar.
If you run the tool over the 2/4 bar you get:
No errors if you don't include the closing barline
If you DO include the barline you get:"Measure 1 too few: 2 beats
If you have an empty bar prior to the repeat barline (I was testing stuff and this happened) you get both bar 4 and 6 with a too few error.  NB the empty bar 5 would not be counted by NWC, I recommend your tool do the same or the bar numbering will get out of step.

I also suggest bars that are empty or have no durational objects in them be excluded a la the way barlines explicitly excluded from numbering are handled.  E.G. I often use a construct like this (the section immediately following the system break):
Code: (nwc) [Select · Download]
!NoteWorthyComposerClip(2.751,Single)
|Text|Text:"Bm7"|Font:User6|Pos:12
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:-3|Opts:Stem=Up,Beam=First
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:#-4|Opts:Stem=Up,Beam=End
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:-3
|Text|Text:"E7"|Font:User6|Pos:12
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:-2
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:-2
|Bar
|Text|Text:"Bm7"|Font:User6|Pos:12
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:-3
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:-3
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:-2^
|Text|Text:"E7"|Font:User6|Pos:12
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:-2
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:-3
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:-3
|Flow|Style:ToCoda|Pos:16|Justify:Right|Placement:AtNextNote
|Bar|Style:Double
|Text|Text:"Bm7"|Font:User6|Pos:12
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:-4
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:#-4
|Text|Text:"E7"|Font:User6|Pos:12
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:-3
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:-9|Opts:Stem=Up,Beam=First
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:-8^|Opts:Stem=Up,Beam=End
|Bar
|Text|Text:"A6"|Font:User6|Pos:12
|Note|Dur:Half|Pos:-8
|Text|Text:"E7"|Font:User6|Pos:12
|Rest|Dur:Half
|Flow|Style:DSalCoda|Pos:16.5|Justify:Right|Placement:AtNextNote
|Clef|Type:Treble|AutoSys:N|Visibility:Never
|Key|Signature:F#,C#,G#|Tonic:A|HideCancels:Y|AutoSys:N|Visibility:Never
|Bar|Style:Double|SysBreak:Y
|Boundary|Style:Gap|Width:200|SystemConnections:N
|Flow|Style:Coda|Pos:-2.5|Visibility:Always
|Boundary|Style:Gap|Width:600|SystemConnections:N
|Clef|Type:Treble
|Key|Signature:F#,C#,G#|Tonic:A
|Text|Text:"Bm7"|Font:User6|Pos:12
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:-4
|Rest|Dur:4th
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:#-4
|Rest|Dur:4th
|Bar
|Text|Text:"E7"|Font:User6|Pos:12
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:-3
|Rest|Dur:4th
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:-2
|Rest|Dur:8th
|Note|Dur:8th,Slur|Pos:0^
|Bar
|Text|Text:"A6"|Font:User6|Pos:12
|Note|Dur:4th,Slur|Pos:0
|Note|Dur:Half,Dotted|Pos:-1^
|Bar|SysBreak:Y
|Text|Text:"F#m"|Font:User6|Pos:12
|Marker|Pos:6.5
|Note|Dur:Whole|Pos:-1^
|Bar
|Text|Text:"D"|Font:User6|Pos:12
|Marker|Pos:0.5
|RestChord|Dur:Half|Opts:Stem=Down,ArticulationsOnStem,HideRest|Dur2:Whole|Pos2:-1^
|Text|Text:"Bm"|Font:User6|Pos:12
|Marker|Pos:0
|Rest|Dur:Half|Opts:VertOffset=-2000
|Bar
|Text|Text:"E7"|Font:User6|Pos:12
|Marker|Pos:0.5
|Note|Dur:4th,Dotted|Pos:-1^
|Text|Text:"A"|Font:User6|Pos:11.5
|Marker|Pos:4
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:-1
|Rest|Dur:Half
!NoteWorthyComposerClip-End

