What about an accordion music

Hi, everybody!

Let me introduce myself. http://bayanac.narod.ru/Kombrig.html
This is my page on Russian site: "narod.ru". Please be patient to downloading the page.

I apologize for incredibly slow download, but this is a policy of "narod.ru" owners. They want to restrict an access to their site for out-country residents. That is one of the reasons, why I'm writing to your forum: I barely can't recommend this link to my friends and fans.

Well, anyway, I am an accordion player (over a 40 years experience) and actually I'm arranging all kind of music for the accordion (and performing it LIVE in various locations of Bay Area SF cities). As you can see, there is all kind of music, including such unbelievable as DISCO, REGGAE and HARD ROCK categories. I can assure you: this kind of music HAS NEVER BEEN PERFORMED ON AN ACCORDION!

Lately I purchased a MidiNotate Composer, because this is the most powerfull instrument for my kind of musician!
I've used before some no good software from "Voyetra" and, - believe me! - I've got a lot of troubles...
Now I'm going to re-master all the pieces I've created in "Write music plus" to .not files.

So, please, let me know if you're interested in my job and want to make an accordion page on your site. I can do this!
Plus I have some questions for developer...

Best regards.
Kombrig.

Hi Alek

I think it would be a good idea to have sections of the forum reserved, for specific use by a specialist on o a subject, if the specialist is willing to maintain that section. I am interested to hear from you, an accordion artist of 40 years experience. Perhaps you could run an accordion section.

I have downloaded a couple of files from your site. They turned out to be pdf files. Could you please provide not files of your music, as pdf files are of no use to me.

Best wishes,

Herbert

Sherry!
How are you, lady-boss!
Nice to knowing you!

--That's got to be a lot of fun, playing live so often.--

First of all, this is a hard job. However, I'm enjoy doing it, though... And whole lot more important that people, who are listening to my performance, HAVING FUN! Because if that so, they shall reward me by their money!

--We've created a new section in "Share your music", titled "Instrument: accordion".--

Thank you so much, Sherry, I found it.
Now, let's talk about some business here.

Firstly. We have to organize this section. Actually, I have 26 folders for 26 different music categories. Most of them empty, though... But I'm going to fill it up quickly!
So, tell me, Sherry, how to place those folders into "Instrument: accordion" section. Or maybe I need to open a single, separate threat there for each category of music? And then just simply post my scores into?
What do ya think?

Secondly. Chords for the left hand for accordion music must be marked by a certain character:
B = major
M = minor
7 = seventh-chord
D (or Ym) = diminished
I couldn't find the way, how to PRINT those characters ABOVE the chords in the base line. That's why I have to print out a completed score and HANDWRITE those letters by the pen, and then scan it, save it, archive it and finally send it to the moderator of the site... You see how much boring, unnecessary work I have to do?
So, could you tell me Sherry, does the MidiComposer has such a feature?

Thirdly. I want to add a drum staff for some of the completed pieces. But I don't know how... Is that possible, Sherry?

I surely apologize for a lotsa questions, Sherry. But I am a GREEN ROOKIE in the MidiComposer yet and you have to forgive me, please...

--I look forward to hearing all those compositions of yours, Kombrig--

And you certainly will! I promise.
Man of honor. Kombrig.

Hi Sherry

There is a spelling mistake. According to The Oxford Dictionary of Music, the instrument is an “Accordion”, or an “Accordeon”. The name is derived from the German name for the instrument “Akkordeon”

What do you think about the idea of inviting experienced musicians to teach about peculiarities, limitations and techniques in relation to their instrument. This would help interested forum participants to produce parts, arrangements and tracks with a more realistic sound.

Best wishes,

Herbert

Hi Kombrig

You are spot on when you address Sherry with “lady-boss” (women often are).

For your benefit here is my introduction.

I am a participant in this forum. I have no authority. This is a very democratic forum with contributions always welcome, as I understand.

For the African it is the drum, for the North American it is the banjo and for the Russian perhaps the balalaika, but for the German it is the accordion, when people come together to find enjoyment.

My wife, who is a classically trained soprano and I are German. We live on an acreage in the middle of the Australian bush just north of Sydney. I bought Composer over a year ago for the purpose of converting sheet music, mainly piano scores, to backing tracks for my wife to practice singing. I use accordion tracks for social functions and general entertainment. I am trying to produce tracks that sound realistic.

