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Messages - Barry Graham

103
General Discussion / Re: Connecting Technics SX-PR40 digital piano to Laptop
Quote
So far I've not been able to split the left and right hands

In TOOLS>OPTIONS select the Record Tab.
In the lower box select:-
After recording import staff into "Buffer Only".

When recording complete select STAFF>IMPORT RECORDING.
This will open the MIDI Import dialogue.
At Step 3 select the first Track and Edit.
Select the range C5 through G10 for the Treble Staff then OK.
(Returns to Step 3)
Add a Track and select it then Edit.
Select the Range C0 through B4 for the Bass Clef.
Finish.

All notes from middle C and above will go on to the Treble Staff.
Lower notes to the Bass Staff.

Select the Treble Staff and in STAFF>PROPERTIES>VISUAL choose STYLE: Upper Grand Staff.
Repeat for the Bass Staff choosing STYLE: Lower Grand Staff.
Add Key and Time Signatures as required.

104
General Discussion / Re: strange sound card behavior
Quote
Now try the same tune with more flutes in unison.
It's actually quieter for some reason.

That's called "flanging".
The computer generated sounds are identical and the frequencies tend to cancel out.
In a sequencer you can get around this by detuning the voices and sliding them a few ticks apart.

As a general rule don't write unisons for identical voices.
If you must - follow the steps above or spread them wide across the pan.
106
General Discussion / Re: Heart Of Oak
Quote
But there are those absolute beauties in Midi that refuse to be imported in a reasonable way into Noteworthy.

Read as:
Which Noteworthy refuses to import!
107
General Discussion / Re: Heart Of Oak
Rob said:-
Quote
because Midi does not support everything that Noteworthy can do.
So if you have a Noteworthy file, export it to Midi, and then import it again, it will look different. It may even sound a bit different because of breathmarks (which are not exported to Midi) and triplets (which are an approximation in Midi).

Cough! Cough!
109
General Discussion / Re: Silly notation
Hi Kevin:
Personally I prefer the "Silly" notation.
It's simpler, easier to read and the intention is understood.
Used quite often in commercial charts.
The intro to the "Odd Couple" comes to mind.
110
General Discussion / Re: Silly notation
Just a note on the chords.

All the chords on the piano part with M in them are minor 7th type chords (except those that are M9(maj7) which are minor type chords.
The Jazz Font version of the chord font uses a smaller upper case M to represent "m".
You can't compare with a real upper case M because there aren't any major type chords.
(personally I prefer Gmin9 to Gm9 when using the Jazz Font to avoid ambiguity).

The #9 on the dom 7th chords doesn't upset me.
I guess it's a matter of taste - I prefer C7(#9b5) to C7+9-5 combinations.
I am used to seeing chords written this way - maybe it's a just a thing with the local arrangers
I've copied for over the years.

I agree about the piano part but it would be better if the cued Clarinet solo was written as cues on an ossia staff.

If I had known you were actually going to use the drum part I would have spent some time on it.
It may have looked better at a slightly reduced percentage size so that the staves could be spaced a bit better. Perhaps some more of the repeat measures could be packed into a line.
If you have any suggestions about the layout (measures per line, systems per page etc.) or anything you would like changed (such as the pick up measure when you sort out what it really should be) - let me know.
111
General Discussion / Clean Forum
I have just discovered that I can suppress Avatars and Signatures from posts on the forum.
What a relief - nice clean look - no ugly, space chewing graphics and images.
112
General Discussion / Re: Can't Seem to Record
Hi PianoDad:

Here are a couple of things to check:-
Start a New Score - Piano staff will do.
Select the staff then play some notes with your keyboard.
Do you hear anything?
Do notes appear on the staff?
If you are connected you should see notes at least.

Select the TOOLS menu item and set Midi Input Active.
Try the keyboard again.

Select TOOLS menu item then OPTIONS (at the bottom of the list).
Click on the RECORD Tab.
Select your Input Device (mine is SB16 MIDI In your should be your USB MIDI In device).
Below this enable Echo MIDI Input and select your playback device.
Select New Window or another option for the location of the recorded data.

