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Topic: feature request: set note duration by... (Read 7496 times) previous topic - next topic

feature request: set note duration by...

It would be so nice if NWC could scale note durations. Right now, it's impossible to change from 6/8 time to 6/4 time directly. If you're dealing with a piece that has hundreds of measures, then changing every note in every staff would just take too long.

Re: feature request: set note duration by...

Reply #1 –
Once again, not a bad thought, User111.  You have that rare talent of posing the right question, etc. A prof once said to me that it takes as much genius to pose a theorem as it does to prove it.

Re: feature request: set note duration by...

Reply #2 –
Are you sure it can't be done?  I just tried a short clip:
This:

Code: [Select · Download]
!NoteWorthyComposerClip(2.0,Single)
|TimeSig|Signature:6/8
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:0
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:0
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:0
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:0
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:0
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:0
|Bar
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:0
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:0
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:0
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:0
|Bar
|Note|Dur:Half,Dotted|Pos:0
|Bar
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:0
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:0
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:0
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:0
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:0
|Bar
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:0
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:0
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:0
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:0
|Bar
!NoteWorthyComposerClip-End
to this

Code: [Select · Download]
!NoteWorthyComposerClip(2.0,Single)
|TimeSig|Signature:6/8
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:0
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:0
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:0
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:0
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:0
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:0
|Bar
|Note|Dur:Half|Pos:0
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:0
|Note|Dur:Half|Pos:0
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:0
|Bar
|Note|Dur:Whole,Dotted|Pos:0
|Bar
|Note|Dur:Half|Pos:0
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:0
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:0
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:0
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:0
|Bar
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:0
|Note|Dur:Half|Pos:0
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:0
|Note|Dur:Half|Pos:0
|Bar
!NoteWorthyComposerClip-End
was simply a matter of highlighting the entire staff and pressing the plus key, then changing the key signature.

I then opened a complicated clarinet/piano score of 180 bars and did the same thing.  Then I tried a 182 bar, 21 staff band score, and did the same.  It seems to work although I'd be careful with anything "global" like this.

You do have to do each staff separately.

Re: feature request: set note duration by...

Reply #3 –
Like wow!
It never occurred to me to do it that way, David. I have changed every note in 'Ständchen' (Matona Mia Cara) by Orlando di Lasso by copying a staff to the clipboard, editing the result with a few search/replace actions, and then copying and pasting it back into Noteworthy.
Learning all the time. Thanks - your way is a lot easier, and works in 1.75 as well.
Rob.

Re: feature request: set note duration by...

Reply #4 –
...works in 1.75 as well.
No, it doesn't.

Re: feature request: set note duration by...

Reply #5 –
Works for me, though why anyone is still actually using version 1 rather than treating it as an historical curiosity is beyond me!

Re: feature request: set note duration by...

Reply #6 –
Works in version 1 for me also.
I'm still using it because I have a history of installing "preview" versions, and then having the "real" version be released 2-3 weeks later, so I feel like I've wasted my time.
I assumed this would be the case with NWC also, so I haven't gotten it yet.
I've been waiting since May...

Re: feature request: set note duration by...

Reply #7 –
Its a handy feature: when transcibing 4/2 you  can put in as seen then convert to 4/4 after!

Re: feature request: set note duration by...

Reply #8 –
I remember that it didn't work in 1.55b, but by the time we got to 1.75b with all the web updates, the feature did exist.  user111, perhaps you don't have all the web updates?

Edward Peters, NWC has regular upgrades, in both versions 1 and 2-preview.  Even after you switch, you still get upgrades.  We're at NWC 2 preview version 1h now.  Why not simply treat the transition from 1 to 2 as just another upgrade?  You're just denying yourself the new stuff.  For me it's hairpins, different note-heads, copying music out to a text editor and staff labels.  You might find something good at What's New in Noteworthy Composer 2.

There are many regular and long-term users who have happily changed, and I can't remember seeing anywhere on any forum that somebody wished they hadn't.  If you're worried, keep NWC 1 on your system - I did, although I haven't used it for nine months now.

