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The composition computer-assisted progressed much with the exponential growth of the possibilities offered by the Ordinateur S and the Synthétiseur S. the music computer-assisted ( MAO or CMAO for musical composition computer-assisted) made its appearance near a public widened in the Années 1970, when the first ideas of synthetizer associated with the computer are born (Synclavier and Fairlight).

The MAO democratizes in the Années 1980 thanks to the arrival of the Commodore 64, the APPLE II and the Atari ST, this last being the first personal computer to integrate an interface MIDDAY.

History

Research on the composition computer-assisted goes back to 1955, and led in 1956 to the famous string quartet known as “It Continuation”, worked out by Lejaren A. Hiller and Léonard Mr. Isaacson at the university of the Illinois.

The basic postulates of work of Hiller and Isaacson were worked out in the mobility of the theories Cybernétique S which granted a great confidence to the capacities of calculation (Artificial intelligence). These authors worked out a mathematical model of analysis - musical construction which, by adapting two treaties of counterpoint (in fact the treaty of 1725 of Johann Joseph Fux, Gradus AD Parnassum , and that of Palestrina) was used as a basis for a rebuilding. Hiller was a Scientifique, a Chimiste, and for him the decomposition was to allow recombining. To formalize certain writing rules and to return in the computer of the traditional diagrams compositionnels would be enough to translate the emotional or passion sides of the music by sets of rules and interdicts. To preserve a certain degree of artistic expression, the program simulated the aspect car-organized by introducing some aspects of the theories on the formalization of the chance (of the chains of Markov - formulation of the stochastic processes and a method Aléatoire of pulling of the numbers known as of “Monte Carlo”), sails very about it, they too. What made say to Hiller which “the music is a compromise between monotony and chaos”, but without never posing the problem of knowing which carried out this compromise.

Various categories of software

There exist software dedicated to the musical activities for a very broad spectrum of uses. Moreover, it is current that a software integrates several complementary functionalities, some cumulate even the whole of those:
  • the sequencer S developed with the standard MIDDAY, and make it possible to automate the play and the parameter setting of synthetizers. Similar to readers of electronic partitions, they are in the middle of the composition of electronic musics.
  • the tracker S or Soundtracker S , whose golden age is in the years 1980 on computers Atari and Amiga, are sequencers using of the sounds sample born, thus guaranteeing an identical restitution of the piece, independently of the synthetizer used. The technical limitations obliged the artists to show much creativity: re-use of samples at different speeds, partially or with back; interlacing of the instrumental parts on a lower number of tracks (often 4), etc
  • the software of audio recording go from simple the Magnétophone numerical to the integrated studio multitrack, with console of mixing.
  • the editors of partitions , often coupled with the sequencers, make it possible to produce documents printed in musical theory for execution by an orchestra
  • the software synthetizers , tie left the current performances of the computers, are programs numerically simulating existing or completely new synthetizers directly on the computer carrying out the sequencer. A standard of interface names VST.
  • the plug-ins of effect, like the software synthetizers, are of appearance more recent because they require important computing powers. Generally associated with the software of audio recording, they allow various modifications of a digitized audio signal, either by modelling an effect (analogical) existing, or by original algorihmes.
By combining these functionalities, it is possible to carry out the whole of the musical activities of creation on only one computer: composition, arrangement, execution by synthetizers and recording of audio sources, mixing… until engraving on CD.

Examples of software

The software develops as quickly as information technologies, giving birth, at the end of the Années 1990, with essential tools in phonographic creation (especially since the arrival of the numerical support, like the Compact disk).

Here is an not-exhaustive list:

Free software

  • Ardor, sequencer more or less equivalent to Cubase (Actually nearer to Protools). It is about a free software functioning under GNU/Linux and Mac OS X.
  • MUSE, sequencer free for Linux rather close to the old versions of Cubase Vst 3.7.
  • Elody, an environment for the musical composition which uses a model of objects and abstractions, developed in the laboratories of GRAM, national center of musical creation.
  • Hydrogen, editor of loops of batteries (patterns). It is about a free software functioning under GNU/Linux.
  • OpenMusic : free software developed by the Ircam, programmed in language Lisp.
  • Rosegarden, sequencer, allowing the edition of partitions under Linux. The user interface is intuitive and it can be used to import and export files midday as well as files Karaoke (files midday with words).
  • Wired : free software, planned for the amateurs and professionals, it competes with the majority of the software.

