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- MusicPrinter Plus version 3.2 DEMO 1
-
- PREFACE
-
- MusicPrinter Plus is a software program designed to make notation and
- performance of a musical composition quick and easy. It is available
- from Temporal Acuity Products, Inc.
- 300 - 120th Ave. NE, Bldg 1
- Bellevue, Washington 98005
- (206)462-1007 or (800)426-2673 (except WA)
-
- A detailed 370-page instruction manual accompanies the program.
-
- MPDEMO is a fully-functioning version of MusicPrinter Plus, with some
- exceptions:
- - The score and its associated MIDI data cannot be saved to disk.
- - Part Extraction is not included.
- - The score in memory is cleared every 30 minutes.
- - The UNDO feature for Score Reformat and MIDI Real-time Input is
- provided only if sufficient memory is available. The use of disk
- files for UNDO has been disabled.
- - For the Score Reformat function, handling of document overflow
- to disk is disabled.
- - Scores that you create cannot be printed. Instead, you should
- execute the MPPRINT command to recreate one of our sample
- printouts.
-
- The purpose of this demo is to allow you to discover for yourself how
- quickly and easily you can prepare score copy and play back what you
- have written, and to show an example of the exquisite laser and
- dot-matrix printed output.
-
- While MusicPrinter Plus may superficially resemble other MIDI-based
- printing and performing programs, it has several powerful features
- that make it unique:
-
- 1. SPEED AND FRIENDLINESS IN CREATING SCORES. If you have struggled
- with the many problems inherent in MIDI-based entry systems, you will
- appreciate the word-processor environment emulated by MusicPrinter
- Plus. A unique character-key selection system allows you to call any
- musical symbol into the cursor by striking only a single key. With
- the mouse or cursor keys, you can move that character to any point in
- the score. You can then enter the character directly into the score
- by clicking the mouse, or by pressing the space bar or Enter key.
- Characters can be removed from the score in similar fashion.
-
- The character-key selection system treats each key as a "stack," in
- which several characters having similar function are located. Keys
- are generally assigned mnemonically by category. For example, clefs
- are stacked on the "C" key. Pressing "C" the first time creates
- G-clef as the cursor. Pressing "C" a second time creates a bass clef
- as the cursor. Pressing "C" a third time creates a movable C-clef
- as the cursor. Next is a percussion clef. A fifth press returns
- the cursor to the G-clef. All the clefs can thus be accessed quickly
- through a single key. (Character key assignments can be determined
- at any time by accessing MusicPrinter Plus's extensive Help screens.
- Press the F1 key to bring up the Help screens.)
- MusicPrinter Plus v3.2 DEMO 2
-
- Since the character-key selection system requires only one hand on
- the computer keyboard, the other hand is free to control the mouse,
- cursor keys or MIDI keyboard to position the cursor itself. This
- gives you fast, accurate control of all aspects of the notation
- process.
-
- For text entry, MusicPrinter Plus easily switches into true
- word-processing mode, which allows you to use the computer keyboard
- as a typewriter -- with four available text styles that may be freely
- intermixed. There is also a lead sheet/chord symbol mode for quick
- entry of jazz and guitar symbols.
-
- During score entry and editing, the computer screen acts as a direct
- window into the score. MusicPrinter Plus does not depend on
- elaborate menus, icon selection or any other process that clutters
- the screen with non-score information, or removes the user from
- direct visual command of the score. The principle of
- "what-you-see-is-what-you-get" is basic to MusicPrinter Plus, and
- ensures maximum freedom in score design.
-
- By opting for direct visual control of score entry and editing,
- MusicPrinter Plus avoids the many problems inherent in sequencer
- entry -- quantizing, strict time non-rubato performance (a problem
- for many fine artists), horizontal approach to the score, and
- inflexible notation decisions made by the computer, rather than by
- the user. Since score entry and editing are the same in MusicPrinter
- Plus, making changes is as simple as first-time entry. This means
- that you can develop the score, both vertically and horizontally, as
- you go along, experimenting with different combinations of pitch,
- rhythm and instruments at will, while correcting false entries as
- they occur.
-
- More important, you do not have to approach MusicPrinter Plus with a
- previously-completed handwritten score. You can do all your score
- development, from sketch to final printed copy, entirely within
- MusicPrinter Plus. This means tremendous time saving in overall
- score preparation.
-
- 2. REAL-TIME SCORE PERFORMANCE CAPABILITY. MusicPrinter Plus
- provides complete, accurate playback of all expressive aspects of the
- score. Because it compiles its MIDI performance sequence directly
- from notation, rather than from prior MIDI entry, MusicPrinter Plus
- allows you to hear exactly what you have notated, including
- expressive dynamics, rubato and articulation, as well as trills,
- tremolandos, repeats and other performance directions. In addition
- to providing you with accurate proofreading-by-ear, MusicPrinter Plus
- is also a powerful tool for generating complex MIDI performances --
- performances that are well beyond the technical capabilities of
- conventional sequencer technology. No other program on the market
- today begins to compare with MusicPrinter Plus's sophistication in
- the area of MIDI sequence generation.
