Note input - keypad layout for choosing note lengths
I love MuseScore coming from Sibelius, but I do miss a more natural way of selecting note lengths. MuseScore's long string of buttons requires you to remember which number corresponds to which note length.
Instead of having to learn which number key corresponds to which lengths, many people remember better in terms of spatial information, which Sibelius exploits in their keypad layout. The note lengths are chosen with the number keys, similar to MuseScore, but the buttons are arranged in a keypad layout, which makes selecting the right note very quick and effortless.
Would it be possible to have some sort of (optional) keypad layout for the note lengths?
Also, if you choose to go this route, feel free to look at all the other stuff Sibelius has included into their keypad. It's brilliant and the main reason I started using Sibelius in the first place.
Comments
If it can be useful: Move the note input toolbar:
In reply to If it can be useful: Move the by Shoichi
Thanks, but the problem is the same (actually there's even worse spatial correspondence between the number row and the toolbar if you do that).
In reply to If it can be useful: Move the by Shoichi
Looking for the same feature...
You can assign your own shortcuts.
In reply to You can assign your own by underquark
Yep, I know I can use e.g. numerical keypad keys for note lengths, but I would still have to learn and remember the actual numbers. The whole point of my suggestion is having a reference keypad on-screen so that I can just look at it and know instantly where on the (physical) keypad I have to press to get the correct note length.
In reply to Yep, I know I can use e.g. by musescore.3e7y…
Post-It note?
In reply to Post-It note? by underquark
A bit lacking in interactivity... Not possible to see on the post-it which note length is currently active :)
Years ago, when I started using MuseScore, I envisioned something like this as an aid:
Numbers are associated with note durations (flags are emphasized for values less than quarter note).
Back then, rest entry was switched from using the spacebar to entering the number zero - so I also encircled the rest icon with a zero as a reminder.
Regards.
FWIW, the spatial information is already used in the default toolbar if except of using the keypad (more and more computers don't have a keypad btw, and it's probably one of the top support request for Sib), you use the top row numbered keys.
In reply to FWIW, the spatial information by [DELETED] 5
Yep, I know, but 10 buttons in a row makes it impossible to use in the same manner as with the keypad. You can't look at a button and know at once which number it corresponds to.
In reply to Yep, I know, but 10 buttons by musescore.3e7y…
Buy a wireless numeric keypad for $11. The integral number-lock-activated keypad on laptops is impossible to use efficiently, but an outboard num keypad is the bees knees, especially if you get one with a backspace key (which most have).
Combine that with a small midi keyboard for pitch input, and you can write pitches with one hand and duration with the other, as fast as you can type.
As for remembering which number equals which note duration, what's so hard? Just remember that 5=quarter note, and work up and down from there.