Tech: Linux ABC writer

Subject: Tech: Linux ABC writer
From: DrugCrazed
Date: 04 Aug 11 - 05:16 PM

Anyone know of any? ABCExplorer is Windows only.

Subject: RE: Tech: Linux ABC writer
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 04 Aug 11 - 05:27 PM

Have a look through this list

I'm assuming you are looking for something with a GUI as you mention ABCExplorer?

The Java based Skink has a GUI and can export to abcm2ps for printing.

Although not listed as Linux there, the python based EasyAbc (source code download) will run under Linux. I couldn't get MIDI working as I wanted when I tried it but otherwise, I liked it.


Haven't tried any others in a while.

Subject: RE: Tech: Linux ABC writer
From: DrugCrazed
Date: 04 Aug 11 - 05:34 PM

I use Lilypond for other things, so I'm happy with a compiler type thing. Just didn't know of any.

Subject: RE: Tech: Linux ABC writer
From: Tootler
Date: 04 Aug 11 - 07:01 PM

ABC Navigator works OK with Wine.

Subject: RE: Tech: Linux ABC writer
From: GUEST,Grishka
Date: 06 Aug 11 - 08:07 AM

DC, what is "a compiler type thing"? abc2midi? abc2ly (which I never tried out)?

Subject: RE: Tech: Linux ABC writer
From: DrugCrazed
Date: 06 Aug 11 - 02:26 PM

Compiler type thing is what I call something I'd type out as if I were writing a program and something compiles it from command prompt.

Subject: RE: Tech: Linux ABC writer
From: GUEST,Grishka
Date: 06 Aug 11 - 03:13 PM

DC, with what result then? Written music: abcm2ps (Postscript), MIDI: abc2midi (mentioned in the list as abcMIDI). These two command line tools are the working horses of GUI tools such as JedABC, but they also work standalone.

Subject: RE: Tech: Linux ABC writer
From: DrugCrazed
Date: 06 Aug 11 - 05:23 PM

Abcm2ps might be useful, I'll give that a shot.

Subject: RE: Tech: Linux ABC writer
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 06 Aug 11 - 05:39 PM

abcm2ps is the best typesetting program for abc.

the abcmidi package contains a few programs, one of which is abc2midi. Others include midi2abc and abc2abc which will transpose abc.

Subject: RE: Tech: Linux ABC writer
From: pavane
Date: 11 Aug 11 - 04:22 PM

If only I could get my program running on Linux, even if under WINE.
It does all these in one program - Midi to abc, abc to Midi, transpose and lots more. But stuck with Windows at present.

Subject: RE: Tech: Linux ABC writer
From: AlexB
Date: 11 Aug 11 - 05:18 PM

I have on my computer the command line tools abc2abc, abc2midi, abcm2ps and abctool (which I think uses the others). And of course a simple text editor to actually write the notation.

Basically, programs like ABCExplorer use abc2midi, abcm2ps and ghostview at the back end. It might take a little longer to learn to use the programs separately from the command line, but they are much more powerful tools when used that way.

I speak as someone with experience of both ABCExplorer and the command line tools.

Subject: RE: Tech: Linux ABC writer
From: pavane
Date: 11 Aug 11 - 05:50 PM

AlexB - have you tried my program HARMONY?

The main function is not abc at all, that was just a way to get tunes in and out. Its original purpose was to add chords to a melody line.

On the way, I had to add score display, drag and drop editing, guitar tab, concertina tab, aligned lyrics, multiple voices, and all sorts of other things.

Subject: RE: Tech: Linux ABC writer
From: DrugCrazed
Date: 12 Aug 11 - 04:49 AM

abcm2ps is nice, but infuriating in little ways (having to put the -o = isn't fun, wish it was just implied).

I was mainly looking for stuff when I needed copies of the music outputted and was too lazy to rewrite in Lilypond...

Subject: RE: Tech: Linux ABC writer
From: treewind
Date: 12 Aug 11 - 05:24 AM

I rarely use abcm2ps by itself. It's wrapped up in a simple script called abcp which contains:

#!/bin/sh
fn=$(basename "$*" .abc)
abcm2ps --stretchlast 1 -O = "${fn}.abc"

...so I can just say: abcp mytune
and mytune.abc is converted to mytune.ps

More frequently I use a slightly longer script vabc ("View ABC") which does the same and then fires up gv to show the .PS file. The whole process takes about 3 seconds. It could make a PDF at the same time using ps2pdf but I usually do that by hand if/when I need it.

P.S. my knowledge of bash has improved since I wrote that, but it works...

Subject: RE: Tech: Linux ABC writer
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 12 Aug 11 - 05:42 AM

I was mainly looking for stuff when I needed copies of the music outputted and was too lazy to rewrite in Lilypond...

I'm not sure what you mean there but if it's to occasionally output existing abc, perhaps something like our abc converter would be useful to you.

Subject: RE: Tech: Linux ABC writer
From: DrugCrazed
Date: 18 Aug 11 - 03:52 PM

It's for creating pdf's for the folk group. I'm just lazy, and instead of just listening and writing it out, I go to the session and take the abc from there.

Treewind, that sounds useful. I'll just...borrow...that

Subject: RE: Tech: Linux ABC writer
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 18 Aug 11 - 03:59 PM

Your quickest route is route is probably to find the tunes using John Chamber's Tune Finder and grabbing the pdfs from there.