Metro5 & AutoscoreSE

[Janine]

Hello.

I received an SE version of Autoscore when I purchased Metro5 PPC a few years ago. Believe it or not, I am just getting around to trying it out! Autoscore is a neat piece of software that will notate in music notes any instrument or voice music that you play or record through a piece of compatible MIDI software. Since Autoscore was shipped to me with Metro5, I am assuming that they are compatible with each other. The makers of Autoscore do not have much to offer in accessible tech support (their 800 number doesn't work, their California number has an answering machine that simply says "leave a message" and I haven't heard back from them) etc. This has been frustrating so I am hoping that someone here can be of some help since the software was shipped together. The way it is supposed to work is you open Autoscore, test your mic or instrument to be sure the levels are good, then you have to keep Autoscore open. Next you open up your compatible MIDI software which now has an icon and menu for Autoscore, start playing or recording in your MIDI software and Autoscore is supposed to write the music notes for you in the notation part of your MIDI software. Metro5 is the software I am using and like I said before, Autoscore was a freebie that came with Metro 5.

The problem I am having is that Autoscore and Metro do not seem to want to share the same sound input port. Specifically I am trying to record using an external mic. I can go into either sotware and set up the mic test it, sing.speak into it, hear it, record it, whatever I need to do. BUT when I go into the other software (if I'm in Autoscore set up, exit, then go into Metro5 for example) the other software says the device is in use by another software! It doesn't matter if I go into Metro5 or Autoscore first or second, either way, the other software will send me an error saying the mic can't be used because it's being used. BUT Autoscore says this is the way it is supposed to be used! And so... what is going on? I'm hoping you can tell me.

Other information that may be helpful to know:

- I am working with a MAC iBook with plenty of memory

- In Autoscore SE means that I have to record in step entry. I would have to purchase the full version to be able to record in real time.

- Autoscore says it requires a compatible program that supports Apples MIDI Manager and to activate the Apple MIDI Manager ports in that software. I don't see an option to do that in Metro5 but when I look in Autoscore's Patchbay, it shows Autoscore connected to Apple Midi Manager - Modem Port. It only shows this after opening Metro5 so it seems that Autoscore does recognize Metro5 and has automatically set up the MIDI connection in it's patchbay for the two pieces of software to communicate with each other.

And so, why do are they resistent to sharing the same device, in this case the mic, if that's exactly what they're supposed to do in order to work together? I really hope some of you can help because Autoscore tech support is of no use and I really do have a great need for using the Autoscore software with my Metro5 software!

[Scoot]

I have no idea what autoscore is. Does it create midi from audio signals?

Does Metro have OMS installed? I don't think Metro 5 runs without it (or maybe the midi side of it.........boy its been a long time). This may clear up your patchbay problems.......I'm not sure.
(I think OMS 2.3.8 required for USB equiped mac. 2.3.6 came with Metro 5).

scoot.

[Janine]

Hey Scooterman thanks for the quick reply!

I don't know the technology that makes Autoscore work but here's what they say "With AutoscoreSE you can enter in music, note by note, into your favorite music composition or notation program, by just singing the notes or playing them on an instrument". It needs a music software program that records MIDI and a MAC or PC with a sound card. So I suppose it basically recognizes pitches somehow through another MIDI program.

I have tried running this with and without OMS. I didn't see any difference. I still got the error message. I tell you, I sure wish Autoscore offered some real live support on this!

If you think of anything else for me to think about or try, let me know.

[Scoot]

Autoscore is currently unavailable for download from their website.
audiomidi.com shows it as discontinued.


In searching about, I did find this interesting tidbit:

To ensure that the processed MIDI output is recorded in the sequencer at an identical time to the original performance, Autoscore uses MIDI time stamps, which fix each Note On and Note Off message to the time it was played. This, unfortunately, is why Autoscore will not interface directly with either Logic Audio or Cubase VST: neither of these applications have the ability to interpret MIDI time stamping, and when they receive the MIDI data they ignore the time stamps, with the result that the MIDI data would end up in totally the wrong place in the sequence. Fortunately, though, you can export any Autoscore-produced solo as a standard MIDI file to import into these two applications.

Maybe the export and import later into metro is required to get it to work.


scoot.

[Scoot]

Looking at the wildcat website.

They say that autoscore will currently work in System 7 and OS8 because their sequencer they bundle with it won't work in OS9 and X.

http://www.wildcat.com/Site/Autoscore/A ... acDisc.htm


scoot.