Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Difficult Notation (Read 7279 times) previous topic - next topic

Difficult Notation

I would like to know how to key in the notation from the example in the attachment. It's when strings of the orchestra move their bows very fast over two notes to create a buzzing sound.

Re: Difficult Notation

Reply #1 –
There are two issues here and these can be resolved separately. 

You have notes in a chord where the lower note has it's stem pointing upwards while the higher note has it's stem pointing downwards.  This is resolved by using different staves and then combining them into one using the technique called layering.

The second issue is the tremolo markings (you describe this as "the instrument making buzzing sounds").  This you can resolve by installing the "Boxmark2" font freely available from the Scriptorium and insert the mark as a "text" entry.  There may be other fonts on the Scriptorium that have these marks but these are the one that I normally use.

Re: Difficult Notation

Reply #2 –
Melismata, thanks for the feedback. I know about layering, just didn't know about the font. When keying it in so as to listen to the music correctly as it should sound, will that font then be interpreted as text or audio?

Re: Difficult Notation

Reply #3 –
Boxmarks & Boxmark2 are strictly text only.
If you want to have it sounding correctly,
(at present) in NWC you would have to mute the printing staves and create hidden staves,
where every single note is notated.

Re: Difficult Notation

Reply #4 –
No special fonts are needed for this.

Due to the overlapping voices, your example cannot be exactly reproduced in NWC. Your options are to squash them or spread them as shown here:
Code: (nwc) [Select · Download]
!NoteWorthyComposer(2.5)
|AddStaff|Name:"Staff"
|StaffProperties|EndingBar:Open (hidden)|WithNextStaff:Layer
|Key|Signature:C|Tonic:C
|TimeSig|Signature:3/4
|Rest|Dur:Whole
|Bar
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:#4
|Rest|Dur:Half
|Bar
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:#4
|Rest|Dur:Half
|Bar
|AddStaff|Name:"Staff-2"
|StaffProperties|EndingBar:Open (hidden)
|Key|Signature:C|Tonic:C
|TimeSig|Signature:3/4
|Rest|Dur:Whole
|Bar
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:#2|Opts:Stem=Up,XAccSpace=1
|Rest|Dur:Half
|Bar
|Note|Dur:4th|Pos:#2|Opts:Stem=Up,XAccSpace=1,XNoteSpace=1
|Rest|Dur:Half
|Bar
!NoteWorthyComposer-End

Give me a couple hours and I will post an example using the format in measure 3.
Registered user since 1996

Re: Difficult Notation

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Haymo –
Boxmarks & Boxmark2 are strictly text only.
If you want to have it sounding correctly,
(at present) in NWC you would have to mute the printing staves and create hidden staves,
where every single note is notated.

Of course, you are right Hymo and thanks for pointing this out.  Having seen the attached picture, my mind immediately went into "printing" mode and forgot all about the sounds!

Re: Difficult Notation

Reply #6 –
It would help to know the Clef(s)s, Time Signature and Key(s).
Registered user since 1996

Re: Difficult Notation

Reply #7 –
Quote from: Rick G. –
It would help to know the Clef(s)s, Time Signature and Key(s).
Rick, the clef is treble, time is 4/4 and the key is F.
Due to the 128k restriction on graphic attachments, it was impossible to include everything in the graphic.

Re: Difficult Notation

Reply #8 –
You may get some ideas from the attachment.
Registered user since 1996
 

Re: Difficult Notation

Reply #9 –
Thank you, Rick G. That's very kind of you. I'll go study it.

Re: Difficult Notation

Reply #11 –
Aside for now: it's very interesting that the only instrument(s) that sound almost like the original instrument are the piano and harpsicord, there are a few others like flute, oboe (at times) and church organ (grand organ) that could be interpreted as "real"; I find the strings are tinny, the large woodwinds are terrible; the brass isn't worth describing. Why is that? Is this dependent on the type of sound card in my machine?

Re: Sound (was Difficult Notation)

Reply #12 –
Ian:
You don't say what your system is (Win XP, Win 7, Win 8)?
The solution to the poor sound quality is definitely your sound device.
What card is installed on your system?

These are some ways to improve the sound:

1. Install a Soft Synth.
Applies mostly to earlier operating systems.

2. Use soundfonts
If your soundcard supports soundfonts (mostly Creative soundcards) you can install soundfonts which are portable samples.
Many good quality soundfonts may be found on the net.

3. Use a good quality external keyboard.
Direct the sound output via a MIDI or USB cable to a keyboard with built-in quality sounds (Roland, Korg etc.).
Operating system independent.

4. Use an external synth module.
Direct the sound output via a MIDI or USB cable to an external synth module like the Ketron SD2.
Operating system independent.

5. Use a sound font player like Synthfont or SyFon1.
FREE solution! (Check the Synthfont web site for compatibility with Win 7 and 8).
Requires a virtual MIDI cable (see below).

6. Use a sample library with a VST player.
The sound output is processed internally by routing the MIDI messages through a software player such as Kontakt 2 or Aria Player accessing a sample library like Garritan Personal Orchestra or Jazz & Big Band samples.
Requires a virtual MIDI cable like MIDI-OX or loopBe.

The last should give the best result.
For example the JABB library contains an array of brass instrument mute samples (Cup, Straight, Harmon etc) and various articulations (legato, staccato etc.) as well as additional instruments not found in the General MIDI set.
Some of the key switching may be difficult with NWC and dynamics use CC1 by preference.

I personally use soundfonts on the X-Fi card with XP.
But playback enhanced MIDI files via Aria Player and the Garritan Jazz and Big Band Library.
I don't use NWC for scoring or playback.

Barry Graham
Melbourne, Australia

Re: Sound (was Difficult Notation)

Reply #13 –
Hi Barry, many thanks for your quick response in the middle of your night. My system is Vista Ultimate 64-bit and my sound card is ASUS XONAR. I do not possess an external audio device and my keyboard is an M-Audio (formerly Evolution MK) input device only. I was listening to some MIDI to NWC files downloaded from other sites.

Re: Sound (was Difficult Notation)

Reply #14 –
Barry, I'm old and confused. The Asus Xonar DG is on my XP machine. The Vista 64-bit machine has onboard sound and is using the NVIDIA High Definition Audio driver, along with the RealTek HDA. Not sure which it's using to render MIDI. Not sure if these HDAs will accept soundfonts either.

Re: Difficult Notation

Reply #15 –
Old?  Confused?
Welcome to the club!

Lawrie Pardy has written a good intro to using VST instruments with NWC.
http://nwc-scriptorium.org/helpful.html#Explanations
(Scroll down the page to find it).
With a VST host you can use soundfonts or sample libraries like Garritan Personal Orchestra.

If you want to go down the free soundfont path and you don't have a Creative soundcard then search this forum for:-
Synthfont
and
Syfon


Barry Graham
Melbourne, Australia

Re: Sound (was Difficult Notation)

Reply #16 –
Thank you, Barry.