What's so special about PowerTab?

ThirdDay0174 · 11-11-2001, 07:14 PM

What? I know it does MIDI, but it seems to take a ridiculous amount of time to get everything right.

---†om

Xkcer Man · 11-11-2001, 07:32 PM

One thing you can do to save time would be to learn the keyboard commands. The most useful of them is the note length selection. Holding shift and hitting the up arrow will double the note value (ie - quarter note to half note, sixteenth note to eighth note). Likewise, shift+down will half a note's value. Shift+right will add a dot to a note, which *increases* a notes value 50% (1 count to 1½ counts, 2 counts to 3 counts). The maximum is 2 dots. Shift+left removes a dot.

Shift + up = double note value
Shift + down = half note value
Shift + right = add a dot (increase 50%)
Shift + left = remove a dot

Hope that helps. For future questions, everyone, try to be rather specific so other people who are learning with you will be able to locate the answers easier.

Brent · 11-11-2001, 07:45 PM

I think Tom's point (and mine would be the same) was what's the point/advantage of using PowerTab if you're not interested in hearing the songs in poor quality MIDI format? Especially in light of all the time it takes to get it perfect using the program...other than that it seems to be a glorified version of Notepad to me.

Brent

Mickey · 11-11-2001, 07:53 PM

I think the bigger advantage is for the end-user. I agree that even an expert would take longer to build a PowerTab file than a normal text file. However, I think it's easier to learn a song from a PowerTab file, especially given the MIDI. On top of that, it creates the "real" notes for you, so it'd be easier for a keyboard player to improvise a bit with a song from one of these files than it would be from a normal tab, especially with lesser-skilled keyboardists (which there are a lot of).

The new version (2.0 - whenever it comes out) will have some cool new features too, including the ability to add percussion scores to the songs, which is something that people ask for from me quite a bit.

I know it's not perfect, and the interface can be tricky, but I think it would be a nice addition to the site to have some of these files available.

IHL,
Mickey

ThirdDay0174 · 11-11-2001, 08:09 PM

okay...in kmy spare time, I'll star a collection of 3D files.

---†om

bobthecockroach · 11-12-2001, 08:49 PM

what's so great about? I HAVE IT!!!

anyways.. i think it's cool cos in text file tabs you never get how long notes are supposed to be... or tempo... and you can't hear it.. which REALLY helps me... i guess you can just listen to stuff on cd but it helps to just have the guitar part... i'm really REALLY excited about the powertab section!!!

SenorPapaCabasa · 11-12-2001, 08:57 PM

Another program like it is called tabit..... i use it and i love it. It isnt too hard to write music once u get the hang of it. Their website has songs from Third Day, DCTalk, Supertones, and many more.... but also a lot of secular music. If you want an easy way to learn tabulature or a single song.... chech it out

www.tabit.net

Sambrosa · 11-12-2001, 08:58 PM

The midi file isn't the point of spending the time. The program is for those of us that value accuracy.

It is a much better way to transcribe riff-based music more accurately, and as guitar instructor I believe students learn much faster with the midi feature. Especially for those that can't read notation. The best part - it's free! You can't complain about a program that is as good as other tab/notation software that cost up to $100.

Sambrosa