MIDI Software for the Mac ========================= Maintained by: govind@utxvm.cc.utexas.edu Last updated on : 9/5/1993 This document (perhaps most useful for those about to fritter away their hard-earned paychecks for MIDI software on the Macintosh :^), provides a short description of some of the more common commercial MIDI software available for the Mac. The short write-ups are based on user's comments, the product's propaganda literature, and other reviews. If the reader is not familiar with MIDI, and is confounded by questions such as, "What's a sequencer?", "What's a patch editor?", or even "What is MIDI?!", there are a number of other files available on the 'net which might prove helpful: 1. "MIDI on the Macintosh." 3-part article in TidBITS. Back issues available via anonymous FTP from: /info-mac/per/tb/... TidBITS#176/10-May-93: Introduction to MIDI TidBITS#177/17-May-93: MIDI software for the Mac TidBITS#178/31-May-93: Hardware: Interface, Macs, Synths. 2. "Inexpensive MIDI Resources for the Macintosh." FAQ file for shareware and public domain MIDI programs for the MAC maintained by Russ Evans, anonymous FTP from: in mac.ftp/sound/midi/ inexpensivemidiresources.txt 3. FAQ file for comp.music/rec.music.makers.synth on Usenet, discusses various MIDI and synthesizer issues. Maintained by Craig Latta, anonymous FTP from: in pub/usenet/comp.music/ Electronic_and_Computer_Music_Frequently_ Asked_Questions_(FAQ) 4. A bibliography on synthesizers, midi, computer and electronic music collected from various sources by Piet van Oostrum can be obtained by ftp from: in MIDI/DOC/bibliography. 5. MIDI and General MIDI Specifications, anonymous FTP from: in /misc/netjam/doc/midi/... **************** **** Commercial MIDI software for the Mac is organized in this document under three extended categories: 1. Sequencers and Notation Editors 2. Music Training, Algorithmic Composition and Accompaniment 3. MIDI Control 1. Sequencers and Notation Editors ================================== Usually, the list price is a fair reflection of the software's capabilities. The high-end packages are intended for the professional musician, while the mid- and low-range programs are aimed at the semi-pro or casual musician / composer. Each package claims its forte to be either sequencing [S] or notation [N], though sometimes both parts are present in some mix: [SN] [sN], [Sn], or [sn] Ballade [S] Good value 16 track sequencer with a snazzy MIDI mixing window. Built-in support for some sound modules such as Sound Canvas (Roland) and Tone Generator (Yamaha). (Is also being bundles with some SC-xx models). List $ 99. Dynaware USA Inc. (800) 445-3962 Beyond [S] : * * * * Discontinued * * * * (Now available in a new package - see Metro.) Composer's Mosaic [N] : Music-notation and publishing program with powerful tools for editing and manipulating scores. Quirky interface. A user comments that "It's the Microsloth Word of the music bizz: slow, cumbersome interface, and a processor hog to boot." Another maintains it is easy to learn (compared to Finale?). Will run on Mac Plus and up. $595 list. Mark of the Unicorn, (617) 576-2760. Internet: unicorn@applelink.apple.com ConcertWarePro [sN]: Good mid-level 32-stave notation and publishing program with a no-frills sequencer. Improved sequence-to-notation capabilities and stave scrolling during playback. editing application. Will run on Mac Plus and up. Version 6.0. $189 list.($50 update from ConcertWare+MIDI) Great Wave Software, (408) 438-1990 Cubase [S] : Sequencer with decent interface and a few unique editing features e.g. edit sequence while they are playing [this feature now available in other high-end programs]. Will run on Mac II and up. Copy protected (ADB dongle). $495 list. Steinberg/Jones, (818) 993-4091. CubaseScore [N] : Notation editor. ??? .Steinberg/Jones, (818) 993-4091. Deluxe Music Construction Set [N] : * * * * Discontinued ?? * * * * Music-notation program with limited features. Will run on Mac Plus and up. Copy protected. $130 list . Electronic Arts, (800) 245-4525. Encore [N] : Music-notation program with decent interface and good printing options for Postscript / QuickDraw printers. Will run on Mac Plus and up. $595 list. Passport Designs, (415) 726-0280. EZ Vision [S] : Decent sequencer for beginners. Interface provides a tape-deck analogy for recording/playback. Has an adequate subset of the features found in Vision, its senior and more powerful sibling. Will run on Mac Plus and up. $149 list.[New price $99 ?] Opcode Systems, (415) 856-3333. .