EXTEND NOTE TIME WHEN PLAYING WITH > STEP FUNCTION

• Jan 30, 2022 - 20:45

Hello, Folks. I still keep trying to do accomplish my goal: To play scores at my own pace. In order to do that, I finally designed a 'rhythm remover' software for the MIDI scores, making all notes 'quarter notes'. I then played the score with the step function on MuseScore (> on the computer keyboard). It works fine, except for the fact that I cannot keep the note playing for long notes played by me, at will: MuseScore always plays now a short note, a 'pulse' generated by its software. Bottom line: Does anyone know an EASY way to keep the note playing until I release the > key on my QWERTY computer keyboard? Thanks much! Cheers, Julian

scH13756.mscz


Comments

  1. You'll need to assign sounds that don't naturally decay (so no Piano/Guitar for example)
  2. Open the Play Panel and turn the tempo slider all the way down so it plays really slowly; consider adding slower tempo markings to the score for even more slowdown (or a plugin such as TempoStretch)
  3. Start Playback
  4. Use right-arrow to make it advance faster than it is.

In reply to by julianort

The tempo slider in the play panel is a temporary override thing that doesn't get saved between sessions. But you don't have to reset it on every play; only when you reload MuseScore.

Tempo markings in a score are saved within the score

The other things aren't settings.

In reply to by jeetee

Hello again, jeetee

That works well for standard playback, but not for "EXTEND NOTE TIME WHEN PLAYING WITH > STEP FUNCTION", my need, unless I made a mistake. Do you think there is any other way to make it happen?

One more question, please: Can I use the > step function with MuseScore on my Android and Apple cellulars?

Thank you again. Julian

In reply to by julianort

PS: For question 1, I think there was a misunderstanding. You are right, only that I have to go to the PLAYBACK function first and from there use the > key. Now, since you were the creator of TempoStretch: I downloaded and installed it, but I don't find it on the score with a slider. With F11, I opened a tempo slider, but the minimum tempo I get is 10 BPM. Is that value reached with the installed TempoStretch? I would need something around 5 BPM or even less if possible at all...

Thank you!

In reply to by julianort

The scrubbing method is during playback indeed. As for whether the mobile apps support such a function, you'd have to ask over at the .com site. The mobile apps are not part of the open source notation software effort.

The temposlider in the play panel is the built-in temporary tempo override; changing this slider affects playback but does not change your score.
If you've enabled the TempoStretch plugin you also need to run it. The plugin also shows you a slider/value where you can change the tempo of the score from 1% to 400%. The plugin changes the score. It updates all tempo markings in the score to achieve the desired playback tempo. The plugin applies either over the selected range or the full score (if nothing is selected).

In reply to by julianort

Rather than throwing a video inside a word document, consider sharing your actual score itself; so we can inspect the tempo marking inside it. Your video doesn't show the tempo properties, nor the plugin running/being run, nor the playback toolbar; so it is lacking way to much information to be of any value.

Just attach the mscz itself and tell use where to click/what to do to see what is going wrong for you and what you'd expect instead.

In reply to by jeetee

jeetee:

Thank you for your prompt reply. Now, the reason I am sending you the video is because it is the only way to practically show what I need. This result (playing note by note with a violin with MuseScore) was achieved via a different music forum, but whoever did it never explained how…

If you go back to my posts (Jan 30, 2022 - 20:45, Mar 6, 2022 - 17:18) it will probably refresh your memory regarding my needs. However, let me rephrase them in simple words:
1- I open the only quarter notes score in MSC4 (attached).
2- I choose an instrument to play it.
3- I click on top of the clef.
4- I start playing with the > computer key.
So far so good, but for sounds that don't naturally decay. If I want to play a violin, for example (as shown in my video), the notes must be stretched.

Our project runs on a sophisticated microprocessor instrument built with the aid of the Colombian Government Laboratories (see attached picture, please) to be used with MuseScore, and with the purpose of playing music, especially for children and disabled persons (also adults). With this microprocessor device we can silence gradually or totally the stretched notes at will at any point of the MuseScore file. That way, we can control all the score sounds’ volume. I think your TempoStretcher would be extremely useful for the project.

In summary, I need simple step-by step instructions (1,2,3…) in how to achieve this goal.
Would you help, please?

Thank you!

Julian

Attachment Size
Salomia 1.jpg 184.87 KB
MAR TEST.mscz 28.49 KB

In reply to by julianort

Hello, again.
While I wait for an answer from jeetee or some other folk who could be kindly ready to help, I prepared another score: nothing but quarter notes; needing 10 second duration max for all notes and using the step function “>” on the computer keyboard to play note by note (my own rhythm) with TempoStretch or in any other way. See attached, please.
Can it be made? Sounds simple for an expert to solve… (not a layperson like me) If not: May it be possible that MusiScore4 is defective (glitch) and cannot perform in the step mode? If so, who would be able to fix it?
Thank you!