I also use transparent bars to aid object placement and force system breaks with an open staff:
Code: (nwc) [Select · Download]
!NoteWorthyComposerClip(2.751,Single)
|TimeSig|Signature:4/4
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:1
|Rest|Dur:4th
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:-2
|Rest|Dur:4th
|Bar
|Note|Dur:Half|Pos:-9
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:-6
|Rest|Dur:4th
|Bar
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:-6
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:-2
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:-2|Opts:Stem=Up,Beam=First
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:-6^|Opts:Stem=Up,Beam=End
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:-6
|Bar
|TimeSig|Signature:2/4
|Bar|Style:Transparent|SysBreak:Y
|TimeSig|Signature:2/4
|Note|Dur:Half|Pos:-9
|Bar|Style:MasterRepeatClose
|TimeSig|Signature:4/4
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:-6
|Rest|Dur:4th
|Rest|Dur:Half
!NoteWorthyComposerClip-End
52
General Discussion / Re: Audit Bar Lines
Quote from: fathafluff –
I'm still having trouble. I download the file, copy it to
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Noteworthy Software\NoteWorthy Composer 2\Scripts"
and delete the .txt extension.
Good, this should leave the file entitled "auditBars.js"
Quote
That folder has 3 sub-folders: lib, wx, and wxtools, and 18 files. All files except the new one have a .php extension.
When user tools were first introduced the default language used for them was PHP.  What you are seeing are the User Tools that are distributed with the "User Tool Starter Kit", which were all written in the early days, and are thus written in PHP.
I believe the "wx" and "wxtools" folders comprise a Windows eXtensions library for PHP.
The starter kit installs a PHP interpreter.
The current recommended user tool language is lua, and the lua interpreter is built into NWC
However, you are not forced to use lua or PHP to create user tools.  EG, this one uses javascript, hence the .js extension.  I've personally written tools with vbscript (.vbs) - the Microsoft supplied "WScript" interpreter handles both these languages just fine.
Quote
When I hit Alt-F8 I get a pop-up titled "User Tools" with 5 Groups listed, with the second, ".Plugins" selected. Under "Available Commands" there are 12 tools listed. I click the "New..." button and get another pop-up titled "User Tool Description". The first Text Box is "Group:".
The drop-down list is empty.
The empty dropdown just means that you haven't manually installed any user tools before, so haven't created any groups to put them in.
The groups that start with a period "." are automatic ones, and I, personally, don't put any other user tools in them.
E.G. The .Plugins group is populated automatically by User Objects that have built-in User Tools.  These enable User Tool type use of the related Object - it only applies to some objects as not all contain user tools.
My system uses a holdover from the early days and thus I have a group called "ConsoleClipScripts" where my manually installed tools go.  You can have as many groups as you want.
I also have a group called "Default" but I don't recall how it was created, too many moons have passed in the meantime.
If you type in the name of a group that doesn't exist, then that group will be created automatically.  If you delete, or move, the last tool within a group then that group will automatically be deleted too.
Quote
I filled in ".Developer Tools". I put "Audit Bars" in the Name, and
"WScript " in the Command. Input Type was pre-selected as "Clip Text" and none of the 4 Options were selected. I click "Browse".  
and the Scripts directory opens. I select auditBar.js and click "Open". The User Tool Description pop-up updates with "auditBar" in the Name and "Scripts\auditBar.js" in the Command.
The first part of this is correct.  You have to opportunity to change the "Name" if the default doesn't suit you.
Also, it appears your system decided to overwrite the command field.  Sorry about that, I should have considered the possibility in my earlier description.
Quote
Lawrie's last step: <check the command line to make sure there is a space after "WScript", then click "OK".> does not seem to apply, since the Command has changed. Clicking OK at this point seems to do nothing. Changing the Command back to "WScript " and pressing OK also seems to do nothing.
The correct command field should read
"wscript Scripts/auditBar.js"
without the quotes

<EDIT>
Following Warrens updated code the command line should now read:
"wscript Scripts\auditBar.js  <PROMPT:Summarize?:=|Y|N>"
53
General Discussion / Re: Audit Bar Lines
It doesn't really matter where you put it, BUT the traditional location is the "scripts" directory under where NWC itself is:
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Noteworthy Software\NoteWorthy Composer 2\Scripts" (64 bit) or
"C:\Program Files\Noteworthy Software\NoteWorthy Composer 2\Scripts" (32 bit)

I think a more recent installation than mine puts them under the C:\Users\YourHomeDirectory structure somewhere, but mine uses the original NWC2 under WinXP location.

Anyhow, pick the location you need, save the file - remove the .txt extension (the required .js extension remains)

In NWC, press <Alt+F8>,
Click "New...",
Choose the group, or write the name of a new group, for the tool to reside,
Type "WScript " in the command field (don't forget the trailing space),
Click "Browse..."
locate the "auditBar.js" file and click "Open"
check the command line to make sure there is a space after "WScript", then click "OK".

The tool is now ready to roll.

<edit> fixed close italics tag
54
User Tools / Re: Audit Bar Lines tool
Hi Warren, I like.

The only change I can think of that might be helpful is a negative result alert...

I.E. when you run the tool and there are no problems, you just get the dialogue with no content.  It would add confidence to the result if there was a line that said something like "No problems were detected", or something like that.
55
General Discussion / Re: extra spaces
You have a bunch of huge lower boundary offsets in bar 5 and 9 on the 4 upper staves.  There are also some smaller upper boundary offsets in the lower 4 staves.

You need to readjust, or maybe delete, these offsets.
56
General Discussion / Re: extra spaces
Check the staff properties, one has too big a staff boundary (either upper or lower): see |staff properties|Visual (tab)
57
General Discussion / Re: Audit Bar Lines
Not that I'm aware of, but as a work around, you could perform a normal bar audit, have a look through and if you see something erroneous, note the bar, press <Ctrl+Z> and then go to the errant bar and fix it.

Not perfect, but functional.
58
General Discussion / Re: shifted slur when the staves splitted
Quote from: FrankSit –
Yes Lawrie it seems it's better using Retain, rather than Remove.
<snip>
Sometimes, sometimes not.  Once you are familiar with how the tool behaves you can often predict which approach will be best, but both retain and remove have their purposes and are equally valid to use depending on requirements.