[ To be discontinued now that MusicShop's here??] Finale [SN] : Powerful notation and sequencing program that does just about everything. Primarily a notation editor, the sequencer is less powerful than other top-of-the-line sequencers. Intimidating interface, manual. New version (3.0) has improved playback and instrument menus, and a General MIDI library. Some reports of Mac locking up during MIDI playback. Will run (actually, crawl) on Mac Plus (68030 based Macs recommended). Version 3.0. $749 list. Coda Music Software, (800) 843-2066. General MIDI Sequencer [S] Low cost, yet powerful 100 tracks sequencer with features (track editing capabilities) of some of the more expensive packages. Has "GenMap" to automatically map patches of synths/sound modules to the General MIDI instrument set. With a street price of < $50, it is bound to give quite a few sequencers a run for their money. Version 1.0. $ 80 list. Altech Systems. Lime [N] : Powerful notation program. Limited MIDI support, quirky interface, responsive tech support. $295 list. CERL. Master Tracks Pro [S] : Feature laden sequencer with a decent interface (junior version called Trax). Slightly easier-to-use package than Vision. Will run on Mac Plus and up. (Copy protected?) $495 list. Passport Designs, (415) 726-0280. Metro [S]: Can edit almost unlimited number of tracks in real time. Reincarnation of the sequencer Beyond with an integration to DECK (an inexpensive digital audio recording system from OSC.) Supports OMS and over 500 MIDI channels. $225 list. OSC. (800) 343-3325 MIDIplay : HyperCard based MIDI player. Will run on Mac Plus and up. $60 list. Opcode Systems, (415) 856-3333 MiniTrax [s] : No-frills public domain sequencer showcasing MIDIBasic. Will run on Mac Plus and up. Free. Altech Systems, Music Prose [SN] : Easy-to-use program with good import capabilities. Will run on Mac Plus and up (68030 based Macs recommended). $249 list. Coda Music Software, (800) 843-2066. Music Publisher [N] : * * * * Discontinued * * * * MusicShop [Sn] Upgrade package from EZVision. Features the usual tape- deck style sequencer (from the xxVision family) and a 32 stave notation editor. $ 149 list (upgrade from EZVision $49). Opcode Systems, (415) 856-3333. Music Writer 1/2/3 [N] Family of quirky notation programs offering 3/6/40 musical staves. Will run on Mac Plus and up. $119/295/595 list. Pygraphics, (800) 222-7536. Notator Logic [Sn]: [Edited from a post by eirikur@ranger.enet.dec.com] Cubase-like sequencer, usable notation (compares more to Cubase Score than to Cubase), sophisticated studio- environment MIDI-control model with icon window for routing, virtual controls of any MIDI event, special processor functions such as arpeggiators, splitters, etc. Ostensibly supports audio tracks via an Audiomedia board (probably compares to Studio Vision, or Cubase Audio, plus a notation package). Good Documentation. Some annoying non-Mac-like user interface. Version 1.6, Copy protection (ADB dongle). List $799 ? (Introductory price $399). E-Magic. berg@areaplg2.corp.mot.com adds: "...Notator has "Hyper Editor" which can be used for drum sequencing. The hyper editor can display/edit many types of events vs time in sort of a histogram plot. A hyper definition consists of a set of many of these histograms stacked like an EKG trace..." NoteWriter [N] Notation program by Passport Designs, (415) 726-0280. Performer [Sn] : Feature laden sequencer capable of loops within loops. Users report versions 4.0.x buggy, but 4.2 quite stable. Notation editor is slow, and lacks power - good only for proof sheets. Integrates with Mosaic. Is allegedly supposed to work seamlessly with Unysin (it does not yet) and FreeMIDI (which is still vaporware). Will run on Mac Plus and up. Copy protected. $495 list. Mark of the Unicorn, (617) 576-2760. Internet: unicorn@applelink.apple.com billy@irvine.com adds: "...The most recent update as of 7/93 is v4.2 In-depth editing and human feel features. Custom graphical slider interfaces. Supports multiple MIDI cable interfaces (MTP I/II). Digital Performer combines digital audio and MIDI." cassiel@cassiel.demon.co.uk provides a comparision between Performer and Vision, Professional Composer [N] * * * * Discontinued * * * * (MOTU's new notation package is Composer's Mosaic.) Songworks [sn]: A "Jack-of-all-trades" program which combines notation, sequencing, composition, and "one-finger" accompaniment. $125 list. ARS Nova, (800) 445-4866. Trax [S] : Easy to use sequencer for beginners with tape-deck type interface. Shares a few features (and the interface) with Master Tracks Pro, its senior and more powerful sibling. Will run on Mac Plus and up. $99 list. Passport Designs, (415) 726-0280. Upbeat : Versatile drum machine for arranging percussion. Will run on Mac Plus and up. $129 list. Dr. T's Music Software, (671) 455-1454 Vision [S] : Full-featured sequencer with lots of extras (junior version called EZVision; Studio Vision, the high end package, combines digital audio and MIDI). Will run on Mac Plus and up, although it needs a color monitor to take full advantage of MIDI editing features. Good integration with Galaxy, Max, and OMS. Copy protected. $495 list. Opcode Systems. (415) 856-3333. cassiel@cassiel.demon.co.uk comments on how Performer and Vision are fairly similar, yet quite different: "...The point is not the feature differences themselves, but the fact that the differing features and constructs lead to radically different music structures and working paradigms. If one just considers feature lists, the packages appear superficially similar: multitrack MIDI sequencing with some constructs for sequence chunking and song construction. Performer has a more powerful interface for presenting and allowing detailed alteration of MIDI data, and a two-level song construction mechanism. Vision is weaker at data presentation and