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Topic: Computer kbd or MIDI "best" for notating? (Read 5891 times) previous topic - next topic

Computer kbd or MIDI "best" for notating?

Hi, all-

I want to put quite a lot of music into NWC. Over the years, I've gotten quite fast at using the computer keyboard to do this, but I keep wondering if it would be much better using a MIDI keyboard. I don't want the keyboard for anything else; I'm just looking for the best way to get notes into NWC. Chords are very slow using the computer keyboard - are they spectacularly faster using a MIDI keyboard? And (one last thing) does using a MIDI keyboard require lots of cleanup after initially entering the notes?

Thanks for the benefit of your collective experience!

Peter Payzant

Re: Computer kbd or MIDI "best" for notating?

Reply #1 –
While qwerty input is a major strength of NWC, MIDI keyboard input for chords is the only way to go.
To avoid lots of editing of 'live' input use Step Entry.
With the left hand select the required note duration on the computer kayboard while entering the chord with the right hand on the MIDI keyboard.
If your MIDI keyboard has pitch and modulation wheels the duration and dotted-note status can be cycled with these controls as an alternative to qwerty duration selection.

Re: Computer kbd or MIDI "best" for notating?

Reply #2 –
I agree that entering notes using a MIDI keyboard is much easier than using a PC keyboard. The only problem I have is switching from one to the other. Ideally, I use one hand (the right one) for the notes, and the other for everything else. But the keys required are too far apart to manage with one hand, and you can't reassign keys (hint, hint - I think I've already put it on the wish list).
My solution is to use a Microsoft Strategic Commander. This device is designed for playing strategy games, but I've found it ideal for NWC, as it has 26 (IIRC) assignable keys, which can handle everything I need from the PC keyboard except text entry, and it is designed to be used wholly with the left hand.

Robin

Re: Computer kbd or MIDI "best" for notating?

Reply #3 –
Hang on, I should have read the whole of the first reply before answering. You can use the pitch bend wheel for turning dots on and off? Time to RYFM, I think! Never heard of that one!

RObin

Re: Computer kbd or MIDI "best" for notating?

Reply #4 –
Check the reference to "Midi Input Active" in the NWC Help file.

Re: Computer kbd or MIDI "best" for notating?

Reply #6 –
What's RYFM?

Re: Computer kbd or MIDI "best" for notating?

Reply #7 –
A variation of Read Your Flippin' Manual.

Re: Computer kbd or MIDI "best" for notating?

Reply #8 –
: o 

Re: Computer kbd or MIDI "best" for notating?

Reply #9 –
Just goes to show - no matter how well you think you know a program, you can always find something new!

Re: Computer kbd or MIDI "best" for notating?

Reply #10 –
So, is there a common practice - if you're entering lots of music, do you prefer a MIDI keyboard over the qwerty one? Would you suggest that I go out and buy one, or are the advantages not worth the cost?

Re: Computer kbd or MIDI "best" for notating?

Reply #11 –
I find it much easier, but then again, I already had the keyboard. If you can find a cheap one, I would recommend it, even if you're as bad a player as me! Especially now I know about the pitch wheel (must check it out).

Robin

Re: Computer kbd or MIDI "best" for notating?

Reply #12 –
I have a MIDI keyboard, but no room for it near my computer, so it's not hooked up.  I find the qwerty keyboard is very quick anyway, and for chords (see Reply 1 by Barry Graham), I have (what someone at this forum referred to as) a toolbox staff with a root-position triad, a full-octave (four-note) root-position chord, a first-inversion triad, a full-octave first-inversion chord, a second-inversion triad, a full-octave second-inversion chord, and all inversions of seventh chords.  I even have them set up in three different ranges so I don't have to do a lot of dragging, and I have all of these chords with accidentals on the notes in all possible combinations.
It took about fifteen minutes to set all of this up, but now it's just cut & paste, baby, cut & paste!

Re: Computer kbd or MIDI "best" for notating?

Reply #13 –
But still easier, faster to midi keyboard them in than searching for the right voice-leading combination from a fixed set of predefined chords.
 

Re: Computer kbd or MIDI "best" for notating?

Reply #14 –
While I admit it is probably "faster to midi keyboard them in," it's not by much.  The "searching for the right voice-leading combination from a fixed set of predefined chords" isn't really searching.  I know right where everything is, and I can see all of the chords without having to scroll left, right, up, or down.  They are all right in my face.  And, as I mentioned, I have no room for a MIDI keyboard near my computer, so I have no other option.