Power User Applications:
Seamless Integration of Sequencing, Notation, Music Scanning Automatic Accompaniment Generating Applications and More!
by
John Kuzmich, Jr.
November 17, 2007 at 8 a.m.
2007 Nebraska Music Educators Conference
This workshops offers
a great introduction workshop for learning Power-User software applications that is Gestalt psychology in a nutshell with the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. Power-User software applications are for producing quality music projects that require more than one software application to maximize the project. The secret in the Power-User concept is found in file conversions to import different data files into other powerful software applications for greater creativity and development! Read on for many tips and hints of how to take advantage of the many inherent Power-User capabilities.
Power-User Clinic Summary with Links Available at:
What Are The Essential Ingredients to Power-User Applications?
- Enhancing ones musical compositions by improving upon the content of Standard MIDI files when imported from one application to another.
- Creating music data files from music manuscript by scanning into a musical data or audio file.
- Converting PDFmusical score files into musical data or audio files.
- Coverting hand-written manuscript to a music data or audio file.
- Create rhythm section parts in an automatic generating application and import into a sequencer and/or notation applications.
- Great introduction concept for learning Power-User software applications that is Gestalt psychology in a nutshell with the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. Power-User software applications are for producing quality music projects that require more than one software application to maximize the project.
- Creating a SmartMusic accompaniment from a Finale file or from a another notation application via MusicXML or Standard MIDI file.
- Short-Cuts for Scaninng:
http://www.sbomagazine.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=B16EDBE264BC4662B215A2256B1B9B45&SiteID=6817839757EF4441818726B97A2175A5
- Short-Cuts for Web Scores:
http://www.sbomagazine.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=38E3A63FB1744A5DA5C0927E8FCAC262&nm=Archives&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=191B055B741644F683EFAA0391D6A86E
- Shorts-Cuts for Music Suites:
http://www.sbomagazine.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=D04B4A6FB6DF4E7E93C97E9C4E3E6A51
Many Creative File Conversion Options:
- MusicXML: http://www.recordare.com/xml.html, PC only. The MusicXML format was originally designed as an interchange format between different music notation applications running on Windows, Macintosh and Linux systems. It is a utility program that allows one to pen data files in different sofltware applictions even though the oriiginal data file is in a proprietary file format. This means data files between notation, sequencing and scanning programs can be opened up with more data than can be saved in a Standard MIDI file format. Standard MIDI files can be freely interchanged with all Power-User software appications. Note: MIDI files don't retain all of the file parameter properties as the original. For example, Standard MIDI files will not retain text, articulations, dynamics, title, phrasing marks, etc.
but will only retain notes, rhythms, ties, key signatures and time signatures.
MusicXML files have historically been very large. Version 2.0 of the MusicXML format adds a compressed format that makes MusicXML files about 20 times smaller than before, similar in size to the corresponding MIDI files.The compressed format also allows multimedia content to be distributed withi digital sheet music. There are 95 new features to version 2.0 over the previous version 1.1, including enhancements to capture the full appearance of a musical score. For example, both Recordare's
Dolet version 4 for Finale, plug-in, supports the new MusicXML 2.0 format as does Sibelius' newly released version 5.1.
- Wiith over 80 applications: http://www.recordare.com/xml/software.html .
The MusicXML format works with - Notation programs such as Finale, Sibelius, and capella - Scanning programs such as SharpEye Music Reader and capella-scan - PDF and MIDI music acquisition programs such as PDFtoMusic Pro and Notation Composer - Electronic music stands for organ and piano such as OrganMuse and MuseBook Score.
This combined support makes MusicXML far and away the most widely adopted music notation format since MIDI.
- Videos. There is one video showing how to use Dolet 3 for Sibelius to transfer files from Sibelius to Finale. It first shows how this works using MIDI files, and then how much better it works with MusicXML files. The high-resolution version is on their web site at: http://www.recordare.com/sibelius/video/dolet3sib.html
- There's also a low-resolution version available on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dU61MAuBD
- Steinberg has announced MusicXML import and export is coming in their Nuendo 4 Expansion Kit? More and more products are catching the wave.
- Sibelius 5.1 has been released, and it includes support for importing MusicXML 2.0 files. The end result is much better transfer from Finale,
- Mastering Music by Datasonics ( http://www.datasonics.com.au ). This is the most comprehensive integrated single product notation/sequencer application on the market with seven different editors to use to fine tune a composition with 400+ lessons mapped to all aspects of the music curriculum and 75 "how to" video tutorials. Opens up Standard MIDI files with more clarity and parameters than most notation software applications without requiring much editing.