editing, stronger at subsequence control and manipulation, navigation is much easier and cleaner, and song construction is done at the track event level, which leads to all sorts of fascinating things you can do that Performer comes nothing close to...." " The important point is that the differences lead to radically different working methods. For example, to do looping in Performer, you edit a track and put in some loops. Vision's looping constructs initially seem a lot weaker, but in fact once you get into the correct mindset Vision is a lot more powerful at this kind of thing (although not quite as straightforward): you loop by building tracks containing subsequence control commands. There is a lot more localization: entire song structures can be embedded in single tracks, and nesting is a lot more natural...." " Performer's chunking is easy to use and presented well. Vision's is non-graphical (which is a drawback; hopefully Opcode will do a good job when track overview comes along), but then again Vision allows you to kick off a number of subsequences at different tempos, then transpose half of them according to a sequence of keys, stop some of them at a definite point, and so on. It's much more modular and algorithmic...." " Vision is slightly better for controller editing, Performer is better for most of the other kinds of data. The sliders and mixer emulation [in Performer] are superficially nice but don't integrate well and have been buggy ever since their introduction in Performer 3.0...." " Performer has NO system integration. All instrument assignment and slider assignments are per sequence file. You can't move slider panels from file to file because the instrument assignments break. You can't change instruments on existing sliders (it doesn't work properly). Sliders don't chase events properly, and sometimes send to the wrong MIDI device, and so on and so on. (I notice that in Vision, slider events chase properly even from nested subsequences. I'm impressed.) ..." [Another similarity between Performer and Vision: they both have the same insidious copy protection scheme]. 2. Music Training, Algorithmic Composition, and Accompaniment ============================================================= Band in a Box Professional : Provides accompaniment and rhythm for different styles of music. $88 list. PG Music. Cypher : Unique algorithmic composition and accompaniment program. Can work with MIDI data in real time. $ 39 list. Available on CD as a companion to the book "Interactive Music System" by Robert Rowe, MIT Press, Boston. Harmony Grid : Non-traditional learning and composition program. Interesting use of grid to show patterns between scales, and chords. $99 list. VPL Research, (415) 361-1710. HMSL .......??.......?? Instant Pleasure Music : Program to make-believe that you can play like a pro. Plays the corrects notes of a loaded song no matter which synth key you hit (what?!!). Instant virtual gratification. $149 list. Instant Pleasure (614) 297-7600 Interactor : In terms of basic MIDI processing, much the same as Max. ???? ???? (Details please!) Jam Factory : Algorithmic accompaniment (rhythm) with manipulation of MIDI data in real time. $119 list. Dr. T's Music Software, (671) 455-1454. Listen : Educational tool for ear training and music theory. $99 list. Imaja, (510) 526- 4621. M : Unique pattern-based algorithmic composition program that works with MIDI data in real time. $119 list. Dr. T's Music Software, (671) 455-1454. MiBAC Jazz : Algorithmic composition and accompaniment for jazz numbers. By John Ellinger, Music Department, Carleton (jellinge@carleton.edu). $ 125 list. MiBAC Music Software, (507) 645-5851. MIDI School Software tool to learn the basics about MIDI and electronic music. Includes a basic 8-track sequencer. $ 75 (???) list. EduACTIVE, (???) ???-???? Miracle Piano Teaching System : Popular "teach-yourself-music" package containing software, a MIDI interface, and a 49-key MIDI keyboard. $499 list. Software Toolworks. Music Mouse : Entertaining whimsical program which tracks mouse movements for playback. $49 list. Dr. T's Music Software, (671) 455-1454. Practica Musica : Educational tool with an interactive game approach to ear training and music theory. $125 list. ARS Nova, (800) 445-4866. Songworks : A marginal accompaniment and composition tool. (See also write up in Sec. 1). $ 125 list. ARS Nova, (800) 445-4866. 3. MIDI Control =============== Free MIDI System : Similar in function to the MIDI Manager and OMS (see below), Free MIDI System is seen by many as a True-Typish move to get developers to agree on a standard set of "system hooks" for MIDI on the Mac. Free to all interested MIDI/Music developers. Mark of the Unicorn, (617) 576-2760. (Continues to be vaporware: 9/93). GS Controller : Patch editor. (See also Super MIDI Player.) $68 list. Dynaware USA Inc. (800) 445-3962 Galaxy : Patch-librarian with good integration between Vision, Max, and OMS. $249 list. Opcode Systems, (415) 856-3333. HyperMIDI : MIDI construction toolkit in HyperCard. Previously a shareware by Nigel Redmond, it has has recently gone commercial. $125 list. ELE. MAX : For those who enjoy both programming and music, the following