music tech & you

Notion Music: No MIDI Knowledge Required

Developed by Dr. Jack Jarrett
Former Chairman of the Berklee College of Music Composition Department

Published by Virtuosoworks Inc

Street Price - $599
Academic Price - $399

Notion Music, if marketed properly, has the potential to become the first true mass market music software useful for beginning students all the way to professional copyists and composers, who working on the computer, need printed output of their work and sonic support to hear both a basic playback of the work and to catch mistakes before going to live performance.

Strauss - Blue Danube
Stravinsky – Rite of Spring
Tchaikovsky – Nutcracker Overture
Gil Fray – A Shiny New Quarter

The key word for Notion is self-containment because it comes with its own playback library of sounds (called samples) recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra.

Once a pitch is keyed in, you need only click the standard stereo icon > for play, and immediately your work is played back. Notion automatically selects the sample and appropriate articulation to be played.

Notion's major advantage over other similar programs is that no MIDI knowledge is required. You simply install the program, follow the manual's instructions, and begin keying in your music. Depending on the complexity of what you want to key in, overall, a student or professional could be running Notion comfortably in about 3-6 hours. This is a huge timesaver over learning how MIDI works first, then learning a sequencer or notation program like Finale or Sibelius, before you can begin working productively. Since Notion comes with its own sounds, students don't have to learn the art of MIDI mock-up or how to work a specific sample library. The focus is entirely on the music, notation and playback. However, there is a MIDI note entry method that can be done with a USB MIDI keyboard connected to the PC.

Notion's simplicity should, at last, make it easier for music teachers to integrate computers with music education since needing to learn MIDI is eliminated. A basic Music 100 level course (Introduction to Music Basics) could easily be taught with Notion along with basic ear training.

Notion can also bring traditional music harmony and counterpoint alive by enabling the student to key in his exercise(s) and then hear playback. This now lays the foundation for covering beginning instrumentation issues in the first semester, rather than making the composition student wait until the Senior year to get a one semester orchestration course.

As a result, Notion is a true, problem/solution software program for any school, whether using PC or Mac.

In fairness to Finale, Overture and Sibelius, you can also do note entry without a MIDI keyboard. For playback, Sibelius comes with a Native Instruments Kontakt Gold player (but can't import new sounds into it). Overture 4, as announced at 2005 Winter NAMM allows the use of VSTi's (virtual instruments) like GigaStudio 3 (www.tascam.com)when using FX Teleport (www.fx-max.com), Garritan Personal Orchestra, or any EastWest Quantum Leap Symphonic Orchestra player library (www.soundsonline.com). Thus, you can pick your own orchestra, load and go. Finale does not have a player, rather at this point, it triggers a MIDI device from within the program. Sibelius can do the same, as can Overture.

With Notion, to recap, the program comes with an integrated orchestral library where notes ands sounds work seamlessly. Also, once you've finished the composition, you can go to File -> Save As and select .wav. Notion now saves the composition as a wave file which can be played on most any media player. And if you have the correct software, you can export the wave file as an MP3. As a test, we exported the demo of Beethoven's 7th Symphony Second Movement. In less than 2 minutes, the wav file was created and loaded with no problem into the Windows Media Player.

Specifications
We spoke to Dr. Jarrett who advised us that Notion can work on a PC with a 1.4GHz CPU and minimum of 512MB of RAM. More RAM and a faster CPU allows for more complex pieces to be notated. The benefit of the specs is that Notion can run on most PCs with a standard Creative Labs (CREAF) SoundBlaster card, including laptops. A Mac version is scheduled for release by year's end.

Sound Quality
Even with the great London Symphony Orchestra, the sound quality is not on a par yet with a $1000 to $5000 sample library. But then, the purposes are different. The smaller sample size works well on the older machines thus guaranteeing playback with a fairly realistic sound. Those used to working with the more expensive libraries will be unimpressed by the initial sound quality, and such comments have already been expressed on various music forums. However, at v1.0, playback is more than adequate. The idea for the composer or student is to get the point of what their work sounds like without having to labor for hours to “edit” samples to work in cooperation with their score.

