Andy Van Ness, andyvn@spymac.com, http://andyvn.ath.cx
Requirements: G3 or faster Mac, Mac OS X 10.1 or later
Teaching or learning music? This nifty app covers three different areas of music theory—note names, key signatures, and ear training—to help you bone-up on your music training. The note names section tests your ability to name notes on treble, bass, alto, and tenor clefs (you can choose which clefs you’d like displayed). The key signatures section displays random sharps or flats on different clefs—it’s up to you to identify the key. And the ear training section has you distinguishing the type of chord being played—Major, Minor, Augmented, or Diminished, but be aware that chords may be played in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th inversion.
This awesome program keeps getting better and is perfect for those of you who own no musical or MIDI gear whatsoever and want to make music with realistic-sounding instruments (though we think you’ll like it even if you’re a world-class rock star). This latest version features a revamped interface, Real Singer II (a new technology that renders human voice sounds), and many more improvements and enhancements. The program integrates a digital sound database with music notation, allowing you to easily create, play, and print compositions using layers of a variety of instruments. This package also features a demo if Virtual Singer, an app that allows you to make your Mac sing any lyrics you type. Melody Assistant also allows MIDI output, and features a digital effects processor (reverb, flange, chorus, wah, overdrive, and more), multiple undos, and much more. It also allows you to export in MP3 format, add drum staves, incorporate a “Humanize” tool, add multi-instrument staves, record and edit sounds, or add your own sounds (AIFF, WAV, MOD, MIDI) and use them as instruments. Truly amazing and at only 15 bucks, a steal!
Requirements: G3 or faster Mac, Mac OS X 10.1 or later
This awesome program keeps getting better and is perfect for those of you who own no musical or MIDI gear whatsoever and want to make music with realistic-sounding instruments (though we think you’ll like it even if you’re a world-class rock star). This latest version features a revamped interface, Real Singer II (a new technology that renders human voice sounds), and many more improvements and enhancements. The program integrates a digital sound database with music notation, allowing you to easily create, play, and print compositions using layers of a variety of instruments. This package also features a demo if Virtual Singer, an app that allows you to make your Mac sing any lyrics you type. Melody Assistant also allows MIDI output, and features a digital effects processor (reverb, flange, chorus, wah, overdrive, and more), multiple undos, and much more. It also allows you to export in MP3 format, add drum staves, incorporate a “Humanize” tool, add multi-instrument staves, record and edit sounds, or add your own sounds (AIFF, WAV, MOD, MIDI) and use them as instruments. Truly amazing and at only 15 bucks, a steal!
Requirements: G3 or faster Mac, Mac OS X 10.2 or later
Don’t have the money to shell out for a synthesizer keyboard or expensive virtual synth pack? This may be your answer. This cool software synthesizer allows you to play instrument sounds (the default settings tap into the QuickTime Music Synthesizer) directly from your Mac keyboard—it uses the keyboard as an input device. It features a nicely designed virtual keyboard interface, multitrack sequencing capability, and supports SoundFont2 and DLS files.
