hello all

I was wondering if I can start a sequence in PE8 with some sort of a 'count down' measure -for when actual scores have that-,
so that the measure numbers (on both the sequence and the printed score) match each other exactly.

Haven't found anything regarding on the help file so far

No. Unfortunately there's no way in SONAR to make measure numbers match the project if a count-in measure is used.

I think this would be a nice feature to have, I can see the sense in it

I've done a bit of searching on this forum now..

...Turns out other people have been suggesting just this very same thing since at least 2005!! (not just because of ease when transcribing/following a score, but for SysEx, fx/vst loading, or just time to sit down and prepare for recording at bar #1 without weird/non-musical/out-of-tempo midi count-downs)

Really very strange why Roland has not implemented something like this as a feature yet, with virtual instruments taking over DAWs nowadays, to name an example.

I keep on waiting for really simple improvements -like this, or menu sidebars (with browser-like moving sliders)- on Sonar, but alas, nothing.

Just add a couple of measures at the beginning. You should do this anyway for preliminary MIDI messages to be processed before the actual music starts. As far as measures lining up - you'll always know that the measures in the DAW are off by 2 (or whatever). For scores, use sibelius or finale... not SONAR.

Ok, so, did a little Photoshop, in order to better illustrate my idea for count-in measures:
(I have a larger photo but I dunno if everyone could see it as I only have large LCD)



The count-in area could work as an on/off function or button.
There would be several advantages to this, including:

- You could simply use an audio drum/cymbal sample as a non sync-dependent (precise/worry free!) metronome. One could even use the project's drums from the sequence.

- You would 'start' your sequence effectively at measure 1, and keep a REAL order when composing!

- Transcribe large printed scores with matching measure numbers!!

- Notice the first midi track has some SysEx.

- You could decide to use the count-in area simply as a much more reliable (VISUAL) preparation for recording!

- You could keep the added noise of an amp to a guitar track before the actual song begins (cool/realistic feature!)

- A simple couple of buttons could turn the 'count in area' on/off and mute/unmute (without erasing it's contents). In this example its yellow when on (it could turn like dark grey when off or something)

It should be the easiest thing in the world to implement just to change the numbering offset in the timeline.

I run into it quite a bit with different folk allowing different lead-in times for examples some use two measures some use four which can be confusing making edits like if somebody says bar 77 in this do they mean actual bar 79 or even bar 81.

Just to be able to put the actual start offset bar number in would at least mean we are all singing from the same hymn book so to speak. Not a big deal sure but it would be nice to be able to do.

ORIGINAL: bryan2449

Just add a couple of measures at the beginning. You should do this anyway for preliminary MIDI messages to be processed before the actual music starts. As far as measures lining up - you'll always know that the measures in the DAW are off by 2 (or whatever). For scores, use sibelius or finale... not SONAR.

It's not the same at all. And like Jonbouy wrote, different customers use different lead-ins which may lead to a mess.

ORIGINAL: bryan2449

As far as measures lining up - you'll always know that the measures in the DAW are off by 2 (or whatever).

I'm a huge ANTI-fan of mental math. If I have a pre-printed score...I would love to have my measure numbers line up without having to do a mental fix-up.

What would be even cooler is to have measure numbers some how continue to line up even after repeats!

It's probably not trivial to implement (from a technical POV) since all timestamps would potentially need to be recalculated and calculations based on 0=0 re-done.