-
- MusicPrinter Plus v3.2 DEMO 3
-
-
- 3. PROFESSIONAL-QUALITY PRINTOUT. MusicPrinter Plus offers
- high-resolution graphic printing from dot matrix printers, and full
- 300 d.p.i. resolution from laser and ink jet printers. Character
- resolution for 9-pin printers is 120 by 144 dots per square inch, and
- for 24-pin printers is 180 dots per inch. PostScript is not required
- for laser and ink jet printing. MusicPrinter Plus fully supports
- wide-carriage dot matrix and ink jet printers, and can print pages of
- any specified length. This means that you are not limited to
- letter-size paper for your music printing.
-
- ----------------------------------
- MusicPrinter Plus v3.2 DEMO 4
-
- GETTING STARTED
-
- MusicPrinter Plus will save information about your system preferences
- and MIDI performances on disk. To preserve the original information,
- you should make a copy of the demo disks before running the demo
- program.
-
- To start the demo program, enter the command MPDEMO.
-
- If you are running MPDEMO with an IBM Music Feature, you must first
- run the program "MFDRIVER.EXE" before starting MPDEMO. If you are
- running MPDEMO on the Yamaha C1 Music Computer, you must first run
- the program "C1DRIVER.EXE" before starting MPDEMO.
-
- After the initial messages appear, you should press Enter to bring up
- the starting screen. Before going on to the main program, you may
- have to specify your screen display type. Unless your computer has a
- Hercules-type video adapter (Monochrome Graphics), press the F7 key
- to choose from various screen display types. If you do not specify
- the correct screen display type, the program will not run correctly.
-
- MusicPrinter Plus uses program overlays for Realtime Input, Reformat,
- and the Help screens. The overlays are found in three files having
- the extension ".DMO". These overlays must be available to the
- program in order for you to use these functions. When running
- MusicPrinter Plus from a single floppy disk drive, place the program
- disk in that drive when accessing these functions.
-
- MusicPrinter Plus document files are stored under the user-assigned
- file name, plus the extension ".MP1". "MP1" files contain all the
- information necessary for screen display and printing of the score.
-
- When you create a playback configuration, MusicPrinter Plus stores
- that configuration in a file having the extension ".PRM". This file
- is updated every time you edit playback configurations. If you wish
- to make changes in the configuration of any of the example files, be
- sure first to save the original ".PRM" file on another disk, so that
- it can be preserved for the next user.
-
- MIDI sequence files are stored on disk with the extension ".ESQ".
- These files are in IBM/Yamaha standard "ESEQ" format. (For this
- demo, this file cannot be saved.)
-
- Note that the file extensions discussed above are added automatically
- by MusicPrinter Plus. Only the user-defined file name (up to eight
- ASCII characters) is used when accessing files from within
- MusicPrinter Plus.
- ----------------------------------
-
- MusicPrinter Plus's file prompt includes the current drive and
- directory specification for accessing MusicPrinter Plus files. You
- can change drive and directory simply by backspacing and retyping.
- When loading, if you specify only the drive and directory (ending
- with a backslash character) and press RETURN, you will be shown a
- complete list of MusicPrinter Plus document files in that drive and
- directory.
- MusicPrinter Plus v3.2 DEMO 5
-
- Most of MusicPrinter Plus is self-guiding. When you do not
- understand a menu, procedure or function, simply press the F1 key to
- bring up an appropriate help screen.
-
- If you are starting a new score, you will be shown two menus before
- entering score edit mode. The DOCUMENT DIMENSIONS menu allows you to
- specify document size for both printing and screen display. For
- dot-matrix printers, each column in MusicPrinter Plus is 1/12 inch
- (12 pitch), except for small size on 24-pin printers where, each
- column is 1/18 inch (18 pitch). Laser printers print 12.5 characters
- per inch, and characters on the Canon Bubble Jet printing at 360 dots
- per inch appear at 15 pitch.
-
- The SYSTEM DEFINITION menu allows you to specify system size, and
- assign names to each staff area within the system. A musical system
- is a score unit which contains all the staffs that are to be played
- simultaneously. For example, a piano solo score will call for a
- two-staff system (i.e., one each for right and left hand parts),
- while a string quartet will call for a four-staff system.
-
- ----------------------------------
-
- MIDI PERFORMANCE
-
- MPDEMO Version 3.2 allows you to compile your own MIDI performances
- from notation. In order to make use of this feature, you must have
- an IBM Music Feature card or a Roland MPU-401 (or look-alike) MIDI
- interface installed, or you must be using a Yamaha C1 Music Computer.
- Remember that you must run "MFDRIVER.EXE" before starting MPDEMO if
- you are using the IBM Music Feature, and "C1DRIVER.EXE" before
- starting MPDEMO on a Yamaha C1 computer. The IBM Music Feature or
- the Roland LAPC-1 can be used as a synthesizer directly. Other
- interfaces require MIDI connection to an external synthesizer.
