Perform: what are your initial thoughts?

It is awesome, I just hope SE is not forced to remove it for whatever reason. We all know how japan is when it comes to copyright issues.

One good side note of this is i'm finally being forced to learn how to read sheet music lol...

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Originally Posted by Vasala

What I would like would be for us to be able to use our Orchestrion List and just have our bard play songs from that for those of us with no musical talent.

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Only if it doesn't bleed out into the rest of the game, aka it can only be heard client side or by checking an option to hear other players orchestrion roles. It would be too annoying otherwise, having hundreds of people playing different roles at once when afk or idling in town.

Is it possible to macro songs?

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Originally Posted by ElazulHP

Is it possible to macro songs?

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Nope, good thing too, or the spam would be unbearable.

Here is a new one, enjoy^^

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylFy7LYbTjk

It okay...
Not anything I really wanted, nor do I think I'm really going Preform all that much...

I feel like there are a few flaws that need to be addressed to make it easier/funner for people who do/would enjoy it:
-You have to manually assign notes to your hotbar. This is really annoying especially if you actually play BRD at all, double if you use a controller. They really should of made something like a "Preform Mode" that changes all your hotbars but lets you keep them separate from your actual hotbars.
-You can't macro songs. I know that they couldn't implement this due to macro-issues but it still would have been nice if they could have found a way to implement this... (It also kind of highlights issues with the macro-system but you know...)
-There's no way to single into one person's performance when in a crowded area. It would be nice for crowded areas or when people try to ruin/upstage someone else's show. Like, you could just select them and then you can't hear anyone else's performance.
-There's no way to turn off performances for those who don't want to hear it. A lot of times, people turn off the game's music so they can listen to their own and they might not want to hear a bunch of people strum their instruments. Or there are those who just might not want to hear it, especially if multiple people are playing in an area.
-You can't play chords/multiple notes.

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Originally Posted by Mimilu

-You can't play chords/multiple notes.

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Eeh yeah sure, chords...
Next stop: make it MIDI compatible. :D

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Originally Posted by Zfz

There's a post in the User Interface forum introducing how to use combat "classes" hotbars to store the perform actions and using a macro to swap them in/out on your BRD. It works perfectly.

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And what to do if i have no unused classes? Still - this post is just a workaround and not like hard solution.

It's really fun!!!!

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Originally Posted by Granyala

Nope, good thing too, or the spam would be unbearable.

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Originally Posted by Mimilu

-There's no way to turn off performances for those who don't want to hear it. A lot of times, people turn off the game's music so they can listen to their own and they might not want to hear a bunch of people strum their instruments. Or there are those who just might not want to hear it, especially if multiple people are playing in an area.

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Originally Posted by Flaris

Also not a fan that we can't mute all bards.

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There is a way to turn off performances, it's in the settings. It also prevents other types of noise like Holy/Unleash spam, crafting sounds and emote sounds.

https://i.imgur.com/0vqtxJO.png

I think a community rep really needs to make a extended statement on performance concerns when it comes to copyright later just to clear the air.

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Originally Posted by Texa

I think a community rep really needs to make a extended statement on performance concerns when it comes to copyright later just to clear the air.

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My cynicism says they won't, though - if they can leave it vague, they can use it to try to defend themselves in more situations should someone try to sue over the use of their music in-game.

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Originally Posted by Spirlia

I disagree, because making macros is like making sheet music. Plus with the <wait> command, you would be able to manually create rests and time. Then, if everyone had matching sheet music, you could easily make a chamber group without worrying about latency.

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You've obviously never composed. Making a macro and writing a piece of music are worlds apart, so I don't know where you got that idea. This performance feature is way too limiting and rigid for any real music to be made. No polyphonics, no chords, and you can't even subdivide.

Also not a fan that we can't mute all bards.

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Originally Posted by Reinha

There is a way to turn off performances, it's in the settings. It also prevents other types of noise like Holy/Unleash spam, crafting sounds and emote sounds.

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Sure I can also unplug my Headphones.
Why would I mute the ingame sound?

I fully agree that there should be a separate option for the performances, though to be honest: they aren't more annoying that the "large masses" sound already is.

Pretty happy with it not having macros personally. Especially since I don't want to have to turn off all other player effects for other pcs just to not here that. It's a lot easier to spam and I would be hearing it a lot more in dungeons and macro'd to abilities as well.

