A Choir Query - from FinalePM to GarageBand3 (and back?)

The Challenge:
A Mac-based filmmaker/video editor anxiously seeks advice from experienced users of Finale and GarageBand who know the inner mysteries of MIDI (and may also be proficient with the likes of LogicExpress).
In a nutshell, I'm struggling to understand the simplest way (if there is such a thing) to add some specific non-orchestral sounds to my Finale PrintMusic Instrument List, to beef up the playback of some original compositions.
And failing that, the simplest way to use some of the specific SmartMusic SoundFont samples included with FinalePM in a GarageBand or a LogicExpress project.
The Rest Is Background and Elaboration:
I've spent the past few weeks using Finale's PrintMusic2006 to develop some musical underscores for a short film I'm now editing (using FinalCutPro 5). The simple arrangements I've created using PrintMusic's built-in SoftSynth player and the SoundFont instruments package so far work pretty well as demos to accompany the printed notation, and that was their original intention. But parts of them actually sound not too bad, and are close to being useable for the film itself. So now I'd like to see if I can take the playback aspect even further, and use PrintMusic (either on its own or in combination with other software) to generate a more polished final output.
So far though, my experience with the other music software available to me has been frustrating:
- GarageBand3 will import a MIDI file exported from PrintMusic, but only at a single tempo. This one-tempo-only-per-project limitation is a major roadblock for me, because while this music is hardly sophisticated, it does have tempo variations, as well as key and time signature changes.
- SoundtrackPro, supposedly a higher-end app than GarageBand, won't even import a standard MIDI file. (What's up with that, anyway? I still haven't quite figured out where STP lies on the GarageBand-LogicExpress-LogicPro spectrum.)
- and LogicExpress (which I don't yet own but am testing a trial version of) - aside from being a whole new learning curve I really don't have time to get into right now - doesn't even have basic versions of the software instruments I'm trying to find better quality versions of, such as Harpsichord, Bagpipe (yes, the music involves a very strange mix), and most of all, choral/choir effects (more human-sounding Oohs, Ahhs, Doos, and Mmms, both male and female).
The Arrangements:
The instruments I've used in PrintMusic for playback of the different versions of the film's music are:
- Church Organ,
- Choir Aahs
- Voice Oohs,
- Bagpipe,
- Harpsichord,
- Tubular Bells,
- Woodblock,
- Overdriven Guitar,
- and a couple of bg synth effects.
The organ, harpsichord, guitar, bell and woodblock all sound not too bad in context. The Bagpipe's a bit wimpy, but both it and the Harpsichord are at least better than the ones the Apple apps offer - which is to say, none! And I was especially disappointed to see that even with the addition of hundreds of dollars worth of JamPacks those same apps still don't appear to offer any human voice/choral Software Instrument sounds whatsoever.
I do see such sounds available for purchase at sites such as these:
http://www.soundsonline.com/sophtml/details.phtml?sku=PS13
and
http://www.bestservice.de/detail.asp/en/vocalchoir/extended_classicalchoir/813442a66p249p64p49
(with of course much higher-end and higher-priced options also available).
But the question I'm hoping someone out there can help me with is:
- Can PrintMusic make use of these kinds of samples (either these specific ones, or any other kinds in any other formats -- including the Software Instruments already included in Logic and/or GarageBand)?
- And are there sites from which specific software instruments can be purchased and downloaded a la carte (the same way you can easily preview and then download individual typeface fonts from any number of freeware, shareware, and commercial sites)?
Because even though it's very much a notation program first and an audio-file creation program second, Finale's simple PrintMusic is right now much closer to having the sounds I want for this particular project than the much costlier LogicExpress. But Is there in fact any way to selectively add to the number and variety of Instruments which can be accessed in PrintMusic's Instrument List? And can it utilize additional software instruments such as the choral sounds on Peter Siedlaczek`s "Extended Classical Choir" noted above?
And if (as I just did) I download an ".sf2" formatted sample of a bagpipe, how do I get a Finale (or a LogicExpress for that matter) to actually see the darn thing and make it accessible -- is it as simple as just placing the file in the correct folder? I've scoured the manuals, and I still don't know.
(I see on the MakeMusic site how for the full Finale "exciting libraries of additional instruments are available from Garritan and Native Instruments", which makes me think that instruments in the correct format can indeed be added to a Finale Instrument List -- although things like the Garritan Personal Orchestra package wouldn't help me right now, since the few specific sounds I'm seeking are choral and/or non-orchestral.)
So I'm feeling more than a little lost right now in what seems like a minefield of different and often incompatible synthesizers, sequencers, samplers and samples out there. I'm really hoping someone can at least begin to steer me in the right direction on this question.
Very much looking forward to hearing from you.
Thanks!
John Bertram
Toronto
(Versions of this message have been posted to other online forums relating to Finale, LogicExpress, and MIDI-based music creation on the Mac.)
My system info:
PowerMac G5, dual 1.8 GHz, 3.5 GB RAM, running OSX Tiger 10.4.5
Mac OS X (10.4.5) Mac user since 1990 (starting on a sleek SE/30)