In this particular case, retain was a better choice (IMHO).  I have found that the "no single" parameter is often less useful than it might seem.  Its application is *fairly limited, but when it is actually needed, it's invaluable.

* The sole purpose of "No Single" is to replace single notes in the selection with a rest.
59
General Discussion / Re: shifted slur when the staves splitted
Hi Frank,
you almost always need to do some tidying up edits after using Parts - and many other tools - as artefacts can often be left behind.

So yes, remove the unresolved tie in the Bass part, and adjust whatever else needs to be adjusted as required on all staves.

Just remember, user tools are great!  BUT, it is your job to check the results and fix any errors that occur.  Mostly the results will be perfectly fine, but occasionally something unexpected will happen, and you'll need to make corrections.

60
General Discussion / Re: shifted slur when the staves splitted
OK, seeing as I've been asked...

First, I agree with Mike.

In more detail:
I don't think the slur has anything to do with the Soprano part.  I think it belongs solely to the Alto part and now you've split the parts the restchord on beat 2 should become just a note, and the following quaver rest should be deleted.

In the Soprano part, a quaver rest has appeared.  This should not be, that rest should be the quaver Bb from the original staff.

I believe we are seeing artifacts from how NWC stores slur information, and how "Parts" works.  I also think the "No Single" parameter may have been used when it shouldn't.

Find attached my *raw results using "Parts" but using either "Retain Top" or "Retain Bottom" parameters as appropriate for each staff.  Please note that it seems to reflect my assessment above.

I have not edited the resulting, split staves.  There is some tidy-up needed if it were to be used.
61
User Tools / Re: Swing triplets
Quote from: Flurmy –
If the notation has 1/8+1/8 then a simple periodic tempo variance can work.
<snip>
But it doesn't work for 1/8 dotted+1/16 and with the real triplets.
I think the object approach, if feasible, could have the same drawback.
This is the technique I generally use.
Normally, I add local repeats and just repeat it for the number of bars in the song.
However, sometimes it it appropriate to insert the bar over and over for the full length of the song (primarily to help keep track of where you are WRT the other parts), and when there are changes that are not "swung", like the afore mentioned triplets, just have a portion of the bar with a straight tempo, then back to the alternating tempo marks.

Of course, this doesn't work so well if the section has triplets for some instruments and swung quavers for other instruments.

And sometimes I don't bother altering the tempo changes for triplets, 'cos I need the printed chart to be right, I don't need the playback to be "perfect" just for the odd triplet.
63
General Discussion / Re: louder the sound of nwc when we played
Quote from: Flurmy –
Quote from: Lawrie Pardy –

fff  :))
Well, almost: 110.
Normally fff is 127 and ff is 108, so it's a bit more than ff.
(Yes, I'm picky... sorry  :D )
Hi mate,
actually, if you create a new score with no template (IE <Blank Score>), the default volume on the only staff is 127.
If you add additional staves, no matter which template you use, they will default to a volume of 127.
Velocity levels that represent dynamics also have defaults unless overridden by the itree.
E,G, ff is 108, fff is 127, ppp is 10 etc.
If you do not assign a dynamic it will default to fff which defaults to a velocity of 127

Soo, defaults are Volume 127, Velocity also 127* ('cos fff)
* Unless you've edited your itree, but even then I don't think that would apply until you assign an instrument...
64
General Discussion / Re: louder the sound of nwc when we played
Frank,
if the sound when you're normally playing a song through NWC is OK, then the problem is NOT with NWC.

Check the recording software you're using because that's probably where you'll need to make adjustments.
66
General Discussion / Re: NWC to mp3
In Win 10 there is NO MIDImapper app - microshaft took it out in Vista (or maybe Win7 - not actually certain now, it was too long ago).
Therefore, unless you've used a 3rd party alternative to MIDIMapper, OR you've done a manual registry edit, then software that doesn't allow you to select a specific synth will use the GS Wavetable.  In particular Windows Media Player will certainly use the GS Wavetable.

Given your questions I am assuming you haven't edited your registry or used a 3rd party app to edit your default MIDI synth, so:
  • If you export a MIDI file, then play that back through Windows Media Player then it will be GS Wavetable.
  • If you use Van Basco's Karaoke Player to play MIDIs then it has an option to select your preferred synth.
  • Audacity allows you to select the synth you want to use, so that one's up to you.
  • Audacity shows the MIDIMapper as an option, this is just another way of saying the default MIDI synth, which is GS Wavetable unless you've edited the registry or used a 3rd party MIDIMapper app
  • If you want to identify which synth is being used, a really good test is your ears.  *Most soundfonts sound completely different to the GS Wavetable (they are usually much better IMHO).  So, playback using NWC and Coolsoft with your preferred soundfont, then playback the MIDI with WMP**
  • I know nothing about "Switch", never even heard of it, so I can't help you with this one.
  • GS Wavetable and MIDI Mapper are not apps so I wouldn't expect them to be in settings, App volume and volume preferences.

