Music Creation Programs (Animation Music Part 4)
In Part 4 of my look at Music for Animation I look at the different music creation software packages.
Quite often the flower phrases describing the wonders and powers of each product comes from the web sites of the products themselves and are therefore to be taken with a grain or 3 of salt. I will put the manufactures comments in red so that you can tell the copywriter`s art-form.
These are good products and fine arrangements of music can be created with them but they are only as good as the musical sense of the person using them. It is best to have a musician if at all possible. (see Part 2 & 3 below)
Music Creation Software:
Most music creation software is based on the loop concept. Different short loops of music are used as building blocks to create musical arrangements.
ACID Pro Loops, for long years the top contender, was from Sonic Foundry and was the leader on the PC platform. They were bought out by Sony who sat on them for about a year but has now started to develop the product again. They have changed the names of their produces again so I am not sure what is what anymore.
Sony ACID Pro
http://www.sonymediasoftware.com/products/acidfamily.asp
American Idol Extreme Music Creator:
Give your music dreams a jump-start with American Idol Extreme Music Creator software. It's everything you need to record, mix, edit, and burn your own demo CDs so you can share your talent with the world.
US $49.95
This seems to be the ACID XMC software with a licensed name and another $10 added to the cost to cover the flashy name license.
ACID Music Studio:
ACID Music Studio software is the perfect tool for original song creation, live recording, studio-quality mixing, and effects processing. Includes audio effects such as EQ, reverb, delay, chorus, and echo.
US $69.95
ACID Pro 6:
ACID Pro 6 software is a professional music workstation for composing, recording, mixing, and arranging audio and MIDI tracks. Multi-track recording. Comprehensive MIDI sequencing. Over 1,000 loops.
US $374.96
You can Download a free trial of all 3 products. Students can get the Acid Loops Pro from http://www.studica.com/ Sony Acid Pro 6 Win CD - Free Shipping $188.95
Cakewalk Home Studio 2004:
Cakewalk is a music loop system that made a lot of headway while ACID Loops was working out its business problems. It will work with its own loop packages or with the Acid Loops format. (which is s strong point for the underdog)
SONAR Home Studio Version 6: From Cakewalk:
SONAR Home Studio 4 : $139.00
Loop Desks : $ 69.00
They seem to be moving toward a computer based music tool for musicians with USB MIDI connection tools.
http://www.cakewalk.com/Products/HomeStudio/default.asp
The problem with this type of system is that it gives everybody the tools to create music. That of course is also their strength. I have heard some music (sic) that never should have heard light of day created with these programs. I have also heard some very passable tunes done by non-musicians.
Both groups of music creators thought that they knew what they were doing when they started pasteing sound loops together. One of the groups was very wrong.
Ask your friends or teachers to honestly tell you if your music sucks and hope that they have the music sense to tell the difference between a good and bad soundtrack. If you know any musicians ask them for help. Nothing can kill good animaiton quicker than a bad soundtrack.
copyright and TM 2001-2007 Larry Loc (From: Animation on a ShowString 6th Edition)
Quite often the flower phrases describing the wonders and powers of each product comes from the web sites of the products themselves and are therefore to be taken with a grain or 3 of salt. I will put the manufactures comments in red so that you can tell the copywriter`s art-form.
These are good products and fine arrangements of music can be created with them but they are only as good as the musical sense of the person using them. It is best to have a musician if at all possible. (see Part 2 & 3 below)
Music Creation Software:
Most music creation software is based on the loop concept. Different short loops of music are used as building blocks to create musical arrangements.
ACID Pro Loops, for long years the top contender, was from Sonic Foundry and was the leader on the PC platform. They were bought out by Sony who sat on them for about a year but has now started to develop the product again. They have changed the names of their produces again so I am not sure what is what anymore.
Sony ACID Pro
http://www.sonymediasoftware.com/products/acidfamily.asp
American Idol Extreme Music Creator:
Give your music dreams a jump-start with American Idol Extreme Music Creator software. It's everything you need to record, mix, edit, and burn your own demo CDs so you can share your talent with the world.
US $49.95
This seems to be the ACID XMC software with a licensed name and another $10 added to the cost to cover the flashy name license.
ACID Music Studio:
ACID Music Studio software is the perfect tool for original song creation, live recording, studio-quality mixing, and effects processing. Includes audio effects such as EQ, reverb, delay, chorus, and echo.
US $69.95
ACID Pro 6:
ACID Pro 6 software is a professional music workstation for composing, recording, mixing, and arranging audio and MIDI tracks. Multi-track recording. Comprehensive MIDI sequencing. Over 1,000 loops.
US $374.96
You can Download a free trial of all 3 products. Students can get the Acid Loops Pro from http://www.studica.com/ Sony Acid Pro 6 Win CD - Free Shipping $188.95
Cakewalk Home Studio 2004:
Cakewalk is a music loop system that made a lot of headway while ACID Loops was working out its business problems. It will work with its own loop packages or with the Acid Loops format. (which is s strong point for the underdog)
SONAR Home Studio Version 6: From Cakewalk:
SONAR Home Studio 4 : $139.00
Loop Desks : $ 69.00
They seem to be moving toward a computer based music tool for musicians with USB MIDI connection tools.
http://www.cakewalk.com/Products/HomeStudio/default.asp
The problem with this type of system is that it gives everybody the tools to create music. That of course is also their strength. I have heard some music (sic) that never should have heard light of day created with these programs. I have also heard some very passable tunes done by non-musicians.
Both groups of music creators thought that they knew what they were doing when they started pasteing sound loops together. One of the groups was very wrong.
Ask your friends or teachers to honestly tell you if your music sucks and hope that they have the music sense to tell the difference between a good and bad soundtrack. If you know any musicians ask them for help. Nothing can kill good animaiton quicker than a bad soundtrack.
copyright and TM 2001-2007 Larry Loc (From: Animation on a ShowString 6th Edition)
posted by Larry Loc @ 7:32 AM
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