- Opens up Band-In-A-Box files well with rhythm section parts and particularly the drums parts displayed in either concert pitch (for editing) or in standard percussion notation with correct written notes and head types for percussionists and drummers.
- Allows one to edit a notation file more deeply by having six different editors in the sequencer beyond a notation editor that goes beyond music notation: with: 1) global, 2) drum, 3) keyboard, 4) mixdown, 5) tempo and 6) event editors. Resulting that the composition has more performance enhancements than a traditional notation editor can allow.
- Because the six sequencing editors go beyond a notation editor, it is possible to enhance a standard MIDI file to have more performance parameters than it would if only used in a notation editor.
- Full integration of MIDI and Notation with all notation events have MIDI meaning including repeats, codas, fines, dynamics, note accents, trills, mordents and turns.
- Automatic displayed transposition for transposing instruments in notation plus automated vertical placement of tracks in a conductor score.
- Unlimited audio tracks can be recorded in total synchronization with the unlimited MIDI tracks. You can turn MIDI tracks into Audio tracks, then export a stereo audio wave file which can be burnt to a CD.
- Synchronize film clips to the music and edit this in both real and step time.
- With only one interface to learn, much easier to use both notation and sequencing applications within a single, integrated software package. You can use the applications faster.
- Notation Composer by
Notation Software, Inc.
(www.notation.com ).
An excellent MIDI-to-notation capabilities
Here's the story of MIDI file creation and use for transferring to other software applications.
- Imports MIDI files in both format 0 and 1 equally well. Very good interpretation of the MIDI events into Notation, especially in the interpetation of note lengths and positions and the split point for keyboards.
- Very good interpretation of played performance minimising post-editing to get a good score ready for printing.
- Notation Composer's editing tools fall into two categories: notation editing and MIDI editing. And the tools overlap. The overlapping of notation editing and MIDI editing is central to Notation Composer's overall strength.
- On the notation side, Notation Composer's notation editing tools are uniformly presented in the user interface. Most tools are alternatively accessible via palette buttons, menus, and keyboard shortcuts, thus offering the user a choice that best suits his preferred method of interacting with the software. It's relatively easy to navigate through a visual 3-level hierarchy of tabs and palettes to find the type of object you want to add, and just point and click in Add Mode.
- On the MIDI side, Notation Composer highly integrates MIDI with notation by graphically displaying the MIDI data on top of the notation. The best example is piano roll notation. Notation Composer was the first program three years ago to display piano notation on top of notes, and is still one of very few programs that does this. It's visually delightful to see. However, it's also quite informative. When you hear some extra swing added to notes, you can also clearly see it in the piano roll rectangles. Notation Composer displays individual note velocity vectors drawn out of each notehead. If the melody is in the top notes of the right-hand piano staff, you'll see longer velocity vectors drawn out of those notes. Notation Composer also draws MIDI graphs on top of the notes, such as for track volume level, tempo, pitch bend, and MIDI controls. You can easily edit the MIDI graphs with line drawing tools as well as with keyboard shortcuts.
- Exports Music XML making it compatible with well-known Notation programs.
- Music Scanning: the gift of transforming music manuscript into a music data file for printing, editing, playing and burning on to a CD. It is amazing how you can convert a music manuscript into a editable music file and import into your favorite music notation or sequencing application.
- Finale 2008 by MakeMusic (http://www.finalemusic.com/finale/), PC and Mac. The pioneer leader in music notation software. First one to incorporate a free scanning program. Finale 2008 has automatic configurations in its scanning program. Only original manufacturers: SmartScore, Neuratron and Sharp-Eyed.
- SmartScore: http://www.smartscore.com/smartscore.html , PC and Mac. The Cadillac of music scanning software. Offered in many different models and pricings.
- Version 5 can scan oversized documents beyond letter or legal size without cutting and pasting techniques. To view a PowerPoint slideshow on this can be accomplished, go to: http://www.kuzmich.com/NEW_Oversize_Scores.htm
- Your final score can match the original or you can rearrange, reformat, resize and manipulate it with drag-and-drop ease. Print with engraver-quality results.
- Export formatted pages to Finale ® , Sibelius ® , Personal Composer ® and more with MusicXML.
- Fastest scanning recognition on the market.
- Offer more symbols than any other music scanning product.
- Complete notation editing system.
- Sophisticated sequencer for playback.
- Playback is more accurate with greater nuance and sophistication.
- Dynamics, articulations, jumps and repeats have more intelligence with easy-to-use, easy-to-understand controls.
- Can scan up to 32 staffs per page.
