dca@edison.UUCP (07/07/86)
I saw a price I couldn't resist for "the Music Studio" in the
latest AmigaWorld ($36 from Northeastern Software) so I broke
bad and bought it. This is a capsule review of its good and
bad points from a weekends use. I read the manual and used
it pretty extensively so I think most of what I say herein
is accurate but their might be things that escaped my notice
or I overlooked.
To me, anyway, "the Music Studio" is easily worth the $36.
I've already had more fun with it than either Skyfox or
Articfox. It does possess a great deal of capability.
Some of the limitations, however, mean I will probably
buy Deluxe Music when it becomes available.
Features:
o A note entry system with standard note symbols.
o Optional immediate feedback of the notes as the mouse
is moved up and down the staff.
o Playback of the entire or sections of the composition
with or without the music scrolling in time to the
music.
o Support for multiple instrument sounds (up to 15 different)
with up to 4 of them playing simultaneously.
o Tracks, which allow "layering" the different instruments
so that only some of the instruments will appear and be
played back at a time.
o MIDI interface support (I didn't use this so I don't know
the full extent of its capabilities).
o A musical paintbox which allows the use of sized squares
instead of standard note notation (which translates when
the normal entry mode is selected).
o Instant transposition of music between keys.
o Copying or movement of the music to other parts of the
song.
o Lyrics
o An instrument design screen which lets you "roll your own"
by picking up to 7 of the first 31 harmonics and by giving the
amplitude for each of those selected harmonics at
up to 7 variable location time lines. Additionally tremolo,
vibrato, or a time line sustain point can be specified.
o Includes a number of demo songs many of which are somewhat
rinky-dink, but a few are quite good (check out "invasion").
o Ability to load/save pieces and sounds.
There are good deal many features but these are some of the highlights.
Now for the detractions.
o The notation system doesn't allow for the full range of notation
required for professional quality sheet music. Especially notable
is that the staffs for notes on the lower staff are not flipped
down, notes of the same value on the same vertical line don't
join, and neither is there support for the horizontal bars on
the same values. The result is that the music tends to
be somewhat busy with such over-repeatition of flags.
o Most of the more exotic notation such as slurs, trills, etc.
are not supported including any non-quarter tuplet except
for thirds (which is scored with a subscript 3).
o Ties are supported but aren't associated with a given instrument.
Therefore, they don't disappear when the notes they tie are
deselected using tracks. Also, even though using tracks you
can specify several instruments playing the same note, you
can't then tie those notes to a following note for any but
one of the instruments.
o Some items that should be score specifiable seem to be
global for the entire piece: time signature, key, dynamics,
tempo.
o The paintbox is fun but the lack of ability to specify sharps and
flats is a somewhat annoying limitation. They should have expanded
the scale in this domain to have vertical slots for the sharps
and flats.
o It seems like sounds can only be saved as an entire map. I couldn't
figure a way to transfer a single sound to a map in another
composition.
o Some way to merge a score section as well as move it would be nice.
o The different instruments are identified by color and some of them
are quite light to be put on a white background. I was nearly going
blind trying to score a piece that had alot of the light green notes.
Mind you this might be to some degree a function of my AMIGA monitor
but I think sticking to darker colors would have been more sensible.
o Sharps and flats and naturals don't carry over to notes in the same
measure, they must be explicitly specified on every note.
Enough.
This program does do alot and as an experimental composition tool it's
a blast. As a performance tool it is not bad. As a sheet music printing
aid it is not too hot. If you are musically inclined I recommend you at
least see it.
David Albrecht
These are my opinions and to the best of my knowledge accurate. Any
inaccuracies I would welcome being corrected on.