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| Get our free newsletter for the latest releases Contents Music Software Quick Reference Resources Online Ordering Software Authors Company Info | Shareware Music Machine News The Revolution Of Making Music Date posted: October 30 1998 We're on the cusp of a new revolution in creating music. Right now, we're beginning to create music using fabulous software packages that can turn us into electronic sound artists. That 'we', of course, are the many frustrated musicians around the world. I'm one and I'm sure some of you reading this are as well. We either lack the skills, the equipment or the determination to master an instrument. It's not easy to learn an instrument and many a guitar ends up gathering dust in the corner of the room after a couple of days of excited use. The fantasy is often more palatable than the initial reality of frustration, an awful sound and bleeding fingers. The guy down the road may well be right when he says Nirvana's 'Territorial Pissings' is easy to play. But he probably won't mention the months spent getting his chords, rhythmic chops and timing right. So now we've got every reason to get excited. Music software developers are beginning to tap into the market of music lovers who want to get creative in a serious, yet uncommitted, way. Take a look at the PC or Mac download charts on this site and you'll come across some software packages that are making musical expression a reality for the listener and frustrated player. What's more, they're very popular downloads. For PC users, Mixman Studio offers you the opportunity to create music in a variety of genres by mixing together loops and beats. Pop-down menus offer up a series of beats, rhythms and samples that you can not only mix together but also play around with. You can add delay, alter pitch and time stretch your elements or import your own samples. If you get confused, Mixman offers a comprehensive help file to get you back on your feet. When you've finished your project you can then save your creations as .wav files and use them on your web pages, applications or personal Real Audio radio shows. Then there's Virtual Turntables which, as far as is known, is the only program available that allows you to play and mix MP3s. With the MP3 sound format being so popular on the World Wide Web, there's an amazing amount of material to work with and manipulate into new forms. All you need to generate remixes is the software package. Forget mixing boards, turntables and pitch matching. Why bother if you're just keen to have some fun at home? But perhaps the biggest recent development in this type of software is Sound Foundry's Acid. It's a masterpiece. Acid works by letting you put together a series of loops before adding it to the mix while automatically matching the tempo and key. You can even control volume, pan and effect envelopes for each. Then, when you're ready to put in the finishing touches, you can add effects with DirectX Audio plug-ins. As with Mixman, you can export your file to .wav format. It's also compatible with Sonic Foundry's CD Architect and direct-to-digital audio CD programs. Although the demo has only been recently released, the word on the web is that it's one hell of a package for both the musician and casual noisemaker. Mac users aren't left out either. Groovemaker Mac and Groovemaker PC offers a similar range of features as Mixman, allowing users to create a range of musical styles and sounds from a bank of loops. You can use up to 80 percussion and instrumental grooves on 8 stereo tracks. The permutations are mind-boggling. A terrific virtual synth arpeggiator is bundled in, with 99 sounds and more than 30 styles and progressions. Of course, these are just a few of the products that are out at the moment. You may just beg to differ about this new genre of software which brings the ability to make music down to the levels of people who know very little about songwriting or how to play an instrument. Indeed, one - we suspect teenage - poster to a music mailing list recently said (spelling left as is): "Death to the DJ! Dis crap should be called Idiotware coz u don't need any talent to make a song. Its crap! U people don't even know what yor doing!" So what do you think? Offer us your opinions and reviews of the products. Back to news index Want to write for Shareware Music Machine? | GuitarSite.com A huge resource site for Guitarists with over 1000 Great Guitar Sites, 2000 Guitars Database, Tutorials, Tablature, Amplifiers, Chords, Theory, Electric, Acoustic, Classical, Flamenco, Interviews, Artists and heaps and heaps more. Want to buy sheet music, songbooks or guitar tabs? Sheet Music Plus has over a quarter million titles to choose from, and you can order online. Check out the Musicians' Resource Center Musicians Web Center contains over 2000 music software downloads, more than 2000 musician discussion forums, 2000 guitars database, 1000 great guitar site reviews and links, tuition, guides, synths, sheet music, tablature, a Real Audio server, book reviews and more for musicians! |
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