- PhotoScore Lite and PhotoScore Ultimate by Neuratron (http://www.neuratron.com/photoscore.htm), PC and Mac.
Neuratron has designed and created the formidable OmniScore²™ dual-engine recognition system, incredibly making PhotoScore Ultimate 5 over 99.5% accurate. It
is capable of achieving very detail from a scanned page or PDF file and recognizes 4 and 6 line guitar tablature, 1, 2 and 3 line percussion staves, in addition to standard 5 line staves. It is importantly the world's first and only commercial program available that is designed to also read handwritten scores.
- Automatic scanning and recognition - removes the hard work of choosing scanner settings
- Plays back scanned music with astonishing realism using the Espressivo™ feature licensed from Sibelius
- Reads text from score in up to 120 different languages. Windows version can even read Greek and Russian.
- Transposes notation
- Opens and reads PDF files containing scores
- Recognizes handwritten music for note entry away from a computer
- It should read the jazz manuscript fairly well using the printed music recognition engine. The handwritten music recognition engine may find jazz a bit complex.
- Offers a MIDI version (PhotoScore Lite) that can import to any music notation application:
-
Ultra low price that will appeal to almost anybody
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Scans and reads printed music
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Opens and reads PDF files containing scores
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Accurate, fast and easy to use
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Plays back scanned music
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Results can be used in MIDI sequencing and editing software
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Uses a subset of the latest PhotoScore Professional music scanning technology
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Please note that this version does not read handwritten music, print scores, transpose, save MusicXML, NIFF, WAV, AIFF files
- Available for both Windows and Mac OS X (Universal Binary)
- PhotoScore MIDI Lite 5 reads the following musical markings:
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Notes & chords (including ties, tail direction, beams & flags), rests, in up to 2 voices per staff
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Flats, sharps and naturals
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Treble and bass clefs, key signatures, time signatures
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5-line staves (normal and small), standard barlines
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6-line guitar tab staves
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The format of the page, including the page size, staff size, margins, and where systems end
- Please note that tuplets/triplets, appoggiatura, cue-sized notes, text, articulation marks, slurs, hairpins, percussion staves, 4-line bass tab and guitar chord diagrams/frames are not recognized, and there is a limit of 12 staves per page, and 20 pages per score
Also note that PhotoScore MIDI Lite can save MIDI files only, and that these cannot be opened in PhotoScore for later editing. If you require this feature then PhotoScore Ultimate, which can save files in its native PhotoScore format, is recommended.
- SharpEye: http://store.recordare.com/sharpeye2.html, PC only. One of the most accurate music scanning programs available today. SharpEye 2 saves your scans of sheet music as MusicXML files so you can import them into Finale, Sibelius, MuseBook Score, or any other product that reads MusicXML. USA distributor is Recordare Music which offers technical support. Product made in Scotland.
- Version 2.68 includes support for MusicXML version 1.1. This lets you transfer much more formatting information to Finale and Sibelius, including page size, staff size, and system spacing.
- Capella-scan distributed in the USA by Recordare Music at: http://www.recordare.com/. PC only.
Music scanning made more usable, with built-in PDF reading and other images including TIF, bitmaps) and powerful editing tools. Here are some attributes of this German-made application.
- Capella-scan works directly with multi-page PDF files as well as music manuscript.. No more need to work with TIFF files. Capella-scan provides powerful tools to make sure that each musical part is identified correctly across multiple pages. ( GhostScript required.)
- If your scan was somewhat dirty?
No reason to worry. capella-scan is capable of tolerating slightly slanted lines and shadowy images.
- If the the staves at variable heights? Capella-scan is also capable of recognizing staves at varying heights in the score.
- You can see the results of the recognition process right away - preferably superimposed onto the original itself?
- Capella-scan plots the objects (notes etc.) that it has recognized directly into the scanned notes - and in color! So there's no need to spend extra time comparing and contrasting between two windows as is often the case for other note scanning programs.
- Do you have text and lyrics in different languages? Capella-scan uses the FineReader engine from ABBYY to recognize text. You automatically benefit from using this world leader in OCR technology. When the additional FineReader language libraries are installed, capella-scan can recognize text in over 100 languages.
- Would you like to use capella-scan in conjunction with your existing music program?
Thanks to its MusicXML and MIDI export functions, capella-scan provides you with contact to the outside word. You can use capella-scan in conjunction with other software products like Finale and Sibelius.
- Would you like to avoid using the indirect route via MusicXML format? Capella-scan has been optimized for their notation application, capella : Many of the score layout's properties are passed on to capella by capella-scan. This means that you will not have to edit the layout afterwards.
- It just takes three simple steps to scan in capella-scan.