-
- In order to play back properly, your score must conform to certain
- notational rules. All musical events that are to occur
- simultaneously must be in vertical alignment within the system. This
- means notes, chords, rests and barlines. Misaligned notes or rests
- will cause rhythmic inaccuracy during playback. Misplaced bar line
- alignment will cause insertion of an entire bar rest into the
- playback sequence.
-
- MusicPrinter Plus recognizes a key signature when the column
- following the rightmost accidental does NOT contain a note.
- Accidentals intended as incidental modifications to notes should
- NEVER have a note-free column following the rightmost accidental.
-
- Dynamic marks take effect at the note at which they occur, or at the
- first note to the right of the mark. Only one set of dynamics can be
- used for each staff, although dynamics can vary from staff to staff.
- The "cresc." and "dim." marks, as well as the hairpins (found on the
- "<" and ">" keys), take effect on the first note to the right of the
- mark, and extend to the next dynamic mark. Dynamics ranging from
- ppppp to fffff are supported (ppppp indicates silence, and can be
- used as the final point of a diminuendo.)
- MusicPrinter Plus v3.2 DEMO 6
-
-
- Pedal start and stop symbols govern all channels assigned to the
- staff area in which they occur.
-
- Patch-change markers ("P"-shaped character found on the "0" key) can
- be used at any point in the score to select a new patch on the
- channel currently assigned to a given staff area. Simply enter the
- patch-change marker, followed by the number of the desired patch. If
- the staff area is divided into separate voices reading stems up and
- down, patch-change markers must be placed above the staff for the
- upper voice, and below the staff for the lower voice. See the
- section below entitled "Configuring for MIDI Performance" for further
- discussion of staff channel and patch assignment.
-
- Articulation marks must be placed in vertical alignment with the note
- to which they refer. If you are splitting the staff into "stems up"
- and "stems down" voices, articulation marks for the upper voice must
- be placed above the staff, and articulation marks for the lower voice
- below the staff. Otherwise, marks can be placed at the note head.
- Marks supported are staccatissimo (vertical wedge), staccato (.),
- semi-staccato (-) or (dash-with-dot), vertical wedge accent and
- horizontal wedge accent. In addition, trill, three-line tremolando,
- and one-line and two-line measured tremolando are supported.
-
- Tempo indications are given by a one-to-three digit Helvetic number
- following the "note-equals" character found on the "=" key. These
- are standard metronome indications, and apply to the entire system.
- The "accel." and "rit." marks take effect on the note with which they
- are vertically aligned, or on the next note to the right, and extend
- to the next tempo indication. The symbol "ten." or the dash tenuto
- mark (found on the SHIFT-T key) extends the note on which it occurs
- by the "trill value" (see TRILL VALUE below), and applies to all
- notes in vertical alignment with that note.
-
- Grace notes are given the "trill value," and are "robbed" from the
- preceding note value where feasible. Fermatas extend durations by
- the number of eighth notes specified by a one-to-three digit number
- to the right of the fermata (see NON-PRINTING NUMBERS below). Break
- marks (double slanted lines) insert durations equal to the number of
- eighths similarly specified. The breath mark (comma) is given the
- "trill value."
-
- Section repeat marks (:) are supported, as are first and second
- endings. The symbols "D. C.", "D. S.", "Fine", segno (sign) and coda
- can be used to create large-scale repeats, which may contain section
- repeats.
- MusicPrinter Plus v3.2 DEMO 7
-
-
- NON-PRINTING NUMBERS
-
- Certain characters can be given specific numerical value by placing a
- one-to-three digit Helvetic number directly to the right, at the same
- vertical cursor position as the character. These numbers will not
- print out when the "suppress" option is chosen on the print menu.
- The characters thus supported are:
-
- Dynamic "p" or "f" - a number up to 127 will specify the actual MIDI
- volume or velocity command used for this dynamic mark.
-
- Tenuto ("ten." or dash) - a one-to-three digit number will determine
- the number of "trill value" durations added to the duration of this
- note. Default is one "trill value."
-
- Fermata - a one-to-three digit number will determine the number of
- eighth-note durations to be added to this note. There is no default.
- A fermata without a number following is ignored.
-
- Break mark - a one-to-three digit number will determine the number of
- eighth-note durations to be inserted. Default is one.
-
- Breath mark - a one-to-three digit number will determine the number
- of "trill value" durations to be inserted. Default is one.
-
- Section repeat - a one-to-three digit number placed after the second
- mark will determine the number of times the section following the
- first mark will be repeated. Default is one.
-
- Patch number - the "P" symbol found on the "0" key indicates patch
- number to be sent out over the MIDI channel assigned to the affected
- staff area.
-
- Configuration number - the diamond-shaped symbol found on the "0" key
- selects the performance configuration of the same number (see
- "Configuring for MIDI Performance" below).
