There really are many things that Notion could do to improve its product. A lot have already been mentioned, but in random order:
1. Tuplet entry must be improved. Despite all the tutorials and various ways to create them, it just doesn't work. I still get 'red notes', even for a simple tuplet like a triplet. One cannot audit the bars line in a score with tuplets as 'rhythmic' gobbletygook ensues. Oftentimes, one cannot add another note after a tuplet in the instrument with the tuplet without the gobbletygook appearing.
2. Key signatures should automatically apply to instruments added to the score
during the compositional process.
3. Non Pitched percussion instruments shouldn't transpose during a global transposition. Oftentimes, this means they don't sound or sound incorrectly. Currently, one needs to hide them to prevent this.
4. Trills should transpose properly. Currently, they don't. After a transposition, a flat trill can become a natural trill, yet Notion doesn't use the key signature information to determine this. It's still a flat trill. The outcome there is that it sounds wrong or doesn't sound at all.
5. Some instruments are said to be out of range after a transposition, when they aren't. This happens often with Bass Clarinet, E-Flat Clarinet and English Horn.
6. There is an error in the program with transposition. Oftentimes, the semitones are ignored, as is information from the key signature. The end result there is often a whole tone transposition, when a semi tone is needed. With key signatures, one can easily get into the land of
enharmonic hell. I'm tired of changing double sharps in the score.
7. Decaying to ppppp can often result in artifacts in the .wav file. One should be able to just choose fade out and have the music decay properly. Having to manually do this takes time as artifacts create distortion and lessen the effect.
8. Having the ability to increase or decrease the volume of the entire file via
dynamics entered would be very helpful. I'm not talking about the mixer, I am talking about being able to increase/decrease via a percentage, the written dynamc and aural sound of the notated
dynamics already entered in the score. One can already to do this some degree in the mixer, but having this option would be helpful. Here's why: if one composes a section of a piece too quietly or loudly the only way to currently remedy this is by manually changing the dynamics in that section. The mixer globally does this. Composers tend to write in sessions and not in one fell swoop. Oftentimes, when I return to a piece on which I am currently working, I find that one section of the file is too quiet. Being able to highlight a section and then to turn up or down by percentage the volume of the highlighted section would be helpful. I realize that this would cause problems with the samples sounding correctly(a French Horn in the basement 'mp' is a different sample than a French Horn in the basement 'mf'), however re-tweaking a few samples is much easier than totally rewriting the entire dynamics in the entire section.
9. The brass samples still need attention, especially the trumpet.
10. The ability to purchase via CD or as an online download higher bit rate samples would be great.
11. Improved spatiality is needed. Although one can move and position the sound, the program is rather monoaural. Getting a realistic spatiality is hard.
12. More options in the area of ambience would be nice. Abbey Roads studios has a wonderful sound, but it's quite dry overall(even at 100%).
13. Can we have a C score option, please?
14. Having ledger line space that is typical to the instrument(i.e. space below-Clarinet, space above - Piccolo) already present in the software would be nice. Not having to add ledger line space each time with each system would be helpful.
15. Color options for the background would be helpful.
16. The ability to use other sound libraries other than just the LSO samples would be awesome. Notion sounds are quite good, but can't complete with other libraries in many ways. Composers want the best sound possible. I want a software that doesn't just work from a compositional point of view; I want the entire package. Notion could be the one, if the sample bit rates and quality were higher.
17. The Xylophone sample and some other percussion instruments(Bell Tree) are way too loud. I routinely turn the Xylophone down to 25%.
18. The string section sounds synthy when performing fast passages.
19. There needs to be more vibrato in the solo string samples.
20. The A Clarinet is really the B-Flat Clarinet sample with the extra semi tone, yet the A clarinet has quite a different timbre as compared to the B-Flat Clarinet. It is less bright overall, and much darker in the chalumeau register. There should be a separate sample for the A Clarinet.
21. Notion needs to address printing options. Currently, it is convoluted and time consuming to get a score to print properly. A 'print to .pdf' option is needed.
22. Expanded sound kits are no longer being released. Are we to expect incomplete instrumentation with this software? Non Western, Ethnic instruments, exotic instruments, voices would all be helpful.
23. Having the score point to the middle of the page is anti-musical. We read from top to bottom. Constantly having to move the cursor to the top is frustrating.
24. Having the Non-Pitched Percussion list be in alphabetical order would be helpful. Currently, there seems to be no rhyme or reason to the order.
There's a few suggestions.
Notion is alot of fun with which to work, but there are many, many things it can and should be doing to improve its software. However, it's been well over a year since the last update and release of a new sound kit. If Notion truly wants to REALIZE MUSIC, then it needs to constantly improve its product and constantly move forward. The music software industry is constantly moving forward with new software, new options, better tools and such. If Notion is to remain competitive(and solvent), it needs to more aggressive in getting this remarkable product out there. It would be a real shame to see Notion go the way of the dinosaur. [/color]