- Using capella-scan, your sheet music is scanned into the PC.
- capella-scan takes one good look at your sheet music and plays back the score for you to hear.
- Export to either capella or MusicXML format, and use capella , Finale , or other programs to finish editing, transposing, and printing your music.
- AudioScore: http://www.neuratron.com/audioscore.htm. This means you can quickly and easily create scores using only your musical performance via microphone or MIDI keyboard . Alternatively, manually create scores by manipulating a simple, automatically generated performance without the need for any musical knowledge. Find out more about the features that make it an indispensable package for musicians of all levels:
- Mic-to-Score ™ Automatic Notation for creating a composition:
The bonus here is that AudioScore can can automatically create formatted scores from microphone.
- Create musical scores by singing or playing into your computer using only a microphone - no prior musical knowledge required!
- Then, if you wish, transfer your compositions easily into Sibelius and edit them further. Alternatively save MusicXML, NIFF, MIDI and Wave files for opening in other programs such as Finale and Cubase.
AudioScore Professional 3 uses highly sophisticated pitch recognition and rhythm analysis techniques to ensure it produces the highest quality notation and layout - with virtually no user intervention!
- Performance Training
- Let AudioScore Professional 3 train you!
- By receiving instant graphical feedback about the pitch of your performance over time, you should easily see where you are making mistakes and improve while you play . Train yourself to sing and play perfectly in tune and immediately see your improvement on-screen.
- AudioScore Professional 3 displays pitch error clearly and even enables you to hear how you should have performed either as a MIDI instrument or using your original voice or instrument.
Great for teachers and students alike!
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Musical Intelligence
- In addition to microphone, AudioScore Professional 3 allows you to build up a full score using MIDI instruments and uses the most advanced artificial intelligence technology to determine your intended rhythm and create accurate and musical score notation. This means it is possible to input music much more quickly than using the input features of a conventional notation editor. What's more, unless you really need it, the built-in metronome is not required!
Quickly Create Scores by Ha
- Quickly Create Scores by Hand -
Even if you cannot read or play music!
- AudioScore Professional 3 also introduces the novel concept of 'serving' you a set of notes already input which you can then quickly split, join, resize, and adjust the pitch of, purely on a performance level - no worrying about rests and technicalities such as the key signature, accidentals, augmentation dots, beaming, ties etc.
- Mic-to-MIDI™ Recording Device
Neuratron AudioScore MIDI Input allows you to sing or play directly into a notation editor or sequencer without the need for a MIDI keyboard. Simply choose the Neuratron AudioScore MIDI recording device in your favorite music program and hit Record! (Windows XP/Vista 32-bit only)
- MIDI File -to-Score Converter Open MIDI files in AudioScore Professional 3 to automatically create high quality printable scores.
- Wave , Score and MIDI Become One
- Whilst AudioScore Professional 3 is powerful and versatile , it remains easy to use and excels by integrating the three main musical formats: wave audio, score notation and MIDI sequencing. To understand what we mean and to learn about more amazing possibilities, please read on by clicking the button below...
- Original Creative Tools
Draw fluid pitch changes on screen and create new and exciting sound effects! Add vibrato to your original performance or gradually slow it down/speed it up. Sing into your computer and then hear what you sound like as a violin or any other MIDI instrument!
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VST Plug-in for Cubase
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Now you can input MIDI tracks into Cubase using your microphone! The VST plug-in uses the same incredible rhythm determination algorithms to ensure notes are aligned musically. (Win XP/Vista only).
- Wav-to-MIDI and Wav-to-Score™
- AudioScore Professional opens monophonic wave files which can then be edited and saved as MIDI files for opening in sequencers, or MusicXML, NIFF and PhotoScore files for opening in notation programs.
Wave files can also be used as an alternative to microphone or line-in input.
- PDFtoPro converts music scores saved in PDF file format to music files.
PDFtoMusic Pro is a product of Myriad software in France (www.myriad-online.com ). Run PDFtoMusic Pro.
It is also great for converting music from older notation program (e.g. Encore, Mosaic, HB Engraver, Music Printer Plus) that runs on Windows, Mac OS 9 or Mac :OS X) to a newer notation program. What helps to make PDFtoPro so powerful is that recognizes the music fonts, staff lines, etc. were drawn by the music progrfam. The PDF file has intelligent graphics rather than just a bunch of poixels from a scanl. So it can do a much better job of recognition, and create a more accurate MusicXML file.l
- The File: Wabash Cannonball.pdf .
- Open box comes up automatically on startup.
- Choose the saved PDF file for Wabash Cannonball. PDFtoMusic Pro will go through all the steps of recognizing the file.
