[solved] Still don't understand this thing about Inspector's User Velocity Type

• Aug 6, 2022 - 10:56

I still seem not to get some basics about the Inspector.
Here is what I do.
I take an empty stave:
gum_01.jpg
and fill the second measure of it with two notes:
gum_02.jpg
Then I set dynamics for that measure to "p":
gum_03.jpg
I check the velocity in Piano Edit Roll and I see that it is equal to 49, which is exactly what dynamics "p" is:
gum_04.jpg
But then I check the same two notes in Inspector and I see that in the "User" Velocity Type their Velocity is equal to zero!:
gum_05.jpg
Why is it so? Please note, that I did choose the "User" Velocity Type (not "Offset"), which, as far as I understand, should show me the absolute value. So why does it show me zero instead of 49?


Comments

In reply to by Jojo-Schmitz

Before posting, I spent some time thinking about whether I had to continue in that thread or open up a new one. I decided to open up a new one because there I learned the difference between "Offset" and "User" options of Inspector, but here I am dealing with one particular thing about the "User" option. It is still about Inspector, though.

You're not supposed to choose the user velocity type unless you specifically want to set the value to some absolute value (ignoring the dynamic). So, there is not really any default value at all. 0 just happens to be what is shown in this case because that is indeed the default for the offset. If you change offset to user, you are making a promise: I'm about to set the velocity I want. So it doesn't matter what value shows beforehand. Had you previously entered 42 as the value before changing from offset to user, you'd see 42 still, but it wouldn't matter, because the whole is, you'd be about to enter a new value.

If you're thinking changing to user will just show you the current dynamic's velocity value, it doesn't - although that could be a nice enhancement someday.

I assume it is not implemented perfectly, at least in version 3.6.2

Obviously neither the velocity in the inspector's menue nor in the piano roll editor do in every case a correct readout of the velocity values. Especially in velocity type 'User'. By changing the default type 'Offset' to 'User' the value zero (default for offset value) will not chance. You must enter a value greater than zero.
I recommend not to use manual velocity changes but to use the dynamics. By selecting the dynamic notation one can change the velocity value too to adapt to your personal preferences.

In reply to by HildeK

"By selecting the dynamic notation one can change the velocity value too to adapt to your personal preferences"

-- What exactly do you mean by "personal preferences"? Do you mean a preference to choose from the standard list of given dynamics (ffff, fff, ff, f, mf, mp, p, pp, ppp, pppp) or a preference to choose some finer dynamics lying between the standard ones? My original problem was that dynamic "p" was too loud, while "mp" was too soft (https://musescore.org/en/node/333997), so I was advised to use the Inspector.

In reply to by innerthought

Yes - use the Inspector on the dynamic. Add the dynamic you believe will lead human players to play what you intend, and then use use the Inspector to change the velocity of the dynamic itself. You only need to mess with velocity of individual notes if you want variation in dynamic within a single phrase (e.g., to bring out the melodic line against the accompaniment in piano of guitar music). And in most cases, it's better to stick to offset velocity. That way, the variation remains in effect even if you change the overall dynamic.

In reply to by innerthought

I meant to modify the value of the given dynamics. But this is only affecting the single selected dynamic sign.
If every "p" is too loud, select all "p"'s by select/More.../same subtype and change the velocity value of it. Repeat this with "mp" and others and choose your preferred value.
As far as I know, there is no possibility to set own velocity values as default for the dynamics. You need to do this for every score separately. Someone may correct me ...

In reply to by HildeK

After customizing one dynamic's properties, just Ctrl+Shift+drag it back to the palette. If you think you literally would never want the originl standard default, you can delete that one from the palette. But I'd recommend keeping both. The standard ones are the ones most people use and thus would be good for consistency when editing a score created by others, if nothing else.

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