First we looked at a song-creation program called Fruity Loops. Fruity Loops creates music loops from samples. A sample is a small sound file, such as a piano, guitar, or drum. It started as a drumloop creator and evolved to a complete loop and song creating package. FruityLoops can hold an unlimited number of samples and channels and play those stand-alone or by triggering your MIDI equipment. Fruity Loops costs $49, and you can download a demo from www.fruityloops.com.
Next we looked at GrooveMaker. GrooveMaker steps you through the process of creating ultracool dance music, or you can use its virtual DJ, which mixes tracks on its own. GrooveMaker comes loaded with bass, drum, percussion, vocals, effects, and synth loops. You can also sample CDs, most types of audio files, and your own voice or instruments to create new mixes. GrooveMaker costs $40, and it can be found at www.groovemaker.com.
Next we took a look at Groove Blender, which is a quick and easy way to make grooving dance music. Just drag the sound blocks onto the canvas, then connect the blocks to form chains. The Chains play from left to right. Each individual chain will play independently of other chains. Click and drag to select a chain to perform edit functions such as muting or deleting. Groove Blender is free and you can download it from www.shockwave.com.
SequBeat Pro was the next software we played with. It is a percussion sequencer for practicing guitar, bass, and keyboards with the sound quality of a recording studio. With real sampled percussion sounds, SequBeat offers a full virtual drum kit for all of your practicing and songwriting needs. It works as a sequencer for constructing percussion quality sounds. SequBeat comes with the "Power" drum library that features 16 great samples. Enjoy full pitch and semi-tone pitch shifting for each individual sample. SequBeat Pro costs $25, and you can download a demo from www.neztech.com.
One of the best programs we looked at had to be PCDJ. PCDJ turns you into an instant DJ. It looks and feels just like a dual deck CD player, but with many more options. With the PCDJ software you can carry your entire music collection on a single hard drive and start mixing like a Pro DJ. In the professional version, you can Beat Match song-to-song using the Automatic Beat Match button. There are also Shuffle and Auto Play functions for endless jams. PCDJ will work with your MP3 files, as well as your CDs. PCDJ Costs $30 for the basic version, $100 for the intermediate version, and $200 for the professional version. You can download a demo from www.pcdj.com.
Another fun program we looked at was the Amazing Slow Downer. This program slows down your MP3 files between 1% and 400% using a "time-stretching" method which does not change the pitch, regardless of the speed! If you're a musician who likes to learn new songs and techniques by listening to the same piece of music over and over, but wish that the music could be played a little slower, then you will enjoy this program. Amazing Slow Downer costs $40, and you can download a demo from www.ronimusic.com.
Next we looked at Voice Changer Software. It does just what it says. Just plug in a microphone, and it changes your voice in real time. Getting tired of listening the same songs with the same voices? Change the voices with your voice changer software, save the new songs, and why not make your own CD. You can sing your favorite karaoke songs with other voices than yours. It's just a matter of how you play with the buttons and sliders. Voice Changer Software costs $20, and you can download a demo from www.audio4fun.com.
Next we looked at Orion Pro, which is similar to the Fruity Loops program. Orion Pro is a 'virtual' music studio suite for the PC running under Windows. It recreates all parts of a traditional studio including sequencing, the emulation of a mixing desk and all wired rackmount hardware (Synthesizers, Samplers, Drums, Effects etc). Orion Pro costs $49 for the standard version, and $99 for the Pro version. You can download a demo from www.sonic-syndicate.com.
Last, but certainly not least, we looked at YAMP. YAMP is an easy and affordable solution for computer users working with audio data. It allows users to easily extract tracks from audio CDs, quickly encode WAV files to MP3, convert MP3 files back to WAV, professionally mix WAV files, and much more. YAMP costs $30, and you can download a demo from www.softuarium.com.
At the April meeting, we will have a guest speaker come out to talk about digital photography, and show us a 5 megapixel digital camera. Come join the fun at the Harmon Foundation, 2901 S. Harvard, on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM.
For more information on the Tulsa Computer Society click here