- Hit the Play button in the toolbar.
- PDFtoMusic Pro will not only playback the file, it will sing the lyrics too. This file has a pickup bar and a repeat with 4 verses, and PDFtoMusic Pro handles all of it (but you'll probably want to stop playback after it starts repeating the 2nd verse).
- After stopping playback, use File > Export > MusicXML...
- To save the MusicXML file.
- Now start Finale 2008 and use the MusicXML import feature on the Launch Window to read the MusicXML file into Finale.
- The playback again stays correct with the pickup bar and all 4 repeats.
- Finale doesn't sing the lyrics though.
- You can repeat this with Sibelius if you like but the results don't look as good unless you have Sibelius 5.1 with MusicXML included.
- Some sharp-eyed person may notice that some of the chords come across as chords in Finale (the first and last systems) while others come across as text (the middle two systems).
- You can fix this in PDFtoMusic Pro by right-clicking on the text and changing it from Direction to Chord text. Look for a good demo file covering this but probably not in time for this clinic at http://store.recordare.com/pdftomusicpro.html. PDF music sources from notation programs for use with PDFtoMusic Pro. But the tricky thing with PDFs is to make sure they are generated by music notation programs, rather than being scanned in from paper.
- With PDFtoPro you can also create music scores from your other notation products like Band-In-A-Box and Digital Performer to MusicXML that does not support MusicXML.. The process:
- Print yiour score from any non-MusicXML to a PDF file. For Windows, you need a program like CutePDF, PDF995, Acrobat.
- PDFtoMusic recognizes the music fonts, staff lines, etc. that were drawn by the music program. The PDF file now has more intelligent graphics, rather than just a bunch of pixels from a scan and save it as a MusicXML file.
- Import the MusicXML file into Finale, Sibelius or yiour favorite MusicXML reader.
- Sources of PDF and MIDI musical scores.
Here are a few resources of PDF scores that I have found on the Internet.
- Band-In-A-Box: Automatic Accompaniment Generator With Notation and Sequencer Usefulness: (http://www.pgmusic.com), PC and Mac. A very good bridge between notation and sequencer applications to produce:
Perhaps the most intutive/fun creativity software you will ever use.
- Web pages with audio and/or MIDI file playback
- Practice accompaniments and CDs
- Improvised solos
- Harmonized melodies and automatic rhythm section accompaniments for compositions that can be imported into your favorite notation and/or sequencing software application.
- Produce rhythm section parts for notation and sequencing softwre applications.
- Developement does not share new features until a release, so you will need to watch for the MusicXML feature.
- SmartMusic: An interactive, intelligent accompaniment and performance assessment system by MakeMusic, the creators of Finale. .By converting Finale notation files to SmartMusic accompaniments, you have a great example of using two or more applications to produce a superior product. Here are the steps for incorporating the Power-User process with Finale and SmartMusic.
- Making a SmartMusic File
- Open Finale file in Finale. Note: scanning is the most efficient method but can also be played in or entered note by note.
- Make sure all instruments are named - see * Extracting Parts - Named
- Playback. Do the correct instruments sound.
- Save As ______.MUS (I've different name than arrangment/composition_?
- Use the Launch Window in Finale and select SmartMusic Accompaniment: usually Save Special - File Menu. It's a fully functioning file.
- Follow the menus and correct all SmartMusic errors., See section below entitled for :Correcting SmartMusic errors and make those changes in the Finale .MUS file.
- When all SmartMusic errors have been addressed, Save Special as SmartMusic accompaniment and go through this menu system.. Click OK
- Click for File Info. Fill in the blanks
- Identify the solo instrument and extracted file of the solo instrument
- Identify the rest of the ensemble that is not the solo instrument.
- Click OK to save to .SMP file format
- Close Finale and be sure to save the latest version since you can't edit in SmartMusic and you may have to go back later to re-edit it.
- Open SmartMusic
- Open File in th Finale Family Generated Files section.
- Find the file.
- Highlight the file and open it. It may take some time to open if it is a large ensemble score.
- Playback to check if the instruments are correct.
- In the Instrument box, click on it for the student can use this box for solo and/or accompaniment playback.
- How to Prepare SmartMusic Score
- Create individual parts if there are any divisi parts by adding addition staves for the exploding of two to a second stave: Clarinets: 2nd clarinet becomes possible
- Make score to fit
- Click on the Resize Tool which is a Percent icon
- Click on the upper left top part of the score and double click and the
- Resize page box appears: put in resize page in box to a lower percentage: 90%, or low depending on the number of staves added.
- OK