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Messages - Barry Graham

52
Tips & Tricks / Re: MIDI Channel 10 - Change Instrument!
G'day Sesirine:
You said:
Quote
I now use Roland VSC, too,
but this topic was based on 'Microsoft Midi Mapper', or 'Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth'.
How 'bout Midi Yokes?

MIDI Mapper and MIDI Yoke are not sound devices they only provide a path to the sound output device.
That device is the synth that produces the sound.
Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth, SB Live and Roland Virtual sound Canvas (VSC) are three such synths which can reproduce the Roland GS Drum Kit variations by selecting different Patches on Channel 10.
You can see from the table in Rick's link that the SB Live documents other drum sounds available using a combination of Bank and Patch.
Milton points out the Yamaha synths handle Drum kit variations differently in XG mode.

Lawrie said:
Quote
Percussion selection is synth specific.
As Lawries says sound devices respond to Channel 10 Patch commands in different ways - some synths (particularly the early Soundblaster cards) will just ignore them and reproduce the "Standard" drum sounds for all patches.
So it depends on which synth MIDI Mapper or MIDI Yoke addresses whether or not the Drum Kits are selectable.
You would need to read the spec. for the synth to find out how it handles Bank and Patch changes on Channel 10.

Barry Graham
Melbourne, Australia
53
General Discussion / Re: read only
Carl:

Am I missing something?

Why not just change the file properties to "Read Only".
Browse to the file in Windows Explorer - right click - select Properties then Read Only.
If you change the file and attempt to save it you will get a warning.

In fact you can select a complete folder or multiple files with Shift or Ctrl and follow the same procedure to "batch" all selected files as "Read Only"

Barry Graham
Melbourne, Australia
54
General Discussion / Re: Request: Advanced player for choir members
Quote
Requests were posted going back six years in the two other privately-hosted forums.  And requests have been entered into the NWC "Wish List".  It has all been one-way requesting.  The points have all been made, and they are vital.  Absolutely nothing has come back on this subject.  Not a byte of updated Viewer code, and not a word of support.

Think you might be flogging a dead horse mate!
55
General Discussion / Re: Rehearsal letters?
Lawrie:


Perhaps also software that extracts the Reheasal Marks and Segnos et al. to each part instead of applying them to each staff.



56
General Discussion / Re: Feature request: marcato marking
The marcato character already exists in the NWC font at the character position of upper Case B.
So it seems it was planned but never implemented.

I have to agree with David.
In Jazz it would be rare to see a text marking in place of individual articulation marks.
57
General Discussion / Re: Tie Error?
Quote
The universe of music with more than 16 ties in a chord on one staff is not large.

A pianist with more than ten fingers is even rarer!
58
General Discussion / Re: Garritan Personal Orch - has anybody gotten it to work?

Find your soundfont folder.
From the Start Menu START then SEARCH and search for *.sf2  (all sf2 soundfonts).
NOTE the folder where the existing soundfonts are located.

I gave you the link to the soundfont.
Download Chaos 8Mb Soundfont
 http://tinyurl.com/2rq3rh/Chaos8.zip

Open the downloaded Zip file.
Extract the files to your soundfont folder (that you found in the Search above).
The soundfont file is CHAOS8M.SF2

Continue with the instructions I sent.

You must persevere.
My address is btgraham@tpg.com.au if you need further help.
I WILL get you through this.

Good luck

Barry Graham
59
General Discussion / Re: Loading a Soundfont - for Geoff
G'day Geoff,

This file gives some instructions on how to set up a a soundfont on your card.
It uses images for the X-Fi card but yours should be similar.
(You said that you get an image of a keyboard in the Soundfont Bank Manager so I'm guessing your setup is similar to the Audigy).

If you get confused my Email address is in the document.
Let me know if you need help.

http://tinyurl.com/2rq3rh/SOUNDFONT.doc

Barry Graham
Melbourne, Australia
60
General Discussion / Re: Garritan Personal Orch - has anybody gotten it to work?
Arrowsmith said:
Quote
  I don't even know what people are talking about with downloaded sound fonts.  I don't
know how to get them into noteworthy even if I could find them.  I was wondering if
my soundblaster card has some sounds I don't know about, but there are essentially no
instructions that came with the card, so if there are, I haven't found them.  It seems
that other people know a lot of stuff about this subject but I'm clueless.  It's not something
that comes to me easily at all.  I'd have as much luck trying to work on my own car.  My
Soundblaster card has sound that's scarcely better than an onboard sound card.

