UDB+Pyware: Best Practices

The following Guide will present a few tips and ideas to maximize how UDB looks and feels by changing a few settings in Pyware.

Performer Labels: Names

Performers in UDBapp can be viewed as icons and letters, letters only, or dots. However, every performer label should use a letter and a number so it’s easy to distinguish performers regardless of how they are viewed inside of UDBapp.

For example, select the trumpets and open the label tool. Type T and 1 in the label box. Tap the plus button to quickly add this same naming convention to all other performers.

Now each performer is labeled with a letter and number that will always be easy to identify inside of UDBapp with each view mode.

Performer Labels: Positioning

For a clean and predictable look in UDBapp, it is suggested that every performer label point either down or up at a distance of “2” inside of Pyware.

To make this the default setting,

Go to File>Document Options.
Click on the Preferences Tab at the top right.
In the second grouping labeled “Positioning” set the Default Label Positioning to “Below Center” or “Above Center.”
Set the “Default Label Position” to 2.
Next, click Save as Defaults and then OK.

Sometimes the label positions can move while creating curves or FTL moves. It’s always best to “force adjust” them when you’re ready to upload your file to UDBapp. To do so:

Select All Performers and then go to the Performer Label Tool.
Click on the down or up position, whichever is your preference, and apply the changes to All Counts.
Next, bring the label distance as close as possible by clicking the “Closer” button multiple times and then click the “Further” button once to set the labels at distance 2.

Measure Numbers

Performers and Directors have quick and easy access to knowing what measures are associated with every drill move through UDBapp.

To allow for measure numbers to display on the menu bar at the top of UDBapp, measure numbers need to be typed into the production sheet column named “Measures.”

When the measure numbers are added to this column, they also appear in the generic production sheet notes in the “Information” section of UDB.

Production Sheet Notes

UDBapp brings over all of the notes and text of the Production Sheet inside of Pyware. The following is a suggestion of how a designer could group the information and instructions within the Production Sheet before it is sent to UDB.

Add the Measure Numbers to the 'Measure Numbers' Column.
Not doing this will result in the Measure Numbers Info Bar inside of UDB to be blank.
Title: List the counts of the move (Move 8 or Move16/Hold 8)
Note #1: Universal/General Instructions
Note #2: Winds Specific Instructions
Note #3: Guard Specific Instructions
Note #4: Percussion Specific Instructions

Using Subset Tabs to Indicate Holds

Drill “subset tabs” allow UDBapp to correctly display a students X-Count and Stepsize when a hold follows or precedes a drill move.

If you have a “move 8, hold 8,” instead of having a 16 count move where you would only have the performers moving for the first 8, instead, add a New Numbered Set Tab after the first 8 counts and a second “Subset Tab” after the second 8 counts to represent the Hold portion, thus breaking the move into “two 8’s.”

For example, if the students move from Set 55 to Set 56, the Set 56 tab can be 8 counts from the Set 55 tab. Then add another tab, but make it a subset tab, 8 counts from Set 56 as Set 56A. Now the larger structure is 16 counts, but broken up into two 8’s.

Starting at Set 56A can now represent starting “after the hold” while “starting at Set 56” would represent that they are starting “on the Hold.”

Syncing Audio Files to Pyware

To have UDBapp play the music that is associated with each drill, it must first be synced to the Pyware drill file. The following video has been provided by Pyware on how to sync your audio.

Syncing Tips:

OGG files are strongly encouraged over WAV files
Click in your music either by tapping the space bar every count or once per set. It is not suggested that you use the "beginning-end count" functionality.
Click in your drill one click for every step that the students will take. For example, if the drill move is half-time, click it in half-time for that move. The same convention would hold for moves that are in double-time.

Showing Curved Paths in UDB

UDBapp is able to display the exact pathway that you would want any performer to take on the field. Designers can create individualized pathways for performers to move around props or other performers and have these specific pathways available to the performers.

To create a specific curved pathway, simply select the performer or grouping and using any tool that allows for curved or compound movement (FTL, Track, Adjuster, etc.) manipulate the path to the desired effect.