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MUSICPRINTER PLUS DEMO MANUAL (We recommend that you print out this manual for ready reference.) PREFACE Welcome to the MusicPrinter Plus Version 2.0 demo! This replaces the original Version 1.0 demo, and includes many features not found in that version. MusicPrinter Plus can be purchased from Temporal Acuity Products, Inc., Bellevue, WA, and includes a full 262-page instruction manual. MPDEMO is a fully-functioning program, with four exceptions: (1) You cannot save document or playback files to disk; (2) You can print only one page; (3) the program will end after 45 minutes of working time; and (4) Part Extraction is not included. The purpose of this demo is to allow you to discover for yourself how quickly and easily you can prepare score copy, and print or play back what you have written. 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 SCORE. 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 calls a G-clef into the cursor. Pressing "C" a second time calls a bass clef into the cursor. Pressing "C" a third time calls a movable C-clef into the cursor. A fourth 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 elaborate Help screens. Press the F1 key to bring up the Help screens.) 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 results in 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 jazz/chord symbol mode for quick entry of jazz and guitar symbols. 2 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, changing notation 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 is the only program that 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 parameters. 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 even begins to compare with MusicPrinter Plus's sophistication in the area of MIDI sequence generation. 3. PROFESSIONAL-QUALITY DOT MATRIX PRINTOUT. MusicPrinter Plus is the only music printing program that offers high-resolution graphic printing from dot matrix printers. Character resolution is 120 x 144 dots per square inch in 9-pin mode, and 180 x 180 dots per square inch in 24-pin mode. MusicPrinter Plus fully supports wide-carriage printers, and can print pages of any specified length. This means that you can take full advantage of dot-matrix versatility while achieving near-laser-quality printout. ---------------------------------- 3 GETTING STARTED If you are running MPDEMO with an IBM Music Feature, you must first run the program "MUSFEAT.EXE" before starting MPDEMO. If you are running MPDEMO on the Yamaha C1 Music Computer, you must first run the program "YAMC1.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 must specify your screen display type. Pressing the F7 key toggles through the various screen display types. If you do not specify the correct screen display type, the program will not run correctly. MusicPrinter Plus uses overlays for printing and help screens. The overlays are found in three files having the extension ".OVL". These must be available to the program in order for you to use the help screens or printing function. When running MusicPrinter Plus from a single floppy disk drive, place the program disk in that drive when accessing Help or Printing. When using multiple drives, or a hard disk, you can run MusicPrinter Plus from a directory other than the one containing the overlay files by entering the DOS command "SET MPPLUS=", followed by the drive and directory designation of the overlay files. MusicPrinter Plus document files are saved 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 upgraded every time you edit playback configurations. This is also true in the case of the example files supplied with MPDEMO. If you wish to make changes in the configurations of any of the example files, be sure first to save the original ".PRM" files, so that they can be preserved for the next user. MIDI playback files are saved with the extension ".ESQ". These files are in IBM/Yamaha standard "ESEQ" format, and can be played by other programs supporting that format. 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. ---------------------------------- 4 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, you will be shown a complete list of MusicPrinter Plus document files in that drive and directory. 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 file, 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 standard printers, each column in MusicPrinter Plus is 1/12 inch (12 pitch). For 24-pin small, each column is 1/18 inch (18 pitch). Standard 9-pin printers, using 8-1/2" by 11" paper, will use the menu's default values. 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. ---------------------------------- The uses of the computer keyboard and mouse in score edit mode are fully documented in the Help screens. You should thoroughly read through the Help screens before proceding to create a score. In addition to the cursor control and note-entry information included in the Help screens, the following controls are available using a MIDI keyboard, by pressing the appropriate program-change buttons (the keyboard MIDI OUT must be connected to the MIDI IN of your MIDI interface card): PROGRAM CHANGE BUTTONS: #1 Enter character at cursor position into score #2 Remove character at cursor position from score #3 Move cursor one column to the left #4 Move cursor one column to the right #5 Raise the rhythmic value of the current note or rest, or increase the value of a dynamic mark #6 Reverse cursor stem direction #7 Toggle between note and rest #8 Add or remove rhythm dot - note or rest #9 Toggle between flat and double flat #10 Toggle between sharp and double sharp #11 Select a natural #12 Toggle among four staccato marks #13 Toggle between two accents #14 Toggle among three Forte symbols #15 Toggle among three Piano symbols #16 Select a quarter note or rest 5 MIDI PERFORMANCE MPDEMO Version 2.0 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 "MUSFEAT.EXE" before starting MPDEMO if you are using the IBM Music Feature, and "YAMC1.EXE" before starting MPDEMO on a Yamaha C1 computer. The IBM Music Feature can be used as a synthesizer directly. The 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 and rests. Misaligned notes or rests will cause rhythmic inaccuracy during playback. Bar lines must also be vertically aligned. Misplaced bar line alignment will cause insertion of an entire bar rest into the playback. 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.) 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 (the stronger of the two). 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. 6 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 (') 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. 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 eight-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. 7 NON-DUPLE RHYTHMS MusicPrinter Plus handles non-duple rhythmmic subdivisions by altering its rhythmic reading mode. The non-duple reading mode indicators are found on the SHIFT-P key. The "3" symbol indicates beginning triple mode (durations are accorded 2/3 their normal value); the "5" symbol indicates beginning quintuple mode (durations are accorded 4/5 their normal value); the "7" symbol indicates beginning septuplet mode (durations are accorded 4/7 their normal value); and the "9" symbol indicates beginning 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. To use these symbols, place a beginning 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. CONFIGURATING 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, the "Trill Value," the crescendo/diminuendo mode and the dynamic range. 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. 8 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. DYNAMIC RANGE A setting of 12 provides widest dynamic contrast between loud and soft. Lower settings decrease the dynamic contrast. 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. 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. 9 DYNAMIC BALANCE This sets the relative dynamic setting for this 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.) 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 that MusicPrinter Plus allows only one synthesizer voice to be assigned per channel.) 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 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 10 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 THE IBM MUSIC FEATURE 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 carde 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".