PRB: Playback Of Power Tab Score Sounds Out Of Tune

Summary

When playing a Power Tab score, the song sounds out of tune.

Cause

The primary cause of this problem is due to misuse of bends and/or tremolo bar symbols (due to my poor explanation of bends/tremolo bar symbols in the Help file).

More Information

Power Tab Editor uses the MIDI pitchwheel to perform bends and tremolo bar effects during playback. The pitchwheel determines the playback pitch of a particular MIDI instrument. When the wheel is in it's default position, the instrument will play in it's "normal" playback tuning. When the pitchwheel value is raised, notes played by the instrument will sound n semi-tones higher than normal (eg. If the pitchwheel is set to +2 semitones, a D note will sound as an E note). The same idea applies when the pitchwheel value is lowered (eg. If the pitchwheel is set to -2 semitones, a D note will sound as a C note).

Bend Example

When Power Tab Editor encounters a bend during playback, it will automatically raise or lower the pitchwheel based on the data stored with the bend. How the pitchwheel is shut off is dependant upon the type of bend that is used:

• Normal Bends (Non-Held Bends)

or

When using this type of bend, the pitchwheel is shutoff at the end of the note duration that the bend is attached to. Unlike notation in most magazines/books, the bend is NOT held if the note is tied. ;


Ex. 1
In Example 1, the pitchwheel is applied during the 1st quarter note (+2 semitones), and is shutoff at the start of the 2nd quarter note. ; It does not continue being held for the remaining 3 quarter notes, even though the notes are tied.

• Held Bends

or

When using this type of bend, the pitchwheel MUST be shutoff by a matching Bend Release symbol. If there is no matching release symbol for a held bend, the instrument stays out of pitch by the amount notated in the Bend and Hold type bend.


Ex. 2
In Example 2, the pitchwheel is applied during the 1st quarter note (+2 semitones), and continues being held, even after the last tied quarter note (thus making all notes after the last quarter note sound out of pitch by 2 semitones). In order to return the pitchwheel to normal pitch, a release bend (either gradual or immediate) is required on the last tied note in the group:


Ex. 3
In Example 3, the pitchwheel is applied during the 1st quarter note (+2 semitones), is held for the duration of the 3 tied quarter notes, and is released to normal AFTER the 3rd tied quarter has finished playing (Immediate Releases return the pitchwheel to normal at the END of the note duration to which the release is attached). When a Bend And Hold is used with a matching Release Bend, a dashed line will be drawn between the bend/release pair. ; (Release bends are designed to draw a dashed line back to the last held bend).

Note: An easy way to indentify bends that may be causing the instrument to go out of pitch is to look for a bend at the start of a group of tied notes, and verify that there is a dashed line between the first and last tied notes in the group. If there is no dashed line, a release bend is required on the last tied note in the group. If there is a dashed line, but it continues past the bend at the beginning of the group of tied notes, the bend must be set to a held type of bend, instead of just a normal bend.

Resolution

If you have a bend that is applied and held across a group of tied notes, be sure to use a held bend + release combination. Let's assume you want to apply a whole bend ;to the following group of tied notes:


Step - Move the position indicator (the blue indicator) to the 1st note in the group (where the bend is to be applied)


Step - Select the Bend menu item from the Tab Symbols menu in the editor. The Bend Dialog Box will appear:



Step - Click on the Bend And Hold item on the left side of the screen and press the OK button. The held bend should now be displayed at the proper position:



Step - Since the bend is being held, we need to make sure it shuts off at the end of the last tied note. Move the position indicator to the last tied note in the group.



Step - Select the Bend menu item from the Tab Symbols menu once again, and this time click on the Release (Immediate) item on the left side of the screen. Click the OK button. Ensure that the dashed line is drawn from the bend and hold symbol to the release symbol. Your bend is now applied properly and should not cause the playback to go out of tune!

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