[MusicTlk] Handout: braille music translation using Sao Mai Braille (SMB)

[David Andrews]

>
>>
>>Sound Without Sight - Thursday, November 21, 2024 at 11:45 AM
>>
>>
>>Handout: braille music translation using Sao Mai Braille (SMB)
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>Introduction
>>
>>
>>
>>This is the handout to accompany our November 
>>2024 Monthly Meet-up Session. James Bowden, 
>>Braille Technical Officer at RNIB, demonstrates 
>>how to access all the basic functions of the 
>>Sao Mai Braille (SMB) app using screen reader 
>>and keyboard navigation. James demonstrates using NVDA on Windows.
>>
>>Sighted users can of course also navigate SMB 
>>using a mouse and without using a screen 
>>reader. The functions demonstrated are the same.
>>
>>Please continue for James’ handout.
>>
>>
>>Table of contents
>>
>>
>>
>>    * What is SMB
>>    * Download and installation
>>        * A word about accessibility
>>    * Quick reminder about MusicXML
>>    * The basic process
>>    * Adding text
>>    * Settings and options
>>        * SMB options
>>        * Embosser settings
>>        * Translation tables options
>>        * Music options
>>        * Profiles
>>        * The Score info dialog
>>    * Music navigation mode
>>    * More information and help
>>
>>
>>What is SMB
>>
>>
>>
>>The Sao Mai Braille converter (SMB) is a 
>>braille translation program developed by the 
>>Sao Mai Center for the Blind, in Vietnam. SMB 
>>can convert all kinds of text into braille in 
>>various different languages and can also 
>>convert mathematics, tactile graphics and 
>>music. In this presentation we’ll concentrate just on the music.
>>
>>There are two ways to access the music 
>>translation of SMB: on the web, or with an app. 
>>The advantage of the online version is there is 
>>no installation required and you can access it 
>>from any platform. The online version only 
>>translates music and can be accessed at 
>><https://saomaicenter.org/en/smsoft/smb-online>https://saomaicenter.org/en/smsoft/smb-online.
>>
>>The Windows app gives access to all the music 
>>options and can also translate other kinds of 
>>material. In this session, we’ll concentrate 
>>on the app. The app is currently only available for Windows.
>>
>>
>>Download and installation
>>
>>
>>
>>    * Go to 
>> <https://saomaicenter.org/en/smsoft/smb>https://saomaicenter.org/en/smsoft/smb
>>    * Under the heading “Download latest 
>> version”, fill in the form with your details.
>>    * Select whether you want to download the 
>> installation setup file, or a ZIP file for a 
>> manual install, then press the Download button.
>>    * Once downloaded, follow the instructions 
>> in the setup installation program or the Readme file in the ZIP package.
>>    * Note: you may need administrator privileges.
>>
>>
>>A word about accessibility
>>
>>
>>
>>If you plan to use a screen reader with SMB, 
>>make sure that the Windows setting for display “scaling” is set to 100%.
>>    * Press the Windows key.
>>    * Type Scaling in the search box and press 
>> Enter. You should be taken directly to the 
>> correct place in the Windows Display Settings.
>>    * If Scaling is not at 100%, use the Arrow keys to change it.
>>
>>The first time you run SMB, you should get a 
>>message to install an add-on (for NVDA) or 
>>scripts (for JAWS). These help with reading in the document areas.
>>
>>
>>Quick reminder about MusicXML
>>
>>
>>
>>MusicXML is a computer format for representing 
>>musical scores. You can create MusicXML from a 
>>music notation program, such as exporting from 
>>MuseScore, or you can download MusicXML from 
>>various websites, such as musescore.com. If you 
>>download from a website, it’s always a good 
>>idea to check the quality of the music in a notation program first.
>>
>>Once you have MusicXML, you can import it into 
>>SMB to translate it into braille.
>>
>>
>>The basic process
>>
>>
>>
>>Assuming everything is all ready and the 
>>settings in SMB are all set correctly, the 
>>basic process to convert MusicXML into braille is:
>>    * Create a new file (Ctrl + N).
>>    * Insert the MusicXML (Alt + F11).
>>    * Translate (Ctrl + T).
>>
>>All these commands are also on the menus in SMB.
>>
>>It’s always best to check through the 
>>resulting braille, then finally you can save 
>>it, for example in BRF format to read on a 
>>refreshable braille display, or emboss it, if 
>>you have a connected embosser. To save, use the 
>>Save As command on the File menu, choose BRF as 
>>the file type. To emboss, use the Print command, again on the File menu.
