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Topic: Suggestions for the next version of NWC (Read 4507 times) previous topic - next topic

Suggestions for the next version of NWC

Hello again,

I just wanted to compliment the staff at Noteworthy for the design of an EXCELLENT notation program. I'm sure Finale and Sibelius do some pretty incredible things, but NWC is perfect for what I want to do, and is well within my budget.

I had a few ideas for what could make NWC an even more incredible program that would rival some of the earlier notation programs put out by Passport (now G-Vox):

1. Graphical insertion of slurs that allowed the ability to change the shape of the arc. Also, the slurs are a little too calligraphic, which is a distinguishing feature of ties.

2. The numbers in the notation font are the wrong font (see the time signature). This isn't really important, but I thought I'd mention it. See the font "Notes Normal.ttf" available somewhere on the net for the standard number font that I have seen in print. It's a bold font that's hard to describe.

3. I love the fact that NWC is so customizable because it is entirely font based! However, even though I like using the hairpin font supplied on the scriptorium, I think hairpins should be integrated into the actual NWC program.

4. Any way to make the note sound as you enter it on the staff? This would be very helpful. Of course, there is something good to be said for silence if you are composing or copying quickly, so maybe this feature could be toggled on or off with a button like the persistent note tools?

The ability to write as many doggone notes in a measure as you want without the computer beeping at you (as it did in Passport Rhapsody) is an awesome feature. It allows you to do whatever you want. If the above four items could be implemented, I would be ecstatic. This is an incredible notation program. I love using it in conjunction with Cakewalk Pro Audio 9 for the awesome audio and print experience. Thanks, guys. I look forward to more updates in the future.

Re: Suggestions for the next version of NWC

Reply #1 –
My own user remarks:

(1) My understanding of the NWC program lead me to believe that graphical slur positioning would require a very major revision of the program. It would not be impossible to have a "slur" font with numerous choices that could be inserted (by the user, or by program logic) as "text." However, since the NWC editor is not WYSIWYG, there could be difficulty in aligning the slurs with the corresponding notes. Meanwhile, be aware that a placeable WMF, or in some cases a PDF printout, may be openable for graphical editing in drawing programs such as Adobe Illustrator.

(2) I believe you are correct about the font used for the time signature. NWC seems to have lifted its numerals from one of the GNU public-domain fonts. A different choice of font-face would have been more standard.

(3) I suppose it would be possible for NWC to have a hairpin font, used as "text," with program logic selecting the correct size. But see my remark about WYSIWYG.

(4) I don't know anything about sounding notes when typed, so no comment there.

Re: Suggestions for the next version of NWC

Reply #2 –
Hi. Thanks for your remarks. Just a thought...maybe the program's entire back-end structure would not have to be revised to incorporate better slurs? Apply the same logic to the slur that is applied to the beaming of notes. First, if I were writing the program I would make the slur "thinner" than the tie, or just a solid one or two-pixel line all together. Then I would make it so that the end points started just above the starting and ending note heads. Just like the beams ascend or descend and connect notes at the end of their stems, the slurs would arch up or down and connect notes above or below thier note heads. Slurs could also be a separate entity (with the gray diamond in front of them, like the fermata) so that they could be positioned like any other element in the program.

A couple other things I've noticed are that there are no "hold" lines (underscores) for lyrics. These lines indicate that a note should be held. Also, one thing I would like to be able to do is get the first ending mark to span over a few measures. However, as I said before, this program is very usable and excellent the way it is. One of these features I mentioned just might be $500 feature on all the other notation programs available. Why in the world are these other programs priced so high?

Re: Suggestions for the next version of NWC

Reply #3 –
As an exercise, I tried manipulating NWC slurs in a drawing program. That allowed me to make any change I wanted to do, since slurs are "drawing objects" (not font objects).

The difference between NWC using its logic to tilt beams, versus slurs, is that more than just the endpoint positions would have to be altered on a slur. The curvature vectors would have to be altered -- a more difficult logic problem. Merely moving the endpoints, without adjusting the vectors, produces a very funny-looking slur.

It would indeed be nice if NWC had automatically-generated lines to show an extended lyric syllable. meanwhile, the problem can be solved by either (1) Entering underscores as "text" on the same line as the lyrics, or (2) Using N-dashes or M-dashes (see your character map) in the lyric editor.

