Notation Software Users Forum  


Go Back   Notation Software Users Forum > Tutorial Video Area > Tutorial Videos

 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Prev Previous Post   Next Post Next
  #1  
Old 03-16-2011, 06:45 PM
Sherry C's Avatar
Sherry C Sherry C is offline
Product Manager
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Bad Axe, MI, USA (The Tip of the Thumb of Michigan)
Posts: 2,554
Default Tutorial videos for Notation Software products

Hi friends,

This thread will be a "sticky" thread that will be a "Table of Contents" for all the tutorial videos that we will be producing. I will also post individual threads for each video where you can comment on them or make suggestions, and so that if you want to "subscribe" to this forum, you'll get notifications as each video is published.

These videos are unpolished "work through real life situations" style videos, so you can see exactly how to do various tasks in Notation Musician and Notation Composer. You'll even get to see Sherry goof up a time or two The videos may not contain every conceivable way to get something done, but they should give you enough detail to get you going quickly well on your way to making great music, both sheets and sounds.

To suggest topics for tutorial videos, please visit this other thread.


Table of Contents



Setting Up Your Workspace - A brief look at how you can customize your working space while editing your scores. The video is rather large (it's high resolution), so you may need to be patient while it is loading for playback. If you'd prefer to download the video to your own computer, you can use this download link. (Notation Musician and Notation Composer)


Transcription Options - A tutorial review of the transcription options that are available in Notation Musician and Notation Composer, and how they affect the sheet music that you get on opening a MIDI (.mid) file. If you've opened a file and don't like the sheet music you see, you may want to try changing the Transcription options (using Format/Retranscribe.) One note when doing a Retranscription - do it first, before doing other edits to your score because you will lose any annotations and such that you may have made. This video is large (it's high resolution) so you may need to be patient while it loads for playing. If you prefer to download it to your computer, you can use this download link. (Notation Musician and Notation Composer)


Lyrics - basic entry: A short tutorial to get you off to a running start with basic lyric entry (typing in lyrics). Copy/pasting, multiple verse entry, and editing will be covered in separate tutorials (I'm trying to keep these nice and short.) The file is rather large (it's a high-resolution video), so please be patient while it loads to play. If you'd rather download the video to your own machine, please use this link. (Notation Musician and Notation Composer)


Lyrics- copy/pasting from a text editor and entering multiple verses: A brief look at copying lyric text from a text file and pasting those lyrics into your .not song file. Also briefly looks at a few tools for lining up the lyrics properly after you've pasted them in (in case you have to split syllables), as well as typing in lyrics for multiple verses. The video is large (it's high-resolution) so please be patient as it loads to play. If you prefer to download it to your machine, please use this download link. (Notation Musician and Notation Composer)


Lyrics - basic editing: This covers font editing that was not covered in the previous lyrics tutorials, as well as touching on overall horizontal and vertical spacing of the entire score. The video is large (it's high resolution) so please be patient as it loads to play. If you prefer to download it to your machine, please use this download link. (Notation Musician and Notation Composer)


Transpositions: This tutorial covers the differences between Song Key (actual heard pitches) transposition, which affects the entire song/score, and Instrument Key transposition, which affects specific instruments known as "transposing instruments" (eg. Bb clarinet). You'll also see how to perform each type in Notation Musician or Notation Composer (same steps in each), and how to toggle between the display of Concert Pitch and Instrument Transposed Pitches. The video is large (it's high resolution) so please be patient as it loads to play. If you prefer to download it to your machine, please use this download link. (Notation Musician and Notation Composer)

Note Entry- via the mouse: This tutorial covers the basics for the following:
  • create a new file
  • using the Notes tool palette to enter notes (in add mode) and some basic edits (in select mode)
  • entering notes of different voice (single, upper and lower)
  • entering triplets and swing triplets
  • adjusting the beat ruler (the cursor "snaps" to the beat ruler, so this can affect your note entry)
The video is large (it's high resolution) so please be patient as it loads to play. If you prefer to download it to your machine, please use this download link. (Notation Composer only)
Note Entry - Step-time recording and Sequential Note Entry: This tutorial covers basic note entry using the Step-time recording method as well as Sequential Note Entry. Both of these methods are quite useful if you know the durations of notes you want to use, but feel more comfortable using your MIDI instrument (eg. keyboard) for entering the pitches of notes. Also shows how to adjust note placement if the timing is "off", how to place the note for timing, and how to change note durations during the entry session. The video is large (it's high resolution) so please be patient as it loads to play. If you prefer to download it to your machine, please use this download link. (Notation Composer only)


Note Entry - Recording with a metronome: This tutorial covers the basics of entering notes in real time by recording with your MIDI instrument (eg. keyboard). Also touches on some of the more common edits you may need to do when doing live recording, two-hand piano staff recording, adding more instruments, "punch in" recording (recording in just a selected region), and more. This video is a bit long (around 20 minutes) so please be patient as it loads to play (it's high resolution). If you prefer to download it to your machine, please use this download link. (Notation Composer only)

