Inputting Scores

• Jun 4, 2024 - 21:50

I transcribe many old handwritten manuscripts charts from the 50's - 90's to MuseScore for our Musical groups.

If there was one function that, if were added to MuseScore, would speed up my input 25-50%, it would be adding a mini line directly under the current NOTE figures above (on the help line) for note or spacing selection. This mini line would be a mirror of the the current notes, and would do the same thing without having to depress the pencil (to change functions) ie: they would do the spacing. Thus, I would be able to go from note input to spacing without depressing the pencil in-between. Seems simple, not much space needed on the screen, and a huge time saver. I've showed/taught several other musicians the MuseScore program, and this is your hardest feature to for folks to understand, and I see many good users lost/frustrated because of it.

In addition, after you make the spacing icons available, make the #b and other shortcut functions also available in the off-input mode, again just below the input icons, because we still have to change to non-input mode to use them many times, and then back

I know MuseScore has an input method other than the mouse, but I can only use one hand, and so the mouse method works best for me.

The switching back and forth (ie: where am I?) is the waste of time. And, you could make it an option to activate/deactivate the feature.

Thanks for listening, Ron

Comments

• Jun 4, 2024 - 22:12

I'm sorry. I'm not following what you are asking for at all, at all.

Except for the last bit: even one-handed, note entry using the keyboard is easier, faster, and more accurate than with the mouse. (Yes, I do so frequently.)

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• Jun 4, 2024 - 22:55

I'll simplify

You are looking at the main MuseScore startup screen

On the top left there is the HOME, SCORE, and PUBLISH choices

Under that you have your ShortCut icons (of the varied length NOTES and musical symbols)

Those NOTES have two functions, and we have to press the PENCIL (to the left of the NOTES and Symbols) to change MODE functions (Input or Update)

Also, the symbols to the right of the NOTES have two functions, and react differently depending on what (MODE) we're in (Input/Update?)

My question

If you added a new line, below the current line of NOTES and Symbols, these would be in "UPDATE mode" (for each of the icons above it). This line could be simple, like a "C" for Change, or "U" for update, one below each NOTE or symbol

The current NOTES above would remain in the INPUT mode.

Then there would be less mouse/key strokes for changing modes back and forth

An Example: if I was inputting a measure, and the notes started at the 4th beat. I could place the cursor on the whole note in the measure, press the (C or U) under the Half Note (and it creates 2 half notes), then put cursor on the new 2nd half note and press the (C or U) under the Quarter Note, and then put my cursor on the new 4th position Quarter Note, and then select my note value from the INPUT line and continue scoring

I hope this is clear

Thanks for your time,

Ron Swanson

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• Jun 5, 2024 - 02:43

I'll be honest, I'm still not following what you're asking for, but what you seem to be doing is REALLY going about it the hard way.

The note buttons on the toolbar have exactly one function: they set the current duration. Any notes entered while one of them is active will be that long. If a note is clicked on and then a note button is clicked, it has the same function: it sets the selected note to that duration. The rest of the buttons on the toolbar have similar, single functions: they set accidentals or duration dots or articulations.

The duration buttons are "sticky": they apply until changed or deactivated. The accidentals, dots, and articulations only apply for a single note. Or you can multi-select notes with Ctrl+click and add that single accidental or articulation to all the selected notes. Still they are single functions and I'm not sure what other function you are thinking of. Perhaps you are thinking of these two actions as somehow different?

Typing it on your keyboard is SOOOOO much easier, even one-handed. For your example, I would type ...

6 0 5 0 A

... assuming that the quarter note you wanted on that fourth beat was an A.

"6" sets the current duration to a half note, "0" enters a rest of the current duration. "5" sets the current duration to a quarter note. "0" enters a rest of the current duration and "A" enters an A note.

At this point, you might have to press Ctrl+up arrow or Ctrl+down arrow, if your A note is in the wrong octave.

Then continuing on, type ...

B C D E F G 6 A

.. to enter an A scale (which mode would depend on what key signature is set) of quarter notes, ending with another A on a half note, an octave up from the first one.

... or whatever the next part of your music is.

Typing a "G" means you get a G. You never have to worry about your hand twitching a little as you click the mouse button and getting an A or an F instead. Much faster to just type a few letters and numbers than to mouse back and forth between score and toolbar.

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• Jun 5, 2024 - 06:54

Hey Ron,
If you're using a regular mouse (you mentioned "pencil") and have left and right buttons, after reading your "simplified" version of an example input (4th position), I'll only mention here to make sure you're aware that the right button can insert rests via mouse, so you can do something like this all while in "note entry mode" (right clicks were used for rest-entry, left button for notes). It doesn't seem too bad:

mouseEntry.gif

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• Jun 5, 2024 - 07:52

"Have you ever used a mouse with the program?"
- flippant

"I'll simplify
You are looking at the main MuseScore startup screen
On the top left there is the HOME, SCORE, and PUBLISH choices
Under that you have your ShortCut icons (of the varied length NOTES and musical symbols)"

"My descriptions were quite clear, and precise."
- I disagree. Following your steps I do not see any notes or pencils; I see this:
Screenshot_20240605_074424.png

"I'm good at communicating"-
I disagree - if you were good at communicating you would likely have received an answer that was satisfactory to you first time.

"this is a new idea to improve your program".
- Not Hutch's program, not my program. This is simply a user forum.

"Please, don't write back, I've learned enough from you"
- I think you can largely count on that should you ever request help in the future.

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• Jun 5, 2024 - 17:01

Hi mypyxis:

  • I've used a mouse many times. For some actions, it's faster and more efficient. For entering notes, it's horrible ... as I explained.
  • I can't tell how you are at communicating in general, but your explanation of this idea is very confusing: neither clear nor precise. Far from either.
  • I am not being flippant; I'm trying to help.
  • Do not tell anyone "don't write back". That's not your prerogative. It's rude in the extreme.

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