Repeating repeat instructions

[Tim Mariott]

I am inputting some John Dowland Elizabethan songs which have quite a messy repeat structure. I have successfully encoded the first verse which ends up with 8 repeat instructions.
But there are 3 identical verses in this song and there are several others with similar features.
Is there any way of repeating the set of 8 repeat instructions other than tediously inputting 16 more instructions.
Or do I have to set it up as a practice loop for the entire piece so that it will repeat the required format?
If I do that, can I then Export the accompaniment as an MP3 file with all 3 verses playing?
Thanks
Tim

[Sherry C]

Hi Tim,

I'm not sure how you've "encoded" the repetitions you have so far (ie. whether you've done that in the score, or within the Repetition Instructions dialog), so I'm not certain which approach would be best moving forward.
If you wouldn't mind sharing the file and giving me some direction that would be helpful. If you'd rather share the file privately, please just send a copy to support@notation.com

ttfn,
Sherry

[Tim Mariott]

Hi Sherry

My process was to scan in a printed score via Photoscore to generate a MIDI file whch I then tidied in Composer. I put all the Begin and End Repeat markers and Endings into the score and then checked the Repeat Instructions to make sure it would do what I intended. Finally I played through the score and it is all fine.

Just that it all needs to be repeated three times and I wondered if there was a better way than just inserting another 16 lines into the Repeat Instructions - particularly as I have another 10 songs to prepare.

File attached: just imagine yourself in the Tudor court of Elizabeth I - though you will have to pretend that the guitar accompaniment is a lute until I can crack that problem!

Best wishes
Tim

[dj]

What! You don't have a comprehensive set of lute samples?

Talk to Sting. He'll have them.

David

[Sherry C]

Hi Tim,

Unfortunately I think you'll need to enter those repetition instructions again in the table as the easiest way to do this and keep the file as you want it.

Other alternatives:

1. Add 32 measures and then Copy/paste the whole thing twice. Unfortunately, though, the repeats aren't included, just the notes. If you find using the mouse easier than typing, though, this may be good for you as you can mouse-click to enter the repeats rather than typing in all the instructions.
2. Use the Practice Loop feature as you mentioned and use an external recorder like Audacity to record the performance of the 3 full repetitions of the song. Be sure to set the Practice loop to have no pauses between repetitions.

I hope this helps.

ttfn,
Sherry

[Tim Mariott]

OK thanks for your thoughts.

As I am fairly comfortable with Audacity I think I will output a single verse MP3 and then replicate it in Audacity.

Best wishes
Tim

[Reinhold H.]

I would like to add my 2 cents here, too.

Using the MIDI protocol between PhotoScore and Composer is a kind of old fashion. MIDI is a machine language protocol which when created from paper sheet/PDF only contains Note Ons/Offs. All other notation elements are lost with the MIDI export by PhotoScore. This is the nature of the MIDI protocol.

I recommend to use the MusicXML protocol between PhotoScore and Composer. For bad quality paper sheet/PDF, I have seen some "scrambled" MusicXML file but - theoretically - the music elements like repeat bars, ending brackets etc. should properly be transmitted into Composer. Composer's MusicXML imports the repeat barlines, endings etc. and translated and creates repeat instruction. The repeat instructions need to be reviewed but - theoretically - should give a decent starting point.
If that process won't work we can evaluate the issues where we need to original PDF, the exported MusicXML file from PhotoScore.

Of course, performing repeat instructions in mp3 format by Audacity is not what we recommend. Adding Audacity creates another tool dependence and a future handling of the music file is almost unmaintainable.

Reinhold

[Tim Mariott]

Reinhold

Thank you for your suggestions. I think I am a case of "old habits die hard". If my memory is correct, when I first started on the Photoscore to Composer route some years ago, at that time Composer was not able to open MusicXML format files and so my only option was MIDI. I didn't update my process when Composer offered the additional option.

I do now use MusicXML import for scores downloaded from MuseScore so I will try to remember to do the same for Photoscore.

Best wishes
Tim

[Reinhold H.]

Here we had some discussions on how to effectively use repeat instructions.

Tim Mariott wrote on 08-15-2024:
"...Is there any way of repeating the set of 8 repeat instructions other than tediously inputting 16 more instructions..."

In the upcoming update 5.0.2 we add a new feature to handle repeat instructions in a kind of Excel way by right mouse clicks. Please see

Reinhold

[Reinhold H.]

An Excel type of copy/paste of rows is new in v5.1. It can be done by a right mouse click.