You didn't answer Lawrie when he asked what sort of Soundblaster card you have.
If we knew we might be able to help.
Many people complain about the sound from Creative Soundblaster cards because they have never bothered to use a soundfont other than the one that loads by default - and it's not that good.

1. If it is Awe32, Awe64, Live!, Audigy or X-Fi it will load soundfonts.
 They are NOT difficult to install.

2. The Yamaha Softsynth is a good solution if your card is not soundfont capable.
 If you are running XP the Yamaha SYXG program is about 15Mb - if the file you loaded is less than that it won't work on XP.

3. Does your Garritan Personal Orchestra come with the Kontact player?
 All you need to get it working with NWC is a virtual MIDI cable like MIDIYoke.
 I can use Garritan Jazz and Big Band samples with NWC and the Aria player so I guess it's not much different.
 The problem is that NWC is limited to specific controllers and cannot implement many of the features.

I can help with any of the above and I'm prepared to guide you through it.
But I need some positive response from you first.
Expensive hardware and huge RAM is only useful if you intend to use large sample libraries - 2 Gb should be ample.
If you stick with MIDI it will work on a very modest system and you can get great results.

Here is an example of a small soundfont on a Xi-Fi soundcard.
Not your sort of music I know - but it is mine.

http://tinyurl.com/2rq3rh/Fallout.mp3

Barry Graham
Melbourne, Australia
63
General Discussion / Re: Forte-piano dynamic variance
For Piano and other instruments that dont sustain a fp can be achieved with VELOCITY at f on the accented note/s.
Velocity is included in the Note On message.
The following Note On messages in an arpeggio could have a Velocity of p or could vary if a following crescendo or diminuendo are required.
For Piano, Guitar etc. the sound decays rather than sustains until the Note Off message is received.

For wind and strings fp is a loud attack at f dropping to p over a short period within the duration of a note.
Perhaps David's 16th duration - but if implemented the duration could be variable.
EXPRESSION is the best controller to achieve this on a sustained note.

Please don't use Velocity when refering to Dynamics on wind and bowed strings.
In MIDI Velocity is analagous to how hard a key or something is struck or a string is plucked.
In the days when all synths where keyboards it meant how fast the keys where depressed.

At the risk of repeating myself (again - deja vu)

VOLUME - Track volume for balance - use once at the head of a track.
EXPRESSION - Dynamics, swells and fades.
VELOCITY - Accents
Velocity may be used as dynamics on percussive instruments (includes Piano, Guitar, Plucked Bass but not Organ).
But my preference remains with Expression - the fp on these instruments is an attack Velocity on one note or a single chord.

My view - ignore at your leisure.
64
General Discussion / Re: USB MIDI Converter
I hate to state the obvious but no one has mentioned it in previous replies.
Under TOOLS is "MIDI Input Active" enabled (ticked)?
If it isn't click on the option to enable it.
Then place the cursor in a staff a play some notes from your MIDI keyboard.
These notes should appear immediately.
That will indicate that NWC is receiving input.
 
67
General Discussion / Re: crescendo/decrescendo on notes already playing
Which is why I always use Expression for all dynamics, swells and fades on held notes.
Leave Volume for balance between staves. (Track volume).
Use Velocity for accents.

The three operators together determine the output dynamic.
A non-linear product of Vol x Expr x Vel.
73
General Discussion / Re: And now for something a bit different...
Quote
BTW - I got the Cats gig
Great news - you are about to become a "pit viper".
Pity it's Andrew Lloyd Webber!!

Quote
Maybe you'll share it some day...
Here's the story....

Melbourne Moomba Festival 1973
We were booked to accompany a song and dance troupe on a riverboat on the Yarra River over 10 days during the festival.
The band consisted of Trumpet, Trom, Clarinet, Banjo, Tuba and Drums.
The rhythm section pre-recorded their parts so that the dancers could rehearse in advance so they only had to mime their parts in live performance while the front line had to play their parts live.
The show opened with a couple of vocal numbers and then the full troupe came on stage to perform an up-tempo dance version of "Old Man River".
At this point the show lighting was turned up and the on-board generator couldn't cope.
The lights dimmed and the tape recorder started to slow down dropping the pitch.
There was no way we could keep in tune.
The dancers to their credit continued to perform in what must have appeared to be a slow-motion version of the original dance until we all broke up.
From then on we abandoned the tape and played live.

