Which way to go

[steeley]

I'm looking for a music system for Angela to learn to write her own music. I have trialed "Band in a box" (mac) and am impressed with it. I can start with a clean slate and don't want to run in to any unnecessary problems & expense.

I have a Mac with Garageband, and I have a PC desktop and Sony Vaio Laptop.

Band in a box make both PC and Mac platforms. I also have a Yamaha psr-195 keyboard with a midi interface. The interface works with the PC but is a problem on the Mac.

I have used Mac's for years in my business (image processing), and am reluctant to return to PC's. However it seems the Mac doesn't like Midi's.

Any ideas on this would be appreciated. Maybe another music program?

Also Band in a box comes in a standard ($99) version and a much more expensive version. Does anyone here use it, and have any feedback for me.

wayne

[rogerch]

Wayne,

I have BB and do use it for certain things, it was primarily set up to be a tool for jazz. If you load midi files into it it does sometimes change things on the file. For example BB has problems with things like 6/8 times and the file will play funky.

BB is great for putting in a cord and having it generate a random solo lines and such. Excellent tool for wanting jazz musicians, the program can make a song out of a 12 bar blues progression in a second.

I don't own a MAC so I can't comment on that part of the post, but I doubt that you will find programs that are compatible on those fronts with midi, it's just a PC thing.

Hope that helps.

Roger

[gibbo]

Hi Wayne,
Roger is right (except in the way he spelt "chord" lol) I use BIAB and it's very easy to use.
Another great rhythm-generator program is Jammer Pro 6 ( www.soundtrek.com ) but I'm not sure if they do a Mac version. You shouldn't have any trouble finding a Mac-oriented midi-player or sequencing program for free though, just google mac midi-player sequencer.
Let me know if you need any help.
Cheers, Dave.

[mastercaster]

Hey Steely, not sure what you are looking for but as far as a midi editor goes Easybeat is great for a mac.

www.macility.com/products/easybeat/

Here are a couple articles on a macs audio and midi capabilities.

www.soundonsound.com/sos/jul05/articles/tiger.htm

www.soundonsound.com/sos/Apr03/articles/osx.asp