Can anyone recomend an ABC player for the MAC? I looked pretty hard but could only find Barfly. It is not very friendly.
I prefer ABC Navigator on the PC with it's easy to use gui. Tempo change and mouse over looping is what I'm after.
As I remember from way back, I understand it is possible to run the Windows OS in the Mac environment. This would doubtless solve a lot of these little problems, albeit with some sort of performance penalty.
There is an application called '5 line skink' that's written in Java and has versions for PC and Mac.
I tried it for a while on my old MacOs 10.4 Tiger, but found it unstable with lots of chrashes. But I've never used it with Snow Leopard. It could be worth trying.
Here's the link: http://celticmusic.ca/skink.html
This is Chris Walshaw's link for macs; http://abcnotation.com/software#mac
Mixolydian, interesting you recommend lilypond. I would think anyone who prefers a Navigator style interface might have a slight learning curve for a bit of the code used in lilypond. Having said that, do you think using the templates might ease the process? http://lilypond.org/doc/v2.12/Documentation/user/lilypond-learning/Single-staff#Single-staff
I have not used Lilypond in several years & may download it (on Windows). It could come in handy for scoring out songs. Does anyone know if the mac version has a different graphic interface than PC? I have a PC.
Fair play to anyone who finds the above links useful. On rethinking my plans to work on more code, I'll pass. Please don't tell the singers in my session. I know (with lots of work) I could make beautiful printouts of songs. When you get right down to it though, our singers are brilliant without all the fuss.
Cheers,
Ben
I expected this question. Basically it's text driven. I strive to learn tunes by ear, but if a tune is complicated I grab the abc and practice the notes. Then I learn how to *play* it by listening to recordings. But while using the ABC player I like to select with a mouse a difficult section and loop it. Then I can play along and get that section down solid. Then, with the sweep of a mouse speed it up. In Barfly I found no tempo control other than changing the "q:" entry in the file. I also found no pause command either. Admittedly you can select a portion of text with the mouse and loop it, but there are no buttons to actuate play. Shortcuts yes, but the interface is like reading email with Pine 10 tears ago. For instance I can not find a "Stop" command?? There is a "Skip Current tune" command in the drop down that works as a stop. All in all a lousy interface,
FWIW, in BarFly, you can put in a field in the ABC to control tempo:
I:speed 300
I think that number is notes per minute (not beats per minute). It would be nice if it had GUI controls for a lot of things, but it's still a fairly useful program.
I don't know what version of Barfly you are using, but I do know that for many versions you have been able to highlight a section of the music (in the text abc) and loop that section using "command-semicolon). Yeah, you have to change the speed with the q control. Yeah, there is no pause where you can start again from the paused point. But the "command-K"will work as the stop. Before you complain too much about the program I'd suggest you check out the help sections and learn what it really can do.
you have a mac so you can run barfly, you are in much better shape than me but i am a stubborn windows user and I don't need abc because I have finale and like dots more than letters. but if I did like abc I would prefer to be able to use barfly but I can't
>Before you complain too much about the program I'd suggest you check out the help sections and learn what it really can do.
cbody: why don't you read and understand my post before you comment. I articulated that you CAN highlight a section of the music (in the text abc) and loop that section. . I see nothing new here as far as options. You offered nothing new as well. I even mentioned the "Skip Current tune" command which has as it's shortcut - "command K " . Face it Barfly has far less functionality than many PC based ABC players. And you were quick to slag me.
Not slagging you but I did misread your post. I stand corrected.
And yes, Barfly is behind the curve now. Just try to use it with word underlay and/or multiple parts. I do wish Phil would improve it. Five Line Skink is getting better and better, but is still not as far along as some of the PC things.
However, since you use and Mac (and so do I) you might try this: Either export a midi file direct from Barfly or use abc2midi to get one (with or without the boom chuck chord backup). Then you can use Quicktime Player 7 to loop sections, change the speed, the choice of instruments, and even adjust the pitch if need be. Wouldn't that work for you? Once the Midi files are created you won't need to go through that step again.
ABC Player for MAC
ABC Player for MAC
Can anyone recomend an ABC player for the MAC? I looked pretty hard but could only find Barfly. It is not very friendly.
I prefer ABC Navigator on the PC with it's easy to use gui. Tempo change and mouse over looping is what I'm after.
Thanks,
Salt
# Posted on February 20th 2010 by saltcast
Re: ABC Player for MAC
As I remember from way back, I understand it is possible to run the Windows OS in the Mac environment. This would doubtless solve a lot of these little problems, albeit with some sort of performance penalty.
# Posted on February 20th 2010 by Trevor Jennings
Re: ABC Player for MAC
Have a look at :
http://www.myriad-online.com/en/products/melody.htm
# Posted on February 20th 2010 by Lurcherjohn
Re: ABC Player for MAC
Try this:
http://lilypond.org/
# Posted on February 20th 2010 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: ABC Player for MAC
There is an application called '5 line skink' that's written in Java and has versions for PC and Mac.
