Sony's new automagic music maker!

[Karbon L. Forms]

This does read like ACID with a graphical UI.

There was a Mac product out last year that proports to do roughly the same thing. I don't think it will replace anything in the serious drama/feature category, but might be useful for industrial videos and such. I'm sure that there will be some directors that think they're "musically inclined" enough to use the "paint sound by numbers" approach. Still, it might be useful for directors to "temp" their picture with this tool so that the composer could have a very clear picture of where the hit points should be - so it might serve in that context too. If I could get a film without a Doors song or Carmina Burana temp'd in, I'd be a happy camper.

Bottom line, I think Sony has given up on the music-makers market and going full-on at video producers.

Aaaah! Industrial videos. Perhaps thats how we get the Pr0n-a-like music in "How it's Made". (discovery channel)

[ludwig]

Does it have a BT theme to make some tarnce

I own Band in a Box, but only use it to learn how to improvise.

[grymmjack]

Guess this is Sony's version of SonicFire.

Go figure, as if they don't have their hands in enough cookie jars. Atleast this somewhat could help Vegasians to do some quick soundtracking though. SonicFire's strength is in it's loop library though and Sony may have hard time selling to SF users who already invested huge sums into a library. Unless they make it work with SF loop library, then ...

[gravehill]

I didn't read all of this so sorry if this has been mentioned but:

I think such a tool would be really valuable for producers/directors/other n00bs to produce temp tracks for their work. The sole purpose of the temp track is of course just to tell the composer what kind of moods they want in certain part of the film. Then the composer would have actually easier time to just replace the autogenerated material with their own that hopefully actually works... This would eliminate the misunderstandings resulting from different parties talking different languages (in the sense of music, I mean).

[Hink]

I didn't read all of this so sorry if this has been mentioned but:

I think such a tool would be really valuable for producers/directors/other n00bs to produce temp tracks for their work. The sole purpose of the temp track is of course just to tell the composer what kind of moods they want in certain part of the film. Then the composer would have actually easier time to just replace the autogenerated material with their own that hopefully actually works... This would eliminate the misunderstandings resulting from different parties talking different languages (in the sense of music, I mean).

I think it will be like canned laughter vs. studio audience. I'm sure many will use it as you describe, which is good. But I think lower budget projects will just skip the composer and use what it produces and it will show, just like the canned laughter. FWIW I'm part of a semi-public beta test (done by current customers) of something similar that uses theory to produce the same idea. Though I don't think it is as intuitive as the sony, it will be great for songwriters to apply more theory to their songs. TBH though, I got the download but really haven't tried it much yet...

[Hink]

I just did a google on it, seems they are looking for more testors...if Sascha reads this and has the time he might want to try it. Here's the press release...

[filkertom]

Guess this is Sony's version of SonicFire.

I had no idea of what SonicFire was. Having looked at the online demo... am I right in assuming it's some canned music with Mixing For Dummies? 'Cause damn it's unimpressive. And the narrator was trying so hard to blandly gosh-wow that you could use preset mixes! which all seemed to be, basically, muting an instrument here, an instrument there.

I mean, Sony could probably do better just bundling Acid Music Studio with the Cinemascape collection. Cheaper, easier, more powerful, and the stuff exists on the