Feel the Music: A Review of Music Production Software
By Kent, Gordon; Mandel, Mike; Access World, Vol. 2, No. 2, pp. 5-19Publication Date: March 2001
Article presents overviews of four accessible music production software programs: (1) Cakewalk, (2) Goodfeel Braille notation program, (3) Sound Forge, and (4) Cool Edit. Cakewalk is accessible for musicians who are blind or have low vision through the JAWS for Windows screen reader. People who use JAWS can also purchase Caketalking from Dancing Dots, which uses the JAWS scripting language to add features and functionality to Cakewalk. Goodfeel, also from Dancing Dots, allows composers to produce a hard copy Braille music score. Music must first be composed in a standard composition program, and then opened in a MIDI file. When the MIDI file is opened, Goodfeel will offer an “automatic transcribe” option in a dialogue box. The music is then transcribed into Braille. Sound Forge is a digital audio recording program from Sonic Foundry. The program allows the user to add effects such as reverb, time stretch, and compression. The program is accessible for people who use JAWS for Windows. Cool Edit, produced by Syntrillium Software, is a sound editing and recording program. Features include support for up to 128 audio tracks, advanced loop mixing, audio restoration, a multi-channel encoder for surround sound, and MIDI and video support.
Assistive Products Discussed: GOODFEEL BRAILLE MUSIC TRANSLATOR & GOODFEEL LITE
CAKETALKING FOR SONAR
JAWS FOR WINDOWS
Published by: AFB Press (Website:http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=46)
American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) (Web Site: http://www.afb.org )
