Notion 3

[fandango]

There's no manual option in Notion to quantise to a particular value, which is a shame. It generally tries to analyse the MIDI and quantise to the closest value it identifies.

When Notion 3 first came out, this was very poor. However, they re-did the recording/import code for the next patch and it is now very good.

For instance, it can even detect stacatto on MIDI recording.

e.g., here it got everything apart from 1 staccato wrong from my recording (though I was probably anticipating the next bar a bit too readily)


The only options you have in Notion 3 at the moment are to Quantise (the MIDI) to the Notation, or turn convert a Sequencer Staff (piano roll notation which you can modify) into Notation and then Quantise it from there.


It's not bad at picking out triplets from MIDI recordings as well. Even when the keyboard playing is as bad as mine.


But I would like to have some form of standard MIDI sequencer "Quantise" dialog box like you have in SONAR or Cubase.

Also, by attempting to be too smart, Notion can sometimes mistake stacatto for melodies where you might want 8ths seperated by 8th rests, etc.

[headquest]

That's very helpful and interesting information. Many thanks fandango

Certainly this looks like it is better for real-time playing in than Sibelius based on my experiences of that software (which is great in many ways though...). I'm going to have to run the demo.

One reason for being interested is that Notion functions as a rewire client, making it possible to use Reason/refills within it. Sibelius cannot do this as it only runs as a rewire slave, not host.

I'm also keen to know how good the LSO orchestral samples are. And of course, how good the actual notation is

[Ogg Vorbis]

I'm also keen to know how good the LSO orchestral samples are. And of course, how good the actual notation is

I have been a user for the last several months. The LSO samples sound like utter crap. Literally GPO sounds more convincing.

But it's a good VST host for EWQL or Kontakt or Miroslav!

[hxcobd]

I was just about to make a thread for this program when I noticed this one! What luck!

After being a very, very light Sibelius user a few years ago, I jumped on google the other day to find an alternative... I know Sibelius is the industry standard by leaps and bounds, but I just strongly dislike the interface... Very ugly and dated-looking. Not very conducive to inspirational songwriting at all.

I love Notion's GUI and layout. I find all of the buttons and elements of the layout very intuitive.

It's also rather cheap. You can find it for under $200 if you look around a bit.

I have heard a number of complaints about lack of features, especially in comparison to Sibelius. Microphone-based note input being one of them.

Haven't decided if I'm going to drop the cash on it yet. I do really like it, but like many composers, I'm afraid to stray from Sibelius. Kind of feels like people won't take you seriously if you don't use it. Stupid.

[headquest]

I'm also keen to know how good the LSO orchestral samples are. And of course, how good the actual notation is

I have been a user for the last several months. The LSO samples sound like utter crap. Literally GPO sounds more convincing.

But it's a good VST host for EWQL or Kontakt or Miroslav!

Well I have GPO4. But that is disappointing news about the LSO samples, especially because they seem to make that one of their top selling points! (and might go for something more full-on in the future, but not sure which yet... Steiny keep offering me good deals of HaLion Symphony Orch).

So in Notion, does it load up the sounds into GPO when you select a preset, or do you need to choose samples manually from the GPO interface?

[flugel45]

...

So in Notion, does it load up the sounds into GPO when you select a preset, or do you need to choose samples manually from the GPO interface?

I just got Notion a few days ago, so am still familiarizing myself with its features...

But according to the manual, Notion has EWQL Orch, GPO4 (Aria version), Miroslav Philharmonik and Vienna Symphonic libs already mapped by instrument family so they can be selected from within Notion's GUI.

HTH.

[fandango]

So in Notion, does it load up the sounds into GPO when you select a preset, or do you need to choose samples manually from the GPO interface?

Hmn, alas they've gone for the other side of the ballpark on this one. When you select GPO from the presets list (in Notion) and add, say, Violins to the score, it adds an instance of ARIA Player and automatically loads the preset inside it (dunno how they do that, to be honest!).

This sounds great, but unfortunately it means that every time you add another instrument, another ARIA player is loaded up.

I imagine ARIA player is pretty smart at sharing memory etc. like Kontakt is, but Notion won't (or can't) load each new instrument into the multi-timbral session of ARIA player.

Another problem is that the Notion GPO presets give you, say, "Horn". What gets loaded is "SAM French Horn Plr 1", which you might not want unless you're going for a particularly overpowering piece.

I have to admit, I kinda preferred the method which I'm used to from Overture. You manually load the instruments inside the VST, and then on the track select a preset from Overture's own library (i.e., Garritan -> Strings -> Violin Plr 1) and the track is set up so that hairpins, legato, keyswitches etc. are right for that particularly preset/library.

[flugel45]

Thanks for elaborating on that feature, Fandango. Interesting stuff.

As I said, I just got Notion, and since I don't have one of the aforementioned orch. libs (using Kontakt's orch library for now), I haven't been able to do any testing on that side of things.

I wonder... Can you select, say, GPO4 as a generic library and thus not have Notion treat it so "intelligently" (maybe then allowing for more user control)?

JD

[koolkeys]

headquest, you can try all the LSO samples out for yourself. When you download the demo, it brings you to a page where you can download any or all of the sounds that come with Notion, including the LSO stuff!

Brent

[headquest]

That's cool - cheers for the advice and information edveryone

Have the demo now, so will take it for a spin...

[4tune]

Looks interesting that now they are releasing notion versions tailored to different Orchestral VSTs. Just $89, calling it Notion SLE .

So far VSL library only then miroslav, no GPO unfortuanately afaict yet.


http://www.notionmusic.com/products/notion_sle.html


.

[fandango]

I just had my first FR implemented.

(previously you had add accidentals/articulations on to existing notes. now you can have the note cursor with accidentals/articulations and draw them all at the same time.)

The Notion guys are incredibly responsive and it's nice to see them active on the forums. I guess that's easier with a smaller product than something like Cubase/Nuendo (that said, Cakewalk seem to make a great effort on this front).

[4tune]

Just recently ordered Notion 3 full after re-demoing (and some good experience with the Notion support team!). I picked up a copy of Progression and used the upgrade path.

It seems to be the most economical way of purchasing the full version if you don't mind the extra waiting/ steps to register etc.

[contrary]

So was there a final judgment on how well Notion can convert midi files into notation ???

[4tune]

So was there a final judgment on how well Notion can convert midi files into notation ???

I have had some success with this, though I have recently reported a bug where MIDI exported by Notion and re-imported is then wrong. Hopefully will be fixed in the next update.