Hi:
Thanks for the reply and the URLs. (And apologies for the late response.)
Here's a summary of what I've been up to on this front:
I downloaded demos of SoundFont Synth (even coresponded with its author), Metro and Traktion. Have also attended a couple of sessions at the Apple Store here in Toronto, and am slowly starting to get a better handle on this whole mysterious world of MIDI, Music, and the Mac.
With the help of one of the Apple Store advisors, I've finally figured out how LogicExpress can indeed "import" (if that's the right term) and use the MakeMusic GM Instruments, as well as .sf2 files I download, as well as (at least in theory) the particular akai-format choir samples on CD which I'm likely to order (URLs for same are in earlier posts).
At first we were doing this using that SoundFont Synth utility you mentioned -- but the sound we got was noticeably inferior to what Finale's SmartSynth produced while within FinalePM. Then we discovered how LogicXP's built-in EXSP24 sampler could translate the "synthgms.sf2" file (located inside Finale PrintMusic2006 / Component Files), along with any other .sf2 or akai-format samples -- and then play them at much higher quality and with of course many more options to adjust and fine tune them.
So it's looking that will be the best (or at least the most direct) route for me to take for now.
Meantime though I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who's used another 3rd party app called Bidule (from www.plogue.com), which was recommended to me by one of the tech support staff at Finale -- though after checking their website I'm still a little unclear as to whether learning yet another program like this Bidule would be worthwhile for me right now.
In any case, thanks again for your help.
John Bertram
Toronto
PS: For reference, here's the description of the EXSP24 Sampler from the LogicExpress Plug-In Reference pdf file:
"The EXSP24 sample player does not allow new Sampler Instruments to be created, nor editing of existing EXS Instruments (apart from synthesis and modulation options). This functionality, including all sample editing, routing, and instrument creation options is only available in the full EXS24 sampler plug-in, found in Logic Pro.
The EXSP24 is compatible with the EXS24, AKAI S1000, and S3000, SampleCell, WAV, AIF(F), Gigasampler, and SoundFont2 sample formats, as well as the Vienna Library, allowing access to large and comprehensive sampler libraries."

Similar Messages

A Choir Query: from FinalePM to LogicXP (and back)

