Some software has been around forever or so it seems. The reason is simple: The company created a great product and kept on making improvements. Case in Point: Finale 2000 from Coda ($545 list). From the day of its initial release, Finale was on top of the game with great features and more power than any of its competitors. Today, Finale 2000 is even easier to learn, easier to use than ever thanks to the new Set-up Wizard, Quick-Start video tips, and instant help messages.
No more fears: Now you have multiple undos! What's more, music looks beautiful as you enter it thanks to the new Fibonacci note spacing. Finale owners get unlimited free technical support, and hundreds of plug-ins, templates, fonts, libraries, etc. are available from 3rd party developers.
Finale 2000 is true professional power for desktop music publishing. Import and export graphics in TIFF, EPS, PICT, WMF and Illustrator compatible formats. Get the look you want with many music fonts (included) like the beautiful Maestro fonts; Professionals say it's "the first font to make the music look like it came from an engraver instead of a computer." Engraver, Petrucci, Tamburo and Seville fonts are also included plus a hot Jazz font you get free when you register Finale. Select from dozens of templates such as Lead Sheet, Chamber Orchestra or SATB with piano.
With Finale 2000, you add notes your way: Click notes into place with the Simple Entry Palette; Play your MIDI keyboard and watch Finale's patented HyperScribe notate as you play; Use the computer keyboard with or without your MIDI keyboard for speedy note entry. You can also open scanned music directly from Musitek products such as MidiScan and PianoScan.
System Requirements: (Macintosh) System 7.1 or higher, 8-16MB RAM minimum (depending on OS), 20MB available hard drive space, 20MB additional hard drive space required to load on-line documentation, CD required for video tips (New Copy Protection no longer requires CD check). (Windows 95/98/NT) 8-16MB RAM minimum (depending on OS), 20MB available hard drive space, 20MB additional hard drive space required to load on-line documentation, CD required for video tips (New Copy Protection no longer requires CD check).
The folks at Sibelius believe notation software should be a joy to use, not a frustration . . . like the old adage, it's "99% inspiration and 1% perspiration." So if you thought it was impossible for an advanced scorewriter to actually be easy to use, think again! You'll be astonished by the intuitive design and uncompromising quality of Sibelius ($599 list). And you don't need a degree in computer science to use it. What's more, you don't have to decipher huge manuals no one can possibly understand.
Three of the most important things to look for in any program are speed, simplicity and intelligence. Sibelius excels at all three. It's so powerful that processing happens instantly: most operations take just 1/10th of a second! It understands how you think and work, because it's designed by musicians who know what you want. Best of all, it takes just minutes to learn, a few days to master! Finally, Sibelius gives you printed results of the highest pro standard.
Sibelius is completely interactive: Your score reformats and redraws instantly after any operation (drawing / formatting speed are not affected by length of score). You can view and edit any number of pages on the screen at once; typically 85% of the screen is left clear for your music. Your music is always shown exactly as it will be when finally printed and a unique "navigator" feature lets you click on a miniature view to move anywhere in the score in fact, you can zoom in / zoom out almost indefinitely. Another nice touch: No complicated hierarchies of menus and dialogs, plus you get multi-level undo to any user-definable level. Did we mention the on-line help feature?
Actually, if we were to list all the advanced features of the Sibelius software, you'd be totally impressed, but we'd be chewing up page after page of this issue. Let's just say that you won't get stumped in the middle of writing a piece of music of any complexity because of any software limitations. You know from experience that when you get inspired, you have to get the music down then and there. The last thing you need is to have to stop and figure out some silly work-around for what should be a simple task. That won't happen with Sibelius!
System requirements: (Macintosh) G3 / iMac / PowerMac (for PowerMac, fast model recommended), MacOS 7.1 or later, 6MB+ free RAM (12Mb+ recommended), CD-ROM drive (any speed), 10MB+ free hard disk space. Some features require printer, MIDI keyboard, Internet access, website and a scanner. (Windows) 486DX-100 or faster PC (Pentium 166MHz or faster recommended), Window 95 / 98 / NT4 or later, 16MB+ RAM, CD-ROM drive (any speed), 10MB+ free hard disk space. Some features require printer, soundcard, MIDI keyboard, Internet access, website, scanner.
Sonic Foundry, a leading developer and marketer of media authoring tools and digital audio software for Windows, has released Vegas Pro ($699 list), an eagerly awaited, technologically advanced, Windows-based multitrack media editing system that was designed with one thing in mind to create a more efficient audio / media production environment without sacrificing the exceptional sonic quality and superior processing power professionals have come to expect from Sonic Foundry.