>>
>>The conversion process is similar if you’re 
>>using the online web version of SMB:
>>    * Go to 
>> <https://saomaicenter.org/en/smsoft/smb-online>https://saomaicenter.org/en/smsoft/smb-online. 
>>
>>    * Upload your MusicXML with the select file button.
>>    * Check the translation options.
>>    * Translate and download the braille.
>>
>>Now, we’ll look at some of the options in the SMB app.
>>
>>
>>Adding text
>>
>>
>>
>>SMB will translate any text in your MusicXML 
>>file, such as the title and composer 
>>information of the piece. Sometimes however, 
>>this information is missing, or you may want to 
>>add something. Here’s one way how to add extra text:
>>
>>Before translation, simply write your text, 
>>then apply any styles or formatting as needed, 
>>for example Ctrl + E will centre text.
>>
>>If you’d prefer to add braille, you can do 
>>that too, after translation. use six-key entry on your computer keyboard.
>>
>>
>>Settings and options
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>SMB options
>>
>>
>>
>>It’s always a good idea to check the options 
>>to make sure everything is as you expect. 
>>Below, we’ll cover just some of the options, as they relate to music.
>>
>>You can call up the SMB options with the 
>>Options command in the Tools menu. The dialog 
>>contains several pages of options.
>>
>>Remember: any options you change will take 
>>effect the next time you translate a document.
>>
>>
>>Embosser settings
>>
>>
>>
>>Even if you do not have an embosser, it is 
>>important to make sure the braille page size is correct.
>>
>>Most important is the characters per line 
>>(CPL). Set it to the correct line length. The 
>>lines per page (LPP) then sets the page length.
>>
>>There are equivalent settings in the online 
>>version and these should be set the same way.
>>
>>If you plan to emboss, check through the rest 
>>of the options, such as selecting the model of 
>>embosser, which Windows printer driver is used, the margins and so on.
>>
>>
>>Translation tables options
>>
>>
>>
>>This page lets you set which braille code to 
>>use for text. Make sure the default is set 
>>correctly, for example it is the right language 
>>and grade of braille that you want. If it is 
>>not, use the Browse button to change: select 
>>the right options in the dialog and press OK.
>>
>>The longer list of tables determines which 
>>tables are available for other languages in a document.
>>
>>At the bottom of this page are options for the 
>>“Braille encoding”. Without getting into 
>>too much detail, if you are in an 
>>English-speaking country and want to read BRF 
>>files, set these options to ASCII and North American encoding.
>>
>>
>>Music options
>>
>>
>>
>>The music options are shown in several subpages 
>>in the Options dialog. Here are a few of the 
>>most common options. Note: many of these 
>>options assume a certain knowledge of music and 
>>braille music in particular. If you are unsure, 
>>check with a local blindness organisation or braille music expert.
>>    * Format page, Format type: selects one of 
>> the main different layouts for braille music. 
>> Bar-over-bar is used in English-speaking 
>> countries, Section-by-section is used in several European countries.
>>    * Format page, Transcription mode: Single 
>> part will produce each part separately (for 
>> each individual player); Orchestra and Chamber 
>> will produce all parts together (as an ensemble).
>>    * Format page, Always mark octave at first 
>> note of measure: in some countries each bar of 
>> braille music has an octave sign, others only 
>> show the octave at the start of each line of music (called a “parallel”).
>>    * Format page, Show line number, and Show 
>> page number: whether to show where each page 
>> and line of the original print music starts. 
>> useful if you need to refer back to the print.
>>    * Transcription page, Show/hide signs: this 
>> list contains a variety of musical symbols 
>> which you may or may not want to appear in the 
>> braille. If you’re just starting out, you 
>> may want to turn things off so you can just 
>> read notes. A more experienced braille music 
>> reader will want all the signs 
 but note that 
>> we do not normally shoow print clef signs.
>>    * Transcription page, Use bracket slur: 
>> there are two ways to show a series of slurred 
>> notes in braille music. Choose the option that 
>> reflects braille music in your country. In 
>> English-speaking countries, bracket slurs are used, except in vocal music.
>>    * Transcription page, Restate slur/tie in 
>> new parallel: when starting a new braille 
>> line, some countries restate a slur or tie 
>> sign if the last note on the previous line was tied or slurred.