On the following Saturday 5 members of the riverboat band were also booked in a big-band backing a twilight concert at the Myer Music Bowl about a half mile from the riverboat pickup point.
The concert was scheduled to finish a half hour before the riverboat left the dock so we thought we could make it on time.
Of course the concert ran overtime.
We packed our instruments and ran down to the boat staging only to see it disappearing down the river to where the show would start.
Luckily we were able to flag down a police launch and set off in chase.
The transfer of 5 out-of-breath musicians and their instruments midstream was a hairy experience I'll never forget..
The Tuba player breathed a sigh of relief - he was the only one of us to embark on the riverboat and was wondering how he was going to support the show playing solo.

--------------------
Barry Graham
Melbourne, Australia
75
General Discussion / Re: And now for something a bit different...
Aah - The roar of the greasepaint.
Goodonya Lawrie!

I've had only a few experiences in the pit.
The longest was 10 days and it started to lose it's flavour after 3 performances - I was glad when we got to the end.
Mind you it was on a riverboat on the Yarra accompanyinga dance show.
Some funny things happened - but that's another story.

76
General Discussion / Re: Chord sequences
Try minor and diminished chords.
Listen to this example Gm>Gdim in root position - is that the sound you seek?

Barry Graham
Melbourne, Australia
77
General Discussion / Re: On Creating a Jazz Score
A soundfont is a collection of compressed wave samples.
The concept was developed by Creative Labs for use on Creative soundcards (AWE32, 64, Audigy, X-Fi etc.).
If you have one of these cards installed you can use a soundfont.

If you dont have a Creative soundcard you can use Synthfont.
http://www.synthfont.com
This is a soundfont MIDI file player that uses the audio side of your soundcard for playback.
It can be connected to NWC using a virtual cable like MIDIOX.

You could also use a software synthesiser like the Yamaha SYXG50 to improve you sound.
But IMHO the Chaos 8Mb soundfont is untouchable for sax sounds.

-------------
Barry Graham
Melbourne, Australia
78
General Discussion / Re: On Creating a Jazz Score
I assume that the score is transposed with the key signatures matching the transposition of the instruments.
(The parts on the score look identical in key signature and pitch as they are on the individual written parts).

Enter each staff exactly as on the score (or parts) including the key signature.

In the Staff Properties Menu (F2) on the Instrument tab set the following playback Transposition (for playback) for each staff.

Alto -9 semitones
Tenor -14 semitones
Baritone - 21 semitones
Trumpet -2 semitones
Trombone (Bass clef) 0 semitones
Bass (and Guitar) -12 semitones (they sound an octave lower).

--------------
For good sounding reeds I use the Chaos 8Mb soundfont.
Example output here:-
http://tinyurl.com/2rq3rh/BrownsvilleExpress.mp3
--------------
Barry Graham
Melbourne, Australia
79
General Discussion / Re: using on another computer
NoteWorthy Support should answer this question.
But as a guide the following statement was included with version 1.70

REGISTERED VERSION
=======================================================
As a licensed user of NoteWorthy Composer, you are
entitled to install NoteWorthy Composer on one machine
and enjoy unrestricted use of its capabilities. You may
also install NoteWorthy Composer on a second machine
provided that it will never be in simultaneous use on
more than one machine.
Please protect your registration
codes, as these are intended to be used only by you.
81
General Discussion / Re: A question on writing a new itree file
MSB - Most Significant Byte
LSB - Least Significant Byte

Together they form a 14 bit number capable of addressing 16383 different banks!!

On Creative cards only the MSB is used.
The value is entered through Controller 0 (Bank Select coarse).

Other cards (such as Yamaha XG) also make use of Bank Select fine (Controller 32).
MSB selects Voice Type (Normal, SFX, Drums) and the LSB selects the voice Banks.

A Bank Select message has no effect until followed by a Program (Patch) Change message.

----------------
Barry Graham
Melbourne, Australia

82
General Discussion / Re: vibrato: how-to
John:

You don't say what sound device you are using.
If your card responds to Channel Aftertouch you may find that that controller will produce vibrato.
But NWC does not provide Channel Aftertouch as an option.
Rick has mentioned Modulation (controller 1) that is the most common method to produce vibrato.

If you use a Creative card some soundfonts have a built -in vibrato.
Here is a link to such a soundfont - the vibrato is subtle but it's there.
http://tinyurl.com/2rq3rh/Chaos8.zip

Barry Graham
Melbourne, Australia
83
General Discussion / Re: Entering Chord Names
Bil said:-

Quote
The use of I-VII chord designations is quite different from the use of A-G chord designations. I-VII designations are used in analysis, to determine what function a chord serves in the current key; A-G designations (and equivalent systems) are used in performance, to tell a performer what specific chord to play at a given point in a piece, without regard to the key.