It would be of great help to me, if you could post your music recorded from your accordion to .not files. I am particularly interested to learn about the use of the left hand and the use of the bellows. Written explanations would be appreciated as well. I am not trying to improve on my very poor accordion playing (we have an old Hohner at home) but to improve my ability to produce better backing tracks. The facilities contained in Composer are ideal for this purpose.

There is help on how to express musical expression in your posts, when you look up the explanatory parts for the forum.


Best wishes,

Herbert

Herbert!

--for the Russian perhaps the balalaika--

Not anymore, my friend! Now it's an electrical guitar or some heavy digital musical equipment... Believe me!
Have you ever heard about an instrument called the BAYAN?
This is Russian BUTTON accordion, upgraded from the German piano-accordion. And that's exactly the instrument on which I'm playing now.
It was the national, most spreaded musical instrument until to the end of 70-s in the former Soviet Union. And then "Beatles", "Elvis Presley", jazz and pop-rock music have CRASHED HIM DOWN!

--We live on an acreage in the middle of the Australian bush just north of Sydney.--

It must be an extremely exciting thing - to live in Australia.
I dreamed to visit this country! And thank you for complete introduction, Herbert!

--It would be of great help to me, if you could post your music recorded from your accordion to .not files.--

I've started to do so today! Take a look to the "Instrument: Accordion" section.
And I can do for you more than that. My publisher at "bayanac.ru" uploade here http://ifolder.ru/f9873 "The_Best_Of_Russian_Music" - mix album. I've recorded it '95 - '98. I suggest you to spend your time and download this mp3 files. And you'll hear how am I REALLY sound!
Nevertheless this is a kind of traditional accordion music. More or less...

However, If you want to hear something REALLY unbelievable, go there:
http://ifolder.ru/f9842
This is 2 of my last albums, recorded in 2004. I can guarantee you: such a music has never been performed on an accordion!
But HURRY UP, Herbert! Those links is going to expired in 2 weeks!

--I am particularly interested to learn about the use of the left hand and the use of the bellows. Written explanations would be appreciated as well. I am not trying to improve on my very poor accordion playing (we have an old Hohner at home) but to improve my ability to produce better backing tracks.--

You've found the right guy, Herbert. I certainly can help you!
In one condition: you have to share my music philosophy and trust me. Besides, you'll have to spend your personal time (at least 1 hour per day) for exercises and training.
Let's talk about this later...

Kombrig.

Hi Kombrig

Ah yes, the BAYAN, an advanced member of the accordion family. I have read that there are a number of variations of the bayan. Perhaps you could tell us more.

You are quite right, electronically enhanced music and computer based music have taken over, particularly in popular music. W A Mozart, if born this century, would have first started to program his computer in C+ at the age of five, before going into serious composition.

I have tried to download your music as you have recommended. I had no success. I do not speak Russian and could not understand the instructions on the pages.

It is quite a list of music, you have supplied. I like your Russian music in particular. There is nowadays quite an interest in ethnic music. I think there would be a market for authentic Russian music outside Russia.

Blues and Swing is definitely played in 4/4 time. However there is no reason why there can’t be exceptions. Your 6/8 NY sounds really good and is superior to the 4/4 version of NY, in your swing section. There is another way of looking at the 6/8 versus 4/4 argument. You can combine two consecutive bars of the 6/8 version into one bar for the whole of the song, rearrange it to 4/4 by using triplets etc and reassigning note values in time. You end up with similar music with half the number of bars but in the time measure of 4/4. The music is likely to have a stronger rhythmic feeling about it. I have tried in the past, but have not been able, to do this type on conversion with Composer, except for rewriting the music completely.

Composer provides the facility of displaying the “as performed” timing of notes superimposed over the notation. In your scores, the “as performed” timing is identical with the “as notated timing” of notes. This is what my scores are like, as I do not record an instrument via midi directly into Composer. It would be interesting for me if you could post scores of your playing, recorded with Composer and with the original timing of your playing preserved.


Best wishes,

Herbert

Sherry wrote:
--you can use "Text/Free text" to do this. Using the beta of 2.0, you can do the following: --

Thanks a lot, Sherry, I discovered this feature long ago, using a trial version. But I appreciate it just now. Because of your explanation! Go to the "American oldies" thread and see, how do I use it.

