Problems Creating and Isolating Parts (TTBB)
MuseScore v3.6.2, Windows 10.
I know from searching that there are some difficulties with Parts.
I have created a Barbershop score with Tenor Lead in the treble staff as voice 1 and 2, and Bari Bass in the bass staff as voice 1 and 2, respectively. I want to create 4 part files, one corresponding to each part.
I go to File > Parts.., and, using Single Part, create 4 parts in the upper window, named Tenor, Lead, Bari, Bass. In the "Instruments in Score" window, I see TENOR LEAD and BARITONE BASS, corresponding to the staff names. I select the Tenor part, for example, select TENOR LEAD under "Instruments in Score", click on the "+" sign, expand the "Instruments in Part" and deselect all except voice 1. I click on OK.
The part is created and the 4 music tabs appears correctly. When I attempt playback of the tenor part, however, I get Tenor and Lead. Nothing I do in the mixer affects what I'm hearing other than changing the volume level for Tenor (which drives the master gain). "Play part only" is selected. When I try the Lead part, the same thing happens - I hear both treble parts and this time the Lead part controls master gain.
What am I doing wrong? Why can't I isolate the Tenor part from the Lead part? Why is the mixer ineffective?
Edit 1: Clarified that I'm trying to playback the Tenor part and getting Tenor and Lead.
Comments
Use the Barpershop Template (if you don't already), then the T/L and B/B texts from the text palette, then 'unfold' the mixer for T+L and B+B and see separate channels for Tenor and Lead resp. Bariton and Bass.
In reply to Use the Barpershop Template,… by Jojo-Schmitz
Thanks. Unfortunately, that's what I think I've done.
I started with a new score and selected Barbershop Quartet (Men). Went from there. Don't understand what you mean by the T/L and B/B texts. There's nothing in the text palette that suggests I'm missing something. What did you have in mind that I should do with the text? The template provides TENOR LEAD and BARI BASS by default.
I knew about expanding the mixer channels. My problem description is based on the fully expanded mixer window. Attached pictures of the mixer show the full score (mixer) and tenor part (mixer tenor).
Would moving the Lead part to another voice help? What about temporarily deleting the Lead part? Other than in the mixer, can I mute a voice before creating parts?
In reply to Thanks. Unfortunately, that… by Bach Im Not
Make sure to use the Advanced workspace or use more button in that text palette
In reply to Make sure to use the… by Jojo-Schmitz
Ok, I see the text now. Onto what do I drag it? I've tried to drag it over the staff, staff text, first note but it won't accept a drop.
In reply to Ok, I see the text now. … by Bach Im Not
Bach, I was able to use your instructions and TTBB to create a piece. Then create individual parts from it. I used voices 1 and 2 in each staff in the score. So, to hear the bass line in the score or from the bass part, open the mixer. Mute the tenor/lead staff. Select the baritone/bass staff and mute voices 1,3, and 4.
So my question to you is why you created parts to begin with? Quartets that I've been in don't read individual parts. And the process to create the parts has so many steps and is so fraught with danger that it hardly seems worth it.
The manual talks about creating the parts. Nothing about playback.
In reply to Bach, I was able to use your… by bobjp
I'll answer these in reverse order 😋
Amateur quartets and choruses often have access to "learning tracks", usually sung in parts by a professional, to assist and quicken the learning process by rote since not everyone reads music. These can be expensive and time consuming to make. In their absence, creating parts via MuseScore should permit me to export instrumental mp3 tracks for each voice and is a great workaround for new or personalized arrangements. We have no use for the sheet music in parts, just the mp3s.
Theoretically, if the mixer worked as advertised, I could produce a voice track with a attenuated lead part in the background for timing, vocal matching, lyrics, etc. Ideally, I would like to have the 3 other voices on one stereo channel, so the user can use balance control to (de)-emphasize the other voices while practicing their own part on whatever playback app they used.
While your approach works to listen to the part, I cannot export it to an mp3 that way. The parts function should allow me to create & play the parts, and I should be able to export each part's isolated playback.
In reply to Ok, I see the text now. … by Bach Im Not
Select the 1st measure of T/L and then in the palette click the T/L text (drag and drop works too, but it is cumbersome and error prone).
Repeat with the other staff and the other text
It appears that the MuseScore playback plays both Tenor and Lead. When I export the Tenor part, it's only the Tenor part. This solves my immediate problem.
That's a little disappointing, though, since I would like to be able to control the volume of the accompanying parts.
Another topic for the MuseScore Café next Wednesday 😁
In reply to It appears that the… by Bach Im Not
Well, if you don't need a score,as such, don't use the TTBB template. Write to (or copy to ) four different staffs. That way you can export each part. And export each together at the volume you want. One part louder than the others.