words of wisdom gleaned from TV-reruns is offered: "Get smart; Max smart!" Max is an excellent object-oriented MIDI control and interface programming toolkit for creating MIDI systems, user interfaces, real- time processors and sequencers, algorithmic composition components, performance surfaces, and anything else you can possibly think of. Control primitives (or "objects") can be laid out and connected together and edited in a MacDraw-like environment, and then used to process MIDI data. Quite simply, it can be considered an instrument for building new MIDI virtual-instruments. Copy protected. $329 list. Opcode Systems, (415) 856-3333. Overall, the software is stable, has a good interface, and is easy to use. Adding new external objects to Max is as easy (or difficult, depending on your point of view) as compiling a code resource and dropping it in a folder. Not that it is likely you'll need to do that - Max has more than 160 predefined objects. (The package also has two 800 K disks containing Max tools developed by users.) On-line help is good. The 600 + page ring-binder manual has 40 tutorials and comprehensive object-library specifications - though a table listing all the objects and their functions would be a nice addition to an otherwise well-presented manual. One major complaint I have is Max's (or rather, Opcode's) *annoying* copy- protected installation procedure. (I just have an aversion towards any copy protection scheme,) MIDI Manager : Apple's MIDI Manager offers a high level interface to the Mac OS to correctly support the timing accuracy required by MIDI hardware and software under MultiFinder. It is for doing Inter-Application Communication and for allowing multiple applications to address the serial port. MIDI Manager does not come with the System - it is available to developers or as licensed software with MIDI application packages. $35 list. APDA. rbd+@andrew.cmu.edu adds: " MIDI Manager is not as easy [to develop with].... It's actually not bad, but if you program with Think C (which most Mac programmers seem to do), you immediately encounter a syntax error in the supplied header file and an object file that won't link unless you run a somewhat obscure Think C conversion program on it. None of this is mentioned in the MIDI Manager documentation...." ["oConv" utility for Think C 5; Think C 6 takes care of this automatically.] OMS : OMS is similar to MIDI Manager in that it extends the Mac OS for MIDI applications. It has some features not found in MIDI Manager such as SMPTE synchronization (SMPTE synchronization is the job of MIDI Time Code; it does not require OMS or MIDI Manager). OMS is *essential* to all PowerBooks (except the PB100 and the Duos) for achieving *full MIDI functionality* (see ref. #1 above). OMS allows an application to address a large number of discrete MIDI cables through one serial port, and also allows publish and subscribe, which might be considered non-real-time IAC (Inter-Application Communication) between applications, like a sequencer and a patch editor. Version 1.x was called "Opcode MIDI System." Versions 2.0 (due out summer 1993?) will be called "Open MIDI System" to reflect the fact that future versions of OMS will incorporate source code from other developers (see Free MIDI System.) OMS 2.0 will add IAC, and include serial port independence allowing the use of serial cards. Free to all interested MIDI/Music developers. Opcode Systems, (415) 856-3333. Super Librarian : Patch-librarian with awkward un-Mac-like interface. Does not run on Quadras. $99 list. Pixel Publishing, Canada, (416) 785-3036. Super MIDI Player : Functionally, a GS Controller with a MIDI Player. $88 list. Dynaware USA Inc. (800) 445-3962 Symbolic Composer : Symbolic Composer collects together in one environment all the standard tools for designing and originating music. Implements the 6th Generation Common Music Language for the Macintosh and Atari (consists of 150 general purpose high-level commands that cover morphing, chord generation, user definable styles and libraries. $ ??? list. Capedia, ( [UK] 0727-869791) Unisyn : Patch-librarian with shaky integration to other MOTU products. In isolation, it is competent though some editors reported to be buggy. $??? list. MOTU. About this document: ==================== This document may be copied and distributed freely by user groups, electronic b-boards, and archival services subject to the following conditions: 1. This document is copied only in full and without any alteration 2. No charge is made for its disbursement other than reasonable costs of materials or connection services. Disclaimer: =========== This document reflects user comments culled from newsgroups, propaganda literature, reviews, and my opinions. There is no guarantee as to the accuracy and completeness of the product list / review provided here. ** Caveat lector ** I disclaim responsibility for your buying decision based on this document. Caveat emptor (especially of user-hostile copy protection schemes). All products, publications, and company names may be registered trademarks of their companies. Send additions/corrections to: govind@utxvm.cc.utexas.edu This document was last updated on : 9/5/1993