Alesis is certainly one of the best known companies in digital audio. They manufactures the ADAT, an eight-track digital audio format. The machine uses S-VHS tapes for recording. You can check out their website at <http://www.alesis.com/>.
Audio Technica is a producer of reasonably-priced microphones. You can see a whole list of their products at <http://www.audiotechnica.com/>.
Digitech has produced some of the best effects units around. Their website is <http://www.digitech.com>.
EMU/Ensoniq is a leading producer of samplers, including the whole EMU line. Their web address is <http://www.ensoniq.com/>.
Gibson is a long-time maker of guitars. They recently bought out Opcode. Their web addresses are <http:www.gibson.net> and <http://www.opcode.com>.
Kodak a definite force in visual media--their web site is <http://www.kodak.com>.
Korg is a leading producer of synthesizers that use vector synthesis. These synths include the Wavestation AD and EX. Korg's address is: Korg USA, 89 Frost Street, Westbury, NY, 11590, USA. Telephone: 1-800-335-0800. You can check the website for specific products: <http://www.korg.com/>
Lexicon is one of the leading producers of digital effects processors. Their website is <http://www.lexicon.com/>.
Mackie is the current leader in the production of professional audio mixers. You can reach them at <http://www.mackie.com>.
Olympus produces all kinds of consumer and professional camera gear. Check the website at <http://www.olympus.com>.
Philips is a HUGE electronics producer. The web site is <http://www.philips.com>.
Roland is another producer of synthesizers. Website: <http://www.rolandus.com>.
Shure makes high-quality microphones, including wireless and hand held mics. Check the whole inventory at <http://www.shure.com/>.
Sony Corporation has long been a leader in professional and consumer audio and video products. Their WWW site is: http://www.sony.com.
Tascam/TEAC makes great DAT recorders and a multi-track digital recorder called the DA-88 (uses 8mm tape instead of S-VHS). Find them at <http://www.tascam.com/>.
Yamaha has long been involved with the production of electronic music. From the DX7 in 1982 up to the current physical modeling technology of recent years. The company's US website is <http://www.yamaha.com/>.
Digidesign, possibly the premier company for digital audio hardware and software, covers it all. Sound Designer is an older program that allows you to record and edit stereo sound files. You can also pitch shift, play it backwards, use EQ, and much more. The software comes free when you buy an AudioMedia card. The AudioMedia card gives your computer the ability to record digital audio--note: if you have a Power Mac, you don't need a digital audio card. There was a consumer package called Session that gave you up to 8 tracks of digital audio if you have a Power Mac (fewer tracks if you don't). You can arrange automatic panning, EQ, and level inputs. If you want to find some of these older programs, check out eBay and maybe bid on some. Otherwise, go for ProTools, the professional recording environment which offers up to 16 tracks of digital audio. You can actually check out the Digidesign website and request version 3.4 for free! Otherwise, if you want the most recent versions, you'll have to cough up a few bucks. By the way, it only runs on a Macintosh. But if you look at any major studio in the country, this is what they are using! Contact Digidesign at <http://www.digidesign.com>.
3rd party plug-ins--Digidesign also makes use of third
party plug-ins.
Power Technology , DSP/FX. Their core product is the DSP/FX SC which is a hardware card with a built in high speed DSP engine for realtime effects processing. Our product ships with world class effect Plug-Ins such as Reverb, Delay, Pitch Shift, Chorus, Flange, EQ, Compression, etc. It also features an extremely innovative user interface which depicts a graphical representation of each effect. It is also completely MIDI controllable. We also have our DSP/FX Virtual line of Plug-Ins which are "software only" versions of our award winning effects. We have been named "Most Innovative Product of the Year" in the January issue of Electronic Musician. EQ Magazine gave us the Blue Ribbon Award for "Best Product at the 101st AES Convention."< http://www.dspfx.com>, phone (800)778-6761. Contact Mark Kaplan: kaplan@dspfx.com
KYMA is a digital audio composition environment. The hardware/software package allows for real-time cross synthesis, granular synthesis, AM, and FM. There are also all kinds of filters and envelopes to use. Reach KYMA at: 1-800-972-1749, email: info-kyma@SymbolicSound.com, or on the web: <http://www.SymbolicSound.com>.
