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NotePerformer 4 Expectations or Wishes

leslieq

leslieq

Member
Loving the active discussions about sound libraries in notation programs!
Some definite tranches emerge and it's really interesting hearing the pros/cons of different setups and ways of working.
For me, NP still holds huge value during my creative workflow / score preparation — mainly due to its lightness and ease of use.

I spotted on other threads that there is a rumoured 4.0 version of Wallanders NotePerformer in development. (I really hope it is true)
For those of you that still incorporate NotePerformer in your current process (and indeed those that have moved away or yet to try it out), what would be your Top 3-5 wishes for the next gen NotePerformer?

My Top 5 would be:
- Overall improvements in the sounds
- Better Piano; Section/Solo Strings sounds
- Addressing the top-end frequencies that result in shrill overtones
- Ensemble woodwind that doesn't sound like barrel organ
- Smoother envelop at the start of sustained notes at low dynamics (unless marked tenuto; or inner notes in a legato passage)
Click to read more...
 
I hope NP improves in the string dept because the brass are actually quite amazing. Percussion is good too as well as the harp. At present it’s still more than adequate to give a decent approximation of what one is going for in their music of course
 
dcoscina said:
I hope NP improves in the string dept because the brass are actually quite amazing. Percussion is good too as well as the harp. At present it’s still more than adequate to give a decent approximation of what one is going for in their music of course
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Indeed, strings is the weaker part of NP (as you said it works adequate, but not really convincing in realism) Woodwinds can have bit more legato improvements too, clarinet, oboe are good but can be better.

@leslieq
i would have those two improved, also i would also like a better choir.
 
Odd as that may sound, I don't need NotePerformer to sound 'better' or more realistic. It's perfectly fine as it is - for my workflow anyway. I use NotePerformer as a tool to check orchestration. If a balance between instruments is off, NotePerformer lets you hear it. Two timbres don't work together? Audible with NotePerformer. A background element is overpowering a main element? Hit play and NotePerformer plays it back exactly like that. In this, NotePerformer is already highly sophisticated and works amazingly well. If I need a rendering of a piece that sounds as good as possible, I create a mockup.
 
muk said:
Odd as that may sound, I don't need NotePerformer to sound 'better' or more realistic. It's perfectly fine as it is - for my workflow anyway. I use NotePerformer as a tool to check orchestration. If a balance between instruments is off, NotePerformer lets you hear it. Two timbres don't work together? Audible with NotePerformer. A background element is overpowering a main element? Hit play and NotePerformer plays it back exactly like that. In this, NotePerformer is already highly sophisticated and works amazingly well. If I need a rendering of a piece that sounds as good as possible, I create a mockup.
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Yes, agreed :) however sometimes during the proces of playing back what have been inserted (e.g. few bars), the sound becomes less appealing quickly. I do it very often, replay bars (sometimes several times, like in a loop, in a short time) to fine tune the notation, and then a pleasant sound is very welcome :) For end mockups i currently use a DAW.
Although i must say with dorico i am also setting up my own libraries, via playback templates and expression maps (but it's quite a bit of work).
 
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Speaking as someone who has never really used NP (I've been demoing it since it first came out and every new version), I would like to see a humanising knob. One of the worst giveaways that something is MIDI is the absolute perfect pitching and timing. I would also love to see more extended techniques.
 
Bollen said:
Speaking as someone who has never really used NP (I've been demoing it since it first came out and every new version), I would like to see a humanising knob. One of the worst giveaways that something is MIDI is the absolute perfect pitching and timing. I would also love to see more extended techniques.
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Oooh, yes please to more playing techniques!

Re: humanising knob.. would that normally be a feature of the host software rather than NP?
 
leslieq said:
Re: humanising knob.. would that normally be a feature of the host software rather than NP?
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Technically you need both: the DAW for setting things earlier and the plugin for things hitting later. However, there's also the issue with intonation: bigger interval leaps should take longer to pitch and it should never, ever be spot on… It's just unnatural!
 
NP definitely needs better strings, and they are aware of it at Wallender since I know many of us have made them aware of these issues. They also need more pianos (odd that they really only have but one piano, while GPO5 has several really good ones and even Reason is very useful in this regard). Same with electronic organs.
 
At this point, at least for me, Noteperformer is so close to mind-blowingly useful—OK—already mind-blowingly useful—that I think I can leave it up to Wallander to decide what the most mind-blowingly useful updates will be. Mind. Blown. In advance. Can't wait for 4.0.
 
Daryl said:
And that's exactly why NP needs to sound as good as possible. Doing mock-ups is a total waste of time. Why would I want to do that, when everything is going to be replaced?
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It depends on the circumstances. For concert writing, NotePerformer is good enough to provide groups or conductors. For film or media, I can see NP needing to be more appealing to directors or producers.
 
My guess is, next Noteperformer will explore new host possibilities, and may end up being either DAW Vsti, or part of the new IPad based notation realm (Sibelius/Dorico). It's features will be dictated by the platform, but knowing Arne, it will be a product of fresh thinking, and meticulous execution.
 
Daryl said:
And that's exactly why NP needs to sound as good as possible. Doing mock-ups is a total waste of time. Why would I want to do that, when everything is going to be replaced?
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If you use it as a proof of concept, then obviously it should sound as real as possible. Different uses, different needs.
 
Vlzmusic said:
My guess is, next Noteperformer will explore new host possibilities, and may end up being either DAW Vsti, or part of the new IPad based notation realm (Sibelius/Dorico). It's features will be dictated by the platform, but knowing Arne, it will be a product of fresh thinking, and meticulous execution.
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This sounds v interesting… although for me, I find my productivity sucks on all these iPad apps :)
 
leslieq said:
This sounds v interesting… although for me, I find my productivity sucks on all these iPad apps :)
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I actually like the intimacy Staffpad gives you with the score, where you actually can touch every note with your hand :) It just needs to mature further. To think that after years in the making, you cannot customize note start offset, for playback purposes, something Sibelius has had from the dawn of civilization.
 
leslieq said:
Oooh, yes please to more playing techniques!

Re: humanising knob.. would that normally be a feature of the host software rather than NP?
Click to expand...
Paradoxically, if you set all the playback features on Sibelius (if that's what you use) to neutral, the end result is an improvement. It's apparently to do with the way the programme analyses the score in advance of your hearing it.
 
I'd like to see the bass end levels of the piano on quiet passages improved so they match the levels in the treble. Also 'sul pont' for the strings would be lovely.
 
Gary C said:
Paradoxically, if you set all the playback features on Sibelius (if that's what you use) to neutral, the end result is an improvement. It's apparently to do with the way the programme analyses the score in advance of your hearing it.
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Agreed!

For what I do, I have everything off... Dry mix, senza espressivo / sense rubato (more often than not Meccanico); use espressivo 2 off; and straight rhythm (as-written)
 
Gary C said:
I'd like to see the bass end levels of the piano on quiet passages improved so they match the levels in the treble. Also 'sul pont' for the strings would be lovely.
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Yeah, I always thought sul pont was an odd omission from string techniques.
 
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