First, we opened a MIDI file and showed how the different tracks of music are displayed, and how you can change the instruments for each track. Then we opened another MIDI file and showed how to combine several tracks into a single track. This is helpful for combining piano parts into a single part for printout. Next we opened a Karaoke file and displayed the lyrics in big letters so we could sing along. Then we opened another MIDI file and showed how to change the pitch of a passage of music, or transpose the entire song. Finally, we opened the Minute Waltz and changed the playback speed until it was played in under 45 seconds!

Now the fun part. We cleared the slate, and set up a track as a Slap Bass, and had Mel Souter sit at a MIDI keyboard and record a simple bass line. Then we set up a second track as a piano, and he recorded a melody. Then we set up a third track as violins, and he recorded them. At the end we had a complete song. We tried another song just recording the full piano sound, and Mel played a cute honky tonk sounding song. We then pulled up the music in notation format and changed a few wrong notes, and added a few. This showed some of the editing features of the PowerTracks program.

PowerTracks Pro Audio can be found at www.pgmusic.com, and still costs only $29. It is made by the same people that make Band-in-a-Box, which we looked at last month.

The April meeting will be on Digital Audio Recording using your home computer. At the May meeting we will have a special treat, where Mel Sutter is bringing his player piano to show off. 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