I have another question, Sherry. ENHARMONIC SPELLING. Tell me, please, is there any possibillity to neutralize this feature somehow? 'Cause it's very annoying when a software - ITSELF! - changing notes I've wrote.
It's driving me mad!!!
I know better what should be in my text...

Thanks again.
Kombrig.

Herbert wrote:

--...the BAYAN, an advanced member of the accordion family. I have read that there are a number of variations of the bayan. Perhaps you could tell us more.--

Sure, it'd be my pleasure! An accordion family counts a couple of dosens of very different instruments.
1. German akkordeon - is canonic (in a bible matter). This country is the "mother land" of an accordion.
2. Italian STRADELLA - is quite simular, but it has some different internal construction.
3. French l'accordeon - has a lots of variations, including DIATONIC accordions. But mostly it's button l'accordeons.
4. Argentinian BANDONEON - is the most weird looking accordeon I've ever seen! But it is a button chromatic accordion. And Astor Piazzola (I hope you've heard this name?) are playing on this instrument with the great virtuosity.
5. Mexicans also has a number of national accordions. I don't know much about them.
And finally:
6. Russian BAYAN. Modified from German piano- to button CHROMATIC accordeon. It has 3 major types.
a) small size, (for children) 54 buttons - for the right hand, and 100 buttons - for the left.
b) full size, (that's what I use!) 60 X 120 buttons.
c) advanced, up to 63 X 140 buttons. Including a lots of timbre-switches and a FREE BASE, which means: you can switch your left hand to a simular button organization of the right hand! And you can play a single notes, using chords buttons. This is very useful for performance of the organ polyphony's of 17 - 18 centuries. The prize of this instrument could be up to $10 000!

Do you satisfied now, Herbert?

--I have tried to download your music as you have recommended. I had no success. I do not speak Russian and could not understand the instructions on the pages. --

You don't have to speak Russian, my friend! If you go to the http://ifolder.ru/f9842 , you'll see the list of files:

303 Pierre_DeGeightere_Internacionale.mp3
ü408643 The_Beatles_I_Saw_Her_Standing_There.mp3
ü407860 ABBA_Dancing_Queen.mp3
ü407923 ABBA_Mama_Mia.mp3
ü407968 ABBA_Money_Money_Money.mp3
ü408005 Bee_Gees_How_Deep_Is_Your_Life.mp3
ü408051 Bee_Gees_More_Than_A_Woman.mp3
ü408087 Bee_Gees_Staying_Alive.mp3
ü408124 Deep_Purple_Smoke_On_The_Water.mp3
ü408209 Dire_Straits_Money_For_Nothing.mp3
ü408231 Francois_La_Mer.mp3
ü408266 Led_Zeppelin_Stairway_To_Heaven.mp3
ü408284 Lord_Creator_I_Cant_Help_Falling_In_Love.mp3
ü408351 Queen_We_Are_The_Champions.mp3
ü408366 Rolling_Stones_Miss_You.mp3
ü408391 Rolling_Stones_Paint_It_Black.mp3
ü408416 Rolling_Stones_Satisfaction.mp3
ü408459 The_Beatles_Come_Together.mp3
ü408501 Village_People_In_The_Navy.mp3
ü408528 The_Beatles_Michelle.mp3
ü408555 The_Beatles_Oh_Darling.mp3
ü408571 The_Beatles_Penny_Lane.mp3
ü408596 The_Beatles_When_Iam_64.mp3
ü408622 The_Melodians_Rivers_Of_Babylon.mp3

You simply click on any link and the new window is appear. Let it completely download. Do you see a rectangle and some FREE LOCATED digits from the left? Well, just print those digits (perhaps 7643) into this rectangle and then click on "„ «¥¥" word (under the rectangle), which means "Continue" and wait until the file download.

