Tech: It's finally here - HARMONY 3.2.7

Subject: Tech: It's finally here - HARMONY 3.2.7
From: pavane
Date: 11 Mar 04 - 03:18 PM

This is the long-promised new version which lets you play a tune into the PC using a MIDI instrument.

As I haven't been able to test with a variety of instruments and systems, I am just having to HOPE it works for you. Please let me know if not.

Find it at www.greenhedges.com

Subject: RE: Tech: It's finally here - HARMONY 3.2.7
From: MudGuard
Date: 11 Mar 04 - 03:49 PM

Thanks!

My problem has not completely gone away (now it only happens about every fourth time), but I can live with the "Retry" option.

Subject: RE: Tech: It's finally here - HARMONY 3.2.7
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 11 Mar 04 - 07:15 PM

MudGuard - have you tried cycle clips?
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Tech: It's finally here - HARMONY 3.2.7
From: MudGuard
Date: 11 Mar 04 - 07:16 PM

???

Is this some joke which I don't catch because of my weak English?

Subject: RE: Tech: It's finally here - HARMONY 3.2.7
From: BanjoRay
Date: 11 Mar 04 - 08:05 PM

Try explaining that one in German, Geoff!
Ray

Subject: RE: Tech: It's finally here - HARMONY 3.2.7
From: pavane
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 04:31 AM

Oh yes, the other important change is that 'Edit as abc' option is restored, in improved (I hope) form. The program action is to EXPORT the current tune to abc format, and present it as a text file for editing. It will then re-import to replace the tune in memory, unless you cancel the changes.

Note that it has to re-parse the abc because of changes made.

ALSO: You can now select several (non-contiguous) notes or groups of notes, which can be copied to the clipboard and pasted as a single phrase. Done by the usual method of holding down the SHIFT key as you select.


For details of other changes and bug fixes, see What's New in the Help.

Subject: RE: Tech: It's finally here - HARMONY 3.2.7
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 08:32 AM

Pavane - I apologise for thread creep - it just seems to happen. I keep intending to investigate Harmony properly, but never seem to find enough time to do so. I get as far as downloading it, perhaps even instaling the new version, then I find that the 30 day tryout has expired and I've not managed to actually use it for anything.

MudGuard - I've always found your english excellent - Joke - almost...
Translation - cycle clips - "C" shaped bits of spring metal placed around the lower leg of a cyclist wearing long trousers, to hold the material safe from being caught in the cycle chain, or snagging on the bike frame.
There is a long British tradition probably dating from Music-Hall of poor jokes referring to bodily functions - on the lines of:-
Patient - "Doctor. I am having a problem with wind (flatulence)"
Doctor - "Have you tried bicycle clips?"
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Tech: It's finally here - HARMONY 3.2.7
From: MudGuard
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 10:27 AM

Ok, I understood the words (cycle clips) but did not understand the connection with the software problem.

And no, I did not know that flatulence joke.
In your example - is the patient's name Catspaw? ;-)

Subject: RE: Tech: It's finally here - HARMONY 3.2.7
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 12:28 PM

No Andreas cycle clips are recommended for bad diarrhoea, not flatulence. If the hot air is not allowed to escape you may become airborne.
This is not to be confused with the joke as follows....
Q. How do you know when a girl is wearing tights [pantyhose]
A. Her ankles swell when she farts..

Hope that clears the confusion.

John [What thread creep?]

Subject: RE: Tech: It's finally here - HARMONY 3.2.7
From: pavane
Date: 13 Mar 04 - 03:58 AM

Geoff

Once the timeout has expired, it cannot be reset by installing a new version, or reinstalling - this would defeat the purpose of a time-limited demo!

If you can't get it to work, then when you are ready, PM me and I will tell you how to reset it

Subject: RE: Tech: It's finally here - HARMONY 3.2.7
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 15 Mar 04 - 08:06 AM

My problem is finding time to sit and play. I'm not complaining about the time limit - that is quite fair - it's more a general whinge about reality ganging up on me....
:@)
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Tech: It's finally here - HARMONY 3.2.7
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 15 Mar 04 - 08:10 AM

I notice on your website that Harmony can make "Ring Tones". I presume that we mean them things on mobile phones.
Does it convert from a MIDI? and how do you get your end result onto your own phone?
Just curious.
Geoff.