* A glaring exception to this is if you use one of the Roland soundfonts.  This is because the GS Wavetable is a sound set that M$ licenced from Roland back in the Win3 days - they still use it and it still sucks.  (IMHO)

** Or better still, use NWC to playback using Coolsoft, then change to GS Wavetable and playback again, note the differences.  If you can't hear any differences then it may be either the instruments used are similar in both wavetables OR you're using a Roland soundfont...  Don't forget to change back!
67
General Discussion / Re: NWC to mp3
NWC sends the music information to CoolSoft as MIDI data - the CoolSoft synth then uses that data to create audio signals from data in the soundfont.

NWC ONLY sends MIDI data.
So, NWC does NOT drive your loudspeakers, it drives the synth, which in turn sends a signal controlled by the MIDI data from NWC and derived from the wavetable data in the soundfont to the speaker system.

When using Audacity, it receives a signal from the synth and records that.  IE an audio signal.

Unless you configured your system to use Coolsoft as the default MIDI synth for the system (not possible without 3rd party software OR editing the registry since Windows Vista (IIRC) was released, then NWC will use Coolsoft (assuming that's how you've configured NWC), and the rest of your system will use the Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth, UNLESS the software is able to select a preferred synth the way NWC can.
68
General Discussion / Re: NWC to mp3
That would depend primarily on the synth being used.  As well as the bit depth and rate the .mp3 was produced/saved at. 
FWIW most people cannot hear the difference between the usual default 48kbps and the often used 192kbps (or even higher) bit rates.  I know I can't, though one of my sons claims he can.  I'm inclined to believe him because of his profession, but he would be one of a very small group.

E.G. if you were using a GM synth that uses soundfonts for NWC (I use Coolsoft VirtualMIDISynth), AND the same soundfont for the MIDI file conversion then I would expect no discernible difference at all, unless the synths were radically different and rendered the various soundfonts differently.  Unlikely.

If, however, you used 2 different soundfonts, or different synths that used other sources for samples, or whatever, then there are absolutely no guarantees.

E.G. I have settled on a soundfont called merlin_audigy(v1.14) with a correction I put in for one of the patches*.
It does not even remotely sound like the default Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth that comes standard with Windows (NOT a soundfont BTW).
There are many other soundfonts that one could choose, as I'm sure you know.  If it's a different soundfont, then it is likely to be a different set of samples, and the sounds will not match.

* I think it was a the flute patch IIRC originally the flute didn't sustain correctly, but decayed like a percussion instrument.  I fixed that (somehow... ;) )
69
General Discussion / Re: an asterik at the end of the name file
Quote from: FrankSit –
On other things Lawrie, it could be something I forgot to key in, like the pedal release, is there any connection with the sound? when we play, maybe less volume. Or it is just for the pianis player.
Pedal up/down is how the sustain pedal function is implemented in NWC.  However, as stated in a reply elsewhere, the piano is an instrument that decays.  Just like any other percussion* instrument.  You CANNOT make it sustain like a wind/string/voice/organ type instrument.  Nor can you make it crescendo...  Despite what Beethoven wrote a few times  :))

* Yes, the piano is technically a percussion instrument because the strings are struck with hammers.
71
General Discussion / Re: how to make it like this
Quote from: FrankSit –
I have several question to make it perfect as the music sheet and sung sounds like the quartet
1. How can we make it so that the upperline on 3rd times ending coverrring/capping the whole section like  the music sheet
That is the purpose of the "Continue Prior Ending" button in the special ending dialogue box.  Simply place a special ending at the start of each bar that you need the line to continue over and click that button for each.  It would be best to select "Closed Ending" on the last one too.
Quote
2. On the start of the Baritone lyric actually it just hold singging, there is no addtional word "steal away". how can we make it like long line from the first "steal away" keep holding to match its full note.
Use a tie from the last F in the first bar to connect to the F in the second bar.  Delete the words "Steal_a_way" from the lyrics.  I know this is slightly different to the PDF as it doesn't show the tie you need to add.  Nevertheless, adding the tie is the correct answer, the PDF is technically wrong.
Quote
3. On Fermata, the singers is longer than the fermata of the piano playing nwc file, how can we make it longer
You are dealing with the natural decay of the piano patch.  It is not an organ which will hold the note.  When you strike a note on a real piano, even if you hold the key down or press the sustain pedal, the note will still decay.  The patch is designed to mimic this.
If you change the patch to, say, any wind instrument, or a vocal patch, or an organ, or a string instrument, the decay won't happen.
Quote
4. How can I understand the logic of the flow, what is the difference of using Coda etc
They follow the normal rules of music.
These exceptions are specific to NWC:
  • No decorated barlines within a special ending as they terminate the special ending.
  • Section Close barlines can derail the flow logic (as we discovered yesterday)
  • If you use flow control (DS, DC etc) and you need to include a special ending as part of the flow, you must include a Default Ending) directive in the special ending to be played
  • DC and DS directives can ONLY use a single Default Ending directive as master repeat logic prevents repeats from happening after a DS or DC*, until a Coda is reached, when the repeat logic is reset to normal for the coda.