The same procedure you can do on http://ifolder.ru/f9873 . This is Russian music:

ü409594 Lilac_Fog.mp3
ü409220 The_ 7_40_Train.mp3
ü409263 Dark_Night.mp3
ü409303 All_My_Exs_Live_In_Taxas.mp3
ü409337 Chardash_Monty.mp3
ü409365 Dark_Eyes.mp3
ü409396 Eine_Kleine_Nacht_Musik.mp3
ü409420 El_Condor_Pasa.mp3
ü409435 Farewell_Of_Slavyanka.mp3
ü409458 Hills_Of_Manjury.mp3
ü409486 Izvozchik.mp3
ü409517 Just_A_Case.mp3
ü409537 La_Vie_En_Rose.mp3
ü409561 Laras_Theme.mp3
ü409626 Love_Me_Tender.mp3
ü409650 Meadow_Lands.mp3
ü409675 Muppet_Show.mp3
ü409687 Pilots_March.mp3
ü409711 Prelude_Fugazza.mp3
ü409738 Quando_Quando.mp3
ü409757 Sailor_Dance.mp3
ü409773 The_Coach_Driver.mp3
ü409796 The_Heart.mp3
ü409837 The_Russian_Bear.mp3
ü409862 Those_Were_The_Days.mp3
ü409877 Volga_Boatmen_Song.mp3
ü409895 Waves_Of_Amour_River.mp3

And we could do better than that. Let's ask the administration of the MNC (MidiNotate Composer) site to upload my albums right here. Maybe on an "Accordion" page?
And then anybody could download my music. Unfortunately, I don't have a software that retriving a music tracks from CD and converting it to mp3 files. But I can just mail my CD's to administration of the MNC site...

Howdy Kombrig,

Re. the enharmonic spelling bit, did you see this tip in the User's Guide:
---------------
When you change the pitches of notes, we recommend that you let Composer make a first guess at the spelling. For example, If you want to raise the pitch of a note by a half-step, then select the note and hit the (P+ Up Arrow) keys, Try this instead of, for example, dragging the note to the staff position above and explicitly inserting a flat accidental. Why? If you explicitly add the flat accidental, Composer will rigidly preserve that spelling of the note with a flat accidental. Even if you radically change the surrounding notes to sharps, this note will continue to be spelled with a flat, probably incorrectly, rather than with a sharp at the next lower staff line.
--------------

If you do want to absolutely change the enharmonic spelling, then (1) select the note and (2) use the "E + up/down arrow key" to change the enharmonic spelling.

And for the mp3s, we've had it as our practice here that we reserve the forum for .mid and .not versions of files, with links to where the forum participant might have an mp3 of a recording of the song. So, along with your .not files that you've been posting, you could add the link to the mp3 of the song as you've recorded it. If you want to post your mp3 files at a different location, there are a number of sites that will host them for free.

You can see the thread here for some places that will host mp3 files and what their conditions might be. I personally have a page at SoundClick (www.soundclick.com/beanfield_castle) that I've been quite happy with, and folks have reported easy access and easy download of the files.

So keep bringing on the music - we're loving it!

ttfn,
Sherry

Merry Christmas, Sherry!

Thanks for your help!

Sherry wrote:
--If you do want to absolutely change the enharmonic spelling, then (1) select the note and (2) use the "E + up/down arrow key" to change the enharmonic spelling.--

Oh, yes! It's better than go every time to the NOTE menu and change spelling as I want to by the hard way. But anyway I can't turn this feature OFF completely. Can I?

Sherry wrote:
--If you want to post your mp3 files at a different location, there are a number of sites that will host them for free. --

I see some misunderstanding here.
I don't have mp3 files, Sherry! All I got is 4 albums of my music, recorded in RECORDING STUDIO. This is an AUDIO format and I need to retrive those tracks from CD and convert it into mp3 format.
I believe, somewhere should be a special software for a such procedure?
Isn't?

Be happy.
Kombrig.

Hi, Sherry!

1. About enharmonic spelling.
You see, Sherry, an arranger or composer has some music logic. He or she KNOWS what is gonna be in the next few steps. Let's say, the melody is descending down (b-b.flat-g-g.flat) and then - jump up to d.#. The software MNC changes spelling by some different way AGAINST THE HUMAN WILL. And this is horrible!

2. mp3 files.
I don't have ones. I mailed my CD's to the moderator of "bayanac.ru". He converted .audio files to mp3's, and then uploaded these mp3's to another Russian site. Russians don't have a problem to download my music from there, but residents from other countries does! I desperately was needed some different place, accessible for our people. That's why I asked for your help...
But I'll tell you the great news! Yesterday, I downloaded "Audacity", as you suggested, put CD into N-drive and have tried hard to convert .au to mp3. And you know what happened? "Audacity" said that I have to first RIP MY CD...
That was a great hint!
I immediately recalled I've got such a feature in "Media Player". So, I just RIPPED my CD's down and - voila! - I have mp3's of my own music now!!! Why didn't you tell me that I should do it first?
What am I gonna do now, Sherry? Could you give me some directions step-by-step, please. And remember, I am a total dummy in the Web-technology, honey...
You've mentioned www.soundclick.com site. So, what about it, Sherry? How I can upload my files there?