My Hungarian pianist would disagree.
The I-VII system of chord naming allows him to play in ANY key from a one simple chord chart.
He has the advantage of knowing what the I-VII chords are in every key.
84
General Discussion / Re: Entering Chord Names
Lawrie:

You chord utility users have specific needs.
I would suggest separate utilities for the various users.
I would never use the H version or the sol-fa version and would only have occasional use for the Roman numeral version.
(Only because I know a pianist from Europe who prefers that method).
Trying to make sense of the keystroke patterns that would be necessary to make one utility for all systems defeats the purpose - it's too complex.

Probably means extra work for you to produce several versions but that way you dont compromise what you already have.

-----
Barry

86
General Discussion / Re: Sound Frequencies in scales
Synthfont (Soundfont Player) allows you to adjust the scale.
(Several inbuilt)
If you run XP you could use Synthfont VST, VST Host and MIDIOX to output NWC through Synthfont VST.
http://www.synthfont.com/

Also do a search for posts by Ertugrel Inanc - he write microtonal - and may have a suggestion.

90
General Discussion / Re: Installing soundfonts
You can still check out soundfonts on your card if you use the method proscribed by Lawrie.
http://nwc-scriptorium.org/helpful.html#Explanations
"VST for Dummies Like Me"

For convenience all the files you need are here.

Download and install MIDI Yoke.
http://tinyurl.com/2rq3rh/MidiYokeSetup.msi
REBOOT - you will now have 8 new MIDI IN and MIDI Out ports.

Download and install VST Host
http://tinyurl.com/2rq3rh/vsthost.zip

Download and copy VSTSynthfont.dll into your VST Plugins folder.
http://tinyurl.com/2rq3rh/VSTSynthFont.dll

Follow the instructions in Lawrie's excellent "VST for Dummies pdf".

As a bonus here is a soundfont to try - for Timpani you can find better ones at Hammersound (link below).
http://tinyurl.com/2rq3rh/Chaos8.zip

Hammersound
http://www.hammersound.net/cgi-bin/soundlink.pl

And finally - I suggest you chain a Reverb Effect after Synthfont in VST Host.
This be greatly improve the quality of playback.
Classic Reverb
http://tinyurl.com/2rq3rh/Classic Reverb.dll
Copy to your VST Plugins folder.

When this is first loaded into VST Host it might start feedback.
Quickly mute it - (the speaker icon lower-right in the Classic Reverb gadget).
After it has been chained after Synthfont it can be unmuted.
Right-click the Classic Reverb gadget ans select Window>Edit to reveal the controls.
You can load an ambience - Right-click Classic Reverb and Load Program 0-15.

A short tutorial on using Classic Reverb with VST Host here:-
http://tinyurl.com/2rq3rh/Classic.pdf


--------------
Barry Graham
Melbourne, Australia





91
General Discussion / Re: Recommendations needed for MIDI keyboard
A MIDI Controller is usually a simple keyboard with no onboard sound.
It is simply a tool to pass keyboard presses to a computer or sound device.
I use a very inexpensive one.
It is a MIDIMAN 49 Key 3/4 size keyboard with octave shift.
It connects to my computer using an M-AUDIO Midisport USB adapter (1 IN port and 1 OUT port).
Previously (using Win 98) I had the controller connected through the joystick port on the soundcard.
(It's over 10 years old).
It is only 600mm x 150mm x 40mm (or 2' x 6" x 1-1/2" in ye olde Christian measurements) and fits comfortably under my monitor on the desk.

It works fine for me under XP.

I also have an inexpensive (about $80US) 5 octave MIDI Keyboard with full size keys.
It has a full range GM (General MIDI) patches built in and onboard sound.
It can also be used as a MIDI Controller using the same USB or Joystick adapters.
It is really an electronic piano/synthesizer but it can be used for what you require.

Check around - there are inexpensive solutions.
Just make sure that it is GM compatible and can send messages on all channels.
If it has onboard sound make sure the patches agree with the scheme in GM.
Any USB interface should be Vista compatible.
(Doesn't bother me - I wouldn't touch Vista with a barge pole).
---------------
Barry Graham
Melbourne, Australia



92
General Discussion / Re: Help with patch problems For NWC V1.75
Attached is a simple NWC file (1.75c).
It uses the transposition technique described by Lawrie.
Examine the Staff Properties for each staff.
Each staff transposition move the playback sound to it's correct position in the General MIDI Standard.
93
General Discussion / Re: real sounds
What soundcard do you have installed now?