Subject: RE: Tech: It's finally here - HARMONY 3.2.7
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 15 Mar 04 - 08:48 AM

I went to the web page, and I feel that you need to provide more information about Harmony. Right now, all I can do is download the trial version. That's a big step to take without knowing more. For example, I have found over the years that loading a new program can interfere with existing programs, especially music programs.

Some visitors to the site won't even know that Harmony is a music program.
---------------
Guys - enough about the flatulence and the bicycle clips. Pavane has worked hard on his program, and de-railing this thread isn't fair.

Subject: RE: Tech: It's finally here - HARMONY 3.2.7
From: pavane
Date: 15 Mar 04 - 10:41 AM

Thank you Leeneia

There IS a music page on the site, but I will add a note on the home page. This is the kind of constructive feedback we need!

HARMONY shouldn't interfere with any other program, and it doesn't try to hijack existing file type assignments.

Geoff,
The Ring Tone facility is only for those phones with a 'composer' facility where you have to type in an obscure sequence of codes on the keypad to get the tune you want.

HARMONY can display the sequence of key presses to create a ring tone from any tune which it can load (from abc or other source such as simple MIDI). Only for specific phone types though. I don't have time to implement it for EVERY type of phone.

Subject: RE: Tech: It's finally here - HARMONY 3.2.7
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 15 Mar 04 - 10:49 AM

It gives you instructions of which keys to press, but you then have to type them into the phone yourself? Is that correct? It saves you the "thinking" bit of the exercise?
Still sounds useful.
Quack!
Geoff.

Subject: RE: Tech: It's finally here - HARMONY 3.2.7
From: pavane
Date: 15 Mar 04 - 11:46 AM

Spot on. I didn't manage work out even a simple tune without this help.

Subject: RE: Tech: It's finally here - HARMONY 3.2.7
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 15 Mar 04 - 12:48 PM

Thanks. I've downloaded it and at first glance, it does offer a lot.

I've already hit an error though. On the second attempt at playing the Mullingar Races (chosen as a tune I'm familiar with as a starting sample) and having changed the view (and perhaps also requested the tune a second time). I'm getting "Failed to write C:\Program Files\Harmony\T0000001000.mid". It then works for me if I hit "retry".

.. looking further into this as I'm typing here... It seems it occurs when I try to re-play a midi that is already playing... (something I'm quite likely to do) If that is the case, maybe a MIDI "stop" and deletion of old file could save a minor annoyance.

Just a thought...

Jon

Subject: RE: Tech: It's finally here - HARMONY 3.2.7
From: MudGuard
Date: 15 Mar 04 - 01:01 PM

Hello Jon,

so I am not alone with this "problem".

My error report caused pavane to build in the retry option.

Andy/MudGuard (remembering a nice walk down the Great Orme with you, Jon)

Subject: RE: Tech: It's finally here - HARMONY 3.2.7
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 15 Mar 04 - 01:20 PM

Just one other report now I know I'm not alone... This may or may not be relavant but, sometime back, I wrote (read hacked together) a simple C++ program to help me run abcm2ps and abc2midi from a textediting box. It just about did what I wanted but a found a problem when I changed from Win98 to Win2K. Although my temp MIDI file was overwritten under '98, an explicit "remove" was required under '2K.

Drifting, but Andy, I'm glad you enjoyed that little walk. As you may know, I'm on or near the other (East) coast of the UK now. I still think the Great Orme is a nice spot though...

Jon

Subject: RE: Tech: It's finally here - HARMONY 3.2.7
From: pavane
Date: 16 Mar 04 - 02:08 AM

Hi
Whenever you hit the PLAY command. it DOES do a call to stop the existing temporary MIDI file playing, and delete it, but for some reason it doesn't work on your systems.
Are you BOTH on Win 2000? Maybe the VB KILL command doesn't work on that.

Subject: RE: Tech: It's finally here - HARMONY 3.2.7
From: MudGuard
Date: 16 Mar 04 - 04:04 AM

I am on Win2K and Jon reports this problem on Win2K as well, but not on Win98...

So yes, we are both on Win2000

Don't ask me about VB commands...

Subject: RE: Tech: It's finally here - HARMONY 3.2.7
From: pavane
Date: 16 Mar 04 - 05:56 AM

I will add a note to the documentation/help file about this as a known problem. (In the next release, of course)