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Topic: More than triplets (Read 2807 times) previous topic - next topic

More than triplets

How can I insert group notes with more then 3 notes (more than triplets)?

Re: More than triplets

Reply #1 –
Strictly speaking, you can't. Noteworthy does not support odd subdivisions other than triplets (not that I and many others haven't asked). However, in some circumstances there are effective ways to simulate them. These circumstances are either (1) you don't care how the music looks, only how it sounds, or (2) the music doesn't mix different subdivisions of the beat simultaneously (e.g., there aren't quintuplet eighths in one voice against regular eighths or sixteenths in another).

First of all, if you care how the music looks, it's a necessity to be using the Beta Test version of NWC 1.70, since its feature set is much richer than that of 1.55. If you don't already have 1.70, go to www.ntworthy.com/nwcpreview and download it. You won't be disappointed.

Given the features of 1.70, the easiest way to simulate odd subdivisions visually is to change the tempo and time signature to accommodate the extra notes and then make the changes invisible (almost any object can be rendered invisible in 1.70). To take an example, one piece I'm writing has 32nd-note quintuplets that take up the first 1/4 of a 2/4 measure at the tempo (quarter = 138). At the beginning of the measure I change the time signature to 17/32 (2/4 = 16/32, plus 1/32 for the extra 32nd note in the quintuplet), and increase the tempo to (quarter = 173), which causes 5 32nd notes to play in the time of 4 at (quarter = 138). Immediately after the quintuplet I change the tempo back to 138, and at the end of the measure I change the time signature back to 2/4. 1.70 lets me make the time signature and tempo changes all invisible. Finally I beam together the 32nd notes and insert a slur and a text "5" over them to simulate a quintuplet marking. (1.70 also lets you control the direction of slurs and ties.)

In my case all the other voices have rests while the quintuplet is playing, and it's a simple matter to insert an invisible 32nd rest to fill out these measures, although in fact that's not necessary because the rests last through the full measure and a whole rest fills a 17/32 measure as easily as a 2/4 measure. If there were 8th notes sounding simultaneously with the quintuplet, I would insert a hidden 32nd rest after each 8th and either rely on its shortness to keep listeners from noticing it, or mute the visible staves and supply hidden staves where the 8th notes are actually extended by being tied to 32nds.

However, the mechanism outlined above wouldn't work if the quintuplet 32nds were to be played simultaneously with 4 regular 32nds or 2 regular 16ths. But if you really don't care how the music looks, you can still achieve a reasonable effect by finding a tempo that will allow you to notate both groupings correctly. For example, to notate 5 quarters against 4 you could notate your quintuplet as a series of quarters (5 * 4/16 = 20/16) and your quadruplet as a series of quarters tied to 16ths (4 * 5/16 = 20/16), then increase the tempo by 25 percent to account for the extra quarter note in each voice (20 16ths in the place of 16). Needless to say, this would end up looking a little funky, but it would sound just fine. (In fact, if NWC could allow you to hide a tie to a hidden note, it might not even look too bad.)

Re: More than triplets

Reply #2 –
Wow, Grant, you should really submit this as a user tip, or as an addition to the FAQ!
 

Re: More than triplets

Reply #4 –
Blair. NewFeatures.nwc ia a very nice, clear, and concise example of how to adjusts for n-tuplets, rests within barred notes, as well as uses of the Boxmarks fonts.

Until NoteWorthy Composer can handle these things (wishful thinking hint, hint), everyone should download this example and refer all future inqiries to this message thread.