-
- NON-DUPLE RHYTHMS
-
- MusicPrinter Plus handles non-duple rhythmic subdivisions by
- altering its rhythmic reading mode. The non-duple reading mode
- indicators are found on the SHIFT-P key. The "3" symbol indicates
- start of triple mode (durations are accorded 2/3 their normal value);
- the "5" symbol indicates start of quintuple mode (durations are
- accorded 4/5 their normal value); the "7" symbol indicates start of
- septuplet mode (durations are accorded 4/7 their normal value); and
- the "9" symbol indicates start of nonuplet mode (durations are
- accorded 8/9 their normal value). The backward-curving symbol
- without a number is the end-non-duplet symbol. These non-duple
- indicators appear only on the screen, and are non-printing.
- MusicPrinter Plus v3.2 DEMO 8
-
-
- To use these symbols, place a start mode indicator in vertical
- alignment with the FIRST note or rest to be read in non-duple mode.
- Place the end-non-duplet symbol in vertical alignment with the LAST
- note or rest to be read in this mode. If voices on a staff are
- separated by stem directions, place the mode indicators above the
- staff for the upper voice and below the staff for the lower voice.
-
- CONFIGURING FOR MIDI PERFORMANCE
-
- Pressing Alt-F10 brings up the MIDI PERFORMANCE MENU. Choosing item
- #6 allows you to create a new performance configuration. Choosing
- item #1 allows you to edit an existing configuration (one "default"
- configuration is always provided for a new document). Remember that
- the MIDI performance configurations are AUTOMATICALLY recorded in a
- disk file having the ".PRM" extension. Any changes you make to the
- configuration settings will replace former settings.
-
- A MIDI configuration consists of three screen "panels." Panel #1
- requires that you specify the number of score voices you wish to
- assign to MIDI, "Trill value," crescendo/diminuendo mode, dynamic
- range and dynamic slope.
-
- PANEL #1:
-
- SCORE VOICES
-
- A "score voice" is an actual single-note written part. A three-note
- chord represents three score voices. Determine the number of score
- voices on each staff by counting the maximum number of notes required
- at any one time. Even if your synthesizer system will not support
- all the voices called for by your score, it is best to assign all
- score voices. Rhythmic problems can arise in playback if all score
- voices are not accounted for. You may specify more score voices than
- will actually be needed, however.
-
- TRILL VALUE
-
- The "trill value" is the note value chosen for trills, tremolandos,
- grace notes, tenuto marks and breath marks. Possible values range
- from eighth note to triplet 128th note. Keep in mind that the
- absolute duration of the "trill value" will vary with the tempo.
-
- CRESCENDO/DIMINUENDO MODE
-
- When the "At note" option is chosen, all crescendos and diminuendos
- will be accomplished through MIDI velocity commands, which are given
- only at the onset of each note. When the "Trill value" option is
- chosen, crescendos and diminuendos will be accomplished through MIDI
- volume commands, given at the rate of the "trill value." This latter
- option allows dynamic changes within note durations.
- MusicPrinter Plus v3.2 DEMO 9
-
-
- DYNAMIC RANGE
-
- A setting of 12 provides widest dynamic contrast between loud and
- soft. Lower settings decrease the dynamic contrast.
-
- DYNAMIC SLOPE
-
- When "linear" is selected, MIDI volume numbers are evenly distributed
- between ppppp and fffff. "Soft weighted" slope spreads the MIDI
- numbers at the high end, with a greater distance between f and ff
- than between p and pp. The opposite is true of "loud weighted"
- slope.
-
- PANEL #2:
-
- In Panel #2 you assign each score voice to a specific MIDI channel.
- Score voices are numbered consecutively down the left side of the
- screen. You must assign performance information for each voice. Use
- the arrow keys to move the cursor to the desired items.
-
- STAFF NUMBER
-
- This is the number of the staff within the system, with the top staff
- being staff #1. For example, if three voices are to be found in the
- top staff, score voices 1-3 should all be assigned to staff #1.
-
- STEM DIRECTION
-
- You may assign a voice to read stems up only, stems down only, or
- stems up/down. In this way, you can separate staffs into two
- separate musical lines -- stems up and stems down -- and assign each
- to a separate MIDI channel.
- CHANNEL ASSIGNMENT
-
- This is the MIDI channel (1-16) to which the score voice is to be
- sent. You must be sure that one of your synthesizers is configured
- to read this particular channel in order for this score voice to be
- played.
-
- DYNAMIC BALANCE
-
- This sets the relative dynamic setting for the score voice, in
- comparison with the other score voices. If you selected the "At
- note" option on Panel #1, balance will be achieved through the MIDI
- volume command, given by channel. This means that all voices using
- the same channel must be set to the same relative volume. If you
- selected the "Trill value" option, balance will be achieved through
- the MIDI velocity command, which can be set separately for each note.
- (Note: your synthesizers must be capable of responding to both MIDI
- velocity and MIDI volume commands in order for this feature to work.)
- MusicPrinter Plus v3.2 DEMO 10
-
-
- STEREO POSITION
-
- This sets right, left or middle stereo position by channel, for
- synthesizers which respond to the MIDI stereo placement command.
