Epinoisis Software
Version 4.02 of Epinoisis Software's Digital Ear now offers real-time pitch-to-MIDI conversion with an improved pitch-recognition engine. The software captures audio input and boasts as little as 5 ms tracking resolution for pitch changes. Like earlier versions, Digital Ear 4.02 can dynamically translate pitch, amplitude, and timbral information into appropriate MIDI data.
The Settings Wizard lets you optimize settings for different types of instruments to achieve the best conversion results. You can customize and save settings for any instrument or sound to create a library of favorite settings.
Once your audio is converted to MIDI data, you can edit the file with the Soft Quantization feature for more natural-sounding pitch correction, correct questionable tracking areas with the drag of a mouse, and remap MIDI Control Change messages. The program supports all GM and XG Control Change data as well as instruments that don't conform to GM or XG messages. Epinoisis Software; e-mail info@digitalear.com; Web http://digital-ear.com.
PG Music
PowerTracks Pro Audio 8.0 (Win, $49; upgrade, $29) features a redesigned 32-bit audio-processing engine; support for 24-bit, 96 kHz audio; an enhanced user interface; and more. Power Tracks Pro 8.0 is compatible with third-party DirectX plug-ins and ships with a library of plug-ins.
The software now supports real-time DirectX effects; you can chain up to four plug-ins and save grouped effects and settings for instant recall or for use with other PowerTracks Pro Audio projects. Version 8.0 adds support for automated mixing, including volume, pan, and control for auxiliary buses. Audio tracks offer automation with MIDI Control Change messages, and the Audio Event List lets you edit automation values. The Audio I/O Latency Delay feature lets you align audio-track playback with software synthesizers to compensate for latency-induced differences in timing. You can store audio data in the program's Scrap Buffer and paste it to a track in the current song. Tracks can harbor mono or stereo audio.
MIDI enhancements include automatic rechanneling of MIDI data in the Tracks Window. New to Version 8.0 is the Chord Sheet window, which displays chord changes in user-defined styles and fonts. The Chord Wizard automatically interprets chord symbols from Standard MIDI Files and displays them in the Notation or Chord Sheet windows. You can scrub notes in the Notation window to learn difficult passages or hunt for mistakes. The software offers 100 levels of undo for MIDI and audio edits.
PowerTracks Pro 8.0 provides Part markers for delineating sequence sections. Additional features include location to song position by clicking on lyrics, a redesigned audio VU meter with a clipping indicator, and multiple-track lead-sheet viewing and printing. PG Music; tel. (250) 475-2874; e-mail info@pgmusic.com; Web www.pgmusic.com.