iPad on the way, apps to follow...

So I finally did it (or I should say, was given the go-ahead from the boss) to get an iPad! I ordered it from the Apple Store, and it should be delivered by about May 6 or 7.  Tried getting it from the local Apple Store, but they can't seem to keep them in stock for more than a few minutes after shipments arrive.

Initially, I was not that interested in the iPad, but then after doing research found out that it actually has a decent amount of handy little music apps that all go for WAY less than their laptop neighbor's software.  Most apps run anywhere from FREE to about $9.  That's a helluva lot cheaper than most software I know of for laptops/desktops.

That, and then there's this bad boy:

This is the Alesis IO Dock.  *Drool* It pretty much allows you to connect to ANYTHING music related, midi related, microphone related - you name it.

It is available for pre-release order at Sweetwater where they are saying it will be released in summer of 2011.

Key Features:

• The world’s first pro audio dock for iPad
• Connect microphones and instruments including guitar, studio monitors, PA speakers, headphones, and MIDI controllers
• Universal device works with virtually every audio and MIDI app in the App Store; Core MIDI compliant
• Perform, craft, create and play back music in virtually any conceivable manner or location
• Video output for connection to TVs and projectors
• Inputs: two combo XLR-1/4" for use with audio gear, instruments, and computer audio
• Input channel gain controls and switchable phantom power for use with condenser microphones
• Guitar-direct switch for use with amplifier- and effects-modeling app
• Outputs: pair 1/4" and 1/4" headphone with separate volume controls
• Control: MIDI In, MIDI Out, USB MIDI, and assignable 1/4-inch footswitch input

Now if it will just be released already....

Pyware 3D Drill to Video Conversion

This is the method I used to turn the 3D drill in pyware into a video that I used to show the band at band camp to get them excited about the show, and later so they could see how their part fits into the overall picture.

Programs you'll NEED installed:

1.      If you write your own drill and have the full version of Pyware 3D, you are all set.  If not, you will need to download the Pyware Directors Viewer (used when someone else writes your show but you want to be able to change the look and colors and perspective viewing options - necessary) loaded with your drill for the show. The info to access your drill writer's drill was supplied to me by my drill writer.  The Directors Viewer did cost about $50 each year, which boosters may be able to cover - I had it added to the yearly booster budget.  http://www.pyware.com/directorsviewer.html.

2.       Jing (with mp4 save option from pro) http://www.techsmith.com/jing/pro/.  Jing is a screen capture program which allows you to capture the specific window the drill is playing on, or the entire screen.  If you want to be able to save the video as an .mp4 (for easier video editing later), you will need to pay for Jing Pro, which isn't too much of an additional cost.

3.       Adobe Premiere Elements (or some video editing software that supports MP4 - most do) www.adobe.com/PremiereElements

STEPS:
1.  Open Pyware and Jing, record just the 3D view window.  Music will be added later.  Save individual videos as MP4 using Jing.
2.  Open Adobe Premiere Elements, use all MP4 videos, sync with MP3 recordings.  Export movie with the options which fit your iPod player.

Here are some alternate means to accomplish the same thing found in this user forum:

http://pyware.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=264

The forum topic also covers how to do this using a mac

Top 25 Music Ed Sites

Short blog today.  Here it is!

Top 25 Music Education Sites

Free, Legal, Royalty-Free, Public Domain Music Sites

Compilation of Free, Legal, Royalty-Free, Public Domain Music Sites:

8notes – 8notes is a free sheet music database. The site also offers free riffs, lessons, and tools for musicians and music fans.

Band Music Library

BearShare – BearShare is free file sharing software. It can be used to legally download free music and share mp3 files with friends.

Choral Domain Public Library

Finale Showcase (need Finale)

FindSounds – Similar to SkreemR, FindSounds is an audio search engine that allows users to search the web for free music, sound effects, file formats, and more.

Free PDF Sheet Music (Downloadable in other formats with purchase or membership)

Free Piano Sheet Music

Free Play Music - Free Music to download and add to your presentations, movies, etc.. Has a categorized by feel function.

free-scores.com

GrooveShark – Like pandora and other radio sites, but lets you choose the specific music, not just the genre or artist. Create login, free.

iLike – This MySpace site calls itself a “social music discovery service.” After creating a profile, iLike users can share music, playlists, music recommendations, and personalized concert alerts.

IMSLP – Petrucci Music Library

incompetech - Royalty-free music download site

Jamendo - Free Music Download Site.

Jango – Jango is a free social music service that allows users to play unlimited free music online. Simply type in what you want to hear, and Jango will create a personalized radio station for you. You can share your station with friends and tune into stations other people have created.

JSB Chorales

Live365.com – Live365.com is an Internet radio network that features more than 250 genres of music produced by over 6,000 radio stations in 150 different countries. You can search for radio stations by genre or artist.

MixPod – This social music playlist community lets users create free online playlists, browse playlists created by other people, and share playlists on social media sites.

Mutopia – The goal of the Mutopia Project is to make sheet music and classical music freely available over the web. Mutopia visitors can download, print out, perform, and distribute nearly 1,700 pieces of music.

Pandora – Based on the sophisticated taxonomy of the Music Genome Project, Pandora is an Internet Radio site that allows you to create personalized radio stations based on music you like. Simply type in the name of a singer, composer, band, or song you enjoy, and Pandora will create a free radio station that plays that music or music like it.

Piano Public Domain

Piano Society – Piano Society maintains the largest library of free classical piano recordings on the web. Site visitors can download free music and read about more than 200 different classical and contemporary artists and composers.

Playlist – Playlist is the world’s largest music community. Members can create their own personal playlists and share them through websites, blogs, and social media sites.

Project Gutenberg Sheet Music Project

Qloud – Qloud is a free music library that can be used to play music online or share songs via Twitter. The site also shows songs that are being played by other Qloud users.

Free Royalty Free Music 

RoyaltyFreeMusic.com – This site offers a wide range of royalty free sounds and music. Many of these items on this site are free for everyone. Educators who sign up for RoyaltyFreeMusic.com’s classroom program can gain free access to additional tracks from the site’s stock music library.

SkreemR – SkreemR is a free mp3 search engine that can be used to locate music, remixes, podcasts, recorded radio, and other audio files on the web. More than 12 million mp3 files from over 100,000 websites have been indexed by SkreemR so far.

Songza– This site allows site visitors to browse for songs and artists or create a radio station that plays a mix of songs. Songza also offers featured mixes, such as pop hits, dance party, indie rap, and dinner party.

Violin Sheet Music

Wikifonia

WIMA: Werner Icking Music Archive

The state of solid state

I've often wondered the real benefits of using a SSD (solid state drive) versus the traditional HDD hard drive.  When I goto the mac store and build my dream power macbook pro on the web site (just for fun), I'm often torn between spending the extra green on the SSD or going with more space but slower load times on the traditional.  The first half of this video helped me to make up my mind:

What are your thoughts on SSD versus traditional?