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Originally Posted by ElasmoFan

Pretty happy with it not having macros personally. Especially since I don't want to have to turn off all other player effects for other pcs just to not here that. It's a lot easier to spam and I would be hearing it a lot more in dungeons and macro'd to abilities as well.

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Well, with the option to mute 'Perform Spells' (which is what I would call it in the Options). I would welcome being able to macro it to abilities.

...I mean, just imagine drumming out Highway to Hell during the final phase of a boss for a BRD attack 'song'. Or Thundercats (theme song) when buffing.

Basically, actually making Bards a real Bard; using music to bolster their allies, and weaken their foes!

((Note: From the Bards that I've run with I don't hear any kind of music while their buffs are on me....they [the buffs] just kind of show up and that's it. There's no "Bard feel" to it. At least with this the player could choose to RP as a true bard. :D))

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Originally Posted by Flaris

You've obviously never composed. Making a macro and writing a piece of music are worlds apart, so I don't know where you got that idea. This performance feature is way too limiting and rigid for any real music to be made. No polyphonics, no chords, and you can't even subdivide.

Also not a fan that we can't mute all bards.

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I definitely have composed music, sorry to burst your bubble. What I'm trying to say is that you could write up "sheet music" made out of macros, people could copy them into their own macros, and play it without having to practice and perform the music.

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/performanceaction "E" <wait.1>
/performanceaction "D" <wait.1>
/performanceaction "C" <wait.3>
/performanceaction "E" <wait.1>
/performanceaction "D" <wait.1>
/performanceaction "C" <wait.1>

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....For example. Ta-dah! Now anyone can play Hot Cross Buns.

Obviously it's limited, but with some macros a group of people could more easily play complex music.

I gave the new "Perform" feature a go as well and i must say that it's surpisingly fun to do. (^_^ ) It takes a bit of practice, but still. /thumbsup

My first attempt at "Night in the Brume".

I wish the animation was less over the top. I looks like they animated it for only one note to be played and not for notes to be played in sequence.

They intentionally made it so you can't use macros with the perform actions because they want people to actually develop their skill as an in game musician instead of just copy / pasting macros from the internet.

With only being able to play one note at once, not being able to create macros with the performance actions, and having to cannibalize my actual bard hot bars I feel like this was implemented by an intern.

I don't get why people would want to macro this kind of feature. The notes are quarter notes and as such how macros work in the game, you need a full second(pretty much another quarter note). So playing anything song that is Eighth Note or lower wouldn't work at all. While I'm not playing FF music solely, I'm well on the way to putting together one of my more favorite songs, Lilium.

I'm legitimately surprised they put in as much effort as they did. I fully expected 3-4 harp twangs and nothing else, did not expect a full menu with that huge a range of notes.

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Originally Posted by Lorielle

I don't get why people would want to macro this kind of feature. The notes are quarter notes and as such how macros work in the game, you need a full second(pretty much another quarter note). So playing anything song that is Eighth Note or lower wouldn't work at all. While I'm not playing FF music solely, I'm well on the way to putting together one of my more favorite songs, Lilium.

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Not everyone enjoys music in the same way. For some, the actual performance may be what they enjoy most. Others may just like hearing music. Also have to keep in mind that not everyone may be able to read/play music, and so this could give them the opportunity to partake in the fun.

GW2's musical community took an incredibly snobby turn when it came to macro users. I really hope this community is more understanding about it, but I'm not holding my breath.

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Originally Posted by Zetsumei_Tsunarashi

They intentionally made it so you can't use macros with the perform actions because they want people to actually develop their skill as an in game musician instead of just copy / pasting macros from the internet.

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There is no way to know their intent behind currently not allowing macros. It could very well just be a half-assed implementation - sort of like no separate UI for all the notes.

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Originally Posted by Skivvy

Not everyone enjoys music in the same way. For some, the actual performance may be what they enjoy most. Others may just like hearing music. Also have to keep in mind that not everyone may be able to read/play music, and so this could give them the opportunity to partake in the fun.

GW2's musical community took an incredibly snobby turn when it came to macro users. I really hope this community is more understanding about it, but I'm not holding my breath.