Be happy.
Kombrig.

Howdy Kombrig,

You wrote:
------------------
The software MNC changes spelling by some different way AGAINST THE HUMAN WILL. And this is horrible!
------------------

Can you please give us a step-by-step description of a case where you're setting the enharmonic spelling and Composer is changing it? This will help Mark pin down any potential bug, or to fix any usability problem here. Thanks!

As for the Sound Click site, just visit www.soundclick.com and set up a New Band Account. They will pretty much walk you through the process, and they do have a "Help" button for either getting FAQ answers, or emailing someone there for help. Good luck! And let us know when you get it set up. It usually takes them about 24 hours to get the new account verified and the music up for others to listen to and download.

ttfn,
Sherry

Hello Alex,

<blockquote><hr size=0><!-quote-!><font size=1>quote:</font>

Tell me, please, is there any possibillity to neutralize this feature somehow? 'Cause it's very annoying when a software - ITSELF! - changing notes I've wrote.<!-/quote-!><hr size=0></blockquote>You can force a note to keep a certain enharmonic spelling by manually adding the accidental to it. For example, if you want a C# to be a C# instead of a Db, then add the note on the staff line or staff space for C, and then hit the "#" key to add a sharp to it. The sharp will forever "stick" to the note.

If you change the pitch of a note by selecting it and then hitting the NumPad + or - key (or P+Up/DownArrow), then Composer makes a good guess about what the enharmonic spelling should be, depending on the surrounding harmony. If you later add more notes, that might change the surrounding harmony so that Composer will recalculate the enharmonic spelling of the previous entered now. This is usually a good thing, because it will save you time spelling the notes. However, if Composer ends up changing the spelling of a note (for example, between C# and Db) against your preference, you're no worse off that if Composer made the wrong guess about the spelling of the note in the first place. In this case, you can change the enharmonic spelling of the note by hitting E+UpArrow or E+DownArrow, and that enharmonic spelling will "stick".

<blockquote><hr size=0><!-quote-!><font size=1>quote:</font>

The software MNC changes spelling by some different way AGAINST THE HUMAN WILL. And this is horrible! <!-/quote-!><hr size=0></blockquote>Alex, I can work harder to improve Composer's guesses at spelling accidentals, taking into to as much information as Composer can collect about the surrounding harmony. But, I'm sorry: if Composer makes a choice that is different than your HUMAN WILL, Composer has no way of reading your mind. Technology is still a few years away from reading brain waves.

Cheers
-- Mark

How do you do, Sherry!
How was you Christmas?

Sherry wrote:
--------------
Can you please give us a step-by-step description of a case where you're setting the enharmonic spelling and Composer is changing it?
--------------

Easy! If you writing a drum line down, each note has 3 different spelling: #, b, and natural. Some particular instruments of the drum section BELONGS to EACH sign.
For example, you put # to note, but MNC change it to b and move the note DOWN to the lower line. But this line is occupied already by another note! And there is an absolutely different instrument are playing. In proceed, notes just messing with each other!
So, you have to get back and change MANUALLY a spelling of the previous note. It takes time, you know...

However, there is no bugs! This is such a feature. Mark made himself totally clear!

------------------
...just visit www.soundclick.com and set up a New Band Account. They will pretty much walk you through the process, and they do have a "Help" button for either getting FAQ answers...
------------------

Thank you so much, Sherry! I certainly will do so and will let you know what's going on.

************************************************** *******************
How you doing, Mark!
Nice to knowing you, sir!
Thanks a lot for complete and comprehensible explanation!

You wrote:
-------------------------
You can force a note to keep a certain enharmonic spelling by manually adding the accidental to it.
-------------------------

I'm doing so as long as I have MNC software, Mark.

