Updated documentation

This commit is contained in:
Matthias Neeracher 2008-07-13 21:15:29 +00:00
parent 7597339b67
commit 03a86ea295
4 changed files with 29 additions and 9 deletions

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@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ play accompaniments. It is designed to be:</p>
<ul type="disc"> <ul type="disc">
<li>You can obtain and change the source code to adapt <li>You can obtain and change the source code to adapt
VocalEasel to your needs (or hire somebody to do so).</li> VocalEasel to your needs (or hire somebody to do so).</li>
<li>VocalEasel tries to produce standard formats like MIDI, PDF, and <li>VocalEasel tries to produce standard formats like MIDI, MP3, PDF, and
MusicXML whenever possible, to give you the freedom to interchange files MusicXML whenever possible, to give you the freedom to interchange files
with other software.</li> with other software.</li>
</ul> </ul>

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@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ Next, enter the melody:
</ul></li> </ul></li>
<li>By default, the pitch of a note is determined by the key signature, <li>By default, the pitch of a note is determined by the key signature,
i.e., if the key signature is F major and you click on the middle line of i.e., if the key signature is F major and you click on the middle line of
the system, you get a B flat. To change this: the system, you get a B flat. To change this default:
<ul> <ul>
<li>Hold down the option (alt) key while clicking to add a flat to the note.</li> <li>Hold down the option (alt) key while clicking to add a flat to the note.</li>
<li>Hold down the command (apple) key to add a sharp.</li> <li>Hold down the command (apple) key to add a sharp.</li>
@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ Next, enter the melody:
first note in a measure is deleted, it is replaced with a rest. If any other first note in a measure is deleted, it is replaced with a rest. If any other
note or rest is deleted, the previous note or rest is extended.</li> note or rest is deleted, the previous note or rest is extended.</li>
<li>To extend the duration of a note across the next note or measure, hold <li>To extend the duration of a note across the next note or measure, hold
down the shift key while clicking the note.</li> down the shift key and click on the note.</li>
<li>By default, you can enter notes as low as the A below middle C and as <li>By default, you can enter notes as low as the A below middle C and as
high as the high C. To change that range, click the <i>Display</i> icon at high as the high C. To change that range, click the <i>Display</i> icon at
the top right to change the number of top or bottom ledger lines.</li> the top right to change the number of top or bottom ledger lines.</li>
@ -94,6 +94,13 @@ Finally, you may choose to enter lyrics:
<h2>Advanced Editing</h2> <h2>Advanced Editing</h2>
<h3>Transposing Your Song</h3>
<ul>
<li>If you select a different key from the popup menu, you will be presented with the choice of keeping your melody unchanged and just changing the key, or transposing your melody and accompaniment to the new key.</li>
<li>If the transposition leaves the melody in an unsuitable range, you can transpose it up or down by an octave through the <i>Octave Up</i> and <i>Octave Down</i> menu items in the <i>Song</i> menu.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Working with Selections</h3> <h3>Working with Selections</h3>
<ul> <ul>
@ -119,7 +126,7 @@ Finally, you may choose to enter lyrics:
By default, Lilypond will choose where to start new lines and new pages. To override these decisions with explicit line and page breaks, click on a bar line and select <i>Line Break</i> or <i>Page Break</i> from the <i>Song</i> menu. By default, Lilypond will choose where to start new lines and new pages. To override these decisions with explicit line and page breaks, click on a bar line and select <i>Line Break</i> or <i>Page Break</i> from the <i>Song</i> menu.
<h3>Working with Multiple Sections</h3> <h3>Using Sections to Control Settings</h3>
By default, the <i>key</i>, <i>meter</i>, <i>subdivisions</i>, and <i>groove</i> settings you choose apply to the entire song. If you need to change these in the middle of a song (e.g. to alternate between swing and latin in a song like Green Dolphin Street), click on a bar line and select <i>Section Break</i> from the <i>Song</i> menu. From then on, changes to the above settings only apply to the sections partially or wholly contained in the selection. By default, the <i>key</i>, <i>meter</i>, <i>subdivisions</i>, and <i>groove</i> settings you choose apply to the entire song. If you need to change these in the middle of a song (e.g. to alternate between swing and latin in a song like Green Dolphin Street), click on a bar line and select <i>Section Break</i> from the <i>Song</i> menu. From then on, changes to the above settings only apply to the sections partially or wholly contained in the selection.