The Challenge:
A Mac-based filmmaker/video editor anxiously seeks advice from experienced users of Finale and Logic Express who know the inner mysteries of MIDI (and may also be proficient with GarageBand).
In a nutshell, I'm struggling to understand the simplest way (if there is such a thing) to add some specific non-orchestral sounds to my Finale PrintMusic Instrument List, to beef up the playback of some original compositions.
And failing that, the simplest way to use some of the specific SmartMusic SoundFont samples included with FinalePM in a GarageBand or a LogicExpress project.
The Rest Is Background and Elaboration:
I've spent the past few weeks using Finale's PrintMusic2006 to develop some musical underscores for a short film I'm now editing (using FinalCutPro 5). The simple arrangements I've created using PrintMusic's built-in SoftSynth player and the SoundFont instruments package so far work pretty well as demos to accompany the printed notation, and that was their original intention. But parts of them actually sound not too bad, and are close to being useable for the film itself. So now I'd like to see if I can take the playback aspect even further, and use PrintMusic (either on its own or in combination with other software) to generate a more polished final output.
So far though, my experience with the other music software available to me has been frustrating:
- GarageBand3 will import a MIDI file exported from PrintMusic, but only at a single tempo. This one-tempo-only-per-project limitation is a major roadblock for me, because while this music is hardly sophisticated, it does have tempo variations, as well as key and time signature changes.
- SoundtrackPro, supposedly a higher-end app than GarageBand, won't even import a standard MIDI file. (What's up with that, anyway? I still haven't quite figured out where STP lies on the GarageBand-LogicExpress-LogicPro spectrum.)
- and LogicExpress (which I don't yet own but am testing a trial version of) - aside from being a whole new learning curve I really don't have time to get into right now - doesn't even have basic versions of the software instruments I'm trying to find better quality versions of, such as Harpsichord, Bagpipe (yes, the music involves a very strange mix), and most of all, choral/choir effects (more human-sounding Oohs, Ahhs, Doos, and Mmms, both male and female).
The Arrangements:
The instruments I've used in PrintMusic for playback of the different versions of the film's music are:
- Church Organ,
- Choir Aahs
- Voice Oohs,
- Bagpipe,
- Harpsichord,
- Tubular Bells,
- Woodblock,
- Overdriven Guitar,
- and a couple of bg synth effects.
The organ, harpsichord, guitar, bell and woodblock all sound not too bad in context. The Bagpipe's a bit wimpy, but both it and the Harpsichord are at least better than the ones the Apple apps offer - which is to say, none! And I was especially disappointed to see that even with the addition of hundreds of dollars worth of JamPacks those same apps still don't appear to offer any human voice/choral Software Instrument sounds whatsoever.
I do see such sounds available for purchase at sites such as these:
http://www.soundsonline.com/sophtml/details.phtml?sku=PS13
and
http://www.bestservice.de/detail.asp/en/vocalchoir/extended_classicalchoir/813442a66p249p64p49
(with of course much higher-end and higher-priced options also available).
But the question I'm hoping someone out there can help me with is:
- Can PrintMusic make use of these kinds of samples (either these specific ones, or any other kinds in any other formats -- including the Software Instruments already included in Logic and/or GarageBand)?
- And are there sites from which specific software instruments can be purchased and downloaded a la carte (the same way you can easily preview and then download individual typeface fonts from any number of freeware, shareware, and commercial sites)?
Because even though it's very much a notation program first and an audio-file creation program second, Finale's simple PrintMusic is right now much closer to having the sounds I want for this particular project than the much costlier LogicExpress. But Is there in fact any way to selectively add to the number and variety of Instruments which can be accessed in PrintMusic's Instrument List? And can it utilize additional software instruments such as the choral sounds on Peter Siedlaczek`s "Extended Classical Choir" noted above?
And if (as I just did) I download an ".sf2" formatted sample of a bagpipe, how do I get a Finale (or a LogicExpress for that matter) to actually see the darn thing and make it accessible -- is it as simple as just placing the file in the correct folder? I've scoured the manuals, and I still don't know.
(I see on the MakeMusic site how for the full Finale "exciting libraries of additional instruments are available from Garritan and Native Instruments", which makes me think that instruments in the correct format can indeed be added to a Finale Instrument List -- although things like the Garritan Personal Orchestra package wouldn't help me right now, since the few specific sounds I'm seeking are choral and/or non-orchestral.)
So I'm feeling more than a little lost right now in what seems like a minefield of different and often incompatible synthesizers, sequencers, samplers and samples out there. I'm really hoping someone can at least begin to steer me in the right direction on this question.
Very much looking forward to hearing from you.
Thanks!
John Bertram
Toronto
(Versions of this message have also been posted to other online forums relating to Finale, GarageBand, and MIDI-based music creation on the Mac.)
My system info:
PowerMac G5, dual 1.8 GHz, 3.5 GB RAM, running OSX Tiger 10.4.5
G5 dual 1.8 Mac OS X (10.4.5) Mac user since 1990 (starting on a sleek SE/30)