Click on the IMPORT Tab.
Select the Resolution, Notation and Channel options required.

Test simple keyboard note entry again if that wont work Record wont work either.
If none of this works.
Close NWC and restart.
If still no luck try Uninstalling your USB device driver.
Reboot.
Install the USB driver again.

Hope it works!!

Barry Graham
Melbourne, Australia




113
General Discussion / Re: Silly notation
Hi David,

I took a look at the drum part - ((((shudder))))
Here's what I think it should be.
(Others may disagree).

[link removed :- If you really want to see this part - Email me].

A few assumptions:-
Ride cymbal at first then changing to Hi Hat then back to Ride.
The triplets are Tom figures.
I've left out the long ties on the snare - just shown a short tie to imply timing.
(These surely aren't rolls - the cymbal pattern couldn't be played over a roll).
I've placed the Foot Hi Hat in the G space with the normal Closed and Open Hi Hat and let the drummer decide what it means.
In 50+ years reading commercial scores I have NEVER seen Foot Hi Hat written down with the Bass Drum.

There are some odd chord spellings in the piano part:-
Measure 45 - B9b5 for Faug7/B ???
Measure 48 - Gm11 (over D if you like) for D7#5#9 ??

Hope you can sort out the score !!!

Regards for the New Year

Barry
114
General Discussion / Re: Converting WMA/WAV/MP3 to NWC/MIDI
The software suggested by David can work with wav, wma, ogg, flac, mp3 and mp4 files not merely wav.
It will also work using a CD as direct input - slowing down, pitch shifting, looping as required in real time.
115
General Discussion / Re: What is the default dynamic?
Milton said:
Quote
Does changing the Volume in Staff Properties keep the proportional changes in loudness in dynamic levels and changes if Velocity is used to produce those vs. using Expression?  Also, using Velocity for dynamic variances still has the problem of not changing the loudness on long held notes.

Yes - The output dynamic depends on all 3 - (roughly) Volume x Expression x Velocity.
If you use Volume for Track Balance use Expression for swells and fades on held notes and Velocity for accents.
You can use Velocity for dynamics with percussive and plucked instruments and on short note values but Expression is a better option.
116
General Discussion / Re: Tunings other than Equal Temperament
Kevin said:

Quote
Will this make it portable (meaning can I play it on any of the computers at school [that we can't make changes to])?

No but you can save to an mp3 file (selectable bitrate) in Synthfont and save the file(s) to CD.
117
General Discussion / Re: Tunings other than Equal Temperament
Kevin:

What soundcard do you use?
It is sometimes possible to adjust the pitch of each of the 12 tones.
Here is a list of cards capable of microtuning.
http://www.microtonal-synthesis.com/micro_af.html

You might also find this page useful:-
http://www.xs4all.nl/~huygensf/scala/
I haven't tried the software so I dont know if it works with NWC playback.
On the page there are links to information on various tunings.

Synthfont also provides the option to retune each of the 12 tones.
Click on the Options button near the playback buttons.
Many microtonal scale variations preset.
(This is probably the easiest method).

Barry Graham
Melbourne, Australia
118
General Discussion / Re: Change frequency of note throughout score
Ertuğrul İnanç would be the man to ask - he writes with microtonal music.
The other option is to use Synthfont (with a good soundfont).
Under Setup and Options (Synth Engine Tab) there are tuners for the 12 equal temperament notes.
A deviation in cents can be added or subtracted from each tone.
120
General Discussion / Re: MP3 to Midi converter software
Back to the original topic.

There are reviews of many mp3 to MIDI converters on the alt.music.midi newsgroup FAQ here:-
http://home.sc.rr.com/cosmogony/ammfaq.html

One program worth a look is Score Extractor
http://www.scoreextractor.com
It analyses a wave file and displays the prominent notes in a display.
The user can then select the notes to be included in the output MIDI file.
The MIDI file sounds reasonable but timing is a problem.
Probably only useful for finding the occasional chord.