The folks at Notion are aware of this, and have already had two subsequent sessions with the London Symphony Orchestra with updates planned at a later date. However, this should not deter the music student, teacher or professional from getting Notion today. Those who criticize on sound quality are not taking into account Notion's gracious computer spec, whereas a serious sample playback system really needs a 3GHz CPU with 2GB of RAM. The comparison is really apples to oranges. (See Audio Examples located at top right of page above the advertisements box)

Installation
Well thought out and easy enough. Just insert the DVD into the DVD drive, click install, fill in the reg data, insert the USB copy protection key, and reboot. That's it. On my test system, a TrueSpec Titan 3.0GHz 1GBRAM machine, installation was complete within a few minutes.

Initial Launch
Just double click the Notion icon the desktop. Notion opens with Tip of the Day. Close. Then, as with any PC program, click on the folded corner white paper icon (NEW). You now get Score Setup where you can pick from individual instruments or voice, ensembles, or a number of templates. Click OK and you're at the virtual music paper ready to key in your music.

Note Entry
Using either a combination of mouse (to position the cursor) and left hand (to pick note values, rests, etc.) or left hand for note values and right hand on the arrow keys for positioning, you enter notes. There are loads of well thought out keyboard short cuts that you find under the Help menu. These should be printed out and kept near at hand. As a result, as you learn to “type” the score, you merely click and automatically hear playback.

As you work, Notion automatically spaces the parts for you.

Some of the keystrokes require the use of numbers. You should be aware that you use the numbers above the QWERTY keyboard, not the calculator keypad.

Notion has quite a few practical templates to choose from. When selecting them, observe that Notion uses the Italian names for instruments. After years of studio work in Los Angeles, seeing Corno in Fa for French horn really through me off. I'd really like to see a set of templates with the optional English names on them.

Bar Lines
Once you've set the time signature on the page, you would expect, based on how other programs work, that you'd see an empty measure with a bar line. Instead, after you key in the proper mathematical amount of rhythm per bar, you have to insert (i) your own bar line. I thought this was very unusual, and would suggest that this be changed.

Multiple Parts Per Line
In Notion you can setup two voices per stave, however those voices can have multiple pitches in them. This is done by pushing down the Caps Lock key, selecting the rhythm you want, then toggling the letter V for upper voice (orange) or lower voice (blue).

Lyrics
Whether for vocalist or choir, you input lyrics using the Text box. You click the text box icon and click on the score where you want text. In the Sidebar, select Attach Text Box, key in the text, double click and the text is positioned on the page directly under the selected pitch.

NTempo
Ntempo is a visual mastertrack. Ntempo appears at the bottom of the score. It's mapped out like a percussion line. So if the time signature is 4/4, you see the time signature and four quarter notes. Usable only in Performance mode, you can control or conduct the playback in real time. By conduct, this doesn't mean with a baton. It means you can go into the score and using selected keys on the keyboard, create a more human sounding piece of music.

Sound Control
Notion comes with a very basic audio mixer that lets you control volume, panning (the placement of the instruments in the stereo spectrum). You can also mute and solo the sounds. This is a very “lite” mixing board, and one that any beginner can around on quickly.

Transposed Instruments
In v1.0, if you select a Bb Clarinet in your score, once completed, you must transpose the clarinet up a whole step to get it into the proper key (you do this by right clicking on the pitch, a menu comes up and you pick the Transpose feature). If you're not aware of this, on playback, it can sound like you wrote a clunker in the score.

The Visual Look
The notation font looks really beautiful. It has a clean professional look to it. I would be proud to submit a score that had been done in Notion.

Outputting
For whatever computer you're using, you need to setup a printer so parts can be output. You have a wide group of choices for both US and European paper styles. “American” printers will have 8.5 x 11 (letter) and 8.5 x 14 (legal) page sizes. If your printer only handles the “letter” size, be sure in Page setup to pick the Shrink to fit option so that a complete score page can be printed out on a single sheet of paper. For full conductor scores, there is a “ledger” selection for 11 x17. However, if you need that size score, for this version of Notion, you're better off creating the score in 8.5 x 14 then enlarging at a Kinko's or OfficeMax where you can find a Xerox Docutech.

Documentation
Having produced over 200 MIDI training guides, I'm usually really picky about documentation, since so much of it wastes my time. However, I'm delighted to report that the Notion manual is short, simple, and direct. Everything is so well thought out, that the manual gets you through the basics in a few hours, after which you should be reasonably proficient at a basic level.

