BeatPad 1.0 release |
BeatPad allows the user to create and save a number of musical patterns. These patterns can contain a series of notes (pitch, volume and length of every note can easily be changed) and up to eleven drum instruments. Every aspect of a pattern can be changed while it's playing, or another pattern can be recalled from memory without missing a beat. Such features allow for performing songs which use multiple patterns, and even improvising as the patterns are being played.
"BeatPad is an amazing tool for real-time sequencing and performance," says Simon Gatrall, president of Swivel Systems. "The analog-style lead sequencer combined with the grid-based drum programming screen bring everyone's favorite old school interfaces into the future. Modifying, copying, muting and soloing patterns on the fly is extremely intuitive with BeatPad; this system is so much cheaper, smaller, and easier to use than any computer or hardware based sequencer with equivalent capabilities."
BeatPad was developed in collaboration with Swivel Systems, a hardware company which will soon be selling the SG20, a clip-on sound module for the Palm OS Platform to extend the audio capabilities of the handheld computers. The miniMusic software can play limited music from a Palm device's built in speaker, but becomes a very powerful tool when connected to other audio hardware like the SG20, using the industry standard MIDI protocol. "We want to provide portability that musicians have never had in software, but with BeatPad you also have a very powerful interface for controlling all of your gear in a studio, club, or on-stage," says Chad Mealey, president of miniMusic.
Pricing, Availability, Distribution, and Support
The miniMusic BeatPad 1.0 application becomes available for $29.95 U.S. on May 15th, 2000. At this time the software will only be available on the internet, but will soon be available through other channels, including retail. A free demo is currently available for download from the miniMusic web-site at http://www.5thwall.com/minimusic and from other Palm software distributors such as PalmGear H.Q., Handango, and Smaller.com.
About miniMusic
miniMusic is a division of The 5th Wall(TM), a publishing company co-founded in 1991 by Chad Mealey, the designer of the miniMusic software. Now operating from San Francisco, miniMusic's goal is to provide portable music tools for composition, education, performance, and entertainment so that musical ideas can be explored anywhere and anytime, giving individuals the freedom of musical expression on their own terms. Chad studied music composition at San Francisco State University and Mesa College in San Diego. His computer background includes work at the Salk Institute, The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and Biosphere 2 in Arizona.
For more information please visit the miniMusic website at http://www.5thwall.com/minimusic
The 5th Wall and miniMusic are trademarks of The 5th Wall. Swivel Systems and SG20 are trademarks of Swivel Systems. Palm Computing OS is a registered trademark, and Palm, Palm OS and Palm OS Platform are trademarks of Palm Computing, Inc., or 3Com Corporation or its subsidiaries. All other brands and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.