Yes, it would be nice if NWC extended the first ending bracket over several measures. Perhaps this can be solved using the same strategy as for extended lyric lines.

As to why brand X costs so much, who knows?

[Comment to regular forum readers: I will have very reduced access to the Internet for awhile. So if I do not reply when expected, that is why.]

Re: Suggestions for the next version of NWC

Reply #4 –
Thanks for speaking up about the time signiture font. I have been meaning to mention that, but it was such a tiny problem, I just let it slip. As for an explanation of it, I would say an old-style font something like the handwritting in the Declaration of Independence, but with bold on. As far as the slurs go, I think that just allowing the user to control the amount of spaces above the note would be an inprovement. It could be some menu like the one for lyrics that controls how far below (or above) the staff they are placed. Certainly this would not be a major revision of the program. As for the endings, if they are going to revise them, then I would like to have the ability to close the box off at the ending measure. As for sounding notes when typed, I think that would boost the price considerably because for this program, I would be like changing Word into a program for the blind that says every letter typed.

Re: Suggestions for the next version of NWC

Reply #5 –
Hi again! Thank you for following this thread. I realize now that I should have posted a few of these requests in the suggestion box. I might get around to doing that someday. For now, I would like to direct you to the Noteworthy Scriptorium. I emailed a font revision to the web master and he has placed it on the site. This revision of the original NWC font replaces the time signature number font with the correct one. As far as I know, this change does not affect any other numbers in the program. I tested it before I uploaded it. The link is here:

NWC Scriptorium

Click on Helpful Files, and then go to Fonts. The revised font should be somwhere towards the middle. You have to hand it to Andrew for hosting that awesome web site. The thing that makes Notewrothy Composer so great is that you can make the printed sheet music as complex or as simple as you want. Complexity can be added through musical glyphs in the different fonts that people submit. The scriptorium even has a jazz replacement font so you can pretend you're writing like Miles Davis if you want! :-)

Re: Suggestions for the next version of NWC

Reply #6 –
Just a few remarks:

* About reply 2 ("(...)there are no "hold" lines (underscores) for lyrics") : you can use Alt 0150 (–) and Alt 0151 (—) for that purpose. Though it won't just adjust itself, it may help. Enter it as text or within lyrics.

* Robert (r.3), what are "N-dashes or M-dashes" ???

* And finally, for persons using Postscript, I developed long ago some hints+tool for hairpins : see !link(Crescendo/Decrescendo converter for NoteWorthy Composer (for Postscript printers)=http://www.geocities.com/Paris/LeftBank/1357/cresdecr.html) for more details. For remarks, use my e-address here (marsu@musiciens.com), not the old one there.

NWCly yours,
Dominique

Re: Suggestions for the next version of NWC

Reply #7 –
Marsu:

The codes you listed in your first item are the N-dash and M-dash you asked about in your second. They are "dash"es whose length corresponds to the size of a lowercase "n" and "m" in the font.

Cyril

Re: Suggestions for the next version of NWC

Reply #8 –
As I understand it, the terms used in the printing biz are "em dash" and "en dash". I mention this only because Scrabble players in the audience might conceivably find the words "em" and "en" useful to know.

Re: Suggestions for the next version of NWC

Reply #9 –
well, if this feature appears some day, it HAS to be toggled on/off!
What would be cool either would be to choose the length of the note played (either a very short note, either the real length (or half)), maybe the instrument (but not the volume); and why not, the other notes that are already entered (vertical reading).
Joseph, by "suggestion list", I suppose you mean the wish list :)

BTW, there IS a way to have the sound when you enter the note: simply use the virtual piano : go and see 3rd link of https://forum.noteworthycomposer.com/?topic=896.msg5031#msg5031 (18Kb) :)

Re: Suggestions for the next version of NWC

Reply #10 –
I sent many times in the suggestion list your own suggestion about :
"Any way to make the note sound as you enter it on the staff? This would be very helpful. Of course, there is something good to be said for silence if you are composing or copying quickly, so maybe this feature could be toggled on or off with a button like the persistent note tools"

I agree completely with your text.

Noteworthy is very friendly and this note sounding possibility should be very useful.