Import voodoo - I try to life hack it, but problem continues
I'm trying to import midi from Logic, I started the conversation on different topic*, but as uncovered some new behavior and the topic no longer just about simply indicating instrument in program change (did it, it worked). Therefore I'm opening a new topic:
Here's what I experience:
1. MuseScore seems to require two tracks for a piano part. If such 2nd of an expected piano pair is missing, THE NEXT INSTRUMENT is mistakenly regarded as piano part - despite correct program value. See attached image.
Note: I essentially only wanted two separate treble clefs for a piano and a toy piano, but MuseScore kept including the toy piano into the grand piano, if I didn't make a dummy midi region for the bass clef that I could then IGNORE on import 🤷🏼♂️
I life hacked this by moving the piano part (2 parts) + toy piano to the bottom. Desired outcome was piano treble / bass clef based on piano left hand, right hand midi region ignored, one toy piano treble clef.
I thought I had it solved, but then...
- I have 3 Accordion tracks in logic. Desired result after import I'd like 3 instruments, each with a single treble clef. What happens now is the same as before, MuseScore correctly identifies 3 Accordion instruments, but mistakenly now regards THE NEXT INSTRUMENT (piano) as accordion?!
What is this import voodoo and how do I get around it?
EDIT: In addition, why does MuseScore insist on two staves for each Accordion, making the split as seen in Accordion staves.png? The first one has two trebles clefs, the send one has treble and bass, but only the latter us used throughout the score. How can I avoid this at import and / or remove / collapse staves?
EDIT 2: The latter issue raised in previous EDIT has somewhat been solved. It seemed almost as if some overlaps of notes made the stave "run out of voices", so after scrubbing the original information. It looks better. But a solution to expected pairings would still be very nice - I prefer them split because the accordion parts sometimes play the same note. See Expected pairings.png
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| Expected pairings.png | 371.05 KB |
| Import woes.png | 109.98 KB |
| Accordion staves.png | 172.61 KB |
Comments
If I choose split, this happens.
Added overview of source material. I just want it separate MuseScore instrument, one staff each, clef according to need. But I have no clue on how to get around the previous mentioned challenges, it blocks my efforts.
Can't Logic export to MusicXML? That would be far preferable than resorting to MIDI, which is inherently incapable of representing notation information.
In reply to Can't Logic export to… by Marc Sabatella
Indeed!
In reply to Can't Logic export to… by Marc Sabatella
You're absolutely correct, It can. I had sort of hoped to avoid going via the score editor in Logic, but I've tested now and things are looking better. At least the instruments are seemingly not "overlapping" in definition anymore, which is very very nice. The musicxml also seems to include staff choice prepared in Logic, which is a plus.
I am still trying to figure out if it's possible to set the instrument information as well, as all instruments are now imported as Choir Aahs in MuseScore. It's fixable MuseScore, of course, but I'm just spending a little extra time to figure out how much I can prepare on the logic side or not, to learn and put into a repeatable process.
In reply to You're absolutely correct,… by christerdk
A MusicXML file contains specific information about the instrument (unlikely MIDI, which contains only sound info). "Choir Aahs" isn't the name of an instrument, it's the name of a sound. The instrument is probably something like "Voice", or perhaps "Soprano" etc. If that's not the instrument you want, you can change it indeed, or you can fix the instrument in Logic before exporting. But MuseScore will use whatever instrument Logic puts into the MusicXML file.
In reply to A MusicXML file contains… by Marc Sabatella
Hi Marc,
> "Choir Aahs" isn't the name of an instrument, it's the name of a sound.
When I pull up Part Properties it shows "Instrument: Choir Aahs [Change instrument...]", you're right that I can't find an instrument with exactly that name. Strange default sound, is it possible to set default sound to, say, Piano in some global settings?
> If that's not the instrument you want, you can change it indeed, or you can fix the instrument in Logic before exporting.
Could you give me some hints on how to do the latter? I know my way around virtual instruments in general in Logic, but if it's possible to set the instrument as metadata according to a standard (disregarding the sample player / synth I concretely use to produce sound) I'd definitely like to explore that option.
Thanks!
In reply to Hi Marc, > "Choir Aahs" isn… by christerdk
I don't understand what you mean about "default sound". There's no such thing. MuseScore uses the sound that goes with the actual instrument that is specified in the MusicXML file. What is the actual instrument as listed in the MusicXML file? Probably best to simply attach the file here so we can see what you are seeing.
As for how to specify instruments in Logic, I have no idea, you'd have to ask on a Logic support forum. It shouldn't be anything as indirect as having to specify it in metadata, it should be a plain vanilla direct setting, the very first thing you choose when setting up the staff/track, I'd imagine, if it lives up to its "logical" name :-)
In reply to I don't understand what you… by Marc Sabatella
> I don't understand what you mean about "default sound". There's no such thing. MuseScore uses the sound that actually goes with the instrument that is specific in the MusicXML file. What is the actual instrument as listed in the MusicXML file?
Apologies, the default sound was an assumption on the MuseScore side of things, because I haven’t seen an instrument declaration on the Logic score side (yet). I’ll check the MusicXML and perhaps make a few experiments in a Logic test project to see what values can work, and report back here after.
In reply to > I don't understand what… by christerdk
It really shouldn't be anything hidden. It should be extremely basic. Like, how would Logic know what sound to use when playing your piece? How would it know what clef and what transposition to use when display your music as notation? When you first start your project,t surely you selected an instrument - probably one for each track. It's probably listed right there in UI.