[HANASHIR:15921] RE: Musical computing

[Adrian A. Durlester <adrian...>]

The ability to utilize a keyboard for entry with Finale for anything other
than a simple melodic line is largely dependent on the skills of the
keyboard player, the quantization settings you use in Finale, and the
keyboard you choose to use. Few keyboardists are truly capable of (or
desire) holding notes for the exact correct length value, and Finale will
easily pick this up, so you often get a lot of dotted notes with rests
instead of the full value you wanted. This results in the need to "clean-up"
that Michael refers to.

Simpler keyboards probably work better. As Finale can read all of the midi
data, when you start using really touch sensitive weighted-key keyboards,
you have greater chance for having to do "clean-up." A non-touch-sensitive
keyboard probably works better for this.

The preference for computer keyboard or midi keyboard entry is also largely
a matter of what one is used to. For someone who has previously done years
of manual transcription with staff paper and pencil or pen, the latest
incarnation of Finale, the 2004 version, makes data entry via the computer
keyboard the closest thing to old-fashioned transcription as I have ever
seen. For me, it eliminates any objection to the number of strokes required
to enter a single note. You can literally enter everything about a note all
at once-duration, expression, etc. with simple key combinations.

Having been a Finale user since it's very first version, I still prefer
using it in computer keyboard entry mode, and always find it faster than
trying to use any one of my digital keyboards with it. 

Finale has had the ability to create a midi file from scanned music for some
time now. If the original is clean and you have a decent scanner, you can
get good results.

The upgrade to Finale 2004 is well worth the price for anyone considering
it. Finale also offers generous discounts to educational institutions for
multiple copies/licenses. 

Adrian

Adrian A. Durlester, MTS
E-mail: adrian (at) durlester(dot)com  URL:www.durlester.com
Director of Education & Congregational Life, Bethesda Jewish Congregation
director (at) bethesdajewish(dot)com
Co-Director, Hazamir/JTAI Choir of Greater DC
Past Conf Chair, CAJE 27, August 4-8, 2002, Trinity University, San Antonio,
TX
List Owner, hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org; Jewish Songleaders/Performers List
Co-Owner, l-torah (at) shamash(dot)org; Liberal Torah Discussion List 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> [mailto:owner-hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org] On Behalf Of 
> efleischmann (at) ncjhs(dot)org
> Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2003 12:50 PM
> To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> Subject: [HANASHIR:15914] Musical computing
> 
> 
> Dear List,
> 
> It has been my extensive experience that playing into Finale
> on something like a Yamaha DGS 202 or 300 is far preferable 
> to using the computer keyboard.  The computer keyboard is 
> basically several keystrokes per note, and really very inefficient.
> 
> Downloading .midi files can be daunting, but often there is
> not much in the way of "cleaning up" to do.  What's nice 
> about the prefab midi stuff is that you can choose which 
> lines to keep.  
> 
> And no, Finale does not pay me.  But their newest software
> allows you to scan a printed piece of music into a file and 
> turn it into something playable almost immediately.  The 
> wonders of musical computing never cease to amaze me.
> 
> Happy composing.
> 
> Ellen Fleischmann
> Choral Music Director
> New Community Jewish High School
> West Hills, CA
> 
> ------------------------ hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> -----------------------+ Hosted by Shamash: The Jewish
> Network, http://shamash.org
> a service of Hebrew College, which offers online courses and 
> an online MA in Jewish Studies, http://hebrewcollege.edu/online/
> 
> To unsubscribe email listproc (at) shamash(dot)org and have your
> message read: unsubscribe hanashir
> ------------------------ hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org 
> -----------------------=
> 
> 


------------------------ hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org -----------------------+
Hosted by Shamash: The Jewish Network, http://shamash.org
a service of Hebrew College, which offers online courses and an
online MA in Jewish Studies, http://hebrewcollege.edu/online/

To unsubscribe email listproc (at) shamash(dot)org and have your message read:
unsubscribe hanashir
------------------------ hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org -----------------------