Simple realtime playback control

  • Thread starter Thread starter Bill Fleming
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Bill Fleming

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Our local village choir does not have a pianist, but has a Yamaha P-85 digital piano. I want to provide accompaniments by using MuseScore or other notation software to input scores to my computer then play them in realtime as MIDI files output to the P-85 piano. I have a UX16 USB to MIDI adapter to connect my Sony Vaio PCG-FX109K laptop to the P-85. But I want to be able to control the tempo and volume of the accompaniments in realtime during playback, e.g. follow the conductor rather than use tempo settings in the MuseScore playback module.
a) what simple software will allow me to do this? I can use either Windows XP or Puppy Linux (based on Ubuntu).
b) do I need additional hardware to input the tempo and volume signals or will the software enable me to tap something on the computer to the time the conductor sets and varies over the piece?
c) it would be useful if the software would allow me to set up a list of pieces, e.g. the set of pieces for a choir concert and play them in concert programme order.
Cheers
Bill
 
Sorry I can't help, but I'll be watching this thread to see if anybody comes up with a solution for you. Would be a neat thing to have. The sequencers I've used are pretty much straight playback at a programmed tempo. Reaper's sequencer lets you tap in that tempo which is nice, but I don't think it will allow changes in real time during playback.

Cheers.
 
Yamaha tell me that I should try Cubase. But I am not familiar with this or any sequencer. Those of you who are familiar with Cubase: do you think it will do what I want?
 
You can use something like a headphone preamp to control volume. The hard part would be controlling the tempo in realtime. It might just be best to use a set tempo and let the conductor adhere to it. With some sort of count off before the tracks to prepare for the recording. Even if there is a tempo solution for affecting realtime midi, the person doing the tempo would likely have to anticipate the beat to have it align with the conductors beat. Which is, well, error prone to say the least. And not a very fun task. If the music is complex the tap person / accompanist might find themselves taping 8ths or 16ths to the conducted tempo. Which for any concert of any length will be tiring. It might be better for the sanity of all involved to find/hire an accompanist.
 
Put headphones on the conductor and send them the click track, or use a small monitor at the conductors' feet. Give him 2-4 measures of intro before the music starts.

Adjusting the tempo in real time is gonna be extremely difficult.
 
c7sus said:
put headphones on the conductor and send them the click track, or use a small monitor at the conductors' feet. Give him 2-4 measures of intro before the music starts.

Adjusting the tempo in real time is gonna be extremely difficult.
Click to expand...

ditto.......
 
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