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@ -33,11 +33,11 @@
<h3>PDF</h3> <h3>PDF</h3>
Saves graphical output in Adobe's &lt;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portable_Document_Format">Portable Document Format</a>&gt; Saves graphical output in Adobe's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portable_Document_Format">Portable Document Format</a>
<h3>MIDI</h3> <h3>MIDI</h3>
Saves music in &lt;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIDI">Musical Instrument Digital Interface</a>&gt; format. Saves music in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIDI">Musical Instrument Digital Interface</a> format.
<h3>MusicXML</h3> <h3>MusicXML</h3>
@ -47,6 +47,14 @@ Saves file in uncompressed, part-wise MusicXML 1.1 format.
Saves output in Lilypond format. Saves output in Lilypond format.
<h3>AIFF</h3>
Saves music in uncompressed AIFF (Audio Interchange File Format) format, if for some reason you would prefer to have your playback track in the highest possible quality.
<h3>MP3</h3>
Saves music in 64 kbps <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP3">MP3</a> format, which is much more compact than AIFF and generally has decent enough quality. To save to MP3 format, the <a href="http://lame.sourceforge.net">LAME</a> MP3 encoder needs to be installed on your Mac (VocalEasel will offer to guide you through the installation).
<h2>Importing VocalEasel Songs From Other Software</h2> <h2>Importing VocalEasel Songs From Other Software</h2>
If necessary, it is possible to import VocalEasel songs into other programs even without running VocalEasel: The <tt>.vlsong</tt> bundle contains a file <tt>Song</tt> which is simply the song in uncompressed, part-wise MusicXML 1.1 format. If necessary, it is possible to import VocalEasel songs into other programs even without running VocalEasel: The <tt>.vlsong</tt> bundle contains a file <tt>Song</tt> which is simply the song in uncompressed, part-wise MusicXML 1.1 format.

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@ -20,14 +20,19 @@ automatically generate accompaniments for rehearsal.
<ul> <ul>
<li>Click the <i>Play</i> icon to start the accompaniment.</li> <li>Click the <i>Play</i> icon to start the accompaniment.</li>
<li>Click the <i>Stop</i> icon to stop the accompaniment.</li> <li>Click the <i>Stop</i> icon to pause the accompaniment.</li>
<li>Change the tempo using the <i>Tempo</i> control.</li> <li>Click the <i>Fwd</i> icon to rapidly scan forward. Click again to further increase the speed. Click <i>Play</i> to return to regular playback speed.</li>
<li>Click the <i>Rew</i> icon to play the song backward <strong>(Using this feature for religious purposes will void your warranty)</strong>. Click again to scan backward more quickly. Click <i>Play</i> to return to forward playback at regular speed.</li>
<li>Click the <i>Start</i> icon to return to the beginning of the song.</li>
<li>Click the <i>End</i> icon to move to the end of the song.</li>
<li>Change the tempo using the <i>Tempo</i> control, or using the <i>Faster</i> and <i>Slower</i> items in the <i>Play</i> menu.</li>
<li>Change the accompaniment style using the <i>Groove</i> popup menu. <li>Change the accompaniment style using the <i>Groove</i> popup menu.
<i>Swing</i> and <i>Bossa Nova</i> are present, the <i>Select...</i> menu <i>Swing</i> and <i>Bossa Nova</i> are present, the <i>Select...</i> menu
item will bring up a large number of other styles to choose from. <b>Currently, not all styles will work for all meters</b>.</li> item will bring up a large number of other styles to choose from. <b>Currently, not all styles will work for all meters</b>.</li>
<li>To save your MIDI accompaniment for use in another program, e.g. <li>To save your MIDI accompaniment for use in another program, e.g.
GarageBand, use the <i>Save a Copy As...</i> menu item and choose GarageBand, use the <i>Save a Copy As...</i> menu item and choose
<i>MIDI</i> from the <i>File Format</i> popup menu. <i>MIDI</i> from the <i>File Format</i> popup menu.</li>
<li>To save your accompaniment for use in iTunes, a portable music player, or a cell phone, use the <i>Save a Copy As...</i> menu item and choose <i>MP3</i> or <i>AIFF</i> from the <i>File Format</i> popup menu.</li>
</ul> </ul>
<h2>Selecting Parts to Play</h2> <h2>Selecting Parts to Play</h2>