Suggestions for Improving EarMaster

[alhim]

I am happy that I bought EarMaster, and think you have all done a wonderful job on creating it. It is no small matter to have this kind of help, it makes a big difference to me. Thank you.

Here are some suggestions for improving EarMaster - and perhaps others could place their suggestions here as well.

While using the software a few things have been a large problem for me and I think could be changed or added relatively easily. They would really make a big difference for me.

1.)In 'Interval Identification' mode, the first of the ascending and descending notes sustains while the second note plays (regardless of what midi instrument is selected). There should be an option making it so this sustain does not occur, as this suggests hearing by harmonic suggestion, and not melodic interval. Hearing by true melodic skip without the sustain would prepare one to hear melodic intervals much better in 'Interval Identification' mode - and an option to select 'stocatto' or 'legato' would be important as well, as there is a big difference between the two and the challenges they present.

2.)In 'Melodic dictation' mode - The options available are all tailored to use of keys or scales, and the usefullness of these options in Chromatic mode are limited. Hearing intervals in Chromatic mode (choosing chromatic from the scales option) is very important as it leans away from reliance on scale familiarity, and forces you to identify intervals clearly without tonal reference. So, I am suggesting...
-You should be able to select which intervals are used when using the chromatic scale. At the moment, you can only choose Seconds, which forces both minor and major seconds on you, and if you choose Thirds, it forces both seconds and both thirds on you. There should be an option to choose, say, only minor seconds, major seconds, and minor thirds, or say, only major seconds and major thirds, perfect fourths, and minor sevenths.
-You should be able to choose an option (when using chromatic scale) to use proper spellings, or to only use flats, or only use sharps. In proper spelling mode, a major third interval spelled properly would be Esharp-Gdoublesharp. This is important for dictation purposes.
-Triplets and the other rhythms available in rhythm dictation mode should be available in the melodic dictation mode as well. This is very important, as when dictating from ear, composers don't go easy on you.

3.)Other tuplets should be made available.

[Tequila Sunrise]

This whole posting here refers to the interval identification unit.

my critics:

1.)In 'Interval Identification' mode, the first of the ascending and descending notes sustains while the second note plays (regardless of what midi instrument is selected). There should be an option making it so this sustain does not occur, as this suggests hearing by harmonic suggestion, and not melodic interval. Hearing by true melodic skip without the sustain would prepare one to hear melodic intervals much better in 'Interval Identification' mode - and an option to select 'stocatto' or 'legato' would be important as well, as there is a big difference between the two and the challenges they present.

Exactly, I second that. That note overlay is really the most annoying bug of EarMaster Pro 5.0. Thus it actually has no melodic interval playback mode ! Plz fix that in a patch or in the next version, it's really urgent.

my suggestions:

Regarding my critics:
Make an own option for playback direction (ascending/descending) and build up the playback option in three different modes:

...1.................................2..............................3................
......*............................*....*..........................*................
*.............................*.........*..........................*................

1. One note is seperatedly playbacked after another (without note overlay, of course)
2. Like in 1. but after that both notes are playbacked simultaneously once again
3. Both notes are only playbacked simultaneously

This really would be a great enhancement for EarMaster Pro...

Furthermore:

* an option to select 'stocatto' or 'legato'

* higher sound quality

* effects ! Imagine one can apply a flanger, distortion, chorus, etc.
effect to the guitar in the options - how awesome would be that !?

* a random mode for speed, instrument, the stocatto/legato issue, etc. so that the intervals can vary in these parameters from new question to new question. It makes this training unit focus on the essence: The interval. It would be thougher, but also more authentic, because in songs the intervals also always differ in speed, legato/stacatto or arrangement.

my positive critics:

You've really already done a good job with EarMaster Pro 5.0. Regarding
the interval identification unit I'd like to point out that I really appreciated
the huge speed range for the interval playback from 20 to 900 bpm, plz
keep that for further versions.


That's it for now, folks.
I hope I could help you improving EarMaster Pro ...

[Hans]

The purpose of the note overlay is to force the user to learn harmonic intervals while exercising ascending and descending intervals. This way you get used to the harmonic sound of the interval while practising.
We do however plan to make this optional in EarMaster 6.

EarMaster does not produce its own sound but use the sounds in your sound card. Therefore the sound quality depends on your sound card or sound module. If you have a MIDI sound module that can play guitar sound with distortion then you can also use it in EarMaster.

Best regards,
Hans Jakobsen
EarMaster

[Midiman]

There is a possible temporary work around for the interval sustain problem.
If you have soundfont editing software (like Creative Vienna Studio, for example) you could alter your piano soundfont (or make another) so that it doesn't sustain, by making the cutoff time very short. Thusly, even without the note off command from Earmaster, the first tone will stop before the second one plays. This is an awkward fix and I hope the new version comes soon.
There is a difference between harmonic interval identification and sequential interval identification. In all my university ear training courses this difference was emphasized and great care was taken NOT to have an overlap when playing sequential intervals for testing.

[perny]

Another workaround that worked for me was to simply try different instruments in the current soundbank. Try for example the xylophone or some other more percussion-like instrument.

But if you really want the piano, you'll have to try another solution.