Notation app... way cool

Subject: Notation app... way cool
From: gnu
Date: 12 Apr 15 - 08:45 AM

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152857159429389&fref=nf

Subject: RE: Notation app... way cool
From: maeve
Date: 12 Apr 15 - 10:22 AM

A thing of beauty.

Subject: RE: Notation app... way cool
From: GUEST,nickp cookieless
Date: 13 Apr 15 - 05:36 AM

Wow. Not got the tech for it at the moment (although I have got a USB pad/pen... wonder if that would work) but must bookmark this for the day I do.

Subject: RE: Notation app... way cool
From: Jack Campin
Date: 13 Apr 15 - 08:00 AM

Is it only for Facebook members?

Subject: RE: Notation app... way cool
From: GUEST,nickp
Date: 13 Apr 15 - 08:29 AM

don't thinks so. But google StaffPad and look there

Subject: RE: Notation app... way cool
From: GUEST,Grishka
Date: 13 Apr 15 - 08:46 AM

"Way cool" translates "admirable technology of questionable practical use". In fact, graphics pads have been around for a long time, popular with visual artists but not with musicians, particularly not with those like me who know how it feels to write a musical score by hand.

Notation software works best with other input devices, of various learning curves and efficiency. Mudcat's favourite "ABC notation" does not perform too badly in that context.

Subject: RE: Notation app... way cool
From: maeve
Date: 13 Apr 15 - 09:14 AM

Jack- The link worked for me, and I am not on FB.

Subject: RE: Notation app... way cool
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 13 Apr 15 - 09:50 AM

For me, the hard part of notating music is getting the timing right. I do that my making a guess, entering it on Noteworthy Composer, and telling Noteworthy to play it back. If it sounds right, I've done it. If not, I try some other timing.

I'm sure many people have the same problem.

I watched the video for a while, and it's visually impressive. But does the app play the music back? If it does, then it is indeed way cool.

Subject: RE: Notation app... way cool
From: maeve
Date: 13 Apr 15 - 12:09 PM

leeneia- When i looked at the linked demo it indicated the app does play back using a whole range of instrument sound samples.

Subject: RE: Notation app... way cool
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 13 Apr 15 - 09:05 PM

Sounds useful, then.

Subject: RE: Notation app... way cool
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Apr 15 - 10:45 PM

The Curse of Idleness and a Good Ear - Never learned to read music properly - Got away with "By Ear" and faking - Still manage to get paid for playing often enough , though i DO know learning new tunes would be easier if I could Sight read .

Subject: RE: Notation app... way cool
From: Leadfingers
Date: 13 Apr 15 - 10:48 PM

OOPS ! That was me - I ALWAYS forget to log in on this Poser Apple !!

Subject: RE: Notation app... way cool
From: GUEST,Grishka
Date: 14 Apr 15 - 08:09 AM

There are many ways of entering music into software. Playing it on a MIDI keyboard with the software tapping time, as presumably done by leeneia, is just one of them, each with its own pros and cons.

I think most of us are best off with the following method: choose the note value (length) on the computer keyboard with the left hand, play the notes on a MIDI keyboard with the right hand. This system is offered by all notation software I know of. It is particularly efficient for single-voice music.

The StaffPad method may be a miracle of technology, but its usefulness seems to be restricted to small pieces of music being notated by people who want immediate success without learning. And, of course, to those who want to boast their "way cool" acquisitions on parties.

Subject: RE: Notation app... way cool
From: GUEST,Stim
Date: 14 Apr 15 - 03:17 PM

No iPad version, which makes it irrelevant, since Mac is the preferred platform for most teachers, composers, arrangers, and music professionals. Beyond that, there are other apps that does what it does--

Subject: RE: Notation app... way cool
From: Jack Campin
Date: 14 Apr 15 - 05:04 PM

Also, no information about what formats it can export. If you can't save your composition in a format that you can re-use long after the last Microsoft Surface has been recycled, what good is it?

Subject: RE: Notation app... way cool
From: ripov
Date: 14 Apr 15 - 07:40 PM

> Jack, the literature says musicxml or midi, and mp3 or wav. I presume you would like bmp, which is probably the most intuitive graphics format, having no compression or encoding.   No mention of printed output but most programmes have a "print" menu item, so I guess you could probably use one of those pdf drivers like Doro. I can't imagine this is different.
A lot of folkies seem to use those little what I call "slate pc's" for words and music at sessions, so it could be a welcome addition to their abilities if it's any good.

There is a "con spirito" discussion (ie with a modicum of inter manufacturer rivalry) with lots of information at sibelius blog which seems to cover good and bad points fairly well. It's encouraging to see the numbers of people commenting there and especially viewing the staffpad homepage.

It does appear that the programme (a better categorisation than "app". which appears to be what microsoft calls an internet shortcut, which used to live in the "favorites" folder if you weren't bothered about security) still has some shortcomings and requires a bit more work.

> Leadfingers - no, reading doesn't help you remember! I can (or rather could, in a previou sincarnation) sight read almost anything. But take away the dots and I couldn't even remember what note it started on! YOU have not only the ability to remember the tunes, but the (not universal either) ability to choose the right chords!

Subject: RE: Notation app... way cool
From: Jack Campin
Date: 15 Apr 15 - 05:06 AM

MusicXML is the way to go as an interchange format for this sort of thing. The others are irrelevant as ways to store a written composition so you can re-use it.

A lot of folkies seem to use those little what I call "slate pc's" for words and music at sessions, so it could be a welcome addition to their abilities if it's any good.

They're promising something different - tablets in sessions are essentially read-only, this is touted as a composition tool.

I could see it suiting some people very well, assuming they can make it work as well as promised. Being platform-dependent isn't that big a deal; if a piece of software is good enough people will buy whatever hardware it takes to run it.