For fast, non-destructive multitrack audio / media editing, nothing performs like Vegas Pro. You'll have total control with complete confidence, even for the most demanding projects. With Vegas Pro there are no limits and no constraints. From conceptualization through delivery, Vegas Pro provides the ultimate audio / media production and Internet authoring environment. Complete flexibility and enhanced media handling allow the mixing of file properties, bit depths, and sampling rates, all on a single track without the use of cumbersome dialog boxes. And because Vegas Pro works in real time, the creative thought process is never compromised.
Edits and processes happen lightning fast, with impeccable precision, allowing you to enhance the performance of the software simply by increasing your computer's processing power. The Vegas Pro system features a unique, multi-threaded architecture designed to squeeze over-the-top, realtime performance from a standard Windows PC. With Vegas Pro, users can perform non-destructive edits during playback and run multiple plug-in effects, all in real time. A highly scalable solution, Vegas Pro will utilize multiple processors and extra RAM to achieve a level of performance that is unmatched by software-only multitracks. Additionally, disk throughput, the most critical aspect of any hard-disk recording system, is heavily optimized in Vegas Pro through its use of asynchronous I/O when available.
The feature-packed Vegas Pro also provides 24-bit / 96 kHz class performance to ensure precise audio definition, accommodates unlimited tracks, and includes DirectX Plug-In support for easy expandability. In addition, it supports .MP3 files and the seamless creation of streaming media content, including the ability to incorporate timeline metadata for both Windows Media Technologies 4.0 and RealNetworks RealSystem G2 file formats.
Minimum system requirements for Vegas Pro include Microsoft Windows 9x/NT 4.0, a 200MHz Pentium processor (400 MHz recommended), 32 MB of RAM (128 MB recommended), 20 MB of available hard-disk space, a VGA display (24-bit color recommended), a CD-ROM drive, and a Windows-compatible sound card.
Bitheadz Voodoo ($199 list) is easy to use software that turns your computer into a programmable beat box that plays samples and Standard MIDI files. Samples and drum patterns can be triggered from the computer keyboard, a MIDI controller, or a MIDI application running graphically displayed. The sample can then be modified in many ways, including changing loop points, cut/copy/paste, and numerous digital signal processing functions. Samples can be exported by simply dragging to the hard disk.
Standard MIDI files are imported by simply dragging the MIDI file(s) from disk onto a playlist. Clicking the playlist displays its tempo, volume, effect 1 & 2 sends, and MIDI sync parameters. Each individual pattern can have offsets to the global playlist settings.
Each disk file is one window that is a complete "drum kit" with its associated samples, control data, and sequenced patterns. Several files can be open simultaneously. Supported sample formats for import and export are AIFF, Sound Designer II, WAVE, and Unity DS-1 in either mono or full stereo. Did we mention that Voodoo features outstanding 24-bit, 96kHz sound quality and up to 64-note polyphony (CPU dependent). How does Bitheadz do it? Must be Voodoo!
System requirements: (Macintosh) 120MHz or faster PowerPC processor (G3 recommended), OS version 7.6.1 or higher (OS 8 or higher recommended), 64MB RAM, 250 MB free hard disk space, Compatible CD-ROM drive, 800 x 600 or higher resolution monitor with 256 (8-bit) or more colors. (PC) 200MHz or faster Pentium processor, Windows 95 / Windows 98 OS, DirectX supported sound card, 64MB RAM, 250 MB free disk space, compatible CD-ROM drive, 800 x 600 or higher resolution monitor with 256 (8-bit) or more colors.
Emagic WaveBurner ($199 list) is the first Mac CD Mastering program with sophisticated crossfade options for perfect transitions. It's fast and unique with realtime 44.1kHz conversion, CDTEXT support and full PQ Editing capabilities.. WaveBurner is the ultimate software for Audio CD Mastering using the Mac. Used in connection with an Audiowerk2 card (which includes WaveBurner), or an Audiowerk8 card, you can record your DAT tapes or other sources directly to hard disk. All the while, your CD document automatically actually grows in the background.
Another nice feature: You won't waste any more time converting the sample rate in your sample editor. WaveBurner automatically converts your 48kHz DAT output to the red book required 44.1kHz in real time, during recording. This remarkable program is ready to create your master CD whether for glassmaster, archive, or Redbook master for final duplication. WaveBurner even writes at speeds up to 8x (when supported by hardware).
An easy-to-use interactive waveform display allows you to perform non-destructive editing: Trim, cut, paste, normalize, fade and crossfade (with variable curves). You can write Tracks with multiple audio files or make separate tracks from just one audio file. WaveBurner supports SDII, AIFF and SDII Regions Formats in mono, interleaved stereo or split stereo. You can import 20- or 24-bit files with dithering and there's even a Text Export (track list) feature.
