Power Tab Editor

Power Tab Editor
Power Tab Editor in editing mode running in Windows XP
Author	Brad Larsen
Developer	Brad Larsen
Latest release	1.7.0.80 / September 24, 2000
Platform	Windows
License	Freeware
Website	http://www.power-tab.net/

Power Tab Editor is a free tablature authoring tool created by Brad Larsen for Windows. It is used to create guitar and bass tablature scores. The current version uses the *.ptb file format. The Power Tab Editor is able to import MIDI tracks, and can export to ASCII Text, HTML, and MIDI formats. In addition, individual sections may be exported as bitmap files. The program allows for tablature scores to be created alongside standard musical notation. The software achieves this through the input of tablature. Each Power Tab file contains two scores: guitar and bass. Only one score needs to be used for a Power Tab file. For proper playback, it is required that the time signatures and tempo markers be consistent between the two scores. The latest version was released in 2000. In 2006, the author released an open-source wxWidgets based program named the PT Parser. This code contains useful information for developers who want to write software that can convert, view, play, or edit Power Tab (.ptb) files. The PT Parser project is hosted at Google Code [1].

Features

The software primarily uses tablature notation entry. This is very useful for guitarists who are not familiar with standard notation and for instructing proper positioning on the neck. Other than the expected buttons for normal notation (i.e. time signature, tempo markers, etc.), there are many others that are directed more at the guitarist. These include:

• Slurs - in the form of slides or hammer-ons/pull-offs
• Vibratos and bends
• Harmonics - natural and artificial
• Mutes and palm mutes
• Tremolos and arpeggiated chords
• Whammy bar dips and dives

These buttons can be used in either score and the guitar and bass scores are not restricted to the clef, either. It is possible to switch between treble and bass clefs. Power Tab also features several tools to enhance appearance, accuracy and playback for the transcribed music;

• Score checker - this checks that there are no notation errors in the score
• Score polisher - this aligns ('justifies') the written music so that it is evenly laid out with no gaps
• Chord Identification - this tells you the possible names for the chords entered into Power Tab
• Shifter tool - this moves groups of notes, whether chords or a melody, in pitch or around the fingerboard (maintaining pitch)
• Tonality tools - gives the key signatures that fit best with the music entered
• Chord/Tuning dictionary

Limitations

Some limitations of the software include:

• Power Tab Editor can only utilize up to a maximum of seven guitars across both scores (ie MIDI voices).
• Pick-up measures, for example, are counted as errors although they are commonly used in music.
• When using high and low melodies, redundant rests that are left out (as in regular notation) are counted as errors.
• A Segno cannot be used for more than one D.S.. A Double Segno must be added in the same position.
• The tremolo, reverb and chorus effects only work on computers where their MIDI drivers and hardware support it.

Other bugs are listed in the Power Tab Knowledge Base.

External links

• Official site
• Power Tab Community (formerly the Power Tab Archive)
• Power Tabs Editor Wiki, CC license.
• Newbie Guide.
• Main features
• Power Tabs Search Engine