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Topic: Importing MIDI files for SATB chorus parts (Read 6255 times) previous topic - next topic

Importing MIDI files for SATB chorus parts

Hi folks,
I frequently use Sharpeye to "scan in" SATB chorus music and then save and  import it into Noteworthy as a MIDI file.

Normally, the S & A voices are on one staff and the T & B voices on a second.

I've played around with the note ranges when importing but still have to do a lot of manual editing to get all four parts onto separate staffs.

What would make the job a LOT easier is if I was allowed to use a "1 semitone" split on the parts. Unfortunately Noteworthy limits me to 2 or greater.

Why?

It really would be good if I could say that the "upper note" on each staff was (say) the Soprano and the lower, the Alto.

There's a lot of us out here using Noteworthy for Choral Music.

Is there a good work-around? Can somebody please help?

Cheers and thanks for any replies
Alan

Re: Importing MIDI files for SATB chorus parts

Reply #1 –
Hi Andrew,
if you are eligible for the NWC2 public preview then I have an answer for you.

I don't know if you are aware of it, but NWC2 has a "user tools" feature where you can write your own tools and use them from within NWC2.

There is a user tool starter pack available here on the NWC web site.

Andrew Purdham has written a user tool called "parts" that can be use to extract parts from a staff.  "Parts" is included in the starter pack.

Rather than mess with note ranges too much just setup so that the soprano and alto import to 1 staff and the tenor and bass to a second staff.

After you import the 2 staves from midi, copy them so you have 2*soprano+alto and 2*tenor+bass staves.

Use "parts" to remove the bottom notes on the staves that will be the soprano and tenor staves, and again to remove the top notes in what will be the alto and bass staves.

Hey presto: 4 staves in SATB which you can edit and layer to your hearts content  :)

More information on user tools is available here.

Lawrie

Re: Importing MIDI files for SATB chorus parts

Reply #2 –
Oops,
my sincerest apologies Alan.

When I was writing my reply to you I had Andrew Purdhams name on my (alleged) mind and inadvertantly addressed you incorrectly.

Lawrie

Re: Importing MIDI files for SATB chorus parts

Reply #3 –
Hi Lawrie

Many thanks for that...

Yes, at the moment, I'm simply "double copying" the womens parts and the men's parts and then manually deleting the top or bottom notes as applicable.

If there's a "user tool" that'll  let me automate this a bit, it'd be really good. I'll check it out when I get a copy of "NWC2"

Meanwhile, does anybody know if there's a good technical reason for not permitting a "1-semitone split" when importing MIDIs? (In NWC1.75)

Cheers
Alan

Re: Importing MIDI files for SATB chorus parts

Reply #4 –
Hi Allan,
Your comments on sharpeye interest me.  How good is it?

Re: Importing MIDI files for SATB chorus parts

Reply #5 –
My guess about the limit on not allowing a 1 semitone split on importing MIDIs is that the software may not be able to distinguish between enharmonically equivalent notes, i.e. can't tell an A# from a Bb.  Perhaps if the MIDI includes a key signature (is that possible to code in MIDI?) the software can distinguish enharmonic notes but not all composers are that careful when sequencing.

Re: Importing MIDI files for SATB chorus parts

Reply #6 –
Yes, thanks for that, Milton.

I suspect you've hit on the right answer...pity!

Meanwhile, to Kevin, I reckon Sharpeye is very good value.

Not perfect...particularly on poorer quality sheet music. But, on good quality copies, it can get to over 95% accurate...which sure saves a heck of a lot of time!

Also, in the last few days, I've just been checking out a specialist MIDI to notation program called "MIDInotate" which is a useful "interface" between Sharpeye's rough-MIDI output and Noteworthy.

In particular, I've found MIDInotate WILL allow me to "split hands" as it calls it which is very useful for splitting the two voice parts on a single stave. It also lets me correct any errors in the split without too much trouble.

SO, my present system is:
1. Scan and read in Sharpeye2 and export to a "rough" MIDI file
2. Import into MIDInotate and do the SATB voice splits
3. Export as a MIDI again...but now on 4 separate staves
4. Import into Noteworthy.

Not as long as it sounds...but I wish Noteworthy would let me do it (almost) all :-)

Cheers
Alan

Re: Importing MIDI files for SATB chorus parts

Reply #8 –
Well!

Thank you so much for pointing out the "Chord Splitter" script to me, David.

Fantastic...just what I wanted. Works like a dream!
That'll save no end of time.

Cheers
Alan