Copy Protection
With Notion, I felt a need to look more closely at copy protection since the USB key, called iLok by PACE Anti-Piracy, comes with a warranty, which is not mentioned in the Notion manual, nor on the Notion site, and is only discovered by looking around www.ilok.com. The Notion manual also encourages you to buy optional extended protection coverage, called ZDT (Zero DownTime Protection coverage) per iLok key for $30 per year.

What's a USB Key?
A USB key is a small key carrying licensing information that installs into the USB connectors on your computer. The connectors can be on the front or back of the system. These keys are most often put in after the software has been installed (true with Notion). Once the software is installed, you insert the USB key into the USB slot and then restart the computer. At that point you can launch the software program.

It's important to understand that with any USB key protection, when there's no key, the software won't work. With the USB key, you can have multiple software installations on other machines, but because you only have the one USB key, you can only run the program on one computer at a time.

Compared to Steinberg
How does the iLok arrangement compare to Steinberg who makes Cubase SX which uses a USB key? To find out, we checked directly with Yamaha/Steinberg Tech support.

1. You can install on as many systems as you want and still use the same key. No extra registration required.

2. If the key breaks down or is found defective, you return it, and Steinberg ships another key to you usually within 24 hours.

3. If the key gets broken – they confirm it's broken, you get another one sent out in roughly 24 hours.

4. If the key gets stolen – you can replace it for a one time fee of $150. After that, you have to buy a whole new program.

As you can see, the benefits of having an iLok are substantial when compared to Steinberg since with ZDT you can buy extra blank keys for only $39.95 that can be authorized with the software company's permission. I want to point out that while Steinberg has a warranty of sorts, they don't use that language because of the legal implications on a state-by-state basis that can be created.

Consumer Information Needed from Notion
First, Notion should clearly identity that there is a one year warranty on the key and that the warranty offered on the iLok key is from PACE Anti-Piracy and not Virtuosoworks (Notion).

Second, the iLok warranty should be printed either on a PDF on the Notion disk, on the web site, or on a single piece of paper included in the Notion box. Unless you go to the iLok site and read the FAQ, you don't know that the iLok key is under warranty and you don't know what the warranty terms are.

Third, since ZDT (Zero DownTime Protection) is extended protection coverage that the customer can opt for (it's not mandatory), and since the Notion manual is strongly encouraging Notion owners to buy it off the iLok site, then there needs to be a separate document on the Notion site, PDF on the disk, piece of paper in the box, that explains the warranty in detail.

I think this is especially important since schools are major candidates for this product and for budgetary purposes should know in advance that such a protection plan is not only available, but also requires annual renewing.

At present, all the information about ZDT is found on the iLok site under a section labeled Legal, “Terms of Use”, Section 4. To me, this is a very user unfriendly way to find out the information the customer needs to know about this plan before he buys it, and before the iLok key gets lost, damaged (physical broken) or stolen.

I personally think that ZDT is a great plan. But I strongly feel that the information about ZDT should also be on the Notion web site and linked back to www.ilok.com on a clearly identified page.

Also, there should be something in the Notion box about ZDT because even though it's an optional volunteer purchase on the customer's part, it's still an annually renewable protection plan, and if something does happen to the iLok key, you can't run Notion.

With or without ZDT, the customer still has to get a replacement USB key if it gets lost, stolen or physically damaged, or if it's defective. When a software program is so dependent on an external source to operate, the customer needs the iLok warranty information at hand, without having to search for it.

General Comments
Again, I think this is a great program. I don't want to criticize too much about what's not there because this is v1.0. Notion can only get better with each release. A few immediate things I think are necessary. First, there is no mode for MIDI import or export. This needs to be at the top of the list. Very frequently, MIDI files are sent down to do copying from. For a teacher wanting to give out harmony, counterpoint or orchestration assignments by way of a MIDI file, it can't be done right now.

If the expectation is for the user to print out parts for a music stand, the standard is most often a 9 x 13 page. Not to pick on Notion, but honestly, ALL the music notation software company heads need to make a pilgrimage to a print shop and at minimum, a Xerox sales showroom to work out realistic output scenarios that can be included in the box as working solutions for the amateur and professional alike. This is a weakness of every single notation program.

Next, it's a must to have a graphic export to PDF, either built into the program, or as with Sibelius, sourced to a company who has a PDF interface that can be used. One such company is BCL Technologies.