- Note that only one selection can be made per channel.
-
- SYNTHESIZER VOICE
-
- This is the voice, patch, tone, timbre, program, or other designation
- which your synthesizer uses to indicate the particular sound which is
- to be assigned to a given channel. Only one such sound can be used
- per channel, but several score voices can be assigned to the same
- channel, depending on the synthesizer's capabilities. A mono-timbral
- synthesizer can select only one channel at a time, assigning the same
- sound to all notes. A multi-timbral synthesizer can read several
- channels at the same time, assigning a different sound to each
- channel. Synthesizer voice numbers range between 1 and 128. Refer
- to your synthesizer manual for a listing of voice, patch, tone,
- timbre or program numbers. (Note: Some synthesizers number patches
- from 0 to 127. In such cases, indicate the next higher number to
- that of the desired patch in MusicPrinter Plus.)
-
- M-F BANK
-
- This is the bank number used by the IBM Music Feature or the Yamaha
- FB-01 to access different groups of synthesizer voices. It will be
- ignored by other synthesizers.
-
- PANEL #3.
-
- Panel #3 allows you to transpose all the voices of any given staff up
- or down by a specified number of half steps. Use this for parts
- written "in Bb," for example, or for synthesizer sounds that are
- programmed to sound at the wrong octave.
-
- NUMBERING CONFIGURATIONS
-
- You can call for more than one configuration within the score, by
- inserting the diamond-shaped marker found on the SHIFT-0 key,
- followed by the number of the desired configuration. Choose option
- #6 on the MIDI PERFORMANCE MENU to create new configurations.
-
- CONFIGURING SYNTHESIZER INTERFACES
-
- Item #7 on the MIDI PERFORMANCE MENU allows you to set playback
- configuration for the IBM Music Feature or Yamaha FB-01. "Mono-8"
- sets the card to play a single voice on each of eight consecutive
- channels, beginning with designated channel "N". "Dual" sets the
- card to play four voices on each of two consecutive channels,
- beginning with designated channel "N". "Single" sets the card to
- play eight voices on a single channel "N".
- MusicPrinter Plus v3.2 DEMO 11
-
-
- Item #8 on the MIDI PERFORMANCE MENU allows you to assign the
- sound-producing "parts" of the Roland MT-32 and LAPC-1 to desired
- channels, or to turn individual "parts" off. In addition, you can
- set overall output volume and reverb parameters. You can send these
- settings directly to the MT-32 or LAPC-1 by pressing F2. To record
- these settings and include them as system-exclusive messages in the
- playback file, press F10.
-
- COMPILING FOR PERFORMANCE
-
- Once the score is ready for playback, and the configuration menus
- have been completed, select item #2 on the MIDI Performance Menu.
- The menu allows you to choose the starting and stopping systems, and
- to inhibit all system exclusive messages if desired. (Certain
- synthesizers may require inhibition of system-exclusive messages in
- order to respond properly.)
-
- Once you have compiled the score, it is ready for performance.
-
- MIDI PERFORMANCE
-
- Option #3 on the MIDI Performance Menu initiates MIDI performance.
- During performance the music will scroll to show the current system.
- You can end performance at any time by pressing ESC. Pressing SPACE
- BAR initiates step-time mode, in which you can step through the
- performance event-by- event. In step-time mode, you can also step
- backward by pressing the backspace key, or repeat an event by
- pressing "R". (Forward and backward stepping can also be controlled
- by the mouse right and left buttons, respectively.)
-
- Press F1 at any time during performance for help on these and other
- control keys.
-
-
- MusicPrinter Plus v3.2 DEMO 12
-
- MIDI REAL-TIME ENTRY
-
- Pressing ALT-F9 from music edit mode allows you to initiate realtime
- music entry from your synthesizer keyboard or other MIDI pitch
- control device. Two menu panels allow you to set parameters for
- realtime entry. You should always check these panels before starting
- realtime entry, to verify that all settings are as desired. If you
- wish to establish the current settings as program defaults, press F5.
-
- Items on MIDI REALTIME ENTRY, PANEL ONE:
-
- (1) Number of beats in bar
-
- For MIDI real-time purposes, a 'beat' is the note value
- represented by the bottom number of a time signature. For example,
- in a meter of 6/8, the 'beat' is an eighth note. For 6/8 meter,
- therefore, you should enter '6' as the number of beats in a bar. To
- specify a number, simply place the cursor at this item, type in the
- desired number, and press Enter or an arrow key, or press "+" or "-"
- to increment or decrement the current number. Up to 15 beats per bar
- can be selected.
-
-
- (2) Note value of beat
-
- This item sets the note value for a beat, as defined above. In a
- meter of 6/8, the note value chosen should be 'eighth.' Select the
- note value by pressing the SPACE BAR to toggle through the possible
- choices. (Note: the beat value and number of beats in a bar need not
- correspond to the time signature notated in the score. For example,
- you may specify four quarter notes for real-time entry, while
- notating a signature of 8/8). Note values range from whole to 32nd.
