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deejey
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Notation by computer keyboard
« on: Dec 16th, 2022, 12:33pm » |
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I'm trying to streamline my notation habits. Normally I notate exclusively with the mouse. I want to examine notation with the computer keyboard. I have read and printed the keyboard key assignments but there is nothing easily found about how to use them. My experiments so far have not been particularly enlightening.  Is there a user provided gem that I have missed ?
I can change note duration and change its accidental but using a key (K) for C4 for instance, does not give me a note of the pre-selected duration ?
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ANdre_B
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Re: Notation by computer keyboard
« Reply #1 on: Dec 16th, 2022, 12:54pm » |
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If you press the key (say K for C4 indeed) for a longer time, you'll get a longer note. This is a method that certainly makes sense for users able to play an instrument, and to control the press time appropriately.
But it is only an option. In "Configuration/Global Setup/Keyboard, you can untick "Note duration according to pressure time".
When it's unticked, the notes have the duration selected manually, either in the notes/rests palettes, or using the appropriate shortcuts (by défault, the figures keys on the keyboard's upper row; that could be replaced by the figures on the numeric keypad, if one has one (1 = whole, 3 = quarter note, 4 = eighth, etc).
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| « Last Edit: Dec 16th, 2022, 1:05pm by ANdre_B » |
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André Baeck, de retour en Belgique après 12 ans passés dans le Gard.
Windows 11, HA 996c (et précédents)
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deejey
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Re: Notation by computer keyboard
« Reply #2 on: Dec 16th, 2022, 3:29pm » |
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Thanks Andre, that clears that up. Next question...
In the assignments, what does 'NUM DECIMAL' mean ? For instance, I want to enter a dotted quarter note at B3.
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Tony Deff
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Re: Notation by computer keyboard
« Reply #3 on: Dec 16th, 2022, 3:40pm » |
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I use the two-key approach that ANdré mentions, but with customised Anglo-Saxon keyboard shortcuts.
By keying Qc, for example, I get a Quarter-note C. (H= Half note, W= Whole note, 8 = eighth note)
Using unshift and left & right shifts, a range of 3 octaves is obtained.
You can Save & Load variations of keyboard files; thus by loading a file suitably-named for A major, keyboard C can call note C# instead.
I find these shortcut file variants useful with non-familiarity with Tenor or Bass clefs.
NUM refers to keys in the "numeric keyboard" section of a keyboard (the section that resembles the keypad of a calculator).
NUM decimal distinguishes the decimal-point in this area from the full-stop in the alphabetic keyboard section)
Edit: If you are using an "ex-pat UK keyboard", you will find that the menu shortcuts to raise/lower an octave do not work.
I have assigned the numeric keyboard Right-Shift 8 (marked up-arrow) and Right-Shift 2 (marked down-arrow) to these functions
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| « Last Edit: Dec 16th, 2022, 3:47pm by Tony Deff » |
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Quote:| The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute; the man who does not ask is a fool for life. - Confucius |
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deejey
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Re: Notation by computer keyboard
« Reply #4 on: Dec 16th, 2022, 4:23pm » |
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Thanks Tony. Understood. I'm getting there by Angstroms. How do you get the note entry to move on to the next note for entry ? I keep modifying the last note entered !
A good topic for a tutorial me thinks.
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| « Last Edit: Dec 16th, 2022, 4:25pm by deejey » |
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ANdre_B
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Re: Notation by computer keyboard
« Reply #5 on: Dec 16th, 2022, 4:33pm » |
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No idea of what NUM DECIMAL means in this context. Where do you see that? (if in the keyboard assignments, what does it follow/precede, and in which section.
To enter a dotted note, press the "enter dot mode" (should be numeric pad "dot". Press it once for a single dot, twice for a double dot; the third press resets that.
It should be a good practice to keep a notes palette on screen, then you can see which are the current settings.
Some of your questions could have an answer depending on the keyboard you have; and as an expat you might have either a Qwerty or an Azerty.
Often, to understand what something means, I switch languages, and it might help to understand (sometimes however it remains as dark as it was).
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André Baeck, de retour en Belgique après 12 ans passés dans le Gard.
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PaulL
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Re: Notation by computer keyboard
« Reply #6 on: Dec 23rd, 2022, 5:50pm » |
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I've tried various input methods over the years, and my current method is to pick a duration, enter notes by clicking on the virtual keyboard, then go back and set the notes to the correct durations. I find changing the durations after the fact to be less tedious than constantly changing the values of the notes as I enter them.
Another method I've successfully used is to create an ABC file and import it. This gives a lot of control, but of course I inevitably make occasional input errors, some of which can yield very strange results when the file is imported. Furthermore, there is some glitch in the algorithm that converts ABC files, which occasionally requires deleting an entire voice and re-entering it, because there is something invisible in the text file that HA doesn't like.
I have occasionally tried to input a score by hooking up my MIDI keyboard to the computer. This method, however, seems awfully cumbersome to my mind, and there is a lot of cleanup required in HA that I don't like. On the other hand, HA is pretty good at importing an existing MIDI file and producing a workable score.
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