Thanks for the reply, Justin. (Sorry about the slow response -- I'm a bit swept up with March Break kid stuff.)
Frankly, hiring a tech to help you through the
process is perhaps the best option. A few hours is
all it would take.
Attempts to go in that direction have so far met with limited success, but I'll keep beating the bushes. (Having some trouble connecting with someone with the right combination of experience in the right combination of apps -- Finale, LogicExpress, different samples in different formats, etc.)
I come from Logic Pro so there may
be a few differences (one of the is the EXS24 is
EXSP24-every detail concerning limitations I do not
know).
See what I mean!
Otherwise, I can make a few suggestions to get
you started. If you do this often and really want to
focus on sound quality you'll want a sound library
which is forward compatible. You can then compose in
Finale and move the sequence over to Logic and work
on the sound. If you want to work with soundfonts
DLSMusic device will load them up.
I was getting the impression I'd need a 3rd party utility like SoundFont Synth (http://andydrabble.users.btopenworld.com/soundfontsynth/moreinfo.html) that can use sound font files in GarageBand, Logic, etc. Are you saying that LogicXP can access ".sf2" files, as well as the MakeMusic GM Instruments included with Finale's PrintMusic2006, directly -- without the help of intermediaries like SoundFont Synth? If true, that would be great for me -- but I'm finding the LogicXP documentation more than a little inscrutable so far, and can't find the section that tells me in a nice step-by-step way how to do that.
Drabble's SoundFont Synth does come with exactly that kind of step-by-step guide for using the program with GarageBand, which I'll copy/paste here for anyone interested:
==============
SoundFont Synth is an Audio Unit plug-in designed to make the synthesis of
natural instruments using Sound Fonts, available to GarageBand or any other Audio Unit compatible host.
Main Features
1. Uses Apple's excellent DLS synthesizer engine to produce high quality sounds.
2. Uses industry standard SoundFont files (.sf2) thousands of which are widely available for free download from the Internet.
3. Passes Apple's Audio Unit Validation tests.
4. Can use Pitch Bend wheel to control low pass, high pass, band pass and notch filters.
5. Compatible with GarageBand 1, 2, and 3..
Getting Started (GarageBand)
Start up GarageBand and create a 'Software Instrument' track within your
GarageBand project.
Select the 'Track/Show Track Info' menu item to display the track info window.
Select 'SoundFont Synth' from the 'Generator' pull down menu.
Using the button to the right of the Generator pull down, open up the
Audio Unit editor.
The Sound Font field will default to 'QuickTime Music Synthesizer'. If you have
a Sound Font available on your computer then select it using the 'Choose' button.
Select an Instrument from the 'Instrument' pull down menu.
Using an external keyboard or the GarageBand keyboard, play a few notes
in the C3-C4 range to hear the notes play.
=============
And following those excellent instructions I was indeed able to start using the MakeMusic GM Instruments in GB3. But when I wrote the author and asked if he had a version of those instructions written in "LogicExpress-ese", this was his reply:
John,
I wish I could be of help but I have no knowledge of Logic Express or music for that matter.
I am basically a Computer Designer and Programmer.
To make it work with Logic, you need to follow the same procedure, which I assume is documented, as for any "Music Device" AudioUnit.
Sorry I can't be of more help.
Andy.
So, since LogicPro is way out of my price (& complexity) range for this particular project, I'm back to wondering both how and if Express -- either on its own, or in combination with something like SoundFont Synth, will let me incorporate the following elements:
1) some better quality (but still affordable) human voice/choir sounds, such as the ones offered at:
http://www.soundsonline.com/sophtml/details.phtml?sku=PS13,
OR http://www.bestservice.de/detail.asp/en/vocalchoir/extended_classicalchoir/813442a66p249p64p49
2) some ".sf2" files from sources such as www.sf2midi.com,
3) some of the original MakeMusic GM Instrument sounds included with Finale's PrintMusic2006
4) As well as possibly some of the software instruments included with Logic/GarageBand and maybe some of the JamPacks.
Now assuming I'm using LogicExpress, that last one's a no-brainer of course. But I'm still fuzzy on the workflow involving the first three, and they're the ones I really need for this specific project (and that's all this venture into music production is about for now -- I need to get back to what I should be doing, which is the video editing).
So given that this is not something I'm gong to be doing all that often in the future, should I be considering avoiding Logic altogether, and using what some people tell me are much more beginner-user-friendly apps like Tracktion2 (http://www.mackie.com/products/tracktion/tracktion.html), or MetroSE (http://www.sagantech.biz/products/metro6se.htm)?
Would love to hear from anyone who's used either of the above, especially in terms of accessing the kinds of additional software instruments I listed earlier.
[...] One of the problems is that
Logic has no GM soundset, so getting an AU which you
use with both apps is important. EXS24 will load the
soundfonts if they are in the correct folder-you can
leave them or conert them to EXS24 format. So just
mix and layer until things sound good. You can use
Logic for all of this but you sound like you're more
comfortable in Finale. Let me know what you think so
far...
Am certainly comforatble with the idea of composing in Finale, then moving over into something which easily lets me add the specific instruments I want to "upgrade", while still keeping some of the MakeMusic GM sounds from Finale's Instrument List.
But am still unsure about which apps (or combination thereof) I should be commiting to and start mastering the basics of -- something with the right combination of affordability and simplicity to get this specific job done (yet not TOO simple, as in GarageBand's frustrating inability to vary tempos).
And I'm also just still trying to get my brain around Audio Objects vs. Audio Units, and samplers vs. sequencers, and EXS24 vs. EXSP24, and channels vs. tracks, and on and on. Any recommendations of sites with basic "MIDI and the Mac - 101" plain-English primers would also be gratefully accepted!
Thanks,
jb
G5 dual 1.8; FCP 5.x Mac OS X (10.4.4) Mac user since 1990 (starting on a sleek SE/30)

