Abc tunes
MusiCAD can read and write most multi-voice abc-tunes from other sources. Since abc-tunes are designed to be written manually you may often need to edit an abc-tune al little bit to get rid of some anomalies/errors produced in hand-writing and/or differences in software. Much more information regarding ABC notation can be found at http://abcnotation.com.
After opening an abc-file you can instruct MusiCAD to use a special template to create a uniform layout for all abc-read tunes.
Abc-files can be edited in source form within MusiCAD: [View|Textdisplay]
An abc-example is listed below.
X:1
T:Astleys Ride
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:D
af|: d2 d2 d2 cd|e2 e2 e2 fe|dcBA B2 c2|defg agfe|
d2 d2 d2 cd |e2 e2 e2 fe|dcBA B2 c2 |1 d4 d2 af :|2 d4 d2 z A
|:f2 f2 f2 ef|g2 g2 gabg|e2 e2 e2 de|f2 f2 fgaf|
d2 d2 d2 cd |e2 e2 e2 fe|dcBA B2 c2 |1 d4 d2 zA :|2 d4 d2 z2||
On opening a multi-tune abc-file you are presented a screen like below:
From left to right is shown:
- sequence number within the .abc-file
- A if the tune contains chords (or something like it) W if a tune contains a text-block or w is the tune contains note-aligned lyrics.
On abc-import the abc-key-fields are copied to corresponding MusiCAD text-fields:
| A (author) | Author |
| B (book) | Info |
| C (composer) | Composer, Arranger |
| D (discography) | Info |
| G (group) | Tuning |
| H (history) | Info |
| O (origin) | Country, Area |
| N (notes) | Comment |
| R (rhythm) | Style |
| S (source) | Source |
| T (Title) | Title, Subtitle, SubTitle2 |
| Z (transcription notes) | Arranger |
When exporting a tune as abc-file, the reverse is performed, note however that there is no 1 to 1 correspondence between abc-key-fields and MusiCAD text fields.
A large part of the long awaited abc-2.0 standard is implemented with a few exceptions:
- abc-macro's (unlikely to be going implemented ever)
- redefineable symbols