* This correctly follows traditional practice.  Unfortunately a lot of "modern" practice, especially in jazz, includes doing the repeats again after a DC or DS directive.  NWC cannot do this directly, though creative use of special endings and text representations of DS, DC etc. flow controls can emulate this.  The late RickG was an absolute genius at making this work.
73
General Discussion / Re: Hairpin control after dynamic
We don't really have control over hairpin positioning unless you use hidden notes/rests.  I usually don't bother with that level of messing around.

However, if you're only trying to avoid collisions with dynamic markings why not experiment with placement? 
You have:
Left, Centre (center) and Right alignment; with Best Fit, Best Fit Forward, As Staff Signature and At Next Note/Bar Placement.
Then there's Preserve Width.
You can also combine this with spacers <Ins>.

I find that Centre or Right Justified, Best Fit usually works satisfactorily.
74
General Discussion / Re: how to make it like this
Hi Frank,
try this:
You had a couple of things not quite right - please compare the files to find them - if I just tell you it won't reinforce as well as if you find them yourself.

I did tell you one wrong thing though.  The Section Close barlines at the end of the 3rd time special ending were incorrect - they should have been simple double bars.  This prevented the repeat at the end of the no.2 1st special ending from working.
75
General Discussion / Re: how to make it like this
Hi Frank, all 4 staves, or you won't really know what's going on.

If it still doesn't work please post and I'll try to get to it in a timey fashion, if someone else doesn't beat me to it.
76
General Discussion / Re: how to make it like this
Hi Frank,
if you want to keep the existing layout, then there is a way to do it.

Primary rules for special endings:
  • There must be master repeat bars in the appropriate places
  • There CANNOT be decorated bar lines within the special ending section, as they terminate the repeat logic.  If you must have a double barline, then it can be emulated by placing 2 normal barlines with a spacer (<Ins> key) between them.

  • Place an opening Master Repeat at the start of the piece (NB this is actually optional as NWC will assume it's there but it's best practice to put it in as it avoids confusion for those reading the music)
  • At letters B and C place special endings as shown in the score (I think you need to replace the double barline with two single ones separated by a spacer - try it both ways and see what works)
  • At D place a 1st time special ending
  • At "E 1) 2 F" replace the double barline between "1)" and "2" with a closing master repeat.
  • At "2" place a 2nd time special ending
  • At "2)G" [the end of the piece] place a closing master repeat
  • At the end of the 3rd time special ending place a section close double barline, perhaps with a "fine" directive just before it.

I'm pretty sure this will work, haven't had time to actually notate anything to test.

<edits> in italics - bad recommendation corrected
77
User Tools / Re: Tremolo
Just select the objects handle and <Ctrl+Shift+UpArrow> a few times.
79
Object Plugins / Re: TremoloSingle.ms (2.1)
Hi Mike,
I just played back an old score that uses TremoloSingle.ms and got the following error from the updated version:
157: attempt to perform arithmetic on a nil value
and the object was suspended

The old version worked perfectly

This is a sample of a section of the score where the object is used.  Instrument is a Glockenspiel and is the only staff with this object in use - it appears 19 times.
Code: (nwc) [Select · Download]
!NoteWorthyComposerClip(2.751,Single)
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:-1|Opts:Stem=Up,Beam=First
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:0|Opts:Stem=Up,Beam=End
|Note|Dur:4th,Staccato|Pos:1
|Note|Dur:8th,Accent|Pos:-2|Opts:Stem=Down,Beam=First
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:3|Opts:Stem=Down,Beam=End
|Rest|Dur:8th
|Note|Dur:8th,Slur,Accent|Pos:2^
|Bar
|User|TremoloSingle.ms|Pos:0
|Note|Dur:Whole,Slur,Accent|Pos:2|Opts:Muted
!NoteWorthyComposerClip-End
80
General Discussion / Re: Song info on all pages?
Hi Marianne,
have you looked into user objects?

Specifically, NWC have provided 2 objects that work together that I use to do almost what you are asking.  The difference is I'm not interested in replicating the copyright information across multiple pages, but song and instrument names.

The objects are:
PageTxtMaestro.nw
PageTxt.nw

PageTxtMaestro.nw is required to activate the feature and
PageTxt.nw is needed for each occurrence of a text object.

E.G.
Using a PageTxt.nw object configured as a PageNumber style with the following text:
%Title% - in %Comment,Key% %Comment,Ver% - %StaffLabel% - Page %PageNum,1%%Comment,TotalPages%

Gives me a text entry that appears at the top right of every page that contains the:
Title of the song,
The key of the song (taken from an entry in the comments section of "File Info")
The version of the song (again taken from an entry in the comments section of "File Info")
The staff label
The page number (remember to turn off page numbering in page setup) followed by the comments entry labelled TotalPages

An example comments section is (not all entries are used in every song I do, but they exist in the template):
Quote
SubTitle:
SubTitle2:
Key: Am
Ver: - V1
TotalPages: /1
TotalPianoPages: /?
TotalConductorPages: /?

