Midi keyboard + MuseScore for notating solos?
- Stefano
- Posts: 48
- Joined: Jan 08, 2024
I’ve done a search, but apologize if I’m duplicating a thread.
I want to start notating trombone solos, and have never done notation before.
After some research here and elsewhere, it seems that a good way forward would be to buy a used midi keyboard and use it in conjunction with MuseScore. I can reproduce the trombone part on the keyboard, which is then notated in MuseScore. I can then go in and clean it up.
Am I on the right track?
My first notation would be Steve Davis’s Peace, BTW.
I want to start notating trombone solos, and have never done notation before.
After some research here and elsewhere, it seems that a good way forward would be to buy a used midi keyboard and use it in conjunction with MuseScore. I can reproduce the trombone part on the keyboard, which is then notated in MuseScore. I can then go in and clean it up.
Am I on the right track?
My first notation would be Steve Davis’s Peace, BTW.
- musicofnote
- Posts: 367
- Joined: Jun 03, 2022
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- Stefano
- Posts: 48
- Joined: Jan 08, 2024
I’m always hoping that techie things will be simpler than they ever are.
If I’m transcribing trombone parts for my own use, maybe I should just get proficient with notation using pencil and staff paper.
If I’m transcribing trombone parts for my own use, maybe I should just get proficient with notation using pencil and staff paper.
- muschem
- Posts: 372
- Joined: Jan 17, 2021
I've never tried a midi keyboard for transcriptions, but a regular computer keyboard works fine for me in MuseScore. Things go pretty fast for single part transcriptions, especially once you pick up a few of the key shortcuts (switching note duration, adding articulation, etc.). Fine-tuning the appearance can take a bit more effort, but the default engraving choices MuseScore makes are pretty usable as-is. This reminds me that I need to get back to several of the partially-finished transcription projects I have started.
- JLivi
- Posts: 870
- Joined: May 10, 2018
[quote="muschem"]I've never tried a midi keyboard for transcriptions, but a regular computer keyboard works fine for me in MuseScore. Things go pretty fast for single part transcriptions[/quote]
Agreed!
Now I think having a midi controller is always a good thing to have lying around, but not to use with MuseScore for trombone transcriptions. These programs are pretty intuitive and using a computer keyboard should be just fine.
Agreed!
Now I think having a midi controller is always a good thing to have lying around, but not to use with MuseScore for trombone transcriptions. These programs are pretty intuitive and using a computer keyboard should be just fine.
- Stefano
- Posts: 48
- Joined: Jan 08, 2024
That’s all good news. So I can do all my transcription on the computer keyboard.
- BGuttman
- Posts: 7368
- Joined: Mar 22, 2018
[quote="Stefano"]That’s all good news. So I can do all my transcription on the computer keyboard.[/quote]
Cautionary note: There is a pretty steep learning curve using any notation program. They are not so intuitive that you can go like the wind right away. When I'm out of practice on MuseScore I can take hours to do what I can do in minutes with pencil and paper. But the end result is much easier to read.
Cautionary note: There is a pretty steep learning curve using any notation program. They are not so intuitive that you can go like the wind right away. When I'm out of practice on MuseScore I can take hours to do what I can do in minutes with pencil and paper. But the end result is much easier to read.
- AndrewMeronek
- Posts: 1487
- Joined: Mar 30, 2018
Music notation programs really shine when you want to create a score and extract parts. For doing a transcription of a solo - if you're not planning on publishing it professionally engraved - it's generally better to go buy or print some manuscript paper and write it out by hand.
- JDenton61
- Posts: 2
- Joined: May 25, 2024
I just use the keyboard with MuseScore. I can move along pretty quickly, especially with the sound on so I can hear any mistypes as I go along.
Mainly, I use it to add custom lyrics to familiar hymn tunes for church. The lyrics function on MuseScore is a bit slower and more finicky for me.
Mainly, I use it to add custom lyrics to familiar hymn tunes for church. The lyrics function on MuseScore is a bit slower and more finicky for me.