Beware - Some Creative products won't use soundfonts.
Their Extreme Audio card does NOT support soundfonts.
The low end of the range Extreme Gamer DOES!
Check out the spec http://tinyurl.com/35488y

If your main interest is MIDI and NWC playback I can recommend the Creative X-Fi Extreme Gamer loaded with a good soundfont.
Creating a good sounding MIDI file takes more effort than just entering notes in a score.
If you can get a copy of "Handbook of MIDI Sequencing" by Dave Clackett; PC Publishing - you can learn a lot from that.
Here is sample mp3 file recorded direct from the output from the Creative X-Fi Extreme Gamer soundcard using the Chaos 8Mb soundfont.
http://tinyurl.com/2rq3rh/SolidBlue.mp3
(May not be your type of music)!!
If you want to discuss MIDI file creation send me an Email or reply here.

Barry Graham
Melbourne, Australia
96
General Discussion / Re: Glissando on a Trombone
Kristopher:-

The Pitch Bend Range can be extended in MIDI using RPN Controller 100 and Data Controller 6.
I don't think that these Controllers are available in the list of Multi-point controllers in NoteWorthy.

But if you have a sequencer you can add the controllers in the Event List.

On the Channel where you want to increase the Pitch Bend range.
Enter CC100 with a value of 0 (zero)
Followed by CC6 with a value of 12 (semitones) to give a total range of -12 to +12 semitones.

Using the Pitch Wheel:-
The range is - 8192 to +8192 so each semitone represents 683 (approx) Pitch Wheel steps when the range is +-12 semitones..
A fifth (7 semitones) is approx. 4780 Pitch Wheel units.
(Enter a Pitch Wheel sweep up or down of 4780 units).

To turn off the extended range:
Enter CC100 with a value of 0.
Followed by CC6 with a value of 127 (or simply 2 to return to normal).

Barry Graham
Melbourne, Australia
97
General Discussion / Re: Realistic Sounds and Embouchure
The quality of the sounds has nothing to do with NoteWorthy Composer.
The software just process the messages and sends them to your sound device.

There are some ways to improve the sound:

1. Install a Soft Synth.
A software synthesizer with built in samples such as Yamaha's SyXG range which will supply better sound via the audio on your sound device.

2. Use soundfonts
If your soundcard supports soundfonts (mostly Creative soundcards) you can install soundfonts which are portable samples.

3. Use a good quality external keyboard.
Direct the sound output via a MIDI or USB cable to a keyboard with built-in quality sounds (Roland, Korg etc.).

4. Use an external synth module.
Direct the sound output via a MIDI or USB cable to an external synth module like the Ketron SD2.

5. Use a sample library with a VST player.
The sound output is processed internally by routing the MIDI messages through a software player such as Kontakt 2 accessing a sample library like Garritan Personal Orchestra or Jazz & Big Band samples.

The last should give the best result.
For example the JABB library contains an array of brass instrument mute samples (Cup, Straight, Harmon etc) and various articulations (legato, staccato etc.) as well as additional instruments not found in the General MIDI set.

What soundcard do you have in your computer???
If your soundcard supports soundfonts I can send you the Chaos soundfont.
It won't give you the mutes and articulations mentioned above but it will definitely improve your sound.

Here is an example of the 8Mb Chaos soundfont used with the Creative X-Fi Extreme Gamer soundcard.
Soundcard output recorded as an mp3 file.
http://tinyurl.com/2rq3rh/TheSwinger.mp3
(2.9 Mb download).

---------------
Barry Graham
Melbourne, Australia
99
General Discussion / Re: Real Music Composition Software
George Gershwin was an expert at developing themes and motifs, not only within a single piece but across his entire range of works.
Yet Gershwin studied for 5 years under the guidance of Joseph Schillinger, the author of "The Schillinger System of Musical Composition", a method of musical composition based on mathematical principles, similar in scope to the composition system suggested by the original poster.
Of course Gershwin worked it all out on paper or at the keyboard, but do you think that he wouldn't have used a computer if one would have been available?
I'm no Gershwin - I don't have the inate ability to reject or accept mathematically generated variations on a basic theme - that's what made him a genius - but composition software and mathematical techniques are just another way of developing ideas.
Don't reject them out of hand.
Bill's right - It is a technique not an end in itself.
Schillinger himself wrote:
    "My system does not circumscribe the composer's freedom, but merely points out the methodological way to arrive at a decision. Any decision, which results in a harmonic relation, is fully acceptable. We are opposed only to vagueness and haphazard speculation."

Attached a piece developed by computer based Schillinger's principles for expanding on a theme. (Repost).