Inbuilt PageText.nw variables are:
Quote
%Title%
%Author%
%Lyricist%
%Copyright1%
%Copyright2%
%PageNum%
%PageNum,1%
%Comment,CustomLabel%
%StaffName%
%StaffLabel%
%StaffLabelAbbr%
%StaffGroup%
%%
%br%
%PageNum,1%  places the page number, specifying a starting number.  A 1 after the comma starts at page 1, a 17 would make the first page number 17.
%% allows you to place a % sign in the text and %br% causes a line break in your text

Default page styles are:
Quote
<new>
<once>
Author
Copyright
Lyricist
PageNumber
Title

My usual templates also include 2 I've created called Subtitle and Subtitle2.  These can be created by using the <new> and <once>
options in the defaults.

Anytime you are placing an object that replicates automatic text like page number, you normally must disable it in |File|Page Setup...|Options (tab).

For copyright info to be replicated simply place a "Copyright" style PageTxt.nw object.  You may need to experiment with the "Page Display Control" parameter.  You may also need to place it in a staff at a point that appears after the first page to avoid the default copyright info on the title page.

Attached are 2 examples.  The first is a short version of my standard jazz ensemble template, and the other is an example of using subtitles that I prepared for someone else on the forum.
81
General Discussion / Re: Elementary question - complicated answer?
Hi Jonno,
HM's explanation is pretty good, but I suspect it is too general for your particular use case, so lets address NWC - *Coolsoft VirtualMIDISynth specifically.  I apologise in advance as I'm sure I'll touch on things you already know.

*Actually any MIDI synth that responds to General MIDI data.  Think GM synths and/or softsynths with a GM soundfont loaded.  N.B. someone will probably correct me as that statement is deliberately shortened to avoid confusion.

First a couple of assumptions - you have VirtualMIDISynth installed and working and you also have NWC configured to use VirtualMIDISynth - reasonable as you get sounds...

So let's consider the Instrument patch dialogue:
  • The same dialogue appears whether you are configuring the instrument tab of staff properties OR an instrument patch
  • Click the predefined instruments button
  • Select the instrument you want, say "Trombone" and click OK
  • The dialogue will be populated with a check in "Send Patch", 57 in the number box, a check in "Send Bank Select" and "0" in both MSB and LSB.  Transposition will be 0 and set pitch bend range will be unchecked and 0
  • Click OK

Right, what happens?
The really important parts are:
  • Send patch:
    If this is not checked the MIDI channel of the staff or instrument patch will not be updated with the new patch selection and will continue to play with whatever patch was already in operation.  This usually defaults to 0 (Acoustic Grand Piano) BUT may be whatever the last setting sent on that channel to the synth was.  No matter what software sent it.  Thus, you ALWAYS want this checked unless you have a purpose other than instrument assignment (E.G changing transposition, or changing default dynamic velocities which can be done without changing anything else)
  • The patch number:
    This defines the particular instrument patch number - E.G. in General MIDI, 57 is the trombone, 0 is the aforementioned Acoustic Grand Piano, and so on.
  • Send bank select and the MSB and LSB numbers:
    This really isn't very relevant unless you are using a soundfont that uses multiple banks to select specific instrument sounds - E.G. Muted Trumpet, or percussion sounds (not included in the drum patchs).
    This will normally be checked with 0 in both MSB and LSB.  Important as this will reset any left over bank select data from previous MIDI streams (whether from NWC or not.
  • Transposition:
    This needs to be 0 for concert pitch.  If you transpose a staff and check enable playback transposition (which you should if you write in concert, then transpose for a transposing instrument [like a sax] as this will correct the playback to the concert pitch notes, and you will see this change in the opposite direction the same number of semitones you transposed from concert).
83
General Discussion / Re: *.nwc file security
I can't speak for NWC but, IMHO, I doubt this will happen.  For a start, NWC have been particularly inactive on the forum for quite some time now, and from other posts they seem to be singularly unresponsive to enquiries via the primary website too.

Additionally, and FWIW, I just had a quick look online and as far as I can see Musescore, Finale and Sibelius don't do this either.

More practically, do you have a particular need that cannot be met by sharing mp3 files generated from your work?
Or perhaps you can create PDF files if the score needs to be shared.
85
General Discussion / Re: Is this new version designed by Satan or what?????
Hi RoZita,
I genuinely have no idea what's causing your problem, but I'm confident it isn't NWC itself.

That said, recent changes to my Win10 (64bit) system have had some transient disappointing impacts on my NWC installation.

Specifically, browser updates (I'm using Brave - Chromium based) seem to break my keyboard in NWC, then the next update fixes it again...

I suspect there is some kind of keyboard interrupt hook that traps keystrokes.  NWC is not the only program affected, but it is the most affected...  Or perhaps the keys hardest hit are the ones I use most often in NWC.
In particular some cursor keys and some number pad keys stop responding.

Currently I'm not having many problems in NWC, BUT the left arrow key is misbehaving in this edit window as I try to write this message.  <Ctrl+Left> is even worse.  It is also misbehaving in all the other software I regularly use.  I expect the next Brave update will either fix it again, or maybe make it worse again.  Note that if I turn off NumLock and use the numeric keypad for arrows they work just fine...