-
- (3) Subdivision mode
-
- You may subdivide the beat into duplets, triplets or a combination
- of duplets and triplets. A change in this mode may result in a
- change in lowest note-value [see (4) below]. Press SPACE BAR to
- toggle among the modes.
-
- (4) Lowest note value to be entered
-
- MusicPrinter Plus automatically positions notes, rests and bar
- lines in accordance with the lowest note value to be entered. For
- example, in a 6/8 bar in which the sixteenth note is the lowest note
- value, the maximum number of rhythmic positions will be twelve. If
- the lowest note value is a 32nd note, however, the maximum number of
- rhythmic positions will be twenty-four, necessitating a bar nearly
- twice as wide. Since note and bar positions must be the same for all
- staffs within a system, be sure to account for the lowest note value
- that will be entered in any staff within the system, not just the
- current staff.
- MusicPrinter Plus v3.2 DEMO 13
-
- While you are playing, MusicPrinter Plus will notate each note to
- the nearest lowest-note value. This allows MusicPrinter Plus to
- compensate to some degree for rhythmic inaccuracies in performance.
- The shorter the lowest note value, the less compensation possible.
- It is best, therefore, to use the longest possible duration for the
- lowest note value. For bars with 8 or fewer beats, Musicprinter Plus
- allows you to subdivide each beat into 2, 4 or 8 when using duple
- subdivision, or 3, 6 or 12 when using triple subdivision. For bars
- with more than 8 beats, only subdivision into 2 or 4 is allowed in
- duple, and 3 or 6 in triple.
-
- (5) Tempo
-
- This is the number of beats per minute. Tempo can also be modified
- while the metronome is running, prior to beginning real-time entry.
-
- (6) Beaming pattern (beats per beam)
-
- This item selects the number of beats to be included within a
- beamed group of eighths, 16ths, 32nds and/or 64ths. For example, in
- a 6/8 meter, a choice of '3-3' indicates beaming by groups of three
- eighths, starting on beats 1 and 4. If you specify '2-2-2,' however,
- beams will be in groups of 2 beats, starting on 1, 3 and 5. You can
- specify beat groups of 1, 2, 3 or 4 in any order, so long as the
- total number of beats is equal to the number entered in item (1)
- above. You can move the cursor to the right or left by using the
- arrow keys. Type the desired numbers, then press Enter or an up or
- down arrow key.
-
- (7) Number of bars to enter (0=unlimited)
-
- You can specify the exact number of bars for real-time entry. If you
- type '0,' the number of bars will be unlimited. To change the
- number, simply place the cursor at this item and type a new number.
- Then press ENTER or an arrow key to record the number.
-
- (8) Stem direction for notes
-
- This item specifies the stem direction for the current real-time
- entry. You can select "up," "down" or "up or down" by pressing the
- SPACE BAR. These selections will result in all stems up, all stems
- down, or "floating" stems, respectively. ("Floating" stems will
- follow standard rules of stem direction, based on note head
- position.)
-
- (9) Staff entry mode
-
- Two entry modes are possible -- single staff and double staff.
- Single-staff entry mode places notes only in one staff area within
- the system. Prior to pressing Alt-F9 to start real-time entry, you
- must indicate the desired staff area by placing the cursor within
- that staff area.
- MusicPrinter Plus v3.2 DEMO 14
-
- Double-staff entry mode places notes in two adjacent staff areas,
- with the choice of staff depending on the pitch played. All pitches
- from the splitpoint to the top of the keyboard will be placed in the
- upper staff; all pitches below the splitpoint will be placed in the
- lower staff. Prior to pressing Alt-F9 to start real-time entry, you
- must indicate the staffs to be notated by placing the cursor within
- the UPPER of the two staff areas desired.
-
- Press the SPACE BAR to select single or double modes.
-
- (10) Splitpoint (use MIDI keyboard)
-
- During double-staff real-time entry all keyboard notes from this
- key to the highest note on the keyboard will be notated in the upper
- (right hand) of the two staffs. All notes below (to the left of)
- this key will be notated in the lower (left hand) staff. To set the
- cutoff pitch, place the cursor at this item and play the desired note
- on the synthesizer keyboard, or use the "+" or "-" keys to increment
- or decrement the pitch number.
-
- (11) Hand placement (RH if double-staff)
-
- In double-staff entry mode, you can choose to have the upper
- (right hand) staff part notated an octave lower than it is played on
- the keyboard, by setting this item to "octave above." When selecting
- this option, be sure that the splitpoint selected in item (9) above
- is an octave above the lowest note you wish to see notated in the
- upper staff. Octave offset allows a common notated area of almost an
- octave between the two staffs. Press SPACE BAR to choose options.
-
- In single-staff entry mode, you can choose to enter notes at
- pitch, or from an octave above or an octave below notated pitch.
- Press SPACE BAR to choose options.
-
- (12) Automatic or user-controlled metronome
-
- In automatic metronome mode, the computer will generate metronome
- pulses at a consistent tempo during real-time entry. In
- user-controlled metronome mode, you control the metronome pulses
- manually by pressing the CTRL, SHIFT or ALT key. Each press of one
- of these keys generates one lowest-note-value pulse.
