Hi all,
Okay, I've found a couple of shareware sequencers. They're not incredibly
user friendly but they are free to use for a couple of months before one is
expected to pay for them.
If you want to try them go to
http://shareware.cnet.com/
search for these zip files:
mm32v130.zip
Description: Music Masterworks 1.3
MIDI music composer, editor & sequencer
Location: sim-win95 archive Directory: music/ Size: 1.6MB Windows 95
You need to be able to read music to enjoy using this one but it's really
quite powerful considering it's shareware. Also composing like this removes
the need for a midi keyboard. The screen becomes your manuscript paper and
you insert the notes, change time signatures etc. Good fun!
jz9xv32i.zip
Description:Jazz Midi Sequencer
The JAZZ++ midi sequencer v32i for Win95/98
Location: sim-win95 archive Directory: music/ Size: 1.8MB Windows 95
The Jazz sequencer isn't the easiest thing to use but the help files are
good so it shouldn't take too long to learn, it also allows you to create
music without a keyboard by entering notes in a piano roll window, you can
also use a keyboard if you have one. You are given a lot of control over
what you do but perhaps too much control for the beginner. Still it seems
like a good package.
If anyone can find any simpler sequencers then please let me know. Otherwise
I suggest we can start with these. On a technical note, these sequencers
will work with any soundcard but you may find that the instruments do not
sound very realistic if your soundcard is a little old. Don't worry at this
stage just concentrate on the dynamic of your part, when I convert the midi
files to mp3s I shall use realistic soundbanks so the timbres will be okay.
First of all I remember a couple of people expressing an interest in this
project. Please let me know again who is interested so we can sort out a
list of "band members".
The next stage will be for everyone who hasn't already got a midi sequencer
to download one of the above programs or another one of their choice and
familiarise themselves with how it works. Whatever program you use it must
be capable of reading and writing .mid files.
Whilst some of us are learning how to manipulate their sequencers the rest
of us can begin the creation of a test track just to flesh out how the
process will work. I shall create a simple midi file of about 1 minute in
length which I shall then e-mail to the next "band member" for them to add
their part. They will then e-mail it to the next band member and so on until
all band members have played their parts. The midi file will then be
returned to me and I shall render it into mp3 format and put it on the web
so we can all listen to it and discuss any problems that may have occurred
or how we may need to refine our working practice. So we shall take it one
step at a time.
At this stage if only a few people are interested in doing this project
that's okay because the midi file will go round quicker. We only need a few
people to start, the following people have already expressed an interest
primate_
nick
Rafael
including myself that's 4, anyone else. Heiko? Eryk? I'm not sure if you're
interested or not but I think you might be.
Well, just let me know. If you're sure you're interested and don't yet have
a sequencer download one of the ones mentioned above (whichever one you like
the sound of) and start learning it then we can get into making a few tunes
together.
Eryk wrote:
>Also, since so many fluxlisters are working with MP3.com,
why not set up a "fluxlist" station, where we set up a stream
of various fluxlist music. Maybe change the "DJ" every week.<
Good idea Eryk. If we created a Fluxlist page we could have pieces by
individual members as well as group work from the midi project. I think
Fluxlist would benefit greatly from this.
cheers,
Sol.
