The Amazing Slow Downer is special tempo adjustment software designed to make practice sessions more fun and productive for developing musicians.
ASD provides you with simple, powerful functions to learn your Essential Elements¿ exercises at a tempo that is comfortable for you. The easy-to-use interface allows you to slow down (or speed up) the tempo, change the balance and to repeat the exercise while you learn.
ASD works on most PC and Mac computers and will work only with the DVD-ROM and CD-ROM included with your book. However, the full version of this software will work with any CD, as well as AIFF, MP3 and other audio files.
To download and check out the full version of Amazing Slow Downer, please visit: http://www.ronimusic.com
This program requires at least 6 MB of memory and runs on PowerMacs having System 8.5 or later. If you run OS X, you must use the OS X version of Amazing Slow Downer.
Basics
While you can use the mouse to operate every aspect of the program, here are descriptions of some basic functions and their keyboard shortcuts.
Play: The Spacebar key toggles between Play and Pause/Continue or Play and Stop/Start (from the beginning) depending on the settings in the Button Settings dialog under Preferences. The numpad 0 (zero) key starts playback from the beginning of the selected track. Numpad . (decimal) pauses/continues playback. Numpad Enter stops playback. The L key toggles the track Repeat (loop) function on/off.
Track Selection: The Shift key + Up/Down arrows cycles up/down the track list. (Command + R will refresh the track list, if necessary.)
Speed Slider: The numpad Plus/Minus keys increase and decrease the speed. Holding down the Option key while clicking on the slider resets the speed to 100%. Option + numpad Plus/Minus also resets the speed to 100%. The T key toggles between 100% and the previous value. Shift + numpad Plus/Minus keys shifts speed faster/slower by 1% increments.
Mix Slider: The numpad 7/8/9 keys set the mix to full Left, Center and full Right respectively. Holding down the Option key while clicking on the slider resets the mix to Center. Shift + numpad 7/9 keys shifts the mix left/right by increments of one. Feature: regardless of the position of this slider, music is always sent to both speakers.
Track Slider: The Left/Right arrow keys jump the cue to the Start and Accomp. Only positions. Shift + Left/Right arrow keys will shift the cue position left/right by one-second increments.
Note: In OS X version this is found in the Application menu.
This menu item contains a submenu with the following items:
Button Settings
This is where you set the behavior for some of the buttons.
Spacebar key toggles between
You can start and stop playing by pressing the spacebar. If you want to repeat a certain section over and over, choose the Play/Stop option. If you want to continue from where the music stops, choose the Pause/Continue option.
Rewind on stop
When clicking the Stop/Pause button, you may have the cue position automatically rewound by the set amount. This makes it easier to repeat a short phrase without having to adjust the start position.
Show Helptags (OS X)
You can choose when helptags are displayed. A helptag is a tiny window displaying some helpful text when the mouse cursor pauses over one of the controls. Select between: "Always", "When Stopped" and "Never".
Select CD Device (CD Player)
Here is where you set options concerning the CD device.
CD Devices
Here you select the CD-ROM device the program should use. If you only have one internal CD device, chose the Use Apple default CD device option. If you have several CD devices, chose the Select a mounted CD device option and select between the available devices.
Note: A CD device is "mounted" when a CD is inserted and the CD icon is displayed on the desktop.
Synch correction
With some CD-ROM drives, every time the music is read, the data comes in slightly shifted. If you hear strange clicks and pops, select a synch width between 1-8 to correct for synch errors. The number indicates the number of frames that are used for sector synchronizing. Start with the lowest number and increase as necessary.
If everything sounds fine without sector synchronizing, don't enable it since it uses some of your computer's processing power. Reading may even be worse if using a bigger synch width than needed.
General Settings
Here is where you set options for the playback and processing of the music.
Downsample to:
The highest frequency a digital audio recording can reproduce is half the sampling frequency. This means that a higher setting will increase the audio quality but it will also increase the time required to process.
A CD is always recorded with a sampling frequency of 44100 Hz, while MP3/AIFF files may have been recorded with any sampling frequency.
You may choose to lower the playback frequency, and thus decrease the processor work, by selecting the 22050 Hz or 11025 Hz options. The 44100 Hz option leaves the sample frequency of a CD unaffected. The No Change option does not change the sample frequency at all.
Pre-filter
When using a sample frequency setting of 11025 or 22050, you may need to filter out some of the higher frequencies. Check this item if higher pitched sounds, such as a cymbal, sound distorted. This increases the processor work.
Type III Quality
The sound quality setting for the corresponding slow-down type. Higher means better but uses more processing power.
Read Buffer Size
A larger setting may work better on some computers. A smaller setting makes the program react faster to pitch and speed changes.
Legal Stuff
Roni Music
Smafolksgatan 51
S-212 38 Malmoe
Sweden
Website: http://www.ronimusic.com
Email: http://www.ronimusic.com/sendmail.htm
Copyright ⌐ 2001 - 2004 by Roni Music. All rights reserved.
No warranty is expressed or implied. The author of this program is not responsible for any damage or loss of data due to the use of this program.
