Music Blocks Version 2.0

This is the second stable release (V2) of Music Blocks. It seems to work reliably on Chrome, Opera, and Firefox browsers that support HTML5. The Guide to using Music Blocks V2 is found at Music Blocks User Manual

Contributors to this release include:
@Tabs16
@prachiagrawal269
@Hrishi1999
@eohomegrownapps
@pikurasa
@Tharangi
@cristinadp
@sdanielf
@walterbender

This release has a number of enhancements and bug fixes created during GSoC 2017.

Enhancements include:

• A user manual by Dinuka Tharangi Jayaweera (දිනූකා තාරංගි ජයවීර)
• A Timbre Widget, which can be used to design custom instruments, by Tayba Wasim and Prachi Argawal
• Numerous improvements to the Rhythm Ruler, including the ability to add rests, merge cells, tap out rhythms, and generate polyphonic rhythms
• Support for meter and pickup
• Support for beat count, including on-beat-do and on-offbeat-do functionality
• ABC export capability
• Drag and drop file-open support by Hrishi Patel
• Enhancements to the mechanisms for communicating between mice (voices), including the capability of syncing the master clock on the fly.
• New effects, including chorus, distortion, and phaser by Tayba Wasim and Prachi Argawal
• Support for switch statements
• A mechanism for saving the block artwork associated with a project (useful for generating documentation)
• A "compiler" mechanism for higher-fidelity playback of a music blocks project.

Bug fixes include:
#795 Rendering on Android truncated
#718 Maybe paste should always paste block(s) to visible area on screen?
#794 note counter changes state
#793 offline issues
#792 embedded graphics don't extend across note duration if silence block is missing
#613 Moving out of window or tab freezes music blocks during lilypond save
#783 Block to initiate status widget?
#784 Duplicate Note block (for status widget)
#772 timbre widget filter adjustments are broken
#777 sync between multiple mice
#773 timbre widget add filter button
#767 better consistency between status blocks
#770 dragging widgets triggers drag&drop code
#776 overrides for notes?
#272 rhythm ruler corner case: imbalance bug
#724 Add Multiple Fx: Timbre Widget
#748 Increase/Decrease Block size is very buggy
#12 notation for beats that are not power of 2
#757 on beat do fails with duplicate block
#737 sticky play-slow button
#753 Rest in Rhythm Ruler?
#751 Upper and Lower limit for Rhythm Ruler
#731 Tie notes in Rhythm Ruler
#738 erase parameter display when playing back full speed
#741 silence default to 1/4
#742 mouse doesn't draw
#337 Implement Meter Block
#739 add a switch block
#717 absolute value block
#728 "Home" to Organize with Start at top (etc)?
#729 Collapse Icon is Hidden
#573 Articulation needs renamed
#701 backspace (and TAB key) disabled when typing project name in planet
#707 Strange blue rectangle in Planet
#709 4 "file" input types shown at bottom of on device project thumbnail.
#705 broken graphic in Planet
#706 Using graphics inside or outside of a note when using duplicate notes block.
#702 action block with arg doesn't resize on load
#700 problem with graphics embedded in notes when using repeat block
#703 transparency block not working
#695 Box Naming Reliability Issue
#689 Create effects for Timbre widget
#688 backward block drops notes
#656 New name for pitch-drum matrix widget?
#673 shared link is wrong in some cases
#621 add midi number block
#585 Trash Issues
#665 Add hover text to images in the guide
#552 Enhancement Dragging the Matrix reveals the right and lower portions of the "canvas"
#667 wide blocks interfere with palette up and down buttons
#635 Improve palette's scrolling and names
#616 refactor widgets
#648 activity icons need to be updated
#571 Ability to set volume for voices separately
#632 Proposal: Highlighting the currently played note block
#384 Names of the icons should be displayed for the Block Palette
#652 Palette navigation button visibility with Show/Hide Palette option
#650 Navigation buttons in the palette are not working.

Maintenance Release

A few bugs uncovered after the V1 Release are fixed:

Fixes #642 -- the stage scaling was not being updated properly so
the coordinates passed to overTrash were wrong
Fixes #640 -- don't match to blocks in the trash when looking for
action names
Fixes #637 -- tempo block can support multiple beats per minute
Fixes #641 -- properly restore beat factor after leaving divide
beat factor block
Fixes #638 -- Default for hertz block
Fixes #632 -- re-enable block highlighting when running full speed
Fixes #630 -- added missing rows and columns for labels
Fixes #629 -- regression in tuplet note value display
Fixes #628 -- visual bug specific to status block
Fixes #625 -- only push to status block when connected to a print block
Fixes #624 -- consider beat factor when calculating note count
Fixes #402 -- Fix background block; add background to palette menu

Music Blocks Release 1.0

This is the first stable release (V1) of Music Blocks. It seems to work reliably on Chrome and Firefox browsers that support HTML5. The Guide to using Music Blocks V1 is found at Guide

This version of Music Blocks supports all of the core ideas: a Note block that can contain a variety of pitch expressions, mechanisms for generating chunks of notes, and applying transformations to individual notes and the chunks. There are also a number of widgets that provide scaffolding for a expressing variety of musical ideas, including sequencing, mode, rhythm, pitch, etc.

Underlying Music Blocks V1 is the Turtle Blocks graphical programming language, which has also achieved a level of stability.

Thanks to the 28 individuals who have contributed to Music Blocks and the many patient users who have provide feedback.

Onward to V2, for which we are targeting a synth tool, more control over musical temperament, and more control of mode.