Request for transposition to remember "Use Double # and b" setting
Reported version
3.6
Type
Ergonomical (UX)
Frequency
Once
Severity
S5 - Suggestion
Reproducibility
Always
Status
active
Regression
No
Workaround
No
Project
Tools > Transpose
dialogue has a preselected "Use Double # and b" in the 'Options' section, which is the less common option to use, and therefore it should default to "Single # and b Only" or at least remember last used.
Comments
Why do you say it is the less common option to use? Double flats and sharps are essential to show the correct harmonic context and so I would expect the option to use them would be the most commonly selected. When transposing MuseScore only spells notes with double sharps or flats when they are needed. It doesn't sprinkle them around for the hell of it. When I transpose an A harmonic minor scale to G# minor I really want those leading notes to be F double sharps not G naturals.
In my use when I transpose I just want to have a ready sheet to play and I am not used to quickly read double flats and sharps. Also, on 'normal' score you don't often have double flats or sharps
Some users need note names or shape notes to help them read notation. Those options are available but not as defaults. The option to not use double sharps and flats is also available for you if you find that helpful but not as a default. However, you should recognise that such an option is not helpful to users who understand the harmonic reason behind double accidentals and who want their music notated correctly. Producing incorrectly notated scores as a default would not be in line with its aim of making it easy for users to produce notation that follows common good practice - and that includes using double accidentals in their correct context.
OK, it would be good then if musescore could remember the last choice used. But that is more than the small change this issue was about.
I agree it should probably be off by default for chord symbols, but it's definitely not a question of right or wrong - just personal preference.
And note this option only controls chord symbols, and that's a different issue from spelling of notes. Having the chord symbols out of sync with the notes is not good either. Realistically, there's no substitute for going through after transposition and adjusting the spellings of notes and chords here and there according to your own personal preferences. It would be interesting see if someday someone could design an algorithm and a set of controls to do most things for you though. Like specify you don't want double flats anywhere but are OK with Cb and Fb, or that you are OK with Cb and Fb for notes but not for chord symbols, or that you are OK with E# and B# but not Cb and Fb (eg, many saxophonists would choose that).
So I'm personally thinking it probably doesn't make sense to change the default and thus surprise existing users yet, but I support seeing a more robust set of options designed at some point. But remembering settings has come up before and would also be welcome by many, there's probably less of a downside in that.
In reply to I agree it should probably… by Marc Sabatella
That option doesn't just control chord symbols. It in the same option box as "Transpose chord symbols" which sort of implies that it is related but it is actually an independent option that applies to whatever is transposed, including notes.
Perhaps that option panel needs a redesign to clarify that the two options are independent.
Sure enough! In that case, I definitely disagree with the idea of changing the default, I think most of the time most people would be better off keeping correct spelling of notes. But the idea of remembering last settings is still good.
So... something like this? https://github.com/mattmcclinch/MuseScore/commit/f8a0911
That would remember it for that session, but not store it accoss sessions, or would it?
Well, that’s true. I had been thinking of storing it as a preference. Maybe we should go that route after all.
I think most of the requests for settings in this dialog to persist are about the interval more than anything else, so you can perform a bunch of transpositions in a row for the same instrument. I don't know that in this use case, anyone would want those settings to persist across sessions.
I know I have seen this request before, regarding the "Use Double Sharps and Flats" option, and I am not surprised that users have requested that certain other settings also persist between uses, if not between sessions. So this brings up a question: How much value is added by preselecting the current key in the dropdown box in the "To Key" section? I guess it serves as a reminder as to the original key, but would it perhaps be more useful if this setting were to persist between uses along with the interval and direction, etc.?
The reminder of the current key is valuable mostly with regard to transposing instruments, it's the reminder that you need to select in concert pitch. Not saying that's a good thing, but that's the main reason I personally find the current key being selected to be useful.