Attachment Size
Air on the G string.mid 1.7 KB

In reply to by julianort

TempoStretch does not change the live playback of a score, it changes the tempo markings inside it. A step you're currently missing (or didn't clarify) is to actually start very slow playback by musescore itself. The arrow key is then only used to "speed through" the very slow playback it is performing.

1- I open the only quarter notes score in MSC4 (your MAR TEST.mscz).
2- I choose an instrument to play it. (I chose the Violin 1 (solo) instrument from Muse Sounds)
3- I ran the TempoStretch plugin and set it to 1%. You'll see the tempo indication (1/4 = 100) change to (1/4 = 1).
4- Click on the very first note in the score.
5- Press spacebar to start playback.
6- Advance to the next note when desired by pressing the right arrow key

In reply to by jeetee

Thank you, Jeetee

However, I have now realized that when I keep the > key pressed, the song automatically keeps jumping to the next note, repeatedly … Ooops! What I'd like is that:

After I hit the spacebar (as per your instructions), “5- Press spacebar to start playback.", I get:
6-Advance to the next note when desired by pressing the right arrow key >. That note will keep playing until you release the >. (This I how a standard instrument works.)

FYI, just a comment, our universal instrument manages to mute the sound when not needed; that way we choose the duration of a note that is played in the background.

Thank you again.

Julian

In reply to by jeetee

Thank you, Jeetee for this honest -although shocking and disappointing- reply. As you may know I have been a loyal MusiScore (paid) customer for a long time now, trusting the professional judgement of this “ORG”. That is why -as a user- I spent much time and money developing our musical instrument based on this notation software, specially designed for children, elders, and disabled. No offense, I wonder why the extremely useful STEP function (> key) was so poorly designed, contrary to common sense and logic (the standard way musical instruments perform, that is: playable manually-hold-note-during-key-press application, e.g., an organ.) I think that being a nonprofit organization, the opinion of us users should always be kind and seriously considered. I would much appreciate it if you’d reach Tantacrul and/or other designers letting them know, then, this point of view for a fix in the next version, if possible at all. I even sent once a letter via FedEx asking for help to Cyprus headquarters… That is how much this situation concerns us.

Finally, for a last try, is it possible to make the round notes (see attached score, please) play for 10 seconds MAX after I hit the > key, and retrigger the playing with the following note if I hit the >? How?

Thank you so much.

Julian

Attachment Size
TEST KORG.mscz 17.3 KB

In reply to by julianort

> I wonder why the extremely useful STEP function (> key) was so poorly designed
Because what you call the "STEP-function" (as hinted at in my previous reply) isn't one. The right arrow key issues the "Go to next element" command. As it happens to also work during playback, it can be a viable workaround for people looking for scrubbing playback.

MuseScore doesn't have a scrubbing playback, nor a step playback function. The method I offered is nothing more than a hack which may help meet some of the user scenarios for wanting such a playback function, no more, no less.
Looking at the current issue listing over on GitHub, it seems no feature request is open to request such a playback mode. This would be a first step into getting your desired function onto the list of possible future additions. Being on there does not hold a guarantee that such a function will be included, nor in which version (album functionality anyone?); but it is the way to have your proposal seriously considered and a chance that someone in the community might volunteer their free time on it if they too value it as high as you do (and have the necessary skillset).

As an additional clarification: while I'm sure the MuseScore company appreciates you being a subscribing member of their online score sharing platform. However, such a subscription is entirely irrelevant towards the open source development of the notation software itself. All feature requests are evaluated and weighed against each other, regardless of who submitted them.

In reply to by jeetee

Dear jeetee:

Thank you again for your reply. However, I am not sure that I totally agree with your sayings.

1- The way we call things may vary, even country to country. Some other notation software (see attached screen shot) offer the STEP function, which works in a comparable way to the > in MuseScore. What ‘exactly’ scrubbing and stepping is in MuseScore and other software are is not truly clear to me and probably to others I consulted.

2- Checking the forum, you will find the many unsuccessful attempts (TempoStretch, etc.) we did to make MuseScore work as I (and many others) need, something simple and logical for a standard musical instrument; that is: Manually-hold-note-during->key press application. Then jump to the next note when > is released and pressed again. Doesn’t that make a lot of sense? That is why I was confused not understanding what the criteria of use was in the design of the > function, whatever you want to call it. Nevertheless, I will follow your instructions regarding GitHub.