If you have a reasonable ear try Amazing Slowdowner by Roni Music.
http://www.ronimusic.com
This software can vary the speed of a wave, mp3 or CD track in real time and/or adjust the pitch.
It can be set to loop continuously within selected start and end points to allow the user to transcribe the looped section.
IMHO this is the only way to convert audio to MIDI but it depends on your ability to transcribe.
123
General Discussion / Re: swinging notes
I have no doubt you believe it is easy to use.
But NWC is NOT the best sequencer around (as claimed in the post I answered).
Eric wouldn't even claim that!

I stand by my claims:-
If you wish to produce notation use a notator.
If you wish to produce MIDI sequences use a sequencer.

124
General Discussion / Re: swinging notes
What are "abrupt square dynamics"?

NoteWorthy Composer is not the best "sequencer" around.

Can NWC do the following:-
Allow editing of individual note velocity (even within chords)?
Allow individual notes and/or tracks to "slide" in time.
Allow alteration of durations to non-standard note lengths.
Allow ticks-per-quarter resolution greater than 192.

You've heard what I can do with a "sequencer" - let's here your NWC contribution to the swing debate.
It will have to be a MIDI file so I can study it6 in an Event List.

126
General Discussion / Re: swinging notes
Quote
The need for hidden tracks to get the sound right is due more to deficiencies in MIDI than it is to deficiencies in NWC.

There I have to differ with you. MIDI is very flexible.
Noteworthy Composer rigidly accepts notes on specific boundaries and durations (except where articulations affect note length). My notator of choice allows me to display the notation as I wish while altering the underlying MIDI structure to allow variations in the playback quality. It also allows the manipulation of individual attack velocities, start times and note duration without affecting the appearance of the score.
I can (and do) write straight eighths that swing or sixteenths of constant duration on several staves while the rhythm plays in swing simultaneously.

Noteworthy Composer is excellent for QWERTY keyboard entry but I found the restrictions in MIDI editing and the notation, particularly the rigidity of the measures per line, lines per page governed by staff size control, too limiting for my use.
As for sequencing - the best way to get a good result is with a **sequencer** that uses an editable Event List or Piano Roll.
Here is an example - MIDI file exported from a notator and enhanced in Cakewalk 3.
Sequenced with the Chaos 8Mb soundfont on an AWE32 then recorded as an mp3.
(Old software and hardware - c1993)

http://tinyurl.com/2rq3rh/SolidBlue.mp3
Tempo 225 bpm - Swing quantized at 62%

Barry Graham
Melbourne, Australia
127
General Discussion / Re: swinging notes
What you guys need is a SEQUENCER.
That way you can have several tracks playing straight sixteenths while all else swings.
(or a notator that can swing quantise).
128
General Discussion / Re: Converting from Piano to Guitar
If you are desperate send me the hymns as MIDI files (dont include repeated sections - just chorus, verse).
And I will send back the chords and bass line as PDF files.
(You will find my Email address in the members list).

You could also do it yourself for chords using GNMidi (Google that).

Barry Graham
Melbourne, Australia
130
User Tools / Re: Inversion?
On the Scritporium http://nwc-scriptorium.org/helpful.html
The is a utility of mine MIDIExp which can Invert, mirror and pitch expand around a given note.
It's a DOS program for QBasic but there is an exe file converted by the Late Fred Nachbaur that will run stand alone (with BRUN45 support).
It require a MIDI file exported from NWC as the inout file for conversion.
Because it's DOS the file name cannot exceed 8 characters.
133
General Discussion / Re: Help needed!
I'm sorry that some posters to this forum don't reach your standard of intellect and education.
But I am pleased that most members exceed your standards of tolerance and compassion and are willing to help rather than criticize.
136
General Discussion / Re: printing
In response to the original post:

If your printer has the option "Duplex" or "Booklet" this should be possible.
Check the Page Layout section of your printer properties.
The printout should pause between the odds and evens allowing you to turn the stack.
137
General Discussion / Re: Transposing Horn in F to Alto Saxophone
Someone said:

Quote
apply transposition; for Eb instruments -3

Then David said:

Quote
Starting from a concert pitch G in the key of G major, this gives you a transposed E in E major.  You should get a D and be in D major.