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It doesn't take much effort to cross reference. Even then, you typically can play things by the ear. But that's not the point I was getting at, it's just how the game's macro work. You'll end up putting in One Note, Rest, One Note for the majority of anything. In turn, ruin what you want to enjoy whether it's by performance or simply hearing it.

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Originally Posted by Lorielle

It doesn't take much effort to cross reference. Even then, you typically can play things by the ear. But that's not the point I was getting at, it's just how the game's macro work. You'll end up putting in One Note, Rest, One Note for the majority of anything. In turn, ruin what you want to enjoy whether it's by performance or simply hearing it.

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This is where outside macros would have to come into play. With the <wait> system as is, you are correct that songs would not sound right if done with an in-game macro.

It would be nice if SE would make a statement to allow outside help for the use of Music only, much like ANet did. Or at least turn a semi-blind-eye to them like they do with parsers and windower back in the day.

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Originally Posted by Skivvy

This is where outside macros would have to come into play. With the <wait> system as is, you are correct that songs would not sound right if done with an in-game macro.

It would be nice if SE would make a statement to allow outside help for the use of Music only, much like ANet did. Or at least turn a semi-blind-eye to them like they do with parsers and windower back in the day.

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Do you think a MIDI Keyboard would work if someone was tech savy enough or not really?

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Originally Posted by Furiea

in the process of keybinding a piano keyboard to keystrokes that will set off the corresponding notes.

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Was thinking of trying to do that with my midi, but exam will have to wait till exams are over and I fly back home. Update us on how it goes pretty please.

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Originally Posted by Paladinleeds

You could potentially do it via AutoHotKey or more likely UJR+VJoy. Funnily enough, I'm actually using the latter to be able to drive an SRV in Elite Dangerous using a wheel and pedal set. Then you simply bind the keys in it to buttons, map the buttons with UJR to each key on the vJoy device, and then have it use that vJoy device in game. Should work.

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That is a great idea, thanks for the advice. I will try it as soon as possible.

in the process of keybinding a piano keyboard to keystrokes that will set off the corresponding notes.

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Originally Posted by Awha

Do you think a MIDI Keyboard would work if someone was tech savy enough or not really?

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You could potentially do it via AutoHotKey or more likely UJR+VJoy. Funnily enough, I'm actually using the latter to be able to drive an SRV in Elite Dangerous using a wheel and pedal set. Then you simply bind the keys in it to buttons, map the buttons with UJR to each key on the vJoy device, and then have it use that vJoy device in game. Should work.

Finally, a reason to actually play as a Bard.

This seriously needs some kind of UI feature, the fact they think we have 37 hotbar spaces to spare is laughable, especially in an expansion focused on removing button bloat...

I’d suggest a single main command called perform that you can set to your hotbar and when you press it, it brings up a bar, similar to the BRD job gauge and have input keys to play notes. E.G. C = C, Alt C = C-, Ctrl C = C+. And when you play a note it will appear on the perform bar what note you played. Think legend of zelda orcarina.

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Originally Posted by Cabalabob

This seriously needs some kind of UI feature, the fact they think we have 37 hotbar spaces to spare is laughable, especially in an expansion focused on removing button bloat...

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Word going around is everyone has all those base classes with plenty of hotbar real estate just lying around, room enough to shuffle as needed.

Also, I expect every BRD to play the Victory tune at the end of every instance, now.

So I learned you can't use this in instances or with cross world parties. 'No fun allowed' is my opinion now and forever until both of those are reverted

Neat idea, but...
Not responsive...
I don't have the hotbars...
I don't have the key bindings...

Prolly won't use after today

No in-game Metronome...

Honestly I'd have just preferred hunting down new song roles that were specifically for the lute of current FFXIV songs. Click a thing, watch the bard strut his stuff. I love music and all, and I love the game. I Don't want the music to become a game.

As someone who plays an instrument, the small delay between pressing the key and the note being played is really off putting. Playing things like eighth and sixteenth notes and arpeggios are a pain to pull off

Didn't even bother unlocking the feature

I heard maybe one guy playing in 3 hours of game time, but in fairness I did not really go into the cities.

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Originally Posted by Hasrat

Also, I expect every BRD to play the Victory tune at the end of every instance, now.

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Then you'll be disappointed, no playing during an instance.

I guess to avoid people spending more time playing music than participating, but it's still sad :(