Query from the data abse and pass values to a pdf form

query from the data abse and pass values to a pdf form
Hello
Hello i have this html report that i have written to output a
report.
now, i am assigned to pass the same fields to a pdf form so
the fields in the adaobe form can be populated or the term
Pre-populate the form.
can anyone help me get started.
first i would like to know if it can be done.
second, what do i need to get started (tools )
third how do i do this.
i am really lost at this point.
can anyone give me tips in how to approach this
subject??

It can be one using Adobe Acrobat Designer which is packaged
with Acrobat
Professional Pro 7. It uses all XML to create and populate
forms.
If you had the time, you can also create <cfdocument
type="pdf"> to have
them ready and just pass the info to it so it autogenerates
the PDF on the
fly.

Today, my iPhone calendar entries are changing from green to blue and back to green again. Anyone else having this issue?

Today, my iPhone calendar entries are changing from green to blue and back to green again. Anyone else having this issue?

No, never had the problem.

Convert image from RGB to CMYK and back to RGB

Hey.
I wonder if anyone has experience with converting image from RGB to CMYK and back to RGB?
I had a TIF in RGB then converted to CMYK but I figured that it might be better to keep in RGB, so I converted back. I read that it supposed to cause some loss in the data, but I can't see anything on the image, it is still very huge and the 2 RGB files has the same size as well. Is there a way to compare the resolution of 2 images somehow, or how can I see what I lost through the 2 conversions?
Thanks for help

I had a TIF in RGB then converted to CMYK but I figured that it might be better to keep in RGB, so I converted back.
The original RGB data is not being restored by converting from the CMYK version, so the term "keep" seems inappropriate.
What are the actual Color Spaces (ICC profiles) involved?
Is there a way to compare the resolution of 2 images somehow, or how can I see what I lost through the 2 conversions?
How did resolution come into this?
To determine how large a portion of the image has been changed you could
• make a flattened copy of the original image
• place a flattened copy of the RGB->CMYK->RGB image on top of that and set it to Blend Mode Difference
• add an Adjustment Layer (Curves for example) to brighten the image

AO amplitude transitions from 0 to 10V (and back to 0 again) within running VI

Hi,
I have a NI PCI-6225 multifunction DAQ that I am using for Geophysical measurements. I am applying 10V from one AO channel and measuring voltage differences with 49 AI channels. For the method I am using I must follow these steps:
1. Set voltage out = 0V
2. Take Self Potential measurements from all AI channels
3. Turn the AO channel ON with an applied voltage = 10V (1Hz square waveform)
4. Take measurements from all AI channels
5. Loop back to step # 1
At the present, I have the VI set up to apply the AO of 10V and to take measurements over time. The only thing missing is to take the Self Potential measurements while the applied voltage is at zero volts, run the VI in its current configuration, and then to start over again.
I am using the Express VI DAQ Assistant to set up all of the electrodes in the array for the applied voltage and the measured voltage and am able to do everything needed except include the applied voltage to zero for the Self Potential measurement.
I have attempted to use the DAQmx subVI's "Stop" and "Clear" (and any other combination of subVI's) to allow for the channel to be freed up within the VI, but the output channel then gives an error signal in the next cycle of the loop.
I am not sure what else to do, so any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Dylan
Note: Attached is the VI in which the problem is occuring. I have this VI as a subVI within a timed loop that will execute every 60 seconds.
Attachments:
Testing_Voltage_Measure.vi ‏339 KB

Dylan,
I think you may have posted twice. I just wanted to make sure your question has been answered. Let us know if you have any further questions.
Link to other post:
http://forums.ni.com/ni/board/message?board.id=250&message.id=24523
Good luck with your application.
Regards,
Neil S.
Applications Engineer
National Instruments

Is there an easy way to switch iPhone microphone input from headphones to Bluetooth and back?