-------------------------
If you change the pitch of a note by selecting it and then hitting the NumPad + or - key (or P+Up/DownArrow), then Composer makes a good guess about what the enharmonic spelling should be, depending on the surrounding harmony. If you later add more notes, that might change the surrounding harmony so that Composer will recalculate the enharmonic spelling of the previous entered now.
-------------------------

Sherry gave me this hint about a week ago and I use only this way since then. But I'm not completely happy about it, because even this shortcut is continue stealing my time. Let me explain...

You shouldn't change a thing into the ENHARMONIC SPELLING, Mark. This is great and helpful feature for an AMATEURES, who doesn't know much about the spelling!

But let to PROFESSIONALS a CHANCE to decide, which sign will stand for a certain note! Maybe in the next upgrade you'll make a SWITCH to turn it ON and OFF? Think about it... I would surely appreciate that, Mark!

-------------------------
But, I'm sorry: if Composer makes a choice that is different than your HUMAN WILL, Composer has no way of reading your mind. Technology is still a few years away from reading brain waves.
-------------------------

Ha-ha-ha... That's the good one!
It made me hysterically laughing.

Could you tell me, Mark, how did you make a beautiful quotation of text in your message?

Happy new year, guys!
Kombrig.

Hello Alek,

<blockquote><hr size=0><!-quote-!><font size=1>quote:</font>

If you writing a drum line down, each note has 3 different spelling: #, b, and natural...<!-/quote-!><hr size=0></blockquote>That statement helps me understand where the problem is. I can understand why you want a C# to always be spelled C# in a drum staff instead of Db. You want to always see the same spelling for the drum note.

That is a special case. Composer is trying to spell the notes in the drum staff as though the pitches are making harmonies (chords). However, in a General MIDI drum staff, the pitches have absolutely nothing to do with real harmony. Each drum pitch is just a different sort of drum sound (snare, rim shot, etc.) that has nothing to do with pitch.

Composer probably should turn off automatic spelling for drum tracks. This might make you a little happier about this part of Composer.

Cheers
-- Mark

Hello Kombrig,

What version of Composer are you using? Choose the About command in the Help menu. It should report Version 2.0 or Trial Version 2.0. If it reports something like Beta Version 1.9.16, or Version 2.0 RC1 (Release Candidate 1), then you might be seeing a bug related to a bug fixed that I reported at www.notation.com/MidiNotateBetaRelease.htm for beta version 1.9.16.

I tried to reproduce the problem you reported for Enharm_Spell.not without success. I followed exactly the steps illustrated in my screen shots, except, as in your song, I made the second chord an eighth note duration instead of quarter note duration.

I don't doubt that you're seeing the problem you've reported. We just need to figure out what is different about what you're doing from what I'm doing.

Sincerely,
Mark

Hi, Mark!

Actually, I'm using 1.1.7 version, which is weird! Because I bought it less than a months ago!
So, it suppose to be the latest version, isn't it? Take a look yourself, Mark:

Payment Details:

Alek Yasko Order Reference Number: xxxxxx
Account Number: xxxxxx
1000 Evergreen Terrace Order Date: 06 Dec 2006
Apt # 1210
San Pablo, CA 94806-3812
United States
5102357870
kombrig1941@hotmail.com


Product Qty Unit Price Ext. Price
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
MidiNotate Composer Full Version 1 $ 149.95 $ 149.95
Delivery Via Download (no extra charge) 1 $ .00 $ .00
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tax: $ 11.62
Total: $ 161.57

Thanks again, Mark.
Kombrig.

Hello Kombrig,

That explains the problem. You have been seeing a bug that was in version 1.1.7 that was fixed in Composer 2.0, which was released on December 16, two weeks ago.

Since you purchased Composer 1.1 after February 1, 2006, you are entitled to a free upgrade to Composer 2.0 at:

http://www.notation.com/FreeUpdateToNotation20.php

Composer 2.0 will fix the problem you've been seeing.

And, Composer 2.0 is overall a major improvement over 1.1.

Cheers
-- Mark

Hi, Mark!

I appreciate your concern, but I couldn't update version 1.1.7 to 2.0.1
Setup.exe just freeze out if I click "Install".
So, check out the download key: maybe something wrong there?

Thanks.
Kombrig.

Howdy Kombrig,

You may need to turn off any antivirus, firewall, or other "intruder alert" software while you're trying to install the software. That usually takes care of the "freeze" problem. Then just turn it back on after you do the installation.

ttfn,
Sherry