Of course, I only think it's the Brave updates...  It's entirely possible there's something else causing the problem and the Brave updates are just a red herring.  It may just as easily be the way Dell have implemented the keyboard driver (never buying another Dell - I knew better but stupidly went ahead anyway  >:(  )

A point worth noting is that NWC is a 32 bit program.  Microsoft have written 64 bit windoze versions to handle 32 bit software correctly so I don't think that's necessarily the issue, but David's suggestions are worth considering.
I have no experience with Win11 but my reading suggests that it is a serious backward step for most users as far as reliability and privacy (from microsoft) are concerned.
86
General Discussion / Re: Is this new version designed by Satan or what?????
Quote from: David Palmquist –
<snip>
I don't know if it's solely Win 11, the vendor loaded onto my machine with several antivirus programmes and they might be getting in the way.

Hi David,
As an old IT pro, I advise you: Do NOT run multiple AV programs concurrently.  The resident portions and background scanners seriously interfere with each other and performance and reliability will go down the toilet.

If the vendor installed multiple AV softwares they should be kicked, HARD.

NB alternative scanners that do not have resident, always active scans are fine.  It's just multiple active scanners that are a problem.
87
General Discussion / Re: Icon appearance
That's on old NWC icon, if you go to the properties of the shortcut, there is a button where you can "Change Icon..."
Looks like windoze has chosen the wrong one.
90
User Tools / Re: Very basic help with User Tools required, please
OK, firstly let me apologise for the length of this reply.  It's a doozy, even for me!

Quote from: jonnotes –
Yes, Lawrie, I did.  I found it clearly and helpfully laid out - but I soon got swamped by loads of unfamiliar (to me) jargon.  Then you were away with sophisticated uses of Global Modification.  I'm not sure I have the mental capacity (or time) to learn all this - or, for that matter, how much use I would be able to make of it in the end.
Thank you.  I'm sorry you found parts hard going.
The "sophisticated uses of Global Modification" were intended as examples of how to create ways to run Global_Mod to repetitively perform a task that would otherwise require a user to remember the full syntax of Global_Mod instructions, which as illustrated could be quite the ordeal.

The basic principles apply to any user tool that anyone creates and you find useful enough to want to use.  The way a user tool author tells you to invoke the tool (I.E construct the command line) will be the basic starting point. 
Any information that the tool may need/ask for while running, which requires user input, can be pre-empted with further entries on the command line - demonstrating how to do this was the primary purpose of the PDF.

Quote
In short, friendly and open though your approach was, it still felt aimed at the programmer and would-be developer, rather than the musician who might benefit from it.  Not quite basic enough for me - I would never complain if someone overdid the simplicity and feared to be thought condescending.  Better that than make all sorts of assumptions of background and experience and thereby leave vital (baby-)steps out.
Thank you again.  I guess I can understand why you feel it was aimed at programmers and developers, but it really wasn't. 

Did you ever use MSDOS, or do you use linux at the command prompt?  If so then I'm sure you're aware of either "batch files" (MSDOS) or "shell scripts" (linux).  These are text files that contain a list of instructions that you could otherwise enter successively at the command prompt. 

Now these files do require a certain degree of basic programming skill and quite sophisticated operations can be performed using them, but they depend entirely on the creator understanding how the programs they call are used.

The same is true for NWC user tool invocations.  You need to know how each tool is used.  This primarily applies to tool specific instructions, not so much the ones that are common for all tools.

As far as "vital (baby-)steps" are concerned I'll need to ponder this.  I did think that I had included every step required for the examples to be replicated by a user, including images of all the successive dialogues as they were populated.

Time permitting, I'll revisit this PDF to see if I can devise an easier approach.  The problem is, the concepts being addressed aren't "basic".  They are fundamental to the creation of user tool entries (invocations), but not basic.

Quote from: jonnotes –
...and I don't know anything about command line expressions.  Are they covered in any existing documentation?
Well, the command line expressions in the PDF relate specifically to the dialogue box used to create an entry in the user tool list (WHEW, that's a mouthful!).  Said command simply being the way the tool is to be caused to run.
There are basic requirements for the way the command line is constructed that are global for all user tools, and there are requirements that are specific for the particular user tool being invoked...
That is fundamentally what the PDF is about.

Thus, it is arguable that this PDF is (at least some of) the documentation you're looking for.  There is other stuff on the Scripto:  https://nwc-scriptorium.org
Specifically here: https://nwc-scriptorium.org/nwc2scripts.html
Check out the "Additional Information" link at the bottom of that page.

Now, let's see...

At the top of page 6 of the PDF is the following example:
php\php.exe scripts\adp_GlobalMod.php Note,Dur==4th,Pos==-5 Dur=8th,Dotted

This bit: php\php.exe scripts\adp_GlobalMod.php is what calls the actual GlobalMod code to be executed (runs the program if you prefer).  This kind of construct is global to all user tool invocations.
 
php\php.exe is the location and name of the interpreter to be used.  In this case it's the version of "php" that is supplied in the user tool installation kit.

scripts\adp_GlobalMod.php is the location and name of the php "program" (script file) to be executed by the interpreter.