When driving I plug my iPhone into the car stereo AUX jack with a cable to listen to music. To receive or make phone calls, or to use Siri, I use a Bluetooth (Jawbone) headset.
If I'm playing music out the headphone jack and then answer a call, when the call ends the music starts playing again through the Bluetooth headset, so I have to switch it back to headphones. Theoretically no big deal, since there's the little airplay icon at bottom right in most music apps. Still, I really wish it would revert to playing through the headphone jacks and I didn't have to do anything. Is that possible?
But it gets more annoying. Let's say I decide to use Siri and want to use the bluetooth. This is fine IF I plugged the headphones in before connecting Bluetooth, but for some reason it often seems to happen that it defaults to the headphone jack, especially if I've been messing with it a bit -- say I was listening to music, then received a call, then hung up, so now music plays through Bluetooth, so I hit the icon to switch music back to headphones, though sometimes this doesn't work and I have to unplug and replug in the headphones. But now usually if I want to use Siri, and I hold down the iPhone home button, or even if I hold down the jawbone button, it will often take input still from headphones.
I can't go into all the variations of this that happen, but almost every car ride there's a pain about this -- someone calls but even though I answer through my headset, the input is still from the headphone jack, and i have to scramble to get the call going through Bluetooth again. Or I have to unplug then replug the headphones after Siri use. None of this even covers something other, like dictating text or making a voice memo, something else that need simply but DOESN'T have an AirPlay-style button on bottom right like the music apps do. Really a pain.
Really wish there were some easy switch to toggle the input.
And again, really wish the music would just go back to playing where to was playing from (headphones) instead of making me switch it either via a button or through unplugging/replugging headphones.
Any solution to this?
Thanks.

Sometimes you turn off your Bluetooth and then back on and it doesn't reconnect with your phone unless you go into the menu. Either way doesn't help much if someone calls you while you're driving and you realize your iPhone is stuck on headphone input.

Time machine backup from USB drive connected and backing up to Time Capsule

Hi all forum virgin here, so be gentle.
I'll get straight to it. Much net trawling hasn't resulted in a definitive answer on this which surely I'm not alone in
I have: MBP networked to TC (where TM resides) and USB drive connected.
A- I simply want to TM backup not only MBP but USB drive on network as well?
As far as I can see there is no way of selecting this and after TM back has finished the only way I can check is
to enter TM (fancy space screen view) and obviously idrive doesn't appear in finder view.
I have tried connecting to MBP and obviously TM backs it up too and I can see in Enter TM. But I need this
drive on network so a further 2 things here:-
B- when I remove from MBP and TM backs up again will it see it's not there and delete as a change?
C- will it keep in previous backups if I cycle back to that particular one?
Andy help here would be most welcome

Slymon2000 wrote:
B- when I remove from MBP and TM backs up again will it see it's not there and delete as a change?
Sooner or later, yes, as LaPastnague says. It depends on when the backups are done. The first backup of each day is kept for a month; all others are deleted after 24 hours. After a month, the first backup of the week is kept as long as there's room, and the others deleted.
Obviously not a reliable solution.
A better method might be to use a different app to back it up to the TC's internal HD, but that presents another problem. See #Q3 in Using Time Machine with a Time Capsule for an explanation and some possible workarounds.
The 3rd-party apps CarbonCopyCloner and ChronoSynch can do network backups (others probably can, too).
So you might be able to "reserve" some space on the TC's HD and use one of those apps. As LaPastnague says, though, that will be relatively slow.
If there isn't enough room on the TC's internal HD, you could get another USB drive and connect it to the TC also (via a powered USB hub) and back up to it. That will be even slower, though.