3- You apparently forgot about my last question regarding the attached score (or I was not clear enough in my request). Let me rephrase it in very simple words:

"The attached short score should be an all-round note, 10 seconds each. How do I properly write that score in MuseScore notation for it to be played that way?"

Thank you again for your cooperation.

Julian

Attachment Size
step.png 5.37 KB
TEST KORG.mscz 17.3 KB

In reply to by julianort

Re 1. and 2.
What we call things most certainly matters. Because it keeps boiling down to this: what you call a STEP function and is present in other software by other names is simply not available in MuseScore.

The right arrow key ("go to next element" command) is NOT in any way intended to be such a thing! It's intended usage it to enable keyboard navigation of the score during score editing.
The fact that is seems to be (at least currently) not disabled during playback allows us to abuse it to skip to the next note sooner during normal playback.

I will once more iterate: There is NO step function implemented in MuseScore and GitHub is the place to request one. I'll refer you to one of my previous old replies as well:
[...]start very slow playback by musescore itself. The arrow key is then only used to "speed through" the very slow playback it is performing[..]

  1. I didn't address your original request there, as it built on the assumption that MuseScore has a STEP playback mode/function; which it does not.
    If you want a whole note to last 10s MAX, then you could try setting the tempo marking to quarter = 24 and the playback tempo slider at 100%. But that also means that after those 10s MuseScore will continue it's slow playback and move on to the next note, because it is.. playing back.

In reply to by jeetee

OK… We don’t seem to understand each other very well. I will rephrase, again, my LAST question:

The attached short score should be an all-round note, 10 seconds each (fixed). How do I properly write that score in the MuseScore software notation for it to be played NOTE BY NOTE with the > that way, whatever you want to call it? (NOT BY PLAYING BACK AUTOMATICALLY!)

Would you kindly send your edited mscz?

Thank you!

Julian

In reply to by julianort

Firstly, by > key do you mean 🠖 (the right-pointing arrow key)? By default, the > key creates a decrescendo.

Changing the duration of notes only has an effect on Playback or on creating an audio file from a score. Pressing the keys and stepping through the notes is not playback, it is sounding out the note to help you when editing the score. Each time you press the key, MuseScore plays the note for a fixed duration. You cannot change this for each note.

In reply to by julianort

You can request all you want, but you cannot achieve what you want unless you write some new code and change the MuseScore program to do something different from what it does at present. It is intended to create well-engraved music and it does this very well. Playback is helpful, as is sounding notes and chords when editing a score. It is not meant to be a musical instrument, it is not meant to be played like a piano.

In reply to by julianort

Do you work with MuseScore, underquark? Just to learn how 'official" your opinions are... Mine are a user opinions, using MuseScore at will, obviously. May I? Thank you.

In reply to by julianort

There is no way in any currently released version of MuseScore to get the effect you're after.

As underquark explained, each time you issue the 'go to next element' command (right arrow), whilst not in playback; MuseScore will use a fixed duration (and dynamic btw) to render a quick sound preview of the now selected note.
This playback holds no relation to the notated duration and uses basic sound synthesis (for example, if you have Muse Sounds as playback configured, it won't be used for this preview). The only way to change this duration is to change it in the source code and compile your own version of MuseScore.

In reply to by jeetee

Jeetee:

Should I assume that you will not answer my very simple and straightforward question of kindly writing the requested short mscz score for me, whether it works or not?

FYI (as I explained before) my instrument changes the way the score is read via a special microprocessor. I appreciate your involvement and interest in my ideas and instruments, but - since you do not know them in depth- I would ask you now to limit your reply, please, to what I asked for (the mscz), that way avoiding extensive and confronting arguments, while also saving time.

Again, would you kindly send me your edited mscz?

Thank you for your help.

Julian

Attachment Size
TEST KORG.mscz 17.3 KB

In reply to by julianort

I think the problem is that No one here has your "instrument". So we can't write notation for it without knowing how your instrument works. Exactly. Notation is separate from the instrument in that each instrument achieves playback of notation differently. MuseScore can't play your notation the way you want. MuseScore can't play any notation the way you want. If your instrument can use the arrow key as a step button, that's great.

In reply to by bobjp

Thank you for your comment, bobjp

Now, forgetting about my instrument, using just the MuseScore software, my goal is to simply keep the note playing while I keep the > key pressed. BTW, that is the logical way a musical instrument works in real life (e.g., a standard organ). Makes sense?

In reply to by julianort

Thank you for https://github.com/musescore/MuseScore/issues/21678

A bit unfortunate that after all the conversation in here you chose to refer to "The faulty present step function is not really useful." as it'll probably cause confusion for those responding there; since there is (as we've repeatedly attempted to explain here) simply no current step function (thus also not a faulty one).

Anyway, at least now there can be made some progress into formalizing your request.

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