>>    * Transcription page, Doubling: in braille 
>> music when a lot of notes have the same 
>> property (such as staccato or each with the 
>> same interval), the braille music sign is 
>> written twice with the first note, once on the 
>> last note, and not shown for all the notes 
>> in-between. It’s a way to save some space. 
>> The Doubling options control which braille music signs use this technique.
>>    * Transcription page, Braille repeats, 
>> Backward numeral repeat and Measure number 
>> repeats: these are ways in braille music to 
>> show if bars of music are repeated. They may 
>> or may not be used according to your country’s conventions.
>>
>>There are many more music options and sometimes 
>>the effect is subtle. Be sure to check with 
>>local braille music users if you are unsure.
>>
>>Remember, if you make changes to the settings, 
>>close the braille window (Ctrl + F4) and 
>>retranslate the piece (Ctrl + T) to see the effect.
>>
>>
>>Profiles
>>
>>
>>
>>Different kinds of music, and different people 
>>may need different SMB music options, so SMB 
>>has a Profiles function where you can quickly 
>>load and save the settings for a particular kind of music.
>>
>>SMB comes with several profiles and the Add 
>>profiles
 button lets you add seeveral more.
>>
>>Let’s assume a student is just starting to 
>>learn braille music. The student doesn’t need 
>>lots of complicated signs, and it would help if 
>>every bar started with an octave sign.
>>
>>First, change the options in the Format and 
>>Translation page as needed. Then, in the 
>>Profiles page, type in a description and a name 
>>for the profile. Now, press the Save as profile button.
>>
>>Now, whenever you want to produce braille music 
>>with settings appropriate for this student, 
>>just select the profile from the list and press 
>>the Load profile button to activate the settings.
>>
>>
>>The Score info dialog
>>
>>
>>
>>The Score info dialog is particularly useful 
>>for extracting individual parts and for 
>>customising orchestral and ensemble scores. For 
>>example, you can use the Score info dialog to 
>>select the specific parts you want, and to 
>>customise the braille instrument names used throughout the score.
>>    * Import the score as usual, but at this stage, don’t translate.
>>    * Navigate onto the music object.
>>    * Open the Score info dialog from the Tools menu, or press Alt + Enter.
>>
>>The top of this dialog shows the title, 
>>composer and other text information that will 
>>appear at the top of the braille score.
>>
>>Next, there is a list of parts with checkboxes. 
>>Check the parts that you want to braille. 
>>Uncheck those you don’t want to appear.
>>
>>Beneath this, there are some tabs if to need to 
>>fine-tune the braille even further, such as setting the instrument prefixes.
>>
>>When you have finished, Save and Close the 
>>dialog. Then translate in the usual way.
>>
>>
>>Music navigation mode
>>
>>
>>
>>Another interesting music feature in SMB is the music navigation mode.
>>    * Import your score as usual, but at this stage, don’t translate.
>>    * Navigate onto the music object.
>>    * From the View menu, select Navigation mode, or press Shift + F5.
>>
>>A window opens allowing you to navigate through 
>>the individual musical elements in the score. 
>>Use the Left and Right Arrow keys to move 
>>through note by note, Ctrl + Left and Right to 
>>move from bar to bar, and Up and Down to move through each instrument.
>>
>>
>>More information and help
>>
>>
>>
>>We’ve only covered the basics in this 
>>session. SMB has many more features and 
>>functions and your primary source of 
>>information is the manual, accessed through the 
>>Help menu or F1 from the main screen. Remember 
>>to treat it as a reference book, so use search 
>>commands or the Contents to find information on 
>>the specific topic you’re interested in.
>>
>>Many of the dialogs in SMB also have context 
>>sensitive help: you can press F1 to find out 
>>information on the currently focused control.
>>
>>Finally, if you need support, you can email 
>><mailto:support at saomaicenter.org>support at saomaicenter.org, 
>>or subscribe to the SMB email discussion list at groups.io/g/smcb.
>>
>>More information, including social media 
>>channels, is available at the end of the reference manual.
>>
>>The post 
>><https://soundwithoutsight.org/handout-braille-music-translation-using-sao-mai-braille-smb/>Handout: 
>>braille music translation using Sao Mai Braille 
>>(SMB) first appeared on <https://soundwithoutsight.org>Sound Without Sight.
>>
>>https://soundwithoutsight.org/handout-braille-music-translation-using-sao-mai-braille-smb/
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