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Re: Dynamics: the optical center

Posted: 27 Oct 2015, 14:38
by Knut
Are you saying that if John isn't OK with any of the 12 marks he didn't mention, those would be to your liking and vice versa?

Re: Dynamics: the optical center

Posted: 27 Oct 2015, 15:16
by Peter West
No, I'm saying that other than the one's he specifically mentioned, I cannot assume which to infer that he likes. Some of course, but which and how many I do not know, therefore I cannot say that I don't like all the ones that he does. This was an error in my previous comment.

Re: Dynamics: the optical center

Posted: 27 Oct 2015, 15:21
by Knut
Peter West wrote:No, I'm saying that other than the one's he specifically mentioned, I cannot assume which to infer that he likes. Some of course, but which and how many I do not know, therefore I cannot say that I don't like all the ones that he does. This was an error in my previous comment.
Ah, and here I thought you were just being difficult. :)

Re: Dynamics: the optical center

Posted: 27 Oct 2015, 15:57
by John Ruggero
I liked all the ones I didn't mention.

For me the "bounding rectangle" center should be in the center of the note head. Then there is as much before the note head as after, which looks balanced to me.

Re: Dynamics: the optical center

Posted: 28 Oct 2015, 10:25
by OCTO
Knut wrote: Here's an illustration of how the reference point for dynamics might be defined in different ways:
That was extremely helpful. I didn't know for this particular calculation.

Re: Dynamics: the optical center

Posted: 29 Oct 2015, 06:45
by Peter West
In Knut's diagram I prefer what he calls Optical Centre point centred on the notehead for shorter dynamics (eg up to 3 characters perhaps). I've never rationalised this, placement has always beed instinctive for me. Especially when composers use dynamics with 6 or 7 characters, like, for example, sfffffzppp

Some composers do this a lot, and so I often have to think outside the bounding box.

Re: Dynamics: the optical center

Posted: 29 Oct 2015, 06:52
by Peter West
By default Finale puts the centre of the character in line with the left edge of the notehead. This is a bit far left, I think, but as I receive so many Finale files from composers who use the default, I've kinda got used to it as normal.

My personal preference is to have the centre of the character aligned left on primary notehead and offset 0.333 of a space right. This places them all 0.167 of a space left centre

Re: Dynamics: the optical center

Posted: 29 Oct 2015, 16:21
by John Ruggero
I wonder how Mozart ever got along with P, F, FF, and FP. Maybe because his music speaks for itself?

Re: Dynamics: the optical center

Posted: 29 Oct 2015, 23:22
by OCTO
Tchaikovsky uses pppppp. :eek:

Re: Dynamics: the optical center

Posted: 31 Oct 2015, 22:36
by Peter West
WHO WANTS TO HEAR A CLARINET ANYWAY?