Mus2
Encyclopedia
Mus2 is a music application for the notation of microtonal works and, specifically, Turkish maqam music. Unlike most other scorewriters, Mus2 allows the user to work in almost any tuning system with customizable accidentals and play back the score with accurate intonation
. The application has also received praise for its clean interface and usability.
word for "music") was originally the name of a music application developed by M. Kemal Karaosmanoğlu for the notation of Turkish music pieces. However, this software was never publicly released as it was not deemed ready for general use.
Turkish software developer Utku Uzmen independently began working on the microtonal notation application Nihavent in September 2009, and released the first beta version in May 2010. Nihavent went through several iterations before being picked up by Data-Soft for distribution, and the application was released on September 15, 2010 under the Mus2 name.
to any tuning system using absolute frequencies, rationals
and cents
. Additionally, the user can import music symbols from graphics files and fonts for use as accidentals
with arbitrary cent values. Microtonal support isn't limited to symbols; when a score using an alternative tuning system is played back, Mus2 performs the piece with correct intonation using acoustic and electronic instrument sound samples
. The program can work with uncommon time signature
s such as 7/6 and create tuplet
s with ratios such as 10:7.
Mus2 has also been noted for its simple user interface and ease of use. The notation tools in the program are presented in a tool strip which only shows the relevant options for the selected tool. When a notation symbol is placed on the score paper, its layout and position is automatically determined, usually with no need for manual adjustment by the user.
Mus2 uses its own file formats for storing scores, tunings and accidentals, which can include metadata
for easy indexing and cataloguing. It is also possible to export the score to a variety of audio and graphics formats.
Mus2 has been developed with the Qt framework and is available for Windows and Mac OS X.
Intonation (music)
Intonation, in music, is a musician's realization of pitch accuracy, or the pitch accuracy of a musical instrument. Intonation may be flat, sharp, or both, successively or simultaneously.-Interval, melody, and harmony:...
. The application has also received praise for its clean interface and usability.
History
Mus2 (from musiki, the Ottoman TurkishOttoman Turkish language
The Ottoman Turkish language or Ottoman language is the variety of the Turkish language that was used for administrative and literary purposes in the Ottoman Empire. It borrows extensively from Arabic and Persian, and was written in a variant of the Perso-Arabic script...
word for "music") was originally the name of a music application developed by M. Kemal Karaosmanoğlu for the notation of Turkish music pieces. However, this software was never publicly released as it was not deemed ready for general use.
Turkish software developer Utku Uzmen independently began working on the microtonal notation application Nihavent in September 2009, and released the first beta version in May 2010. Nihavent went through several iterations before being picked up by Data-Soft for distribution, and the application was released on September 15, 2010 under the Mus2 name.
Features
The foremost feature of Mus2 is its ability to re-tune a staffStaff (music)
In standard Western musical notation, the staff, or stave, is a set of five horizontal lines and four spaces that each represent a different musical pitch—or, in the case of a percussion staff, different percussion instruments. Appropriate music symbols, depending upon the intended effect,...
to any tuning system using absolute frequencies, rationals
Rational number
In mathematics, a rational number is any number that can be expressed as the quotient or fraction a/b of two integers, with the denominator b not equal to zero. Since b may be equal to 1, every integer is a rational number...
and cents
Cent (music)
The cent is a logarithmic unit of measure used for musical intervals. Twelve-tone equal temperament divides the octave into 12 semitones of 100 cents each...
. Additionally, the user can import music symbols from graphics files and fonts for use as accidentals
Accidental (music)
In music, an accidental is a note whose pitch is not a member of a scale or mode indicated by the most recently applied key signature. In musical notation, the symbols used to mark such notes, sharps , flats , and naturals , may also be called accidentals...
with arbitrary cent values. Microtonal support isn't limited to symbols; when a score using an alternative tuning system is played back, Mus2 performs the piece with correct intonation using acoustic and electronic instrument sound samples
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
. The program can work with uncommon time signature
Time signature
The time signature is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats are in each measure and which note value constitutes one beat....
s such as 7/6 and create tuplet
Tuplet
In music a tuplet is "any rhythm that involves dividing the beat into a different number of equal subdivisions from that usually permitted by the...
s with ratios such as 10:7.
Mus2 has also been noted for its simple user interface and ease of use. The notation tools in the program are presented in a tool strip which only shows the relevant options for the selected tool. When a notation symbol is placed on the score paper, its layout and position is automatically determined, usually with no need for manual adjustment by the user.
Mus2 uses its own file formats for storing scores, tunings and accidentals, which can include metadata
Metadata
The term metadata is an ambiguous term which is used for two fundamentally different concepts . Although the expression "data about data" is often used, it does not apply to both in the same way. Structural metadata, the design and specification of data structures, cannot be about data, because at...
for easy indexing and cataloguing. It is also possible to export the score to a variety of audio and graphics formats.
Mus2 has been developed with the Qt framework and is available for Windows and Mac OS X.