-
- Press the SPACE BAR to select automatic or user-controlled modes.
- MusicPrinter Plus v3.2 DEMO 15
-
- (13) Notation mode
-
- Three notation modes are available:
-
- (a) user-imposed rests: no overlapping notes
-
- Single notes or chords can be entered in staccato fashion from the
- MIDI keyboard. Whenever a new note, chord or rest is begun, the full
- intervening duration will be assigned to the previous note or chord,
- and it will appear on screen. Rests are begun by pressing the SPACE
- BAR or the left mouse button. A note or chord held into a new note
- or chord will not be tied into the new note or chord.
-
- (b) user-imposed rests: overlapping notes. Similar to (a) above,
- except that a note or chord held into the beginning of a new note or
- chord will be tied into the new note or chord.
-
- (c) notes and rests as played. Note durations are determined by
- attack and release of each individual note. Rests are automatically
- inserted when no notes are sounding. Notes played shorter than the
- lowest note value (i.e., staccato notes) will be notated at the
- lowest note value.
-
- (14) Automatic playback
-
- You can choose to hear any previously-entered music while playing
- a new part in by setting this item to "enabled." Press SPACE BAR to
- choose between "enabled" and "disabled."
-
- (15) Automatic beaming
-
- Beaming can be accomplished during entry, after entry is
- completed, or not at all. Use SPACE BAR to toggle through these
- choices. When fast music is entered on slow computers, automatic
- beaming during realtime entry may lag behind the beat.
-
- Press PG DN to go to MIDI REAL-TIME ENTRY, PANEL TWO
-
- Items on MIDI REAL-TIME ENTRY, PANEL TWO:
-
- (1) Scale mode selection
-
- This item can be toggled among "major," "minor," "upward
- ascending" and "downward ascending" by pressing the SPACE BAR. As
- each choice is made, the spellings in the Pitch identification chart
- to the right will change, to indicate the default spellings of the
- keyboard keys within the current key signature.
-
- (2) Pitch identification
-
- Individual spellings within this chart can be changed by placing
- the cursor at the desired item, using the right or left arrow keys,
- and pressing the SPACE BAR. The spellings in the pitch
- identification chart will be the ones used for notation during
- real-time entry. To restore standard scale spelling as default,
- press F2.
- MusicPrinter Plus v3.2 DEMO 16
-
- (3) Leftmost columns to copy to new staff
-
- MusicPrinter Plus assumes that you will want to copy all material
- left of the first clef, plus the clef itself and any key signature to
- the immediate right of the clef, to each new system during real-time
- entry. The number shown in this item corresponds to the rightmost
- column number to be copied, allowing for different-sized signatures
- within the system. You will not normally need to edit this item.
-
- (4) Starting column (after current staff)
-
- This is the column in which the first note or rest will be written
- in every system except the starting system. This number is usually 3
- larger than the number given in item (3) above. You will not
- normally need to edit this item.
-
- (5) Channel for MIDI playback during entry
-
- This is the MIDI channel over which automatic playback (see item
- 14 on panel one above) will be sent.
-
- (6) Patch number for MIDI playback
-
- This is the patch number which will be sent to your synthesizer
- over the channel specified in (5) above, prior to MIDI playback
- during entry. If you are using the IBM Music Feature, the patch
- number will be assumed to be in the current bank.
-
- NOTE: When the cursor is placed on item 5 or item 6, notes played
- from the MIDI keyboard will be sent out over the specified channel,
- using the specified patch number. You can use this option to test
- and explore synthesizer patches directly.
- MusicPrinter Plus v3.2 DEMO 17
-
- (7) Echo MIDI-IN to MIDI-OUT
-
- When enabled, this item allows incoming MIDI signals to be
- forwarded to MIDI OUT.
-
- (8) Metronome Definition
-
- These items allow you to initialize your synthesizer and/or
- computer speaker as metronome during real-time entry.
-
- (a) MIDI synth metronome:
-
- If "status" is set to "on," the metronome pulses will be sent out
- via MIDI. Press SPACE BAR to toggle between "on" and "off."
-
- MIDI synth metronome channel
-
- This is the MIDI channel over which metronome pulses will be sent
- if status is set to "on." This channel need not be the same as the
- MIDI playback channel [item (5) above]. (Note: you can use items 5
- and 6 to set the desired patch on the MIDI metronome channel.)
-
- MIDI synth metronome pitches:
-
- You can set the actual MIDI pitch for downbeat, accented beats and
- unaccented beats, by playing the desired pitch directly on the MIDI
- keyboard, or by pressing "+" or "-" to increment or decrement the
- current pitch. Decrementing the pitch number to "0" turns the
- metronome off for that pulse.
-
- To hear a given pitch, set the cursor at the desired pitch item
- and press the SPACE BAR. Note that the synthesizer must be capable
- of playing the indicated pitch number on its current patch, in order
- for you to hear the sound.