Note Entry - Recording into Composer even if you're not a keyboard player : Drummers, string players and others take heart! This tutorial shows you some tricks and tips for getting your music into Composer even if you don't know how to notate, nor do you play keyboard (the most popular type of MIDI instrument)! Also shows "filling in" a staff with a repeated loop, quick advance to notes and adjusting note pitches, and more. You are encouraged to first view the tutorial above, "Recording with a metronome." Please be patient while the video loads (it's high resolution). If you prefer to download it to your machine, please use this download link. (Notation Composer only)

Formatting the score for printing (Notation Musician and Notation Composer)
This tutorial covers many aspects of formatting the score for printing such as:
  • Instrument Transpositions (covered more fully in the Transpositions video)
  • Setting margins for single sheets and booklets
  • Titles, part names, and other Page Text (and making sure you've allowed room for them)
  • Moving barlines
  • Moving systems to different pages (and showing what a "system" is )
  • Setting fixed numbers of measures per page
  • Showing or hiding instrument names
  • Showing or hiding "resting" staves
  • Collapsing multiple measure rests
  • Overall horizontal or vertical space changes

The tutorial does not cover all aspects of formatting, but we have tried to catch the most frequently asked-about topics. If you have further questions, please do ask! The video is large (it's nearly 30 minutes, and larger format for clarity) so please be patient as it loads. If you'd prefer to download it and watch it on your own computer you can use this download link.

Getting a Great Performance 01 (Notation Composer)
This video covers many performance aspects, some that are tied to the notation itself, including:
  • Ornaments (eg. trills, turns, mordents, tremelos, grace notes, and arpeggios)
  • Piano roll - fine-tuning note durations and timing placements
  • Note Velocity - using note velocity differences to add dynamics
  • Sound changes - give more realistic representations of pizzicato and arco sounds while you're composing, or to change instruments for multi-instrumentalists working from a single staff.
This video is about 25 minutes long, so please be patient as it loads for viewing. If you'd rather download the video and watch it at your leisure, you can use this download link.

(Please note that the Graph Over Notes feature will be treated in a separate video.)

Practicing - tools to make learning fun (Notation Musician and Notation Composer)

This tutorial shows you many of the tools you can use (and some "cheat" methods, too ) to help you with practicing and learning how to read sheet music and learn new songs.

Some of the topics that are covered in this video include:

  • Transposing for your instrument (covered more fully in the Transposing Tutorial Video)
  • Adjusting the tempo to accommodate your current skills.
  • Using Lyrics for fingering help.
  • Using Rehearsal Marks for Practice sessions.
  • Setting up Practice sessions, including selecting regions to practice, increasing tempo, and other options.
  • Enhancing the volume of a particular instrument so you can better hear it within the context of the song.
  • Muting a staff so you can play that part along with "the rest of the band."

Please be patient during loading as the video is larger format and a bit longish (around 25 minutes). If you prefer to download it, you can use this download link.


Text and symbols in the score
(Notation Musician and Notation Composer)

This tutorial shows various types of text and how to enter and edit them in your score. The following topics are included in this one:

  • Free text - great for performance directions, annotations, or other "score notes".
  • Page text - text items that you want to appear on specific pages of the score such as the title, part names, page numbering, etc. and a little "cheat" method for including other information as page text.
  • Rehearsal marks - entering and editing (also see the Practice and Learning video for using these in practice sessions)
  • Chord names - a brief overview (these will be covered in more detail in another video)
  • Special Symbols - how to include musical symbols in the score as annotation elements (ie. non-playback-performance annotations).
Please note that Lyrics are covered in their own separate tutorials:
Basic lyric entry
Basic font editing
Copy/pasting and multiple verses

Please be patient as the video loads (it's high quality and 27 minutes long). If you prefer to download it to your computer, please use this download link.

Installing Virtual MIDI Cables (Notation Musician and Notation Composer)

There are a lot of great instrument libraries and synthesizers available that will run on your computer, and that can be used as a MIDI device for playing your files in Notation Musician and Notation Composer. If you're interested in diving into the world of MIDI device sounds, check out this tutorial video to get started. I'll be covering a couple of popular MIDI device options (SynthFont and Garritan libraries) in some follow up videos.

You can view the video by clicking here, or use this download link to download it to your computer.


Using SynthFont with Notation Musician and Notation Composer

This video shows you how to install SynthFont and use its "MIDI Input" feature with Notation Musician and Notation Composer to have better sounds and decrease the latency (see below).

Why use soundfonts? If you want better quality instrument sounds than the default GS Wavetable, soundfonts are a great way to go. We have a resource page at http://www.notation.com/Articles-Soundfonts.htm with information about soundfonts. There are many free soundfonts available, as well as for-purchase ones.

Additionally, if you first install the ASIO4ALL driver (free at www.asio4all.com) and use it in SynthFont, then you can also record into Notation Composer virtually latency-free. This means that when you press the key on your keyboard to record or play along, you'll hear the sound at the same instant rather than after some delay (the GS Wavetable has a delay of nearly a half-second).

To watch the video, you can click here. If you prefer to download it to your computer, please use this download link.

Getting started with Garritan Libraries and Notation Composer

This video is intended to get you up and going with Garritan Libraries using their Aria Player along with Notation Composer. (If you have not done so, you'll want to install a virtual MIDI cable as described in this other video.)

