Re: Multiple voices - aligning stems, different durations

[Richard Shann]

On Mon, 2024-09-09 at 16:52 -0400, Bric wrote:
> 
> > On 09/09/2024 2:23 PM EDT Richard Shann <richard@rshann.plus.com>
> > wrote:
> > 
> >  'Screenshot from 2024-09-09 16-44-42.png'
> > On Mon, 2024-09-09 at 12:28 -0400, Bric wrote:
> > >  Experiencing complete failure with voices. 
> > >    
> > >  Is there comprehensive documentation on how to use voices? 
> > >    
> > >  At the moment I am thinking I need multiple voices per staff
> > > because
> > > ordinary chords do not allow notes with different durations on
> > > the
> > > same (shared) staff, aligned vertically (where, in spite of the
> > > different duration they all START simultaneously).
> > 
> > correct, that is what they are for
> > 
> > >  Example: 
> > >    
> > >  
> > >    
> > >  I added a staff with a designated new voice... I can't even get
> > > past
> > > the rendering error -- "Typeset" leads to "Check Score. Cursor
> > > may
> > > have been moved..." when I populate the extra voice with any
> > > notes 
> > 
> > can you post an example of such a thing?
> > 
> 
> 
> I guess this mailing list defaults to text-only formatting?
> 
> (had HTML for my previous message)
> 
> attaching images in that case
> 
> The rendering error screenshot shows the top two voice notes _next_
> to each other rather than aligned one above the other.
> 
> by the way - typically the render errors are non-descriptive (error
> specifics do not surface)

To see the exact error messages that LilyPond is emitting typeset in
the LilyPond View. In the case of your file it is just a warning that
you have your two voices clashing - the warning message is:

Typesetting ...Done
/tmp/Denemo_7RIET2/denemoprintA.ly:50:10: warning: this Voice needs a
\voiceXx or \shiftXx setting
         
         e''4 d'' c''\AutoBarline
/tmp/Denemo_7RIET2/denemoprintA.ly:50:15: warning: this Voice needs a
\voiceXx or \shiftXx setting
         e''4 
              d'' c''\AutoBarline
/tmp/Denemo_7RIET2/denemoprintA.ly:50:19: warning: this Voice needs a
\voiceXx or \shiftXx setting
         e''4 d'' 
                  c''\AutoBarline
/tmp/Denemo_7RIET2/denemoprintA.ly:51:10: warning: this Voice needs a
\voiceXx or \shiftXx setting
         
         c'' d'' c''8 d''}
/tmp/Denemo_7RIET2/denemoprintA.ly:51:18: warning: this Voice needs a
\voiceXx or \shiftXx setting
         c'' d'' 
                 c''8 d'...

The reason for the error is that while you have set the top staff to be
Voice 2 you have not set the direction of the second staff, so it is
defaulting to automatic voice (up or down stems depend on above/below
mid line of staff).
You can use the command

Command: Choose Voice
The Voice 1,2,3,4 commands set up the voices so that first and third
voices get stems up, second and fourth voices get stems down, third and
fourth voice note heads are horizontally shifted, and rests in the
respective voices are automatically moved to avoid collisions. The
Automatic Voice command returns all the voice settings to the neutral
default directions. The Denemo display shows automatic stem directions,
use StemDown and StemUp commands if you wish to affect the display. 
Location: Object Menu ▶ Directives ▶ Typesetter ▶ Voices

to set the voice (and to change it mid-music if needed)

HTH

Richard



> 
> 
> > 
> > >    
> > >  I apparently don't know the basics of voices 
> > >    
> > >  So my questions are: 
> > >    
> > >  1. How do I make voices work?  
> > >  2. How do I make the notes of different voices vertically align
> > > perfectly ? 
> > 
> > That happens automatically
> > 
> > >  3. (#2 with different durations vertically aligned in spite of
> > > that
> > > difference)
> > 
> > also automatic
> > 
> > >  
> > >  4. (I am assuming I can figure out stem direction on my own,
> > > although it would be nice if there is a smart algorithm that
> > > automatically assigns stem direction, as shown in the embedded
> > > image
> > > here) 
> > You use the 
> > Command: Choose Initial Voice
> > Choose which voice this staff will initially be set to. To change
> > voice
> > during music see the Directives->Voices menu.
> > Location: Object Menu ▶ Staffs/Voices ▶ Voices
> > Internal Name: InitialVoice
> > 
> > and then commands like
> > 
> > Command: Voice Preset 1 (Stems Up)
> > Preset for first voice. Stems up
> > Location: Object Menu ▶ Directives ▶ Typesetter ▶ Voices
> > Internal Name: VoicePreset1
> > 
> > and friends if you need to switch stem direction mid music.
> > 
> > HTH
> > 
> > Richard Shann
> > 
> > >    
> > >