Polyphonic Synthesizer in Your Pocket
miniMusic has released version 1.2 of its popular NotePad music notation software for the Palm Platform. NotePad now has a polyphonic synthesizer built-in and a new notation rendering engine providing sharper and more detailed graphics.
Until now, most PalmOS handheld computers could only generate monophonic sound (one note at a time) and additional hardware was needed to hear chords or counterpoint played back. A few models (mostly from Sony's Clie line of handhelds) have had sound cards built-in or available as an optional add on module, and these have been supported by all miniMusic software. But this is the first time that polyphonic sound (many notes at a time) can be played without any additional hardware.
Other software developers have been able to generate enhanced audio on OS 5 handhelds from pre-recorded files (like MP3 players for example), but NotePad 1.2 is actually creating the complex digital audio in real time during playback with no pre-recorded file.
"If the hardware and operating system would have allowed it, this is the product we would have released two years ago," says Chad Mealey, chief developer at miniMusic. "We've constantly struggled with various hardware manufacturers to offer enhanced sound for handheld computers, but now we can just make it ourselves!"
The initial release of NotePad 1.2 will support 4-note polyphony (4 notes can be playing simultaneously) but miniMusic is already working on the next version of the synthesis engine to allow for greater polyphony and even different instrument sounds. NotePad also supports the sound card found in many Sony Clie handhelds (including the T, TG, NR, NX, and NZ-series Clies).
The entire graphics rendering engine has been overhauled to take advantage of the high resolution (320x320 pixel or higher) screens found on most modern
handheld computers. Gone are all of the jagged edges on notes, rests,
clefs and other notation elements. The other major change is a new
exporting feature that lets you export songs as MIDI files to any memory
card in your handheld (like SD cards or Memory Sticks) instead of relying
on a desktop HotSync plug-in.
The NotePad 1.2 Upgrade will be free for all current owners of NotePad, or it can purchased for $29.95 from the miniMusic website, or as part of the new miniMusic Mobile Software Pack available for $59.95 on-line and from select retail outlets (Mobile Software Pack owners must register on the miniMusic website or by mail to get the free upgrade). Free demos of all miniMusic software titles are currently available for download.
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RE: Nice idea
RE: Nice idea
RE: Nice idea
If you want to draw a good comparison, try existing PDA software or better, some of these closed design synth boxes that are out there at any music store.
RE: Nice idea
http://www.planetgriff.com/galleria.php
a sequencer with vst-style plugins! and it's been around for a while...
aaron & co, why don't you use your sequencing library to create something like that?
RE: Nice idea
Yes it is a good idea but trying to compare this to piece of Windows software is a out magnitude comparison. Thus, I do not consider what you said a valid review.
If you want to draw a good comparison, try existing PDA software or better, some of these closed design synth boxes that are out there at any music store.
[/quote]
Please read more carefully. I was not comparing it to desktop software. I would be positively mad to think that a $30 piece of Palm software could approach the usefulness of a $450 professional composition suite running in Windows that has been under development for over a decade. I was merely stating that I was a Finale user as a point of reference.
That being said, the criticisms of this software are valid. There is no eraser, and trying to put little notes on little lines with the stylus can be very frustrating. There were also clearly screen refresh problems on my T3. When I put notes in place, then changed them, it did not refresh the area where the old note was. Also, in comparison to other Palm software on the market that retails for $30, this software definitely lacks polish. I stand behind my initial review.
Perhaps others are more patient that I and will get a lot of use out of this product. I acknowledge that it is a great step in the right direction. There is a lot of potential in the design of this product, and I wish MiniMusic the utmost success. We musicians need more and better software for the Palm OS. I would very much like to see a more polished version of this product in the future.
Arthur
Palm Pilot 1000 > Palm Pilot Professional > Palm III > Palm M100 > Sony Clié PEG-T415 > Palm T|T3
RE: Nice idea
Arthur
Palm Pilot 1000 > Palm Pilot Professional > Palm III > Palm M100 > Sony Clié PEG-T415 > Palm T|T3
RE: Nice idea
RE: Nice idea
Designing any product often requires finding or choosing a balance between making it powerful/easy and making it obvious. With the limited screen space of the Palm Platform, we chose not to clutter the screen with tools and pallets the way desktop notation software does. As a result, some of the features you mention are not obvious to users of Finale, Sibelius or similar products. That doesn't mean they aren't available.
For those that don't like reading documentation we did include a single page "quick start" guide with this version that comments on how to erase notes and how to transpose by half-step (for accidentals). Instead of an extra pen mode and an "eraser tool" on screen, you can simply write a graffiti "x" to erase selected notes.
Never-the-less, many computer users still do not read the instructions and we will contnue to try and make all of the features more clear for such users.
Our Arm "soft synth" is polyphonic, but currently not multi-timbral (just one instrument sound). The window you mention that allows you to select different instruments only affects playback when in "Play To: Serial Port" or "Play To: Sound Card" modes (found in the Preferences screen) where a full General MIDI sound set is available. That is why the instruments all sound the same in the "Play To: OS 5 Sound" mode.
We do have a road map for many improvements but are always happy to hear your feedback.
-Chad
miniMusic
music studio
RE: music studio
I echo the comments above - this is good news and there is so much potential here. I'm a Sibelius user (sorry Arthur :) and would love to have notation on my Palm. I've tried demos in the past, but none offer polyphony on my Kyocera. I plan to check this one out - even if it's rough around the edges, it may be better than nothing.
Thanks for the news, PIC!
RE: music studio
The Treo600 and Zodiac both have built-in sound chips that we will be adding support for shortly.
Finch, of course NotePad supports low-res too...
Unfortunately, theharmonyguy, if you are talking about the Kyocera 7135, since it is OS 4 it cannot run our new polyphonic synthesizer... mono sound only, on board.
Thanks for the comments.
-Chad
miniMusic
RE: music studio
Thanks for the response.
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Nice idea
I commend MiniMusic on their effort. This is an area which is quite lacking in the Palm arena, and I hope that they keep developing and enhancing this type of software. Considering other pieces of much more "polished" software (not music software, mind you) available for the price, I consider $30 to be quite steep. I would find it very difficult to compose on this.
Arthur
Palm Pilot 1000 > Palm Pilot Professional > Palm III > Palm M100 > Sony Clié PEG-T415 > Palm T|T3