I tried it for a while on my old MacOs 10.4 Tiger, but found it unstable with lots of chrashes. But I've never used it with Snow Leopard. It could be worth trying.
Here's the link:
http://celticmusic.ca/skink.html
# Posted on February 20th 2010 by lars
Re: ABC Player for MAC
ps/ it works for Linux as well
# Posted on February 20th 2010 by lars
Re: ABC Player for MAC
Buy a PC running Windows. The best option as Macs are very difficult to use.
# Posted on February 20th 2010 by skooter500
Re: ABC Player for MAC
How's about Barfly
http://www.barfly.dial.pipex.com/
# Posted on February 20th 2010 by goldfrog
Re: ABC Player for MAC
saltcast - why do you find barfly "user un-friendly?" I've used it for years and haven't found any challenges with it.
# Posted on February 20th 2010 by Jusa Nutter Eejit
Re: ABC Player for MAC
This is Chris Walshaw's link for macs;
http://abcnotation.com/software#mac
Mixolydian, interesting you recommend lilypond. I would think anyone who prefers a Navigator style interface might have a slight learning curve for a bit of the code used in lilypond. Having said that, do you think using the templates might ease the process?
http://lilypond.org/doc/v2.12/Documentation/user/lilypond-learning/Single-staff#Single-staff
I have not used Lilypond in several years & may download it (on Windows). It could come in handy for scoring out songs. Does anyone know if the mac version has a different graphic interface than PC? I have a PC.
# Posted on February 20th 2010 by Ben Steen
Re: ABC Player for MAC
Fair play to anyone who finds the above links useful. On rethinking my plans to work on more code, I'll pass. Please don't tell the singers in my session. I know (with lots of work) I could make beautiful printouts of songs. When you get right down to it though, our singers are brilliant without all the fuss.
Cheers,
Ben
# Posted on February 20th 2010 by Ben Steen
Re: ABC Player for MAC
I expected this question. Basically it's text driven. I strive to learn tunes by ear, but if a tune is complicated I grab the abc and practice the notes. Then I learn how to *play* it by listening to recordings. But while using the ABC player I like to select with a mouse a difficult section and loop it. Then I can play along and get that section down solid. Then, with the sweep of a mouse speed it up. In Barfly I found no tempo control other than changing the "q:" entry in the file. I also found no pause command either. Admittedly you can select a portion of text with the mouse and loop it, but there are no buttons to actuate play. Shortcuts yes, but the interface is like reading email with Pine 10 tears ago. For instance I can not find a "Stop" command?? There is a "Skip Current tune" command in the drop down that works as a stop. All in all a lousy interface,
Salt
# Posted on February 21st 2010 by saltcast
Re: ABC Player for MAC
FWIW, in BarFly, you can put in a field in the ABC to control tempo:
I:speed 300
I think that number is notes per minute (not beats per minute). It would be nice if it had GUI controls for a lot of things, but it's still a fairly useful program.
# Posted on February 21st 2010 by Reverend
Re: ABC Player for MAC
@saltcast
I don't know what version of Barfly you are using, but I do know that for many versions you have been able to highlight a section of the music (in the text abc) and loop that section using "command-semicolon). Yeah, you have to change the speed with the q control. Yeah, there is no pause where you can start again from the paused point. But the "command-K"will work as the stop. Before you complain too much about the program I'd suggest you check out the help sections and learn what it really can do.
# Posted on February 21st 2010 by cboody
Re: ABC Player for MAC
you have a mac so you can run barfly, you are in much better shape than me but i am a stubborn windows user and I don't need abc because I have finale and like dots more than letters. but if I did like abc I would prefer to be able to use barfly but I can't
# Posted on February 21st 2010 by Earl Cameron
Re: ABC Player for MAC
>Before you complain too much about the program I'd suggest you check out the help sections and learn what it really can do.
cbody: why don't you read and understand my post before you comment. I articulated that you CAN highlight a section of the music (in the text abc) and loop that section. . I see nothing new here as far as options. You offered nothing new as well. I even mentioned the "Skip Current tune" command which has as it's shortcut - "command K " . Face it Barfly has far less functionality than many PC based ABC players. And you were quick to slag me.
# Posted on February 22nd 2010 by saltcast
Re: ABC Player for MAC
Not slagging you but I did misread your post. I stand corrected.
And yes, Barfly is behind the curve now. Just try to use it with word underlay and/or multiple parts. I do wish Phil would improve it. Five Line Skink is getting better and better, but is still not as far along as some of the PC things.
However, since you use and Mac (and so do I) you might try this: Either export a midi file direct from Barfly or use abc2midi to get one (with or without the boom chuck chord backup). Then you can use Quicktime Player 7 to loop sections, change the speed, the choice of instruments, and even adjust the pitch if need be. Wouldn't that work for you? Once the Midi files are created you won't need to go through that step again.
# Posted on February 22nd 2010 by cboody
Re: ABC Player for MAC
Five Line Skink works great on a Mac
# Posted on February 27th 2010 by quinnt01