Upgrading from 1.6.8 and backing up

I have a question about upgrading from 1.6.8 to the latest Mountain Lion release on my MacBook Pro. I'm really new to this whole Apple thing (been on Windows past years) so please bear with me. I've read the "Backup now" article/tip on this website and some other articles, but I still have some questions:
I'm planning to upgrade to the latest Mountain Lion release. I want to make a full backup/clone of the current drive inside the MacBook Pro to an external drive. If the upgrade causes issues I would like to be able to simply "go back in time" using the data from the external drive and have my old version of 1.6.8 back.
Nothing more, nothing less. I just want to be sure I can quickly go back if anything problematic arises.
Can you do this with time machine or with the disk utility function, or do I need 3rd party programs like CCC etc? And how would I go about restoring, assuming for example that the upgrade causes an issue like unable to boot MacOS mountain lion. Would I reinstall MacOS from the disk I got when I bought the MacBook Pro, and from there restore the backup from the external drive? Or do you have to do something else? From the articles I read I'm not entirely sure how the restore process works if an upgrade fails or causes issues?
Again: I'm really new to how Apple handles this kind of stuff. Any help and tips appreciated.

You can do that with Time Machne or one of the Cloning software programs.
I suggest doing both.
On your external drive create at least 2 partitions or more.
Make one of the partitions about 100GBs bigger then the total space used on your internal drive. That partition is for a Clone of your internal drive.
Make the second, if the leftover external space allows, twice the size of you internal drive.
And if there is more space available on the external just make a third partition with it. Format All of them Mac Extended (Journaled) with a Partition Table of GUID (That is under the Options button on the partition tab of Disk Utility) and give them all unique names so you remember what they arre for.
Clone your internal to the one partition that is 100GBs larger then the space used on the internal.
Once that is done start Time Machine, found in Sys Prefs, and selec the partition you may that is twice the size of the space used on the internal and run a Time Machine Backup. Once the backup is finished turn Off Time Machine, eject the external drive and disconnect it from the system and then Reboot your system .
Once all that is done then buy, download and install Mountain Lion to your internal drive.
If for some reason you don't care for it you will need the Original Snow Leopard Re-Install System Disc that came with your system. Boot the system from that and wipe the drive and use the Time Machine backup to Restore the system back to before you did the upgrade.
Or Boot from the external drive partition that holds the Clone and use DU to wipe the internal drive then use the cloning software program to Re-Clone the internal drive.

Exporting from Lightroom to Photoshop and back to Lightroom shows different results in Lightroom than in Photoshop

I has set the color space to ProPhoto RGB in both Lightroom and Photoshop. I have also calibrated my monitor.
But when I export a photo from Lightroom to Photoshop and edit it there before saving it, the photo in Lightroom is very different than what the Photoshop edit shows.
Photoshop is to the left, Lightroom to the right.

Ask in the LR/ PS forums and provide details about your system, your files, your develop settings, other stuff. You need to be much more specific.
Mylenium

Trasferring Audio Edits as AAF from Premiere to Nuendo and back

Hello everybody,
I'm a Sound Designer for video games, and also deal with cinematic sequences. I use Nuendo for audio editing / sound design, while the video editors work with Premiere. We share the same audio footage that is stored on our internal server, and we copy the footage manually (or over Perforce) on our local PCs. Basically to make sure we're always dealing with the same footage in a fixed and locked format during the entire production chain from capture to final render. This obviously makes an AAF with 'embedded' audio obsolete and in fact unwanted, as well as any other "work-in-progress" audio render from one platform to another.
Situation 1: Premiere -> Nuendo
In Premiere we have several Stereo audio tracks with stereo footage.
AAF is exported from Premiere
AAF is then imported into Nuendo
Result:
Stereo tracks are imported wrong, because split into mono, which naturally duplicates the amount of tracks.
Stereo footage is now duplicated too due to duplication of track amount.
Stereo footage is still stereo, because manually copied from server.
Expectation:
Stereo tracks should remain stereo without splitting or duplicating tracks.
Situation 2: Nuendo -> Premiere
In Nuendo there are several Stereo audio tracks with stereo footage.
AAF is exported from Nuendo
AAF is then imported into Premiere
Result:
Stereo tracks are imported as Mono tracks (this time without duplicating the track number)
Stereo footage is not accepted, due to mismatch with track format (Mono)
Expectation:
Stereo tracks should remain stereo which then accept stereo footage
It's really important for us that the audio footage doesn't change format during the production chain. So for instance splitting stereo into mono left / mono right is not a good option as we want the original footage to remain untouched from capture to final render. So we need stereo tracks to remain stereo and mono tracks to remain mono, just as the original edit.
Using OMF instead of AAF causes the same problem, and adds more problems with the naming of the footage. So AAF is currently the best yet buggy method we have.
In the past I have transferred AAF files from Protools into Nuendo, and it worked fine, which makes me tend to believe the solution has to be somewhere in Premiere.
Any hints, tips and useful experiences are very welcome. Thanks a lot!
Regards
Christian