On the other hand, this bit: Note,Dur==4th,Pos==-5 Dur=8th,Dotted is a list of instructions that are specific to GlobalMod.  The ability to pass these parameters to GlobalMod in the invocation is the reason the PDF was created.  THIS is the part that makes it possible to create different invocations of the same user tool that do different specific tasks and have NWC remember them between sessions.  The section, also on page 6, using the "Parts" user tool provides better examples of this functionality.

User tools are really, really useful things that make NWC much more powerful to use than it might otherwise be.  The ability to tailor the use of any tool you download (or create?) to your specific requirements just makes them even better.

I genuinely don't remember exactly where this information originally all came from.  I was part of the beta test team for the original NWC Version 2 development and much of that work was done through the old, now defunct, news group.  I don't know if the news group stuff has been preserved anywhere, though I believe someone had planned to do so.  I no longer have any of it.

There is no doubt some came from the news group, but there is the probability some is in this forum.  Certainly there is this:
https://forum.noteworthycomposer.com/?topic=5537.0

Again, I apologise for the length of this post.  I hope it has at least been of some help.
92
User Tools / Re: Very basic help with User Tools required, please
Quote from: jonnotes –
<snip>
Incidentally, does anyone know how to stop the user login timing out and destroying one's progress with (for instance) a reply such as this, or a new topic entry?
<snip>
As I recall, in the login dialogue there is a checkbox to "Stay logged in".

The reason I'm not certain of the exact wording is my machine is pretty much always on, browser open, and logged into NWC...  Even when I close the browser, provided I don't log out, the next time I open it I'm still logged in.  I suspect there are cookies involved...  Maybe I've crossed over to the dark side  :))  :))  :))
94
General Discussion / Re: New PC, new setting, old soundfonts, new doubts
Quote from: Aure –
<snip>
I'm now using a SoundBlaster Audigy RX, which supports soundfonts and has been working great for the last 10 years. I was wondering whether I should get a new one for my next PC. I've seen some cool looking new soundcards around, e.g. the SoundBlasterX AE-5 Plus.

I will definitely need 16 MIDI channels and the capability of using soundfonts, but I really don't know if any "recent" soundcard (or even the one integrated in each motherboard) supports them anymore.

Do you have any advice for me? Would I be able to use soundfonts on any device other than my beloved old Audigy RX?

Even more importantly... Will NWC2 be working smoothly on Windows 11?
Hey Aure,
I can't really give you any definite advice, BUT I remember when I was last doing a desktop upgrade I had a terrible time finding a Soundblaster that supported soundfonts at all.  It appears that you have one that does, and that is PCI Express compatible - wish I'd found it when I wanted it...  This is so I can say: RESEARCH the card you want, make sure it has soundfont support!

From memory, I'm pretty sure all Soundblasters that had soundfont support supported 2 banks of MIDI, and the standard for each MIDI bank is 16 channels*, so having 16 channels is no problem, and you will likely have access to 32 if you configure both banks.

While I'm not using Win11 myself, I believe the concensus of users here that do say NWC runs fine.

* 16 channels is a MIDI standard, not a Creative one.

Hope that all helps.
95
General Discussion / Re: Beaming with another note in the sopranostaff
Hi Frank,
OK, firstly I think you can pretty much make up your own rules as far as the Alto, Tenor and Bass staves are concerned.  You could even have them singing differently to the Soprano voice if you wanted.

However, the question I really have is:
How are you planning to use this song?
Do you intend to leave it as 4 separate staves, or will you layer the top 3 as previously stated?

Quote from: FrankSit –
Quote from: Lawrie Pardy –
Is there a reason you want to use 4 staves instead of 2?
The reason is so that I can play the piano sound of each staff for each voice. That is the way we learn a song.
So for the alto staff that is I assume the notes in order to have 4 beats in the measure.
But when I layer all the 3 staves, I want to look it like in the book.
Then I think it over again, how can I make the lyrics fit with the Alto, and Tennor, even with Bass.

If you're planning to layer, then forget about putting lyrics into the Alto, Tenor and Bass staves.  Not only do you not need them, they will screw up the layering.

If you've changed your mind and now intend to print unlayered, then it is completely your choice how you want to arrange it.

Personally, I don't think your source is an SATB, I think it's a piano score with the lyric line and melody included in the right hand with the chords, and a simple left hand with the root note of each chord in the bass.
96
General Discussion / Re: Beaming with another note in the sopranostaff
Hi Frank,
I'm not sure what you're asking...
I thought the only reason for the separate staves was for separate playback while rehearsing, and that the published score would be layered to appear like the original?
If that is actually the case, then you only need lyrics in the Soprano staff.  The note and lyric chase will still show even if the Soprano staff isn't being played back.
Also, as noted, the Alto and Tenor parts don't have the correct number of notes to allow for all the syllables to be correctly displayed separately.