?!?!?!?
138
General Discussion / Re: Percussion Sounds
The GS Drum sounds from Low C down are:-

C Kick Drum 1
B Kick Drum 2
Bb Metronome Bell
A Metronome Click
Ab Square Click
G Sticks
Gb Scratch Pull
F Scratch Push
E Slap
Eb High Q
140
General Discussion / Re: Midi Channels
Drums should be left in the centre of the pan.
They are a stereo instrument.
Move them out of the centre and you lose the stereo effect.
141
General Discussion / Re: Midi Channels
Quote
Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth. Does that help?

If you want to use more than 16 channels you will need a soundcard that supports more than two ports.
The Creative Live and Audigy can do that - they have two wavetable synths A and B into which you can load soundfonts and address 16 channels on each synth.
143
General Discussion / Re: Midi Channels
If the strings play in unison you will hear "flanging" a clash of frequencies when they play the same note.
Changing channels won't help.
Better to have only one instrument on one channel play the unison line and add some Chorus to the voice using controller 93. Or use the "Sting Section" patch.
144
General Discussion / Re: Too many staves
I should have also mentioned :-

Having two channels playing the same pitch with the same patch will not sound good anyhow - there is always a "flanging" effect - frequency interference that distorts the sound.
If you must have the sound of the same instrument at the same pitch write one only and add some chorus (controller 93) to the unison section - it will give a much cleaner result.
145
General Discussion / Re: Too many staves
The simplest answer is to replace your AWE64 with a later model Creative card such as the Live! (an OEM version should be very cheap now).

Later cards such as the Live have TWO soundfont synths (A and B) which each provide 16 channels.

You only have two ports available for playback on the AWE64.
The AWE 64 MIDI Synth (soundfont wavetable)
The Creative Music Synth (FM synthesis)
As pointed out in an ealier post you can use these two as MIDI ports and produce 16 channels of output on each port if you are prepared to sacrifice quality on the channels directed to the Creative Music Synth.

Your problem is the end user - if they only have an old soundblaster then they will only hear 16 channels.
The only answer there is to create mp3 files from the output.
It's a common problem with MIDI - what you hear when you create the file will not be heard by anyone else using a different soundcard or softsynth - recording to mp3 is the only way to preserve your quality.
146
General Discussion / Re: Multi Measure Rests
Just a note about the "break" in the Multi-measure symbol in Boxmarks.

The font was built this way because that is how I use it.
However it was designed so that a unbroken symbol could be created simply by leaving out the number text.
The gap in the middle should be covered exactly by the measure rest.
The number can then be added above the symbol as text.

That was a long, long time ago and NWC still doesn't include multi-measure rests; an essential item in any notation software.
147
General Discussion / Re: rhythm section soli
Freddie Green - "the Basie powerhouse".
One of the great guitarists of the swing era.
His style could be described as "minimalist" defining the chord with three, two and sometimes only one note.
To learn more about his style go here http://www.freddiegreen.org/technique/allen_dcmn.html

Basie piano was similar - right-hand clusters that defined the chord - three notes like Eb, D , Bb near the bottom of the Treble staff define a C9.
149
General Discussion / Re: Converting WAV to NWC
The best way to convert a WAV file to a score is with your ears.

A great aid to transcription is "Amazing Slowdowner" from Roni Music www.ronimusic.com.
It can use a wave, mp3, WMA file or directly from a track on CD in realtime.
The software can change pitch, slow down and loop sections for aural transcription.
It even has an equaliser to isolate high and low voices.

Another useful tool is:-
Score Extractor www.scoreextractor.com
Limited to short sections of a wave file it produces a bitmap of the frequencies.
The user can then mark the obvious notes in the score with an on-screen pencil then convert the notes to a MIDI file. It is only helpful with harmonies not rhythm.
It is most useful in extracting the occasional complex chord.
There is an early version on the site that is free.
150
General Discussion / Re: french horn instrument patch
David:

You will get better results if you sample at about every 4th in the range.
Then adjust the splits in your soundfont editor.
Some instruments (baritone sax, clarinet - for example) have a diffferent sound as you pass through the octave break.
In my Chaos sf the trombone has 1 sample covering the MIDI note range 0-54.
Then the sample splits are:-
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-