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"Tracker notation" is basically the same as the "piano roll" he talks about, right? Anyway, I think "meatware performance" also underlies the criticisms he's r

"Tracker notation" is basically the same as the "piano roll" he talks about, right? Anyway, I think "meatware performance" also underlies the criticisms he's responding to of standard notation as applied to music students, most of whom are trying to physically play instruments (those trying to compose on a computer are indeed on a completely different track that doesn't need to care about paper or performance). So he may have picked it up from that context of the whole which-notation question. Hopefully this doesn't count as "having an argument". :)

anigbrowl 3y ago
Yes, but tracker fans are obsessive about their preferred UI in the same way as Emacs or vi devotees. I've been making electronic music off and on for nearly 30 years and I can't stand trackers; it's just an event list so now you have to read everything rather than looking at it. Also the concept of scale/key is not at all limited to European composers; most music systems have a concept of scale degree, but for computer music it's almost always been shoehorned into the 12-tone equal temperament system. Trackers don't alleviate this.
- deleted 3y ago
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rendaw 3y ago
Piano roll indicates pitch spatially (dimensions are pitch: vertical, time: horizontal, instrument: mark style). Tracker notation indicates pitch via mark (text), instrument is horizontal, and time is vertical.
partomniscient 3y ago
Tracker notation is even more complicated in that duration is built into the sample, and whether the sample has endless looping repetition built in or not - none of which is possible to discern from looking at the tracker notation itself. Let alone thoss 'notes'are actually a bunch major and minor synth chords in different keys, or orchestra hits in a 2-unlimited mod.
- brudgers 3y ago
  Tracker notation is independent of sampling or any particular form of audio production. Usually it is approximately MIDI data. Sent to a Sound Blaster, you get FM synthesis. Sent to the default Windows sound engine you get PCM samples. Send it out a MIDI port and you can get analog synthesis.
brudgers 3y ago
Just to be clear, Tantacrul is (last I heard) head of design for MuseScore, a program for composing music on a computer. That's probably why I feel it is worth the bother of having an opinion about his essay. Tracker notation is approximately MIDI data with a human readable interface.

anigbrowl 3y ago

Yes, but tracker fans are obsessive about their preferred UI in the same way as Emacs or vi devotees. I've been making electronic music off and on for nearly 30 years and I can't stand trackers; it's just an event list so now you have to read everything rather than looking at it. Also the concept of scale/key is not at all limited to European composers; most music systems have a concept of scale degree, but for computer music it's almost always been shoehorned into the 12-tone equal temperament system. Trackers don't alleviate this.

deleted 3y ago
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rendaw 3y ago

Piano roll indicates pitch spatially (dimensions are pitch: vertical, time: horizontal, instrument: mark style). Tracker notation indicates pitch via mark (text), instrument is horizontal, and time is vertical.

partomniscient 3y ago

Tracker notation is even more complicated in that duration is built into the sample, and whether the sample has endless looping repetition built in or not - none of which is possible to discern from looking at the tracker notation itself. Let alone thoss 'notes'are actually a bunch major and minor synth chords in different keys, or orchestra hits in a 2-unlimited mod.

brudgers 3y ago
Tracker notation is independent of sampling or any particular form of audio production. Usually it is approximately MIDI data. Sent to a Sound Blaster, you get FM synthesis. Sent to the default Windows sound engine you get PCM samples. Send it out a MIDI port and you can get analog synthesis.

brudgers 3y ago

Just to be clear, Tantacrul is (last I heard) head of design for MuseScore, a program for composing music on a computer. That's probably why I feel it is worth the bother of having an opinion about his essay. Tracker notation is approximately MIDI data with a human readable interface.