Export a beat (as an image) with multiple measures
M
Mauro Allende
I would like to print or export an image a Song beat with 64 measures and I do not see an option for this. Thanks
(Editors Note: Export to PDF was managed as a separate enhancement request and was implemented in version 3.0: https://roadmap.beat-note.app/feature-requests/p/export-to-pdf)
Dimitri Fantini
I see exporting a whole page PDF is here (I only had 8 measures) but I was also looking for exporting an entire multi measure exercise as a png with transparent background. Right now the png export is measure by measure.
As far as your question about layout, I'd think C and E have the most universal application. Hard to allow for optional line breaks on any measure without increasing complexity :)
Derek Lee
Dimitri Fantini Thanks for your feedback, Dimitri! And welcome to the BN community!! I'm super excited to have you here and I appreciate you sharing your feedback. 🙇🏻♂️
My apologies for the confusion here - since I already had an enhancement request for adding support to export to PDF, I considered this enhancement request one for multiple measures only. I will update this to reflect that. 👍🏻
PNG export is currently only measure by measure because all features in Beat Note are built iteratively based on user feedback, and this was the starting point. After releasing the initial feature, it has been difficult for me to get feedback from people based on their needs, and I haven't been able to move this forward.
Exporting a PDF is comparatively much simpler than exporting multiple measures in an image because a PDF generally has a defined size, like a piece of paper, making the layout options for a PDF much more simple in comparison to an image.
With an image, I've had users request all of the layouts presented in the mockup below (A through F). Images don't have to have a specific size (like a piece of paper), nor do images have "pages," which increases the complexity of how this could be implemented. How am I supposed to decide the size of the exported image if I don't know the desired layout or size you want? Ultimately, I need more examples of how users actually want to use the exported image. The more options for layout that are introduced, the more complex this feature becomes.
For example: I don't know how of a beat a user wants to export an image for. Some users are making beats for an entire song transcription (100+ measures), and so a PDF export can be done with multiple pages. Some other users only have shorter groove and fill themes. Depending on the layout, how am I supposed to export an image of 100 measures? Where PDFs have pages, images do not. Do I need to limit the number of measures that can be exported to an image? If so, then users need the ability to specify the start measure and end measure. What is the layout? What is the size of the image? What is the resolution? There are too many questions and I don't have enough information from users to substantiate any amount of confidence to invest the time to build out this feature any further. Before I start writing more code, I want to have a level of confidence that what I'm building is either a) meeting your needs or b) taking a step closer to meeting your needs.
If you can provide me with some specific examples of how you want to export your beats as images, it would really help me to move forward with this enhancement. Ideally what I want to do is jump on a call with at least 3-5 people and have a deep discussion about this because (hopefully as you can now see based on the above), it's really a highly complex feature, and I don't think a simple text message back-and-forth here is going to be sufficient to get to the level of detail that is needed.
When can you (or anyone else!) meet for a call? Please shoot me a message and let me know! 🙇🏻♂️
M
Mauro Allende
Hi Derek!
I hope my answers help you.
#1. Sometimes it is more easy and useful to have the printed version of the song in order to practice it in the drum set. I usually use the iPad but sometimes I would like to have what I see in the screen printed in paper.
#2. I think It would be great the C or D.
#3. I believe Beat title, Tempo are essentials but you can add others.
#4. It would be great if we can configure how many measures per row, layout (A4, etc), portrait or landscape, format (pdf, jpg, etc)
Derek Lee
Mauro Allende: Thanks for taking the time to share more feedback! I really appreciate it and will consider your input. 👍🏻
Derek Lee
Hello friends! I'm interested in moving forward on this enhancement, but it isn't easy to do without your further input.
I invite those who have voted on this to provide additional feedback to help me proceed with this enhancement.
Please answer the following questions for me in as much detail as possible or set up a time to meet 1:1 from within the app!
#1. What would you use exported image of multiple measures for? Why is it important to you? How would you use it?
#2. Please take a look at the attached image of possible layouts for a 16-bar phrase. Which layout (or layouts) would you want the exported measures to have? Please choose as many as you like and indicate which letter layout you want.
#3. Please explain any additional information you want displayed in the exported data. For example the beat title, total # of measures, some header text or footer text, custom text that you enter, measure numbers, a legend key (which note head and line/staff is used for which instrument), etc.
#4. Please explain any aspects that you want to be configurable when you export it. Maybe you want to configure how many measures per row, maybe you want to choose the layout, maybe you want to choose portrait vs landscape, maybe you want a legend displayed or not, etc.
Thanks for your help! 🙇🏻♂️
Derek Lee
Hi Mauro! Thanks for supporting Beat Note and contributing to the roadmap.
Beat Note does not yet support exporting music to PDF format. I am researching what needs you and other users have by collecting information in the following feature request: https://roadmap.beat-note.app/feature-requests/p/export-to-pdf I'd love for you to add your requirements to this thread or schedule a time to chat with me 1:1 so I can understand your needs for exporting to PDF.
I released the ability to export a single measure to an image very recently, and you can read more about that here: https://roadmap.beat-note.app/feature-requests/p/export-to-image The next step for this is to export more than one measure of music and this is quite complicated as there are a variety of layouts that are possible.
Per the PDF export thread, the following questions are essential to help me understand your needs:
a) Please explain what you would use an exported PDF for (why it is important?)
b) Please explain what kind of layout (or layouts) you want the PDF to have
c) Please explain any specific additional information you want to be displayed on the PDF
d) Please explain any aspects that you want to be configurable when you export it
This could also apply when exporting to an image.
Thanks for helping to contribute to the development of Beat Note!
Derek Lee
Hello Mauro Allende - it's been some time since you opened this request. Have you had a chance to consider some of my questions above? Thanks for your help and support!