'How to' Guide
 Here are a few hints and tips on how you can get more out of Notate 2. Choose from the list below:
- Audio Problems
- Headphones
- Speakers
- Connecting to External Audio Equipment
- Storing to WAV or MP3
- Compound time tempo
- Beaming in 5, 7, 10 and 11 beat bars
- Template and pattern files
- Choosing appropriate sounds
Audio Problems
If you are having problems hearing the sounds from Notate 2, first of all check within Notate 2 that a suitable sound device is set for Local sound in the File menu Devices dialogue box.
 If this is set correctly, you need to check the Windows settings for sounds. To make sure Notate 2 is playing something as you troubleshoot, load a Notate 2 file, press Play and set it to Endless Loop (Ctrl E). Also make sure you have speakers or headphones plugged in and any volume controls on the speakers or headphones are turned up.
Make sure that the Windows volume is turned up and not muted. You can check this by clicking on the loudspeaker icon at the bottom right of your Windows screen if it is shown there. If you can’t see it, click on Start, then Control Panel and go to Sounds and Audio devices. From the Volume tab, check that the sound is turned up and not muted. If you are still not hearing anything, click on the Advanced button and make sure that the appropriate sliders here in the mixer are turned up. If you are not sure which ones to turn up, move each one up gradually and down again if you don’t hear anything. Again, check the mute (or sometimes select) buttons under the individual sliders.
These notes are based on Windows XP. Sound devices in computers vary and there may be different screens from those described here. If you need further help please contact our Support team at support@logo.com.
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Headphones
Using headphones has the advantage that composing is less likely to be a distraction for others in the vicinity than when using speakers. Most computers use a 3.5mm stereo jack socket which will take standard ‘Walkman’ style headphone. Adaptors are available to split the output to several pairs of headphones where pupils are sharing.
There is no ideal headphone in a school situation. Some schools like the enclosed type but pupils can become isolated. Other schools prefer the ‘hear through’ type so that pupils can still hear the teacher. Hygiene is an issue and is difficult to manage effectively, but some schools like to use models that can be wiped clean. One solution adopted by some schools is to ask pupils to bring their own headphones.
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Speakers
Speakers are useful where it is important for a number of people to hear the sounds. These will usually be powered/amplified speakers and many different types exist. Some computer monitors have built in speakers. Otherwise the speakers will be separate. The quality of powered speakers varies widely. Larger systems sometimes have two small speakers and a sub woofer to handle the lower frequencies. Powered speakers usually connect to the 3.5mm line or headphone output in the same way as headphones. If Notate 2 is being used with a large group (e.g. for demonstration purposes or with an interactive whiteboard) good quality speakers will be required for best results. Low pitched sounds in particular are not effective on smaller low quality speakers.
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Connecting to External Audio Equipment
 It is sometimes desirable to store the music from Notate 2 on minidisc, tape or similar external audio equipment. Connect the headphone or line output of the computer to the line input(s) of a suitable recorder. Set your tape recorder to record then click Play on Notate 2. You may need to experiment with the Notate main volume slider for best results.
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Storing to WAV or MP3
Although Notate 2 cannot export in WAV or MP3 file formats as is used on Compact Discs and MP3 players, it is possible to use other software to do this. The open source software Audacity can be used to capture the music as a WAV file as it is played from Notate 2.
On the Notate 2 CD, there is a directory called 'Audacity'. Inside that directory is a setup program called Audacity Setup which will install and pre-configure Audacity for use on your computer with Notate. You can use Audacity to convert your Notate 2 compositions into .wav and .mp3 files by following this procedure:
- Load your Notate file.
- Start Audacity and make sure the source dropdown menu in the middle of the toolbar is set to 'Stereo mixer'.
- Click the record button (round red one) on the Audacity toolbar.
- Click play on the Notate toolbar.
- Wait for the song to play - you will see the wave display of the recorded music.
- Press the stop button (square brown one) on the Audacity toolbar when Notate 2 has finished playing.
- Trim any silence from the beginning or end of your Audacity recording (use drag select to highlight the silence and Ctrl X to cut it).
- Finally, from the Audacity File menu choose Export as .Mp3 or Export as .wav and save your finished file.
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Compound time tempo
When using compound time signatures (e.g. 6/8, 9/8) the beat is a dotted crotchet or dotted minim. Music is displayed in this manner and the beat marker marks each beat correctly. The speed (tempo) is calculated as a dotted crotchet beat and so appears faster. The tempo display at the top of the Notate 2 window remains a crotchet, even when the beat has become a dotted crotchet.
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Beaming in 5, 7, 10 and 11 beat bars
In 5/8, 7/8, 10/8 and 11/8 time signatures there are a number of different ways of beaming (joining) quavers and semi quavers. Within Notate 5/8 is taken to be 3+2 beats, 7/8 is taken to be 2+2+3 beats, 10/8 is taken to be 3+3+2+2 and 11/8 is taken to be 3+3+3+2. The beat marker also reflects this pattern.
Template and pattern files
‘Template’ and ‘Pattern’ files can speed up making music with Notate. A number are provided with the program. The pattern files contain a wide variety of patterns that may be useful to copy into your own compositions.
Choosing appropriate sounds
Some sounds are designed to start gently and take a short while to reach their full volume. These sounds are said to have a slow ‘attack’. Other sounds start more immediately and are said to have a fast ‘attack’. When choosing sounds from the Instruments … dialogue box to use with different types of tracks, take this into account. If you try to play fast runs of notes using a sound with a slow attack, the music may sound strange. This is because the sound may never get to its full volume before another note starts. As ever, the best thing is to experiment with different sounds.
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