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Topic: fermatas and grace notes (Read 3592 times) previous topic - next topic

fermatas and grace notes

No matter which way I approach this I can't solve it. The problem is that it seems a fermata does not work on a note with a grace note before it. No matter if I put the fermata inbetween, after, or before the gracenote and regular note. The result is always the same, that it is the grace note that gets held for the longer period, not the note I want to be held. If anyone has any comments or solutions, please reply. Otherwise, I'll go ahead and post on the wishlist.

Russ

Re: fermatas and grace notes

Reply #1 –
I've found the fermata and breath mark "delay" factors of only limited use, for doing quick previews of what the fermata will sound like. The main difficulties are:

1) Such fermata delays do NOT export to midi, the resulting midifiles are as if a delay of 0 had been selected.

2) Since delays are only in increments of 1/16 notes, the resolution is often less than what is needed.

Solution: use tempo changes instead of fermata delay. This works fine even if grace notes are present, and has the bonuses (boni?) of being exportable, and having near infinite resolution.

If you don't want the tempo changes to show up in your printed score, simply click off the "Display tempo expression when printing" click-box.

I'll send you a small file that demonstrates this via email.

Fred

Re: fermatas and grace notes

Reply #2 –
Or use an MPC with tempo controls, instead of inserting 2 times a tempo specification. Of course you may keep the fermata sign (but without any value) for print purpose :-)

/!\ About Tempo Variance NOT exported: for me this is a bug!!! I'll check it asap with an old (1.2 or more) version.

MAD

Re: fermatas and grace notes

Reply #3 –
Or, place the fermata delay before the note that you want to hold, but assign it a delay of 0. If you have other parts in the song, only assign the fermata delay to one of the parts that is not using grace notes. If you only have one staff in the song, make a second hidden staff, fill it with rests to the point of delay, then add the fermata with the necessary delay.

Using Multi-point Controller or other Tempo changes has the advantage of working in a MIDI file. If you want to use just fermatas, then use the technique above.

Re: fermatas and grace notes

Reply #4 –
Regarding "Tempo Variance NOT exported" from above. What is this statement about? Tempo variances export just fine to MIDI. Fermatas do not appear in an exported MIDI file, but the MIDI spec do not include any such thing as a fermata delay. MIDI files only support tempo changes, no absolute delays.

Re: fermatas and grace notes

Reply #5 –
So why can't Noteworthy be programmed to convert a fermata to a tempo variance when the music is exported to a midi format?

When you look at a NWC file its a fermata
When you look at a midi file the program should turn it into a tempo change.
Either way it should sound the same.

Re: fermatas and grace notes

Reply #6 –
You are exactly right. You can use tempo changes, either directly, or from a MPC or Tempo Variance item in order to achieve a fermata effect on an exported MIDI file. You can use a fermata delay of 0 and then let your hidden tempo changes do the work.