This may be the kind of situation that can only be resolevd with a Feature Request.
https://www.adobe.com/cfusion/mmform/index.cfm?name=wishform

Can I produce a frequency sweep a PXI-5652 from 1GHz to 2GHz and back down to 1GHz at a rate of 1KHz with RT?

I need to produce a triangular frequency sweep over a range of at least 1GHz. This sweep will start at 1GHz go up to 2GHz and back down to 1GHz and repeat the cycle. I need this cycle to repeat at a rate of 1KHz. The sweep must be as smooth as possible with the frequency steps being no more than say 1MHz. I have a RT controller chassis that I can install the PXI-5652 into. If I dedicate one of the processor cores to this function and reserve the second core for my data acquisition and processing do I have and chance or am I just dreaming?
Thanks,
Bruce Barnes

Hi Bruce,
If I interpret this correctly that you need to go from 1 GHz to 2 GHz and back to 1 GHz in 1 ms (you want to repeat this at a rate of 1 kHz) then this isn't possible with the PXI-565x series of RF Signal Generators. These have a tuning time of around 1-5 ms for one frequency step, and tuning from 1 G to 2 G in steps no greater than 1 MHz would mean at least 1000 steps.
Regards,
Andy Hinde
National Instruments

From database to excel and back to database from excel - how?

Environment: db 8,10 server (HPUX), IAS (SUSE), forms6i,10+report6i,10
On principle there is no problem to get data from database to excel but there is the problem how to get data from excel back to database. I don't have intention to use APEX. The goal is to move the cursor to certain row in excel sheet and depends of data in this row call Oracle form in query only mode. Here is the solution to write URL into the excel cell but still exists the problem how to reduce number of session because each call of the form open the new session what I don't like to do.
Thanks for purposes!
m.

Inolau, I'd like to open form between watching excel sheet depends of data in excel. For example:
Cells:
A B C
1. 1 2 3
2. 4 5 6
When I put the cursor on B:2 cell I'd like to open a form. After this I'd like to put the cursor on cell C:1 and I'd like to open the same form again. All in one session.

From MacBook To External And Back

Hi, I followed everything on here: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301748 to bring all of my music onto an external whilst retaining the play count information and ratings and everything (I think) but how can I bring this music from the external and put it back on my MacBook HD, again, whilst retaining the play count information, etc.
Thanks! -Mike.

Hi, I followed everything on here: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301748 to bring all of my music onto an external whilst retaining the play count information and ratings and everything (I think) but how can I bring this music from the external and put it back on my MacBook HD, again, whilst retaining the play count information, etc.
Thanks! -Mike.

Syncing Apps from iPhone to iTunes and back

I've transferred my apps from the iPhone to iTunes by clicking on "Transfer Purchases" That's all good so now they both have the same apps.
I've installed the latest ver of iTunes so ultimately it allows us to re-arrange the pages of apps on the iPhone through iTunes.
When the checkbox "Sync Applications" is unchecked I can see my apps as arranged on the iPhone, when I check it everything is different. That's not what I want as it tells me my settings will be copied from iTunes to iPhone.
What I want is for it to recognise my latest apps setup on my iPhone and THEN allow me to re-arrange it from iTunes before syncing.
How can I do this?
Extra info: This is for my MBP, I've synced it with my PC and I think that has the latest settings I'm not too sure.
Message was edited by: mudbucket

As already mentioned, you can only sync to one computer at a time. To be able to go back to your computer, disable autosync in itunes, connect your phone and right click on it in the device list and choose Backup. Transfer your purchases the same way after that. Then sync your phone. All media content will be erased during this process, but you can restore your phone from the manual backup you made before. See also: "About backups": http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1766 and "Restoring" : http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1414

A Choir Query - from FinalePM to GarageBand3 (and back?)

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