I can't underscore (no pun intended) the importance of PDF output. A printer that can do 11 x17 paper size costs over $1000US. But for around $0.25, you can print out an 11 x 17 page at a Kinko's or an OfficeMax. Plus, you can upload the PDF file to a server which then downloads it to the local store. What a life saver!

For guitars, there's a guitar part, several of them in fact, but no guitar chord symbols. Cubase, Sibelius and other programs have the chord symbols, and can convert melody to tablature. If this isn't part of the Notion mission, then that needs to be noted.

In a similar vein for templates, there is also the absence of what's called PVG - piano, vocal, guitar. Here, you have three staves. The top stave is the melody with the chords and the guitar fretboard symbol for that chord. Below the voice part is the piano part. This is a mainstay of music publishing.

Conclusion
Because of it's seamless simplicity, Notion is well ahead of Finale and Sibelius. It's quick and easy to use, and your work looks great in it. The instrument samples at least give you an idea of how what you wrote sounds. If you want to use a MIDI keyboard for note entry, you can. My only reservations rest in the hidden iLok fees you don't discover until after purchase. Otherwise for a v1.0 product, I give Notion 4 stars out of 5 because it's well written, easy to use, and everything works right out the box. For poor procedural explanation of the iLok system, I sentence both companies to Study Hall with The Art of Readable Writing as the required text of the day.

Peter Alexander is the author of How MIDI Works, The Revised Rimsky-Korsakov's Principles of Orchestration Vol 1, Counterpoint by Fux, Applied Professional Harmony 101-102, Music Basics, Writing For Strings Level 1, Cakewalk 6, Cakewalk 9, the Emagic Logic Online Course, The Cubase 3.5 Book, Cubase Online Course, the Cubase SX2 Street Smart Guide, and for Christian music, The Untapped Power of Praise in Worship. He's beta tested for various companies which included coordinating the beta test team for the
Vienna Symphonic Library (www.vsl.co.at) and currently is producing the Kirk Hunter Strings/Brass/Winds Orchestral Library in GigaStudio and Kontakt formats.

LAST WORD (Manufacturer's Response to the Review)
There are no required fees regarding the iLok security device after purchasing NOTION.  Any additional fees are voluntary such as those who prefer supplementary insurance; i.e. professional traveling musicians, studios or anyone who needs extra security.  (iLok guarantees a 24 hour turnaround with a new iLok key for those with this insurance). Replacement (lost or stolen) iLok security devices do carry a fee which was mentioned in the review, and security devices that become damaged have just a $39.95 replacement fee. VirtuosoWorks, Inc understands the tremendous impact software piracy has had on the industry and is doing all it can to help prevent it. We are always looking for better ways to do this that is both convenient to the customer as well as protective of Notion.

Customer-Service and Technical Support for Notion is free.

Glen Hefner
Director of Marketing
Notion Music

The iLok USB smart key is the license management tool of choice in the professional music software industry.  The iLok is used by over 40 companies in Pro Audio alone.  The iLok affords users with portability and convenience when changing location or hardware.  iLok.com is a free user service website that allows the user to name and track iLoks, get new activations for demos, rentals or perpetual licenses.  Additional product licenses can be delivered via the Internet and there are other services offered.  In the case of Notion, the iLok is preprogrammed out of the box and is plug and play.  Any issues will be rare if any.

Should something go wrong with your iLok, PACE offers  an automated RMA process on the website: www.iLok.com.   In addition, iLok.com offers optional Zero DownTime (ZDT) subscriptions for iLoks.  This optional subscription is $30.00 per year.   ZDT allows professional users, who have a back up iLok, to get back up and running instantly (24 x 7 x 365) with 2 week temporary licenses.  PACE cannot set policy on replacing lost or stolen iLoks.  PACE only has the license to replace perpetual licenses we see when analyzing returned RMA iLoks.  It is up to the vendor to choose how to replace lost or stolen iLoks with their activations on them.  Notion states clearly in their manual what their policy is - contact them immediately.

Technical support for Notion should be handled by Notion first and escalated to PACE if necessary. Should someone have a specific iLok issue - then we welcome them to use our support incident form after reviewing our documentation.  We will do our best to help them. Cases of broken, lost or stolen iLoks are rare and handled as such, however policy is posted for legal reasons.  Notion and PACE will always do their best to provide professional support for their customers.  

PACE will continue to work to add additional features to iLok.com that help vendors and end users alike to have a transparent yet effective means of license management.

Andrew Kirk,
PACE Anti-Piracy

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