Notation Software Users Forum  


Go Back   Notation Software Users Forum > Musician community sharing > General music tips and questions

General music tips and questions Ask questions or share tips about instruments, playing, writing music, or other music-related topics.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 08-04-2015, 01:29 PM
jss jss is offline
Active User
 
Join Date: Jan 1970
Location: Nottingham, UK
Posts: 48
Default Esc key - and beaming across staves

1. 1. Re the Escape key. What exactly is the function the Escape key in NC?


2. 2. Beam Across staves. Is this high on the todo list? Is really needed for “real” piano music. Would be nice to be general – so could use it for 3 staff piano works
Thanks
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 08-05-2015, 01:24 PM
dj dj is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Jan 1970
Location: Balderson, Ontario, Canada, 100 kms (60 miles) from Ottawa
Posts: 799
Default Re: Esc key - and beaming across staves

Hi, jss:

The Escape key simply de-selects whatever your currently selected section is.

I'll have to let Sherry or Reinhold answer your second question.

Good luck.

David
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 08-05-2015, 01:46 PM
Sherry C's Avatar
Sherry C Sherry C is offline
Product Manager
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Bad Axe, MI, USA (The Tip of the Thumb of Michigan)
Posts: 2,556
Default Re: Esc key - and beaming across staves

Howdy guys,

The beam across staves feature is still in the task database, but given the changes in Windows 10 that we're having to address, it has obviously fallen down the priority list. Unfortunately "no sound" (for many users) trumps "cross-staff beaming". Sorry for the inconvenience

ttfn,
Sherry
__________________
Music is to the soul like water is to green growing things.
__________________________________
http://www.beanfieldcastle.net/music.html
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 08-11-2015, 01:43 PM
jss jss is offline
Active User
 
Join Date: Jan 1970
Location: Nottingham, UK
Posts: 48
Default Re: Esc key - and beaming across staves

Am an infrequent user these days. But wouldn't it be nice (better) if the Esc key did:-
- Stop any music playing
- Enter Select mode

I think many are used to using Esc for similar high-level functions in a great many music (and other) programs.

Pity about the beaming across staves - will have to use Sibelius for that then (it;s not easy there though).

ps I appreciate the no sound in 10 thing - but just to ask if NC can work as VST?
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 08-11-2015, 02:37 PM
dj dj is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Jan 1970
Location: Balderson, Ontario, Canada, 100 kms (60 miles) from Ottawa
Posts: 799
Default Re: Esc key - and beaming across staves

Hi, jss:

As far as I can see, use of the SPACE key (largest key on the keyboard) to start and stop playback is pretty much industry standard. There are exceptions, but those are usually "extreme" DAWs which go out of their way to look and feel different from the rest.

Entering Select mode is currently done with the ENTER key, which I don't see as any more or less convenient than the ESC key, once you know which key to push. Either the standard Enter/Return key or the Enter key on the numeric pad can be used, so the ESC key's separation from other keys is pretty much offset by the numeric ENTER key's position on the opposite corner of the keyboard.

I don't use Sibelius very often, but SPACE is the playback key there. Checking the Sibelius shortcuts list, ESCAPE is used to "unload arrow", which I assume is to deselect.

Notation Composer does not currently act as a VST host, but you can easily work around that with a virtual midi cable and any number of freeware VST hosts or other sound sources. In fact, for some VST hosts, you won't need a virtual midi cable. Many here use Synthfont; I have CoolSoft's Virtual Midi Synth installed for quick and dirty playback/recording. For final stuff, I use some or all of the ridiculous number of hardware synths and samplers I have hooked up to my system.

Two tutorials on that subject can be found here:

http://www.notation.com/vb-forum/showthread.php?t=3863

and here:

http://www.notation.com/vb-forum/showthread.php?t=3864

Hope that helps.

David
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 08-11-2015, 02:50 PM
Sherry C's Avatar
Sherry C Sherry C is offline
Product Manager
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Bad Axe, MI, USA (The Tip of the Thumb of Michigan)
Posts: 2,556
Default Re: Esc key - and beaming across staves

Hi guys,

I was just replying when I saw David's post come in. My reply is mostly what he says I will add just a couple of small notes:

Quote:
Originally Posted by dj View Post
As far as I can see, use of the SPACE key (largest key on the keyboard) to start and stop playback is pretty much industry standard. There are exceptions, but those are usually "extreme" DAWs which go out of their way to look and feel different from the rest.
Yes, it is pretty much industry standard, and because it is the biggest key on the keyboard it's the easiest to hit if you're holding an instrument and playing along with the song, which a lot of our users (including me ) do.

Quote:
Entering Select mode is currently done with the ENTER key, which I don't see as any more or less convenient than the ESC key, once you know which key to push.
You can also right-click your mouse, making it even more convenient for that method of editing/entering.

Quote:
I don't use Sibelius very often, but SPACE is the playback key there. Checking the Sibelius shortcuts list, ESCAPE is used to "unload arrow", which I assume is to deselect.
"Esc" is pretty much the standard for "get out of what I'm doing", which could be used to stop playback, but it is not the standard usage of the key for popular audio programs (eg. Windows Media Player) - the Space bar is used there as well for starting/stopping playback.

As I've just been having another conversation with another friend about expected behaviors in software, I'll also say here that the best we can do is to study user behavior and try to make our software as intuitive to the most people as possible. As always we appreciate feedback, and if we find that a lot of folks are confused by a behavior then we look at how we should change that to make it more intuitive.

Thanks!
Sherry
__________________
Music is to the soul like water is to green growing things.
__________________________________
http://www.beanfieldcastle.net/music.html
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 05:46 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Notation Software Germany GmbH www.notation.com/Imprint.php