These videos are actually mental. The quality is crazy this channel in general is just criminally underrated. This really feels like it should have 10 million views, its ridiculous
Just want to say thank you for making this video. I come from working a lot in DAWs and have tried composing orchestral music but have always struggled to make things sound good. While I don't have enough knowledge and experience with notation software this video was a great resource in understanding the limitations of sampled instruments and how much better an actual instrument in the hands of a skilled musician sounds like.
Thanks Anshul - glad you enjoyed. we have a third episode coming up later this week. It can be tough writing orchestral sounding music if you don't have a lot of experience of playing it yourself - but it IS possible. I really recommend looking at some 'scrolling scores' of excellent music on youtube - so you can connect what you hear to what you see, and learn from the greats. Perhaps Stravinsky, Beethoven , Morricone? EO
Thanks Marcos - that's great news. We have one more episode about notation software coming up in a couple of weeks - hope that will be equally useful. EO
I mostly write for solo voice and piano, in Finale. I use the Garritan Yamaha CFX sound samples for the piano, always with the classic notation option. Always use the notation option with the Garritan instruments if you go beyond the instruments that come with Finale. To get a usable accompaniment track for daily practice, I have to customize the human playback settings in Finale extensively to prevent it from sounding mechanical. And for tempo variations, especially accelerando or stringendo markings, I need to use the midi tool and manually adjust the tempo. It took me a long time and a lot of frustration to learn what to do. Ritardando markings will slow it down, but accelerando markings don't speed up the playback, even when you specify that it should execute a curve - it has to be done with the midi tool. I was even afraid to try this, but after several postings on the Finale forum, I was encouraged to do it. Your insights are very useful, thank you. Subscribing.
Great tips Nanette, thanks. It's a good reminder that , whilst I is not exactly user friendly, you CAN get tempo fluctuations sounding pretty good in this software. My two favourite pianos are the Imperfect Samples Fazioli www.imperfectsamples.com/website/samples/fazioliconcertgrand/index.php It's ever so slightly out of tune, and sounds great. Also the Pianoteq 7, by Modarrt. This is amazing value, and the latest version is a huge improvement on version 6. It is also super-efficient on your computer, as it doesn't;t use samples. Both will integrate with Finale. EO
For tempo changes for playback purposes, I inserted the ‘quarter note=80mm’ multiple times, every note until the slowest portion of the Ritard, then resume the ongoing tempo following that. 120mm, 80 mm, 70mm, 60mm, 50mm, 120mm. This works really well for the playback and recording, and takes very little time to change back to normal notation for printing.
I think comparing the 'stock' samples that come with Notation software is a waste of time. With the excellent sounding add-on sample libraries available, there shouldn't be any question that they will be closer to what you hear in your head that you are trying to write. Same goes with a great sounding piano sample library, like Keyscape, Alicia's Keys, etc. The StaffPad notation program was designed to give you a closer idea of what your composition will sound like using even its stock samples. But using the available add-on sample libraries from pro quality sample companies like Spitfire, Orchestra Tools, CineBrass, etc., get even closer to the live sounds of orchestra. This was the purpose behind the design of StaffPad by composer David Hearn, a type of write-to-paper touchpad program with ability for playback of a good sounding orchestra mockup.
Thanks for your comments - you make some good points. You're right that not all Notation Software is the same, especially once you get to more in-depth editing - the DAW functionality of Dorico, say. And its true that Staff Pad is a different paradigm. For beginners, though, there is much less to choose between them, and I've used all of them - the key issues (eg. struggling to hear music in your head, and overlying on the playback) remain the same. Experienced users mitigate this problem with sample packs, or by knowing the weaknesses of the software and only using playback to check errors, not for any fidelity. Most pros I know don't even use sample packs in Notation software, because they hardly ever listen to it - they don't need to, because they are mainly hearing it in their head.! It is often just a means to an end (they know that at some point they will be printing up some parts). If they need a fantastic sounding score, they'll either mock it up in a DAW or record it for real, or a combination of both. FYI - these videos were designed for beginners and young people - as I say in the video. It's really for those who cannot justify the expense of third party sample libraries - or possibly don't even know what a 'third party sample library' is!! Or they just use whatever their school or college has. It is based on interactions with literally hundreds of school age newbies , and trying to help them with the most common misconceptions about how to use notation software - how they can hamper as well as help the young composer. It was not designed as an in-depth lesson for people who already know this stuff. Thanks for engaging with the episodes though . . . EO
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