NOTATIO

With the emphasis on applications and software such as Sibelius, Finale, lilypond, etc. I have found in my notational practice a move more towards using Adobe Illustrator to achieve more distinct notation.
Does anyone else here use what could be seen as more unconventional tools for digital notation?
If so what do you use and why?

I usually use a vector graphics software in order to achieve what I can't in the notation software that I currently use. But not to notate complete music. That would be a daunting task. I know some people using Illustrator, but their music is more towards a graphical design, without worrying about spacing etc in the standard way of notating. I wouldn't say it looks more personal either.

But to notate a "Strauss symphony" in Illustrator, that I would like to see.

But why not using LilyPond, you can tweak almost every single thing, afaik.

OCTO wrote: ↑23 Dec 2020, 13:03 I usually use a vector graphics software in order to achieve what I can't in the notation software that I currently use. But not to notate complete music. That would be a daunting task. I know some people using Illustrator, but their music is more towards a graphical design, without worrying about spacing etc in the standard way of notating. I wouldn't say it looks more personal either.

But to notate a "Strauss symphony" in Illustrator, that I would like to see.

But why not using LilyPond, you can tweak almost every single thing, afaik.

yepp .. LilyPond is just like a "Coding for musician/engraver" ..

I've jokingly replied that if people want complete 'flexiblity' in their notation software, they should use Illustrator, plotting out the notes as a plate engraver might.

Illustrator has long been used to add graphical elements or fine-tune positions, when it can't be done or is too fiddly in notation apps. I don't think that's unconventional at all.

There's an increasing hostility towards Adobe, with their expensive subscription; and at the same time other apps has become worthy competitors: Affinity Designer, Graphic, Inkscape and others are all very capable.

If anyone wants to take this engaging task to notate music in "illustrator", I assume that the person knows extremely well all kind of music spacing algorithms, line sizes, etc that are only done by the hand and by the math. And that is of course learned during several years and tutorial by a master.

As said, I would LOVE to see any score done entirely in "illustrator".

Some teasers for those interested:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5uPPJj_M_o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvyoKdW-Big
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E5zH65_ydE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvqZs6xv0DI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWtNaP--RuU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KO9YDlfY_SA (this is fun!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uctqHxzkNYI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyEcRZ3ZzgA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQP8KEldS-U

I would be willing to pitch in to have a digital "Note-a-set" where a page of each sign in different rastral sizes can be used depending on what template you use.

I'd honestly be using this for short examples and experimental notation.

James Ingram used to do Stockhausen's scores in this way, kind of (basic input in Finale, then all the actual work in FreeHand, later subsumed into Illustrator).
They remain the most beautiful scores I've ever seen.
https://james-ingram-act-two.de/stockha ... tware.html

I always considered the best thing about SCORE is that it was basically a graphics program that knows a bit about music, so gave you freedom to place things wherever you liked.

oktophonie wrote: ↑09 Jan 2021, 21:04 James Ingram used to do Stockhausen's scores in this way, kind of (basic input in Finale, then all the actual work in FreeHand, later subsumed into Illustrator).
They remain the most beautiful scores I've ever seen.
https://james-ingram-act-two.de/stockha ... tware.html

I always considered the best thing about SCORE is that it was basically a graphics program that knows a bit about music, so gave you freedom to place things wherever you liked.

"Stockhausen generally used the standard notation for pitches and rhythms, so these were entered quickly in Finale, using the 'speedy entry tool'"
Yes, Finale first.
Anyone willing to do everything from scratch in "illustrator"? (a semi-rhetoric question)

I know that Jacques Zafra (https://jacqueszafra.wixsite.com/composer) uses Adobe Illustrator for making all parts of his scores: And for anyone interested he even has a few videos (in spanish) in a playlist about using Illustrator:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdhLOLM ... UY9bw3m5fF

AlanPerrin wrote: ↑10 Jan 2021, 14:18 I know that Jacques Zafra (https://jacqueszafra.wixsite.com/composer) uses Adobe Illustrator for making all parts of his scores:
zafra_forpiccolo.jpg

And for anyone interested he even has a few videos (in spanish) in a playlist about using Illustrator:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdhLOLM ... UY9bw3m5fF

Ok, but this is far from a standard notation. The fact is that a very few, if any, of the engraving rules is applied to it, such would be music spacing ratios, beaming, lines and curves, symbol sizes etc etc.

For the score above I could comment more, but in short it is unnecessary "strange" notated.