Workflow tips
Hi, i'm questionning myself on how to get a faster workflow with musecore 4. I mainly use it to write orchestral stuff. I was wondering what was the best ways or tricks that you guys found. Are you guys only use a mouse? midi inputs ? or is it better to use it on a ipad or something like that. I feel like the best workflow seems to be something like staffpad where you can just write with a pen. But I'm not aware of all the possibilities that musecore can do so thats why i'm asking. Thanks in advance.
Comments
The computer keyboard is the way to go if you want fast input. Takes a bit of practice, though.
PC keyboard is quickest once you get to know the most useful shortcuts. In particular, cut (CTRL+C) and paste (CTRL+V), with CTRL+up/down to shift octaves if necessary, are very handy when duplicating sections from one instrument to another in orchestral scores. Others that I find worth remembering are are S to add a slur to a selection, SHIFT+S to add staccato to a selection, SHIFT+N to add tenuto to a selection, t to tie from the last note entered to the next note. CTRL+M to add a rehearsal mark. I use the mouse mainly to make selections and in particular, click to select first note or rest, SHIFT+Click on another note to mark the end of the selected range.
If I am transcribing I generally use a multi-pass approach
Pass 1 enter the notes, copy pasting between instruments or sections where useful adding time and key signature changes, repeats and voltas and rehearsal marks as they occur.
I generally do a proof listening at this stage, to catch mis-entered notes.
Pass 2 add articulations - slurs, marcato, staccato, tenuto
Pass 3 add dynamics, hairpins
Pass 4 add tempo changes and other expression marks - espressivo, dolce etc.
Then a multipass proof read to check each of those passes and a final proof listen.
If I am composing, I just do whatever is on my mind at the time. e.g. enter some notes for a theme, experiment with harmonisation and rhythm of accompaniment, articulation, dynamics. Extend the theme. Go back and revise the articulation, Insert another extension of the theme before that last one, go back and revise the accompaniment. Identify a counter melody and add that to the first theme and on and on. It is generally a mess but eventually some order emerges. However, I may well decide that even though it is more coherent it is not going in the right direction and start again. Composition is painful and the workflow pretty much irrelevant.
However, each to their own way of working. If you find something else more convenient, then that is probably the best way to do it.