Ritardando, again!
I wonder if any MuseScore developers are familiar with a remarkable notation program called Virtual Composer, written in Forth by Ioannis Glidakis over a decade ago. If it can handle gradual tempo change effectively, surely MuseScore can too.
MuseScore users should in any case have access to a precise indication of the current playback tempo setting, either in M.M. numbers or some other way, not just as a setting for the entire piece, but as part of the information for each measure. Once that needed facility is added, the rest should be relatively easy. First, it should be possible to insert a new tempo at any desired point in the score, and have it apply to all voices beginning at that point. Then, the user can indicate whether the tempo change wanted is gradual, starting at some previous point that is also indicated by the user, or sudden. Hopefully, the program can then quickly recalculate the timing of each beat that occurs between the two marked points, so as to produce a gradual tempo change.
Of course, if all that is wanted is a way to add the text abbreviations for rit. and accel. to the score, without hearing their effect on playback, that should not be a difficult thing to do, and hardly even qualifies as a new feature. Hoping this will help motivate a solution to this long-standing issue soon.
Comments
"MuseScore users should in any case have access to a precise indication of the current playback tempo setting, either in M.M. numbers or some other way, not just as a setting for the entire piece, but as part of the information for each measure."
For instructions on how to add exact tempo markings to any measure see Tempo in the handbook.
"Of course, if all that is wanted is a way to add the text abbreviations for rit. and accel. to the score, without hearing their effect on playback, that should not be a difficult thing to do, and hardly even qualifies as a new feature."
For instructions on how to add text to the score see Text in the handbook.
In reply to "MuseScore users should in by David Bolton
Where in the handbook does it say how to notate a gradual slowing down over, say, four measures? Or is that information found in a reply to one of the several previous posts raising the issue in this forum? I'd be glad to know if this feature is no loner needed.
In reply to Where in the handbook does it by sterlingb
It sounded like you were making several feature requests (tempo markings for a particular measure, adding text to the score, playback of ritardando). I was pointing out the features that are already possible.
Playback of a gradual slow down over four measures is not yet supported (unless, of course, you manually add a new tempo marking for each note of those four measures).
In reply to It sounded like you were by David Bolton
On my iMac's bright 24" screen, the tiny box showing "beats per minute" on the play panel is almost invisible. Even if I could see it better, it seems to offer very little support for anyone seriously interested in indicating or changing playback tempi in MuseScore. The only way I can add a tempo indication to my score is my adding a text insert showing a metronome marking and an equivalent note value.. But since the Play Panel doesn't tell me what the NOTE value of the current beat is, I am shooting in the dark if I want to change the playback speed at some point in my score. Even if I happen to guess right, there is no guarantee I will actually hear the tempo I have selected, especially if I have first adjusted it by ear by moving the tempo slider in the play panel. Nor is it made clear anywhere in the manual how any inserted tempo TEXT actually applies to the place at which it is inserted. Does it affect only that note? Only that one beat? All beats in the measure to which the note selected happens to belong? All subsequent measures? Will the tempi I have indicated survive when my score is copied as a MIDI file? Does anyone know? Does anyone care? I hope so, but perhaps I can be forgiven for feeling that this important musical parameter is not yet adequately dealt with in MuseScore, or in the manual.
In reply to Time to do more about time? by sterlingb
What do you mean by tiny box showing beats per minute ? If it's too tiny to be usable it's a bug. Can you attach a screenshot?
The current only way to change the playback in the score is to add a tempo text and set the BPM. As far as I know the BPM is always calculated based on the quarter note. If you are in 4/4 and want a quarter = 60, just put 60 in the BPM tempo box. If you are in 6/8 and want a dotted quarter = 60, just put BPM=90. It doesn't look like shooting in the dark for me.
Tempo text apply from the note they are attached until the next tempo changes if any. And they apply until the end of the score and for all the systems.
The play panel changes the tempo for the whole score and use a % of the current tempo in the current measure. The current tempo being defined by tempo text. I use play panel to slowdown the whole score for playing alone for example.
Tempo set in tempo text are indeed exported in MIDI files, the % in the play panel is ignored when you export to MIDI.
Ritardando is not supported in the current release (0.9.6.1). The only way to simulate a retardando is using several tempo text to change the tempo gradually and make them (except the first one) invisible.
I hope it makes things more clear for you. Is this implementation perfect ? Certainly not, far from it. Does any one care? I do, and I'm pretty sure others too. If you want to help you can modify the documentation or propose a change in the documentation forum.
In reply to What do you mean by tiny box by [DELETED] 5
Please see attached screenshot. Doesn't it make more sense to improve the way tempo is displayed, before revising the documentation? For example, it would seem logical to allow percentage modification of tempo to be indicated in the score, not just on the play panel -- and that could in turn be the key to solving the ritardando problem as well.
Perhaps the most immediately helpful addition would be to provide an automatically displayable template for entering tempo text. Once "tempo" and the point of entry have been selected, text could appear at that point in the score showing both the note value for the beat and its currently valid BPM equivalent, complete with equal sign. The user could then modify this already displayed text using normal editing procedure. (That's what I would call NOT having to shoot in the dark.) The same procedure could well be added to the setup routine for any new score, inviting us to adjust the default tempo setting for the entire piece by first letting us see what it actually is supposed to be. Tempo is after all a major defining characteristic of any piece of notated music, not just an optional local detail.
My last posting pointed to a possible bug, a need for better documentation, AND the continuing hope for a new feature. Sorry I was unable to separate them, but maybe others can, now that you have clarified the current state of things.