Go to Counterpointer information
Installing Counterpointer®
Installing Counterpointer, your counterpoint instruction software, doesn't take much: just run the installer and it will do the job. Almost everything you need to run Counterpointer will be placed in a folder called "Counterpointer Folder." The only other files to be installed will be the Sebastian font files, of which there are two, one for printing purposes and one for screen display.
On Windows computers the fonts will be placed in your fonts folder located in the Windows folder.
On Macintosh computers running OSX the fonts will go into the fonts folder located at [hard disk]/Library/fonts.
On Macintosh computers running OS9.1-2 the fonts will go into the fonts folder located in the System Folder.
If you start the program and find that nonsense symbols appear on the staff instead of the clefs and other musical symbols, you need to restart the computer to make it notice that a new font has arrived.
Signing in
When you first start Counterpointer you'll be asked for your serial number and confirmation number, and the program will use the internet to "sign in" the program. If Counterpointer is unable to make the needed internet connection, or it can't get through a firewall, it will present a window with an alternate method of signing in: a number you can email (or phone) to Ars Nova together with your serial number. We'll reply with an offline registration number you can use to sign in the program.
Once you've signed in you'll be able to see your serial number in the About Counterpointer window, but it is best to write it down somewhere for future reference, together with your confirmation number.
Your student file
After signing in you'll also be asked to provide your name to personalize your "student file." This is valuable if you are using Counterpointer at school - the student file is your progress report. Enter your name as you normally would, first name first (or enter anything you like if this is not for school). Assuming yours is the only student file in the Counterpointer Students folder you won't be asked to choose it at start up; the program will automatically find and update your file.
When you start up the program you'll see a menu at the top right that has your own name, just as you entered it when you signed in. This is your student menu, and you can use it to view or print your progress record.
The Counterpointer student file is the same kind of document as used by Practica Musica. If you are already using Practica Musica in a course you can use the same student file you use for Practica Musica, and your Counterpointer scores will be added to those of the Practica Musica activities.
The output sounds are of three types: Synthesized (QuickTime on the Mac), MIDI, or "sampled" sounds represented by pictures of various instruments. If you've chosen the "SYNTH" (QT) or "MIDI" output instruments you can use any of the 128 standard instrument sounds found in the General MIDI specification: click on the instrument name at the left of each staff to change the instrument used for that staff (the on-screen piano and letter keys play the instrument of the active staff). If you choose one of the "sampled" instruments your choices are limited to the samples included with Counterpointer, such as Guitar, Pipe Organ, etc. Most people will stick to the SYNTH (QT) or MIDI instruments; the sampled ones are there mostly for cases in which you need a quicker keyboard response and have a computer that can't synthesize quickly enough, or if you want to experiment with temperaments (different tunings) or microtonal changes to specific notes.
The output instrument choices are listed at the right side of the on-screen piano. "QT" is the built-in synthesized QuickTime instruments on a Macintosh (SYNTH on Windows computers), MIDI is of course MIDI, and the various other insruments represented by pictures are all "sampled" instruments made from acoustic recordings. The output instrument applies to the live piano, but also affects the choices you see available at the left of each staff on the screen.
You can make effective use of Counterpointer without involving MIDI, but MIDI is handy if you would like to input music from a "real" piano. MIDI setup on Counterpointer is quite simple both for Windows and for Mac OSX; there's a little more to do for OS 91./9.2, which will be described below. In all cases once MIDI is set up on your computer input to Counterpointer will be automatic. You can choose to use MIDI output as well by clicking the MIDI instrument button at the right of the screen piano.
On Windows computers you'll connect your MIDI cables to your sound card's game port using a MIDI cable adapter, and choose the desired MIDI input and output devices, if needed, in Songwork's Sound Options. Alternatively you can connect a USB MIDI device to your USB port and choose that device in Songwork's Sound Options. If using a USB device you would need first to install the appropriate driver from the company that made the device.
If you are using a pair of MIDI adapter cables to connect to a game port, note that these cables don't always have the "input" and "output" cables properly labeled. Normally you should connect your keyboard's "output" to the "input" of the computer and the keyboard's "input" to the "output" of the computer. But if that doesn't work, try switching the cables.
On Macintosh OSX you'll be using a USB connection. OSX, like Windows, has its MIDI software "built in" so all you need is the driver for the USB device, which will be available from the company that made the device. As with Windows, on OSX there is nothing for you to do but to install that driver and start the program with your device plugged in. Input is normally automatic if your device is turned on, but if you don't find it working open the Sound and MIDI Settings window in Songwork's Options menu. In that window is an option to turn off MIDI input, and also a way to choose among multiple output devices if you have more than one.
Getting help
Should you have any questions about Counterpointer you can email Ars Nova anytime.
You can get the latest Counterpointer update at any time by running your installer again and choosing "Update Existing Counterpointer" as the install option. If you've lost track of your installer you can download a new one (no charge) at Ars Nova's Update Center.