Free software

  • Buzz : its great advantage is to be completely free. Based on a system of internal machines emulating synthetizers and effects, it includes, moreover, the technology of the VST, but can appear very greedy in resources system. Its ergonomics is not more pleasant, and it can appear unstable; the development having been given up by its creator, Arguru, of many bugs persists. Nevertheless, those being related to certain not finalized machines, it is possible to avoid them. Moreover, BUZZle, remake of Buzz, today in béta, is very awaited by the users of Buzz.
  • ModPlug Tracker : it belongs to the family of the trackers (sequencer), it supports the formats Module, i.e. that each recorded file comprises the partition of the notes to be played and sounds of instruments which go with. That has as a characteristic to have a weak weight (favors South) and a high quality if one uses sounds of good quality (favors musics " streamées" such as the wave, mp3 etc…)
  • MadTracker : Fact part also of the family of the trackers, is thus similar to ModPlugTracker, turns under Windows XP/2000/Vista
  • ImpulseTracker: Less powerful than MadTracker, this software turns under Win95, which explains its lack of power

Commercial software

  • Cakewalk Sonar: this software is a reference on PC, it is a sequencer.
  • EJay : surely most known of the general public, it is of a poor quality, but can allow a ludic discovery of the assembly of superimposed loops.
  • Final (software): editor of partition.
  • Fruityloops : it is a sequencer of line entry, rather easy of catch in hand, but which allows despite everything the creation of truths pieces of music. He is regarded by the musical medium as a software “semi-professional”. Fruity Loops (or FL) is compatible with the technology of the Vst.
  • Reason : this software is him also equipped with an easy interface, following the example Fruity Loops. It does not have the technology of the Vst but compensates for this lack by the quality of its basic delivered instruments.
  • Logic Pro: The reference on Macintosh, it is rather difficult of catch in hand but has all qualities of a sequencer of high-quality, to however note the stop of the updates for the users of PC.
  • GarageBand : developed by Apple and turning under Mac OS X is a sequencer with rather simple loop of use which supports the MIDDAY and creation of Podcast. Little expensive and series with iLife on all new Macintosh, it is ideal to be familiarized with the MAO and to leave on good bases (effects, mix, arrangements…)
  • Cubase : this software is the reference on PC, it is a sequencer, but which connects also the environment Hardware directly in its center. Reason can be used in complement of Cubase to form a very powerful tool. This software is very much used, and asks for a good sum of knowledge to be used correctly.
  • Protools : Software more used in the music studios and of sound post-production (born in 1994 under the name of Session 8). It is presented under two versions is Protools for the studios house and Protools HD for the professional studios. Although the last developments of Digidesign improve beacoup the functions MIDDAY of the software, Protools remains a more powerful software for the audio treatment (recording, mixing, post-production…)
  • VirtualDJ : developed by Atomix Productions, it makes it possible to mix its and video at the same time. It also makes it possible to mix its various music files via a turntable vinyl via the use of a Vinyl timecodé.
  • Samplitude is a software born in 1990 in Germany, and with the departure directed audio recording studio and production (recording, mixing, post-production…). As Protools of which it is the equivalent, it integrated functions MIDDAY. There exists a version dedicated to work in network: Sequoia. Its operation by " objets" makes extremely powerful and not very greedy in resources.
  • Acid Pro Loop, editor of loops " semi-pro" very intuitive allowing the assembly of loops and the treatment of the sound. The software allows the use of VST intruments and plug-in, and the synchronization of a video in work environment.
  • Guitar Pro, a software conceived initialiement for the training of the guitar, by posting the partitions in the form of Fingering chart S with accompaniment MIDDAY. It allows from now on the creation of musics in any kind, not having badly instruments, but the base remains the guitar.
  • Ableton Live : Mac software and PC made up of a relatively easy to use section arrangement, but especially of a section " live" who makes his originality.
  • Live Styler : Live Styler is before a whole arranger real-time for keyboard or accordion Midi (Realtime Arranger Keyboard Midday) functioning under Windows. It is enough to a keyboard or accordion midday connected to the computer per Midi In and Out. It offers the same possibilities as the best keyboards arranger Hardware (Tyros Yamaha, Korg, Gem, Solton, Roland…). The principle is to play an agreement with the left hand to obtain an orchestration into simultaneous with automatic accompaniments according to a style chosen in the tonality of your agreements with 3 Intro, 4 Variations, 4 Wire, 4 Station-wagon, 3 End. With the right hand you play the melody or your improvisation for example: 8 tracks are reserved for your play and to 8 tracks for the accompaniments according to the styles. Live Styler is entirely configurable and personnalisable according to your equipment and of your choices… Live Styler France
  • Harmony Assisting: editor of partition and software synthetizer

See too

Related articles

External bonds

  • PcMusic.org: undermine information for the MAO on PC
  • miXscape MAO: Forum MAO on PC and MAC
  • http://www.linuxmao.org: Free software for the music
  • http://www.plugins-audio.com: Topicality on the Software of MAO

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