Below are the modifications, enhancements and bug fixes for all versions beginning with NoteAbilityPro version 2.100

Version 2.103

• Some minor problems concerning Audio Unit playback were fixed. Notes should no longer "hang" when scores are stopped while playing.

Version 2.104

• An Auto-save feature was added to NoteAbilityPro-2. Auto-save can be enabled using the Other pane of the NoteAbilityPro Preference panel. You can also set the time interval between saves (between 1 and 60 minutes). When auto-save is enabled, files with changes made to them are stored in the /tmp folder of your system disk. The /tmp folder is cleared out during a system restart, so these files will no longer be available after your computer has been shut down. To recover auto-saved files, use the Recover Auto Saved Files menu item in the File menu.
• 5 preset buttons were added to the top of the Music Images and Score Structure panels. The presets buttons allow you to store and recall the configuration of loaded panes in the panels. T o store a preset, click on one of the buttons while holding the Shift key down, to recall the preset, click on the button. Presets are stored as preferences.

Version 2.105

• A bug that caused extra ledger lines to appear when systems were shifted around was fixed.
• A menu item -- Flip Slur Direction -- was added to the Modify/Notes menu. This menu causes selected slurs to be flipped to the other side of (i.e. above or below) the note groups.

Version 2.106

• Some disconnected menu items for accidentals were re-connected
• A 10.4 problem with PDF copy and paste within NoteAbilityPro was fixed.
• A problem with new documents being created using the multi-Page display preference was fixed.

Version 2.107

• The new slurs (connected to notes) did not always print when they crossed pages -- this problem was fixed
• Some DLS and AU configurations allowed notes to hang during note entry and playback -- this problem was fixed.

Version 2.108

• Some major optimization improvements were made. Several users on slower machines commented on the CPU usage of NAPro, and it was discovered that some of the Audio Unit effects are serious memory hogs. The Apple Matrix Reverb is one of the worst offenders. In the default configuration, a matrix reverb was set up for both DLS Synthesizer and the Audio Units. By default, the DLS Synthesizer uses a built-in reverberator and the reverberator for the Audio Units is disabled by default. If you want to engage the Custom Reverb for either of these players you can do so in the Audio Units panel. Users who are running slow machines are advised not to use the Custom Reverb or Audio Unit effects - this should improve performance dramatically.

Version 2.302

• This is the first version of NoteAbilityPro compiled for both PPC and Intel processors (i.e. using Universal Binaries). The code for the MusicKit frameworks has been compiled within NoteAbilityPro so that the program no longer needs to use the external frameworks. As well, the entire MIDI environment was reworked and a number of annoying bugs were fixed.
• The user interface was completely redone - it is now cleaner, clearer, and less metallic.
• It is now possible to save Standard MIDI files either with the tempo changes evaluated in the midifile or not. When exporting MIDI files that are to be read by sequencers, you normally do not want the tempo changes evaluated (since the sequencer will interprete the tempo changes during playback. When you are exporting a midi file to be played from a website or by the Quicktime Player, you should have the tempo changes evaluated when the file is created, so that it will sound the same way it does when played back from NoteAbilityPro.
• A number of bugs dealing with smart slurs were fixed.
• A bug which caused pages to print in the wrong order was fixed.
• When new staves are added to a document, the Track Setup panel is now updated properly.

Version 2.319

• It is now possible to chords across two staves beamed properly. The beam can be place between the two staves and stems are now drawn properly both directions.
• A playback counter has been added as an optional item to be included in the main score toolbar. The counter can be added by selecting the Customize Toolbar item from the Windows menu and dragging the counter to the area near the top of the the score window. The advantage of having the counter appear on the score toolbar is that the last playback duration will remain visible after a performance has ended. Some users found it annoying that the main counter disappeared as soon as playback was finished and they were unable to make note of the final performance duration.
• The problems with frames around Text boxes was fixed. Previously, text was not centred in the boxes and did not print properly.
• A Select Next Image menu item was added to the Edit menu. This menu item allows you to select a portion of the score and to step one-by-one through the selected images. As each image is selected, you can perform any editing operation on the image, then click the Select Next Image menu to move to the next image. For efficiency, this operation has two shortcuts: Command-Control-a or Control- (right arrow key). This editing function is very useful for iterating through your score and making fine adjustments, or when used in conjunction with Paste and Select - the newly pasted images can be altered one-by-one without the images having to be re-selected.

Version 2.320

• A problem with entering unicode (extended characters) as Lyrics was fixed. In order to enter Lyrics in other languages or to access the extended characters and symbols, make sure the font used for lyrics (as set in the Preferences panel) supports the characters you want to represent. You may have to click the cursor in the command field on the score window and Insert the desired character from the Character pane of the Font panel in order to load the character as a lyric character.

Version 2.323

• Some problems with text wrapping in strange places when files were re-opened was fixed.
• Chord alignment across staves was fixed. It is now possible to join notes on multiple staves and have the stems aligned even when the beam is placed between the two chord groups:
• Symbols were added to NoteAbilityPro so that sustain pedals (down and up) could be included for score playback. The command '~' is used for these symbols. Clicking on the score adds a pedal down symbol below the closest staff. To add a pedal release symbol, hold the Shift key down while you click the mouse button. Pedal performance symbols appear as a grey arrow inside a circle pointing either down (pedal down) or up (pedal release). During score playback these pedal performance symbols will simulate the sustain pedal being depressed and released. Normally these symbols are not printed, but there is a setting in the Other tab of NoteAbilityPro Preferences which allow the symbols to be printed if desired.
  

