Scribear

Welcome to Scribear! 

Scribear is in version 0.1 and is in beta. Many features are yet to be added, and unexpected errors or crashing may occur. Please report any concerns, errors, or questions to lukehbergman@gmail.com.

Scribear (pronounced SKRAIB-ear) is an app that allows virtually infinite melodic dictation and sight reading practice. Using manually-developed notation input software and melody generation algorithms, the app will produce melodies to your specification, and you will be tasked with transcribing it onto the software. Afterwards, the system will automatically correct you. 

Scribear is 100% free, contains zero ads or premiums, and will never ask for any personal information. AI is not utilized to generate melodies, nor has it been used to write portions of the program, with exception to occasional 1-2 line references. It is licensed under Creative Commons License Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International. If you wish to redistribute or modify the app, please comply with the license. The link to the license is: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/. Source code will be posted onto Github eventually.

Here is a list of current features:

• Note values from sixteenth to whole are permitted, with augmentation dots for some notes
• Double Flat through Double Sharp accidentals are allowed
• Supports all common time signatures, with a few irregular meters.
• Supports all key signatures
• Includes Treble, Alto, and Bass clef, and you can toggle clefs on/off
• Allows classical style melodies and atonal melodies
• Melodies could span up to 4 octaves
• Enharmonic equivalence in grading is considered
• Includes a game that progressively increases the difficulty of dictations
• Includes advanced options to set parameters such as Tempo, Chromaticism, Skips, new Motifs, etc.
• Dictations can range from 1 to 25 measures
• For classical melodies, there are 10 different difficulty levels, and for atonal melodies, there are 15 different difficulty levels

Having said that, this app is in beta, and there are also features that a yet to be added, such as:

• Supporting triplets or other groups
• Supporting more irregular meters
• Supporting Romantic, Baroque, 12-tone, or even non-western styles
• Improving the quality of melodies
• Formally supporting minor or modal melodies
• Improving loading times or preloading
• Supporting more ledger lines in replacement of the 8va/8vb system
• Using other synthetic instrumentation besides piano
• More fluid input into notation software
• Visual improvements

More detailed explanation of the app is present on the tutorial page of the app after downloading.

How to Download

1. Click the download button
2. You will get a zip folder with the application and other folders containing essential Java-related documents. 
3. Click on the zip folder and at the the top bar of the File Explorer. There is a button titled "Extract All." Click that button and choose your location to extract the folder. Then click "Extract."
4. Wherever you decided to extract the folders, click the folder ScribearBeta0.1-ZipPackage -> Scribear, and you will see the application along with essential folders. Please do not delete these folders nor move the application executable away from these folders, or else the app may fail to run. If you wish to move the application, please move the whole, encompassing Scribear folder. If you want quick access, make sure that you create a shortcut to the application rather than move the application directly.
5. No more setup is required. Click on the application, and you should be able to start immediately! Your PC may caution about the safety of the application. This is because I am a small developer and do not have special certifications. I certify that Scribear will not ask for any personal information or payments and will not access the internet. Of course, don't just trust any stranger online, so take whatever precautions you wish.

Notes: You do not need Java or other dependencies installed; it is all self contained. Scribear may not work on all platforms. It was developed on a Windows 11 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor device. It will likely work on other Windows devices, but it will likely not work on Mac/Linux or other platforms. If you wish to help improve compatibility, please let me know at lukehbergman@gmail.com.

Credits

Designer - Luke Bergman

Developer - Luke Bergman

FluidR3 Soundfont - Frank Wen

Some images of Sixteenth Notes, Eighth Notes, Quarter Notes, Half Notes, and Whole Notes have been used. These images are credited to user Awoodside01 of Wikimedia Commons. The license is Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International. Link to License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en. Changes to the original have been made by creating a notehead image and reversed versions.

Although the notation system is self-designed, other notational elements/pictures are credited to Musescore.