Lemur is a digital audio programs for the Macintosh that provides "a system for generating and manipulating sinusoidal models for sampled sound." Read more about the program and download a copy from: <http://datura.cerl.uiuc.edu/Lemur/AboutLemur.html>; email: lemur@uiuc.edu
Sound Effects is a great shareware program that allows you to record and edit sound files. Download it from: <ftp://ftp.alpcom.it/software/mac/Ricci/html/sfx.html>
SoundHack is a GREAT program for digital audio. It allows you to do many manipulations that the other programs don't. For instance, you can perform actions like verispeed (continuous pitch changing) and convolution (applying the acoustic properties of one environment to another soundfile). It nows comes PPC native! Check out the SoundHack Users' Guide, <http://shoko.calarts.edu/~tre/SndHckDoc/> and then download the program!
Sound Machine is a great shareware program that comes standard as a plug-in for Netscape Navigator. Download it from: <http://online.anu.edu.au/RSISE/teleng/Software/SoundMachine/welcome.html>
Common Music is an object-oriented composition program that began in 1989. You can read the documentation at the website <http://www-ccrma.stanford.edu/CCRMA/Software/cm/cm.html> or contact the author directly at Rick Taube, School of Music, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, Vox: +1 (217) 244 2684, Fax: +1 (217) 355 5780, Net: taube@uiuc.edu
HMSL was written by David Rosenboom, Larry Polansky, Phil Burk. The current version of HMSL is based on three levels of programming: the FORTH language, the Object Development Environment (ODE), and the HMSL. Phil Burk developed the ODE to supplement HMSLs data structures (Burk was also the one who implemented the MIDI driver on the system). All users have access to any level of code and may alter the programming environment in order to best suit his/her needs. The basic organization of HMSL is a series of data structures called "morphs" (named for the flexible or morphological design of the software). Within the superstructure of these morphs there exist other data substructures named shapes, collections, structures, tstructures, productions, jobs, players, and actions. These secondary types of morphs are used to control aspects of higher level scheduling and routines. Available at <http://www-ccrma.stanford.edu/CCRMA/Software/cm/cm.html>
Interactor was written and designed by Morton Subotnick and Mark Coniglio. Performance algorithms center around timing and tempo. The ability to accurately measure the tempo and distance between notes of a live performer is at the core of the program. Interactor is structured around events--these may be Macintosh-based, such as pressing a key on the keyboard; Interactor-based, such as clicking on a Menu item within the program; Time-based which are all relative to a given timebase, and MIDI-based such as pressing a key on a MIDI keyboard. Several forms of delay exist: delay pipe, loop, ramp register. These all control events that will happen in the future. In several of the previous examples, a delay is used so that an operator carries out its function and jump either sends a MIDI note-on message or a program change. One of the other features of Interactor is the ability to act as a 'smart tape recorder' with sequence record, stop, and play functions. There are eight multichannel sequencers built into Interactor. Transposition, modulation, and looping may be applied to individual sequence information. Because of the eight independent timebases and eight scene groups, sequenced information may be performed simultaneously in up to eight different tempi. These are not relative to some large-scale clock, but instead are eight separately-functioning timings. Here's the website: <http://www.imuse.com/InteractorMain.html>
M is a great program for interactive performance/composition. It was very popular in the 1980s, and is currently being released by the Electronic Music Foundation. The M program used patterns of pitches and rhythms for manipulation through repeating cycles. The live performer was able to control aspects of tempo through a MIDI instrument, the Macintosh keyboard, or the mouse. The basis of the M program centered around a live player that created a set of four pitch patterns that could be varied over time to create the composition. The variables involved were settings of randomness within the context of note density, velocity (accents), and note order. With the Note Order function, the original pattern of pitches could be replayed in the original order, cyclic random, or utterly random.1 The amount of randomness of each of the three types could vary from 0-100%. Therefore, a pattern could be partially cyclic and partially original order. Each of the four patterns could be played back simultaneously and varied independently. You can get the sofware from <http://www.cycling74.com/index.html>
