program for rhythm notation

Frantic Slayer · #1 03-06-2009, 04:32 PM

hello, is there a program where i can tap a rhythm, and it spits out the notation for me... im having trouble notating one of my basslines in finale, im pretty sure im close, if not right on, but when i play it back it sounds a lil bit off, and i want to know if this is because its wrongly notated, or due my human playing element...

thanks

lament · #2 03-06-2009, 04:52 PM

Tap quarter notes, sing your bass line and see how it fits. If that's not good enough, tap eighth notes instead. If that's not good enough, tap sixteenths... Depending on the bassline maybe it's better to tap in triplets instead...

taduikis · #3 03-06-2009, 05:11 PM

I guess you could benefit more by trying to write the rhythm by yourself. Try it. If you're not shure, enter it to any music notation program (sibelius, finale, guitar pro). Those programs can play notes you entered.

**Stumbo** · #4 03-06-2009, 08:35 PM

You mean, something like a drum machine with manual input that will print notation?
Havent' seen that yet. How about some notation software that will play back the bass/rhythm? If it's notated then you can adjust it until it sounds right.

Maybe there's something free here that would work:
The Big Free Music Related Software Thread

Jefenator · #5 03-07-2009, 01:02 AM

Finale has a feature that lets you play the music via MIDI and it transcribes it as you play. Sounds to me like the best available tool for what you're trying to do.

Jim Carr · #6 03-07-2009, 01:45 PM

I understand your frustration. In all honesty, using software to transcribe rhythm seems to me to be a big mistake, even if you can find a way to use finale hyperscribe (uses a midi keyboard) to do it.

Yes, getting the skill to transcribe rhythm quickly and correctly is non-trivial. It takes a lot of time and effort (did I say a lot?), and most folks would rather have results NOW.

I suggest you get some help from a more experienced musician to solve your immediate transcription problem, and then get some real and serious training. Skip the "I'll just get a book and work on it at home and get better" delusion. It does not work, in 99.999999% of the cases I have seen. I have been a teaching music since 1988.

Frantic Slayer · #7 03-08-2009, 12:06 AM

*sigh*

I said in my original post that I would be using the software to double check my work. I have finale already, see original post, and I am using that. I understand the importance of the skill, and I am being taught by an excellent musician. no offense guys, but I can tell by some of your posts that you didn't read my post...

I didn't say: I cant do it, help me find a program!

I said: hey I think its close, but I'm not sure if its off because I messed up somewhere, or if its off because of a swing element when I played it, vs when the computer playing it.

oh, and lament, I like your singing idea...

Jim Carr · #8 03-08-2009, 09:08 AM

Here is what you said...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frantic Slayer

hello, is there a program where i can tap a rhythm, and it spits out the notation for me... im having trouble notating one of my basslines in finale, im pretty sure im close, if not right on, but when i play it back it sounds a lil bit off, and i want to know if this is because its wrongly notated, or due my human playing element...

thanks

*cough*
I read your post carefully.
You asked us for a program for rhythmic transcription because your rhythmic dictation/transcription skills are not up to the task of transcribing a bassline.

Yes, I realize you have Finale. My point was that Finale is poor at this kind of thing. I am sorry that you didn't get what you wanted in the way of advice or a pointer to software, and were instead met with a bunch of grown-ups lecturing about musicianhip, but what did you really expect?

Since you have a teacher, get the immediate help you need with the transcription (print it and take it to a lesson?) and then get the skills you need. *sigh*

onlyclave · #9 03-08-2009, 09:52 AM

Jim Carr is ultimately right, but Finale will do that for you with its Hyperscribe entry function. Just play the rhythm with on one note several times and look at the variations that Finale will print based on the fact that you're a human. It might get you in the ballpark.

You're also forgetting about the the software you're using to read this forum. Post a recorded clip of the bass line and have someone here help you transcribe it.

rarisgod · #10 03-08-2009, 10:06 AM

Isn't Sibelius also capable of this?

Blake Bass · #11 03-08-2009, 10:18 AM

As Onlyclave said, "Post a recorded clip of the bass line and have someone here help you transcribe it." I think that is a great idea. It would be interesting to see the variations we all come up with and interesting to see the correct rhythm. It could be a fun exercise for all of us.

jweiss · #12 03-08-2009, 11:32 AM

Yeah, definitely post the clip and I/we can transcribe it for you.

The nice thing about Finale and rhythm notation is that you can play your rhythm back to see if it matches your recording or playing, at any speed. If you know how to notate rhythm, at that point you should be able to fix it.

If you can't fix it to match, do you know how to properly count 16th and 8th notes, e.g., 1-e-and-a etc?

Make sure human playback is disabled in Finale. You might have some "swing" stuff going on with the playback...

Jake of Bass · #13 03-08-2009, 04:54 PM

Post the clip AND post a picture of your transcription.

**Stumbo** · #14 03-08-2009, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frantic Slayer

...is there a program where i can tap a rhythm, and it spits out the notation for me...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frantic Slayer

I didn't say: .... help me find a program!

Enough with the *sigh*.

I respectfully suggest you read your own posts....

Frantic Slayer · #15 03-09-2009, 03:18 PM

after toying with it more, I think it has something to do with finales human playback feature...not sure exactly how it works...but im messing around with it

mambo4 · #16 03-09-2009, 03:50 PM

whenever I have played a unquantized rhythm into a computer and looked at the notation it spits back, It's usually practically unreadable.
Thats cuz we humans are not metronomes and the minute rhythmic inaccuracies (aka feel) usually get interpreted as 64th note ties and other garbage.
Computers simply don't know what inaccuracies need to be ignored or left to interpretation.

Much, much better to have a musician who can read correct your work. Musicians will know how to notate rhythms in a the most legible fashion.
I, too,wouldn't mind a go at notating a sample.

another option is to play into a midi recorder,and quantize the result (8ths or 16ths are usually best) before sending it to finale.