Re: feature request: set note duration by...

Reply #9 –
Edward Peters, don't worry too much about wasting your time.  If I recall, the download is a few seconds, then the install is maybe 20 or 30 seconds.  I too keep version 1 on my system, but really only use it now when someone on the version 1 forum has a question and I need to make sure my idea will work there.

Re: feature request: set note duration by...

Reply #10 –
It's already possible. Select a few notes and press [-] and
  • .

Re: feature request: set note duration by...

Reply #11 –
It's already possible. Select a few notes and press [-] and
  • .[/b]
    However, you still can't change 9/8 into 3/4 by using this command.

Re: feature request: set note duration by...

Reply #12 –
True, you can't, but that's because the ratio of the numerator to the denominator is different.  9:8 is greater than one, 3:4 is not.  You can however change 9/8 to 9/4 very easily.  The challenge in doing a 9:8 to 3:4 conversion is determining what is needed which tends to take away the simplicity that any automatic process needs.

Mechanically, all the note values would need to be shortened by 1/3.  Any dotted quarters would have to be undotted, any tied quarter-eighth pair and any three 8th note groups would need to be tripletized.  Why bother?  That's what 9/8 is for in the first place.

See if one of the new user tools will do the trick.  I think there's a global search and replace one available now, although I haven't used it.  I imagine the task is a little too complex to rely on doing it automatically.

You come up with some nice challenges and ideas for NWC from time to time.  It would help if you would also say which notation software you are aware of that will now do what you are suggesting.  Do you know if any notation software will convert 9/8 to 3/4 automatically?

Keep in mind the old maxim "just because I CAN do something doesn't mean I SHOULD."  It's not musically right to convert 9/8 to 3/4; the meters are different.  One is a three triplets to the bar pattern, the other is not tripletized when taken in 3, or becomes one triplet to the bar if conducted in one.  A totally different feel.    I'd make the same comment about 6:8 to 3:4; drastically different.

Re: feature request: set note duration by...

Reply #13 –
Is this the time for some basic theory and terminology?  Apologies if it isn't.

The most common time signatures fall into four general categories:

  • simple duple
  • simple triple
  • compound duple
  • compound triple
With simple time signatures, the main beat is divided into halves.  With compound time signatures, the main beat is divided into three.

Duple time signatures have two beats in every [abbr="Measure" in American]bar[/abbr].  Bars with four beats can be thought of simply as doubled duple.  Triple time signatures have three beats in every bar.

For simple duple (1+2+) we have 2/2, 2/4, 4/4, 4/8, C, and cut-common as the most frequenly seen time signatures.

For simple triple (1+2+3+) we have 3/2, 3/4, 3/8.

For compound duple (1++2++) we have 6/8 and 12/8

For compound triple (1++2++3++) we have 9/8.

6/4 probably should be coupound duple (same as 6/8) but you often see it working as 3/2.

So you can see quite clearly what David is saying about converting 9/8 (1++2++3++) to 3/4 (1+2+3+): what do you leave out?  You can also see why 3/4 (1+2+3+) sounds so different from 6/8 (1++2++) even though they have the same number of quavers.

Re: feature request: set note duration by...

Reply #14 –
Nicely explained, Ewan, thank you.

Re: feature request: set note duration by...

Reply #15 –
Why anyone should continue to use version 1.75? Because choir members, esp. the older type, are loathe to changes. It took me quite a while to get them to use Noteworthy, and I do not feel like pressing them more, just to use NWC2. So, the music I prepare (which is mostly for choir practise) is nearly always in Nwc 1.75. I prefer to print in 2, though.

Re: feature request: set note duration by...

Reply #16 –
Your choir members won't even notice the difference.  There are only two or three minor changes in using version 2.  The accent hotkey has moved, and so has the slur.  Other than that, the only way they'll notice they've upgraded is that there are things they can do in version 2 that they can't do in verion 1.75