-
- (b) Computer speaker metronome:
-
- If "status" is set to "on," the metronome pulses will be sent out
- through the computer speaker. Press SPACE BAR to toggle between "on"
- and "off."
-
- Speaker metronome frequencies in Hertz:
-
- You can set the actual frequencies in Hertz (cycles per second) for
- downbeat, accented beats and unaccented beats, by entering new numbers
- for each of these items, or by pressing "+" or "-" to increment or
- decrement the number. Entering a "0" turns the metronome off for that
- pulse. To hear a given frequency, set the cursor at the desired
- frequency number item and press the SPACE BAR.
-
- Pressing ESC from menu page 2 will return you to menu page 1.
- Pressing ESC from menu page 1 returns you to music edit mode without
- beginning real-time entry.
- MusicPrinter Plus v3.2 DEMO 18
-
- Press F10 from either of the two menu pages to continue. If using
- Automatic Metronome, you will hear the metronome clicking (always at
- the first subdivision level of the beat -- i.e., eighths or triplet
- eighths if the beat is a quarter note). In addition, you can see the
- current beat position on the status line at the bottom of the screen.
- You can raise or lower the tempo by pressing the "<" or ">" keys, the
- "+" or "-" keys, or by holding down the right mouse button while
- moving the mouse toward or away from you. (For fast tempo change,
- hold down the SHIFT key while pressing either the "<" or ">" key.)
-
- To begin real-time entry, press the SPACEBAR or left mouse button.
- The metronome will then begin a full bar countdown, and the word
- "COUNTING" will appear in the lower right hand corner of the screen.
- At the next downbeat, the word "RECORDING" will appear, and entry
- will commence.
-
- If using user controlled metronome, you will be in "RECORDING" mode
- immediately after pressing F10. Each press of the CTRL, SHIFT or ALT
- key will advance the recorder by one low-note value. Any notes
- played while the key is depressed will be assigned to that particular
- rhythmic position in the score.
-
- If you have specified the number of bars to enter, real-time entry
- will stop after that number of bars. To exit manually, press ESC.
-
- If while playing, you realize that you have erred so badly that you
- want to give up and start over, press "R". The erroneous music you
- have just entered will be cleared. If you are in Automatic Metronome
- mode, the metronome will continue clicking. You may change the tempo
- with the + or - keys, then press the SPACE BAR to begin the one
- measure countdown. If you are using the User-controlled Metronome,
- you begin entry immediately.
-
-
- Notes or rests will appear on the screen as soon as their length has
- been defined -- usually at the beginning of the next note or bar.
- Beams are added only at the end of a full bar.
-
- Upon pressing ESC, you have the option to review the newly entered
- notation, then to accept or discard the input by restoring the score
- to its state before the last real-time recording. Press ENTER to
- accept, Esc to undo, or press R to undo and restart the metronome for
- an immediate retry.
-
- UNDO is provided only if enough memory is available. UNDO from disk
- is disabled for this demo program.
-
- During real-time entry, notes and accidentals are allowed only one
- column each for chords, resulting in compressed notation. The
- automatic REFORMAT function will correct accidental and note-head
- placement, as well as compress all notation within a section to
- optimal width, while justifying to the nearest full bar.
-
- MusicPrinter Plus v3.2 DEMO 19
-
- SCORE REFORMAT
-
- After you have finished recording in real-time, or at any time during
- the editing process, press the Alt-F7 function key combination to
- access the REFORMAT feature. Reformatting starts with the system in
- which the cursor is located and continues through the last system in
- the score. All systems above the starting system will be left
- intact. The last system in the score may not be fully justified to
- fill the entire page width. This is to avoid ridiculously stretched
- out music.
-
- Before you begin the reformatting procedure, check your score for the
- following:
-
- 1) Slurs, trill extensions, first and second endings, text
- underlines, title lines and 8va extensions are not supported by the
- reformat function in the current version. Add these characters after
- executing REFORMAT.
-
- 2) Clef and key signature changes must be placed in the body of the
- score, not just in the header.
-
- 3) The header of the system where you begin reformatting is examined
- for piano brackets, clefs and key signatures. Be sure this header is
- complete regarding these characters. All characters in each column
- of the header will be copied to all the systems that follow. Be sure
- that any tempo marks or expressive indications are placed after the
- rightmost clef or longest key signature in the first header.
-
- To reformat an entire score, place the cursor in any staff of the
- first system. After pressing Alt-F7, you will be prompted to confirm
- the current score width in columns or to enter a new width. If you
- want to maintain the current width, press ENTER. Otherwise, type the
- new width in columns or use the ten-key pad plus or minus keys to
- modify the value shown. Press ENTER to start REFORMAT, or press Esc
- to cancel.
-
- Upon completion of REFORMAT, you have the option to review the score,
- then to accept it or undo the reformatted material by restoring the
- score to its state before REFORMAT was started. UNDO is provided
- only if enough memory is available. UNDO from disk is disabled for
- this demo program.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- (End of document.)