This video gives you a brief introduction into the settings you'll want to be sure are lined up (eg. channel numbers corresponding between staves and instruments in the Aria player), and some of the tools that are really handy to use for getting a good performance from the Garritan instruments (eg. the Graph Over Notes tools). The tutorial video uses some template files, but the settings will need to be followed for files that you set up from scratch as well.

Additionally, if you first install the ASIO4ALL driver (free at www.asio4all.com) and use it in Aria, then you can also record into Notation Composer virtually latency-free. This means that when you press the key on your keyboard to record or play along, you'll hear the sound at the same instant rather than after some delay (the GS Wavetable has a delay of nearly a half-second).

Here are the Garritan ensemble template files for Notation Composer (these are .not files for Composer):

NSC-GPO_templates.zip

NSC-JABB_templates.zip

For more information about these templates, you can see the original thread.

To view this video, you can click here. To download it to your computer, please use this download link.


Note Editing - the basics (mainly Notation Composer)

This pair of tutorial videos covers the basics of note editing.
I've split the video into two smaller segments, to hopefully keep them "digestable" and to make loading and playing them a bit easier. These are only the most basic note editing features. We'll deal with special features for cleaning up recordings, ReBar (adjusting the barlines for metronomeless recordings), and Piano tips in separate videos.

To view the videos, you can use the following links:
Note Editing Part 1
Note Editing Part 2
To download the videos to your machine for later viewing, you can use these links:
Download Note Editing Part 1
Download Note Editing Part 2
ReBar - adjusting the barlines in metronomeless files to get good sheet music (Notation Composer)

An introduction to the exclusive ReBar feature, which helps you get good quality sheet music from metronomeless files.

Sometimes you find a file where the transcription to sheet music looks unplayable, or the beat cursor doesn't match the beat you hear, or perhaps you've recorded a MIDI file but didn't use the metronome. Now what? ReBar!

Highlights:
  • How to tell if you have a metronomeless file
  • How to calibrate your MIDI device (this makes sure it's not just a latency problem, and also helps you to get those barline placements spot-on when using the ReBar feature)
  • Review the tools that are in the ReBar tool palette
  • How to manually adjust the barlines
  • How to record the barlines using the Insert key on your keyboard.
  • Extra "clean up" tips
To watch the video, click here.
To download the video (mp4 format), please click here to download.


I forgot to mention in the video that you can also do the MIDI Device calibration directly from the ReBar tool palette - it's the last little button on the right that looks like a MIDI plug. In the video, I show it being done from the Setup/Quick MIDI Devices setup (where it's useful for setting the latency for playback of files as well )

Parts - defining, displaying, formatting and "The Wizard" (Notation Musician and Notation Composer)
Sometimes when we talk about our music files, it's easy to get confused between "Staff" and "Part". The first video here "Parts - Part 1" explains this issue, as well as shows you how Musician and Composer handle Parts, and how you can use the Part/Define and Display feature to set up your own Parts. It can be handy to have Parts that display only specific instruments for printing or playing along.

The second video "Parts - Part 2" goes through the Part Wizard, and how it can help you to get specific types of Parts from a .mid or .not file that you are working with. There are some tips and tricks for getting those special parts just right for you.
Parts - Part 1
The video is about 17 minutes long, and may take a bit to load as it's high quality.
View Parts-Part 1 by clicking here.

Download Parts-Part 1 by clicking here.


Parts - Part 2
This video is about 30 minutes long, and may take a bit longer to load.
View Parts-Part 2 by clicking here.

Download Parts-Part 2 by clicking here.

Shifting Barlines (Notation Musician and Notation Composer)

Sometimes when you open a MIDI (.mid) file, the notes that should be a lead in or pick up are sequenced as the downbeat notes, or notes that should be on the downbeat are off by some number of beats. You'll also see that the barlines that follow are also offset by the same note duration. Both Notation Musician and Notation Composer have the tool to fix these files so that the sheet music you get will be more easily readable, and the down beats will fall where they are supposed to.

(note: If you have a file where the barlines are off, but they are not "off" in a regular way, you may need to use the ReBar tools that are available in Notation Composer. You can see the tutorial video for that feature by clicking here.)

To view this video for Shifting Barlines you can click here.

To download the video for Shifting Barlines, you can click here.


Enjoy!
Sherry
__________________
Music is to the soul like water is to green growing things.
__________________________________
http://www.beanfieldcastle.net/music.html

Last edited by Sherry C; 08-17-2012 at 08:55 PM. Reason: add new video
Reply With Quote
 

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Version 2.6 of all Notation Software products now available Sherry C Announcements 0 06-15-2010 04:13 AM
Sherry Crann promotion to Product Designer at Notation Software Geir Laastad (rieg) Announcements 13 03-08-2008 12:09 PM
Sherry Crann promotion to Product Designer at Notation Software Mark Walsen (markwa) Announcements 1 02-07-2008 07:30 PM


All times are GMT. The time now is 04:59 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Notation Software Germany GmbH www.notation.com/Imprint.php