With WaveBurner, you won't find yourself wishing for features that other, more expensive software programs include, because they're all here, and easy to work with, too.
System Requirements (Macintosh): Power Macintosh or better, 32 MB RAM, SCSI CD recorder. Optional: Audiowerk2 or Audiowerk8.
Today there are a variety of stand alone programs for recording and processing audio on your PC. The problem is you need one to burn CDs, another to load sounds from a sampler into your computer, another to handle multimedia material and so on. Then there are the different utilities for converting and processing the data on your hard disk, for example doing FFT analysis, not to mention the really expensive program you need for restoring audio which, let's face it, doesn't quite work anyway!
WaveLab from Steinberg ($499 list) is a true 32-bit program, so unlike many other programs it can make full use of the power of Microsoft Windows 95 and NT. This means optimal performance on almost every system no delay when scrolling, no waiting when zooming in or out, and no lengthy coffee breaks when saving your files or calculating displays! Although WaveLab benefits from the increased power of the new high speed processors, even a smaller system such as a Pentium 100 still lets you work easily and efficiently.
The "in" word at the moment is realtime, but this can often be used to describe a number of different situations. WaveLab was not only the first Windows audio editing program incorporating realtime plug-ins, but it also demonstrates the true meaning of the word. Whether navigating your way round the Audio Window, selecting regions, or zooming in or out, all this can be done during audio playback, without affecting the sound or compromising the performance in any way.
Most of the so-called "off-line" procedures such as normalizing, compression, chorus etc. can also be tried out while a file is playing. And you can undo the function and restore the original as many times as you like without interrupting playback.
WaveLab's off-line processing works internally with an accuracy of between 32 and 64 bits, producing quality which exceeds even the highest expectations. The WaveLab toolbox includes a number of goodies such as a 100-voice chorus, allowing you to achieve results previously unimaginable. Standard functions such as pitch-shifting or time stretching are carried out in top quality, not to mention the unparalleled options for dynamic processing and filtering.
System Requirements: Intel Pentium PC with Windows 95 or NT 4.0, at least 16 MB of RAM, CD-ROM Drive / MPC compatible 16-bit sound card, hard disk with a minimum of 20 MB free space, video card supporting 256 colors or more. For the RealtimeEngine: Intel-Pentium 166 or faster recommended. For CD-Burning: Supported CD-Writer.
Mastering Edition (VST Mac/PC/Wavelab/Direct X $499 list) from Steinberg Spectral Design is a collection of six studio quality plug-ins for a variety of host-based applications. Each of them was designed to handle specific music production tasks. For each mastering requirement, there's now a particular tool in the Steinberg line which has been developed to help you achieve the most efficient and effective results.
Loudness Maximizer is an essential dynamic processor with algorithms specifically optimized for "lifting" the effective loudness of any audio material to commercial CD levels. Even on a mix that was set to maximum level, this plug-in can increase the subjective loudness and punchiness of the material without adding typical artifacts like pumping or breathing, and with no clipping, guaranteed!
Spectralizer gives your mix more clarity, and presence by adding the 2nd and 3rd harmonic. This is a great plug-in to use on some older recordings that seem flat or just a bit muffled. It will put back the missing harmonics and make it sound like it was recorded yesterday.
ME Compressor is a multiband compressor that offers extremely accurate manipulation of different frequency ranges with up to 5 bands. As a result, complex mixes and even single instruments can still be compressed even after the final mix has been completed.
FreeFilter is the first ever linear phase realtime 1/3-Octave Equalizer designed to process the audio signal without coloring the final result. Due to the ability to display the In- and Output spectral frequency shape and the chosen filter curve, critical frequencies can be easily detected and corrected. The new Learn Function enables users to actually transfer the particular sound of a reference recording to a second one (e.g. for producing a compilation CD).
ME PhaseScope and Spectrograph complete the Steinberg Mastering Edition with two serious analysis tools. PhaseScope is a Goniometer with intergrated Correlation Meter, while Spectrograph displays a spectral plot as a realtime sonogram, giving precise verification of even the smallest details in the recording. Good news: Existing owners of a Steinberg Spectral Design Plug-In can upgrade to the Mastering Edition at a special price.
System requirements: Any Mac or PC running VST, WaveLab and DirectX compatible software.
So there you have it. Of course, even after this article, there are still dozens of absolutely great software packages out there that we haven't covered. We hope to include more in future issues, but please call your Sweetwater Sales Engineer or have a look at the latest 2000 Equipment Directory for a complete rundown on all the software we stock. An be sure to call for special Sweetwater pricing on the software that's right for your needs.