[sib-access] Re: Piano pedalings and MIDI playback

  • From: "Kevin Gibbs" <kevjazz@xxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <sib-access@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Mon, 22 Sep 2008 17:14:19 -0500

If you add the ped sign from the symbols dialog, it lands above.  Like I
said, I MADE ONE BY ELIMINATING THE ASTERISK FROM THE PEDAL UP SIGN.
It works.
K.

-----Original Message-----
From: sib-access-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:sib-access-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Dan Rugman
Sent: Monday, September 22, 2008 5:09 PM
To: sib-access@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [sib-access] Re: Piano pedalings and MIDI playback


I wont be able to confirm this for a day or two, but I'll let you know.

If memory serves you can add the pedal line to one note only and then move
the right end of the line to the left to remove the line.  This would leave
the ped sign on its own.

Another option would be to add the ped sign from the symbols dialog.  This
wouldn't play back but you could add a MIDI message to take care of that.

Again, not much help, but I'll look into it.

Dan Rugman

Visit www.musicaccess.co.uk
The new on-line resource for visually impaired musicians and home of
Sibelius Access.

-----Original Message-----
From: sib-access-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:sib-access-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Kevin Gibbs
Sent: 22 September 2008 22:46
To: sib-access@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [sib-access] Re: Piano pedalings and MIDI playback

Dan,
        Believe it or not, the standard pedal line is not just the letters
ped.  It has a line that is visible and extends from the ped letters.  I had
to create a symbol that conforms to what you describe by taking the pedal
and asterisk sign and removing the asterisk sign from the end symbol dialog.

        The method you mentioned using ped signs at the start of each
pedaling is what I've used in my previous books.  However, I've been having
problems getting that to play an accurate MIDI representation in 5.2 using
the hybridized ped sign I described inventing above.  If you have sighted
assistance, please confirm that your ped sign actually does have a line that
issues from it to the right, and that there is no ped sign sans line in the
lines dialog by default. Thanks, Kevin


-----Original Message-----
From: sib-access-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:sib-access-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Dan Rugman
Sent: Monday, September 22, 2008 4:29 PM
To: sib-access@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [sib-access] Re: Piano pedalings and MIDI playback


Kevin,

Pedalling can be a rather imprecise science, especially if you're writing
modern classical music and deliberately want special effects.  However,
there are certain conventions which are followed by most pianists.  The
signs you use depends on what approach you want to take.

The easiest way is to use the "pedal line".  That's the one which is just
the letters "ped" without a star or line of any kind.  You then put the ped
sign at each point where you need the pedal to change.  To be more exact,
each time you need the pedal to be pressed down.  To way you do this
practically is to select all the notes which will be sustained by the pedal
and add the ped line to those.  Remember that you need to include the note
which comes immediately before the next pedal sign.  In your example you'd
select all the notes in beats one and two and add the line to those.  You'd
then select all note in beats three and four and add another line to those.

It is taken as read that there will be a lift immediately before the
pressing down.  If you need the pedal to be lifted without another press,
use the pedal with star.  This will be interpreted as pressing down on the
note above the "ped" sign and releasing at the end of the note with the star
under it.

What you should see under the left hand is a row of "ped" signs and
occasional stars, the "ped" signs indicating the down pedals and the star
indicating the lift.

The other approach is to use a continuous line with rapid rises and falls in
it.  It looks like a horizontal line which is interrupted by inverted Vs.

I've never used this approach in Sibelius, but I think the way you do it is
to select the notes covered by the first pedal press and put a "pedal with
lift" under them.  You then select each group of notes which are sustained
by a single press and use the "pedal lift again" line.  If you need to lift
the pedal without pressing it down again then use the "pedal lift finally",
selecting from the note where the pedal is pressed to, and including,  the
note under which the pedal is lifted.

When you use this continuous line approach, you try to position the vertical
ticks so that each one is immediately under the note where the pedal press
occurs.  It's almost like a graph showing you where the pedal is through out
the piece.  That is, the horizontal line represents the pedal being held
down and the rise and fall shows the pedal being lifted and pressed down
again.

Like I said, I don't really use this method, so I may have this wrong, but I
think that's how it works.

One other thing, if the playback isn't right, you can select the line and
uncheck the play on pass 1 check box.  This will stop the controller 64 MIDI
messages from being sent.  You could then add MIDI messages manually to
create the right effect.

Dan Rugman

Visit www.musicaccess.co.uk
The new on-line resource for visually impaired musicians and home of
Sibelius Access.


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