Version 2.338

• This version of NoteAbilityPro is compatible with Macintosh OS-X 10.5 (Leopard).
• The DLS audio system has been substantially enhanced. It is now possible to have 6 independent DLS channels operating, with each DLS using a different soundfont. There will be a number of NoteAbilityPro soundfonts created with high quality samples of many standard orchestral instruments. As well, it is possible to extend your palette of available soundfonts by downloading some of the many free soundfonts from the internet. To support the new audio system, the Audio Units panel has been re-designed so that the soundfonts for the 6 DLS players can be selected easily.
  
  It is also possible to save your collection of soundfonts with the Save DLS Orchestra button and to load a previously saved orchestra with the Load DLS Orchestra button.
  
  To support the new audio options, the Track Setup panel was also modified so that you can direct the music on each staff to any one of the DLS players (as well as the other playback options.)
  

• NoteAbilityPro can now import NoteWriter files using the Import NoteWriter... menu item in the File menu. Currently, there is limited editing support for imported NoteWriter files, but the files can be printed (or saved as PDF files through the print panel) and minor changes can be made to the imported images. A panel with some basic controls for NoteWriter images can be displayed using the Tools/NoteWriter Controls... menu item. More controls will be added over time. In this release of NoteAbilityPro it is possible to alter accidentals and the accidental position of selected NoteWriter notes, and to perform some simple editing operations such as changing the staff association of selected notes. Imported NoteWriter files can be saved as NoteAbilityPro files for later editing and printing. In order for NoteAbilityPro to recognize your NoteWriter files, add the extension .nwr to these documents.
• NoteAbilityPro can now import MusicXML files using the Import XML... menu item in the File menu. MusicXML files can be exported from other music notation programs and imported into NoteAbilityPro. Many of the layout and formating features of the original score are re-created when the score is imported into NoteAbilityPro.
• An interface for creating nested tuplets (a tuplet inside a tuplet) has been added to NoteAbilityPro. The nested tuplet pane was added to the Graphics & Line area of the Music Images panel. This pane allows you to input the rhythm necessary to create nested tuplets and provides buttons to convert a complex tuplet into a nested tuplet.
• Breakpoint functions were added to NoteAbilityPro. These graphical objects are designed to interface with MaxMSP and PD during score playback. Detailed information on Breakpoint functions and the BPF editor can be found in the Helpfiles.
• Support for Open Music's OM data format has been added. It is possible to export music data from Open Music and paste it directly into NoteAbilityPro.
• Support for score following using the antescofo system developed by Arshia Cont has been added to NoteAbilityPro. This system and its interface to NoteAbilityPro are still in the testing stage. Composers interested in working with this system should contact the author.

Version 2.346

• It is now possible to insert a blank system and Insert a blank page berfore the current system or page. Menu items to perform these tasks have been added to the Format menu.
• Playback of chords or beamed passages that cross staves now use the correct playback voice.
• 4 new line types were added to the Line Types pane -- these are lines for adding octava signs, octava below signs, 15ma above signs and 15ma below signs -- the first two duplicate the images already available through the Image Palette. (A new version of the Scriabin font is required for the 15ma image - this is included in the installation.)
• It is possible to add arrows on the end of curved lines (using the curve tool) by holding down the Shift key while the image is being drawn. The arrow appears at the end of the curved line.

Version 2.365

• Midi file reading and recording has been improved. It is now possible to extract triplets, quintuplets and septuplets from MIDI files and from recorded MIDI performances. As well a number of bugs in the MusicKit were fixed and NoteWriter import bugs were fixed.
• A playback metronome was added since some people requested a metronome that could be used during score playback. The metronome can be turned on and off using a button located at the bottom of the score window:
  OFF: ON:

Version 2.370

• This version of NoteAbilityPro includes some playback enhancements which include LED displays for visualization of playback levels, re-design of the embedded soundfile playback system and support for recording audio directly from NoteAbilityPro. Two menu items have been added to the File menu: Record To Disk... and Record To Disk From Cursor.... Selecting these menu items brings up a panel which enables you to choose the audio format you want to record in and choose the location on disk you want the file stored. You have a choice of 4 audio formats:
  • Mpeg-4 audio Format - .m4a (a compressed format)
  • Core Audio File format - .caf (a compressed format)
  • AIFF - .aif (a high quality audio format common on Macintosh computers)
  • WAVE - .wav (a high quality audio format common on Windows computers)
  All these formats are compatible with Quicktime and ITunes. The first 2 formats are highly compressed, so the file size will be approximately 1/10th the size of the AIFF or WAVE files. However, some media players on other computers may not be able to read these compressed formats.

  Recorded files should sound identical to the score playback since all attributes of the performances (volumes, tempo, patch changes, embedded soundfiles etc.) will be captured in the recording. If you want to burn your recording onto an audio CD, use the Record To Disk menu and select any one of the file formats. Once the recording has completed, drag the file into a new playlist in ITunes, click on the Burn Disc button, and insert a blank disc.

  On some computers, when recording a particularly complex score you might experience short dropouts in the recording. If this occurs, try quitting any other running applications and changing your preferences so that the score does not scroll from page to page during playback.

• It is now possible to have dashed staff lines as well as solid staff lines using the buttons on the Staff Lines pane. The change from solid to dashed lines operates both on complete staves and on segments of staves (using the Change At CursorB setting.)
• It is now possible to include non-standard key signatures in NoteAbilityPro. Up to 2 different key signatures can be created in each score and added freely throughout the document. Custom Key signatures can also be saved and loaded into other scores.

  See also

  • NoteAbilityPro Overview
  • NoteAbilityPro features

  © Keith A. Hamel 1998-2005 - All Rights Reserved