bobp@telxon (Bob Powers) (11/09/89)
printf("Hello world!\n");
I am getting ready to purchase the software package called "M" from
Intelligent Music, and was wondering if anyone has had any experience
using it and could comment on its MUSICAL usefulness. I read a couple
reviews by strictly computer people, so their comments weren't too helpful.
If you have any experience with "M" or any of Intelligent music's
other products (like Jam factory, etc...), I'd appreciate any correspondence
to discuss experiences/gripes/comments/suggestions/alternative
products/etc...
Also, I'm on the verge of getting either a Mac+ or Mac SE and would
appreciate it if anyone knew if I'd see a difference in performance between
the 2 machines when running MIDI applications, like "M".
Thanks in advance.
Bob Powers Disclaimer: Opinions (were there any?) are not
Telxon Corp. those of my employer.
.!uunet!telxon!bobp Harrisons Postulate: For every action, there is an
<** GO BUCKEYES! **> equal and opposite critcism.pmy@jeeves.acc.Virginia.EDU (Pete Yadlowsky) (11/09/89)
In article <257@telxon.UUCP> bobp@telxon (Bob Powers) writes: > I am getting ready to purchase the software package called "M" from >Intelligent Music, and was wondering if anyone has had any experience >using it and could comment on its MUSICAL usefulness. I haven't actually used M, but I recently attended a performance which featured it. Joel Chadabe (composer and president of Intelligent Music) and percussionist Jan Williams performed several of Chadabe's works at the Strathmore Hall Arts Center in Rockville, MD. So, my only experience with M was as audience, but what I heard said much to M's credit. It's quite musically useful, I think. Peter M. Yadlowsky | "Pay no attention to that man Academic Computing Center | behind the curtain!" University of Virginia | pmy@Virginia.EDU |
stank@anvil.WV.TEK.COM (Stan Kalinowski) (11/10/89)
In article <257@telxon.UUCP> bobp@telxon (Bob Powers) writes: . . . > If you have any experience with "M" or any of Intelligent music's >other products (like Jam factory, etc...), I'd appreciate any correspondence >to discuss experiences/gripes/comments/suggestions/alternative >products/etc... (I'm posting this because I thought it might be of general interest.) There is a demo version of "M" for the Atari St floating around the various sources of public domain software. I got my copy through a local PD disk swap, but I've heard that it is on many Atari bulletin boards (it was mentioned in comp.sys.atari.st a short while back), and commercial public domain software distributors. If you have access to an Atari you might try the demo version before you spend your money. Personally, I tried it, and was not very impressed, but you may have different needs/tastes than I have. It does take a bit of trying to use the demo version, at first I found it tends to time-out before you can get the tutorial examples set up. (The demo version also does not allow you to save what you have done, which is typical of demo software.) After a few tries, I became proficient enough with the user interface to be able to set up the examples, listen to them, and play around before the program shut itself off. In my opinion it did not offer anything that was both innovative and useful. One unique feature, the "conductor" box, allows you to change the parameters of the song in real time, i.e. while it's playing. I found it awkward to use. I should point out here that I am accustomed to using Musicbox, a PD music generator program for the IBM PC, which recently got a very favorable writeup in Keyboard magazine. I was very impressed with Musicbox when I first tried it, because I could generate unique and interesting "music" very quickly by simply varying some of the sample setups that came with it. (I use quotes around the word "music" here because I am not a musician, a purist would probably gag at what I do, I find that infinitly pleasing somehow.) At any rate, I was not able to get such a wide variation in the texture of the music generated with the "M" tutorial examples. I thought that "M"'s examples sounded great, but I was not able to get the same great results on my own. I was left with the impression that whoever wrote the demo's was probably very musical and could probably make anything sound good, I don't have such talent and so I was not impressed. I would highly recommend trying the "M" demo yourself and making your own decision, I am not a musician and so therefore my opinions of "M" should be taken with a grain of salt. One of these days, if I ever get some time, I'll probably revisit the demo version of "M", there's always the possibility that I missed something fundamental in the instructions on how to use it. I do think that offering a demo version of a program is a very good idea, and I applaud Intelligent Music for doing it. As a result of the "M" demo I carry a very high opinion of Intelligent Music and would not hesitate to do business with them once they offer a product I can use. stank US Mail: Stan Kalinowski, Tektronix, Inc., Interactive Technologies Division PO Box 1000, MS 61-028, Wilsonville OR 97070 Phone:(503)-685-2458 e-mail: {ucbvax,decvax,allegra,uw-beaver}!tektronix!orca!stank or stank@orca.WV.TEK.COM
mketch@pawl.rpi.edu (Michael D. Ketchen) (11/10/89)
In <5283@orca.WV.TEK.COM> stank@anvil.WV.TEK.COM (Stan Kalinowski) writes: |(I'm posting this because I thought it might be of general interest.) |There is a demo version of "M" for the Atari St floating around the |various sources of public domain software. I got my copy through a |local PD disk swap, but I've heard that it is on many Atari bulletin |boards (it was mentioned in comp.sys.atari.st a short while back), and |commercial public domain software distributors. As far as I know, Intelligent Music gives away demo disks for all its programs. You should be able to write to them (the address slips my mind at the moment) for information. I expect there would be a minimal charge for the disk, but it is worth it. (Although for something like M or Jam Factory, it can be tough to get to know the program really well before the demo times out.) - Mike -- -- |XXX| __/\__ |XXX|--------------------------+-----------------********========= |XXX| \ / |XXX| Michael D. Ketchen | This space ********========= |XXX| /____\ |XXX| mketch@pawl.rpi.edu | for rent... ================= |XXX| ][ |XXX| mketch@rpitsmts.bitnet +-----------------=================