Max was originally written by Miller Puckette and released by IRCAM, but is currently sold by Opcode with additional elements and designs by David Zicarelli. The most basic element of Max is called an object. Objects are used for sending and receiving MIDI information, performing mathematical operations, collecting numerical data, as well as functioning in many other ways. Max is equipped with over one hundred built-in objects, as well as a number of external objects that may be loaded as the program is in operation. The program reads objects from right-to-left and bottom-to-top. The Patcher window is the drawing board upon which the programmer writes the code. This window consists of a template with many menu items; each of these items may be drawn upon as needed by selecting the item and clicking on the window for placement. A wide variety of sliders, dials, buttons, and virtual keyboards have been incorporated in to Max. These objects add ease to real-time performance and interaction between the computer performer and the MIDI instrument. Cycling '74 is the place to read more...<http://www.cycling74.com/index.html>
Music Mouse, written by Laurie Speigel, was designed to be a stand-alone performance system. It may be used as a MIDI controller or as a performance station using the Macintosh internal sound. Unlike other programs for the Macintosh environment, Music Mouse was not intended to be used as a recorder/player program. Instead, the program enables the programmer to "play" the computer. Check out the software at: http://www.dorsai.org/~spiegel/ls_programs.html
Symbolic Composer has a very steep learning curve, but once you've gotten the hang of it, this program will allow you to create all kinds of music. The user writes algorithms that can control every musical detail. Here is the website <http://mrac12.com/scom/>.
Finale is produced by Coda. This is a high-end notation program with a steep learning curve. You can use it on both Mac and PC. It uses MIDI playback so you can hear what you've entered. There are several ways to enter notes including a MIDI synth or the Macintosh keyboard. You can do non-standard notation including staves with less than 5 lines, percussion note heads, and graphic notation. Reach Coda via the web at: <http://www.codamusic.com>.
Lime is a very simple-to-use notation program. Recent developments include MIDI playback. You can enter notes with this program by a synthesizer keyboard, the computer keyboard, or the number pad. You can read more about the program here: <http://datura.cerl.uiuc.edu/limefiles/limefiles.html>
Nightingale is a really easy program to learn. Check out the demos at <http://www.spindrift.com/ngabout.html>.
There's a great program called MIDIScan that will allow you to take hand-written music and scan it in to your computer. Unfortunately, it only works on the PC right now, but Mac can't be far away! <http://www.musitek.com/midiscan.html>.
Overture allows you to notate everything from lead sheets to large orchestral works. It's simple and fast, and you get a lower price if you are a student or a teacher. For a free demo, call 1-800-557-2633, ext. 145, or find them on the web at: <http://www.opcode.com>.
Sibelius is the latest and greatest music notation software out there. It is easy to learn, runs on both Mac and PC, and lets you print professional-looking music in a matter of minutes. Check it out at <http://www.sibelius.com/>. According to Robin Hodson, Eastern Region Manager, "Sibelius also includes music scanning as well as Internet publishing, as an integral feature within the program - it's not just a notation program."
Many of these programs essentially do the same thing, although they may name specific tasks different names. Therefore, rather than review each individual program, go ahead and reading the sequencing article just above here, and then go on to each of the individual programs.
Cakewalk -- <http://www.cakewalk.com>.
Cubase -- <http://www.cubase.com/>.
Performer -- <http://www.motu.com>.
Studio Vision -- http://www.opcode.com>.
Cmix The Cmix homepage may be found at <http://www.music.princeton.edu/winham/cmix.html>.
Csound Start with one of the main Csound sites at <http://www.leeds.ac.uk/music/Man/Csound/title.html>.
SuperCollider is a brand new program from James Macartney. This is a Power Mac native program that allows you to create new sounds (in digital audio format rather than MIDI) using a variety of synthesis techniques including AM and FM. You create the environment--sliders, boxes, buttons, etc. Head to <http://www.audiosynth.com> for free demos and to download the program. By the way, the last few summers there has been a SuperCollider Night School out in California. Check out the Summer Opps section of WOW'EM to find out more details!
Freehand is also produced by Macromedia <http://www.macromedia.com>
Illustrator is also produced by Adobe Systems <http://www.adobe.com>.
Live Picture is a fantastic digital imaging program. There are actually two versions, the full-blown Live Picture, and a consumer-oriented version called LivePix. This program works in conjunction, but does not entirely replace, Photoshop. Contact: Live Picture Inc., Soquel, CA; 408-464-4200 or 1-800-724-7900. The web site is: <http://www.livepicture.com/>.
Photoshop It may take a chunk out of your bank account, but it is really worth it! Check the Adobe Systems site <http://www.adobe.com/>.
Premiere is one of the most widely used programs for digital video editing. With this program, you can combine audio, video, and digital still formats to create integrated digital videos. You can download a trial copy at: <http://www.adobe.com/special/premiere>.
Bliss Paint is an interactive paint program that allows the user to control various visual elements such as color and pattern replication via Macintosh keyboard or MIDI instrument. The program was used by the Grateful Dead and Brian Eno. <http://www.imaja.com/imaja>.
Corel Click & Create is a new program. It uses an object-oriented approach and allows you to incorporate video, QuickTime VR, and Netscape Navigator communications. You can create animations, picts, etc. to use in your projects. This program allows you to create stand-alone applications that can be freely distributed. Check out more information at: <http://www.corel.ca>.
Macromedia Director and Authorware are the leading programs for creating your own CD-ROMs. The programs work on both Mac and PC platforms. These programs can incorporate audio, video, and picts (that you can create inside or outside the program), with an interactive interface (you can design) in order to create stand-alone applications. Director uses Lingo for its scripting language. The main Macromedia site is: <http://www.macromedia.com/>.
Media Master Pro is another program for PC. There are great facilities for audio, video, and image editing, including a Morphing Editor for PICTs. You can create stand-alone applications. The company is Advanced Media, <http://www.advancedmedia.com> or call 1-800-887-7771.
Innovus Multimedia is a PC program that uses Visual Basic for its scripting language. It allows you to create stand-alone application that incorporates (some) animation and video created from outside apps. Contact them at: <http://www.innovusmm.com>.
QuickTime and QuickTime Musical Instruments are system extensions that now come standard with Macintosh computers. They are also available on PCs. QuickTime is an extension that allows your computer to play digital video (used for games, CD-ROMs, etc.). QuickTime Musical Instruments allows you to use your computer for the playback of internal instruments rather than using an external synthesizer. Both extensions may be found at the Apple site, <http://quicktime.apple.com/>.
ColorMusic, designed by Shinichiro Hirama. This is a fabulous free, Mac software program you can download online called ColorMusic, designed by Shinichiro Hirama: http://www.alles.or.jp/~hiramas/English/. The program allows you to run your cursor over a digital image and transform colors into music (each pixel color is translated into the pitch, duration, velocity of a note). When you quit the program, you can save your work as a Type 1 Standard MIDI and open it again in any music-composing program. Splitting the staff at C3 produces some delightful, uncanny melodies in the treble line and wonderful, mysterious rhythms in the bass. (Try it with glockenspiel and/or kalimba). The ReadMe notes will tell you much more about it.
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Copyright September 1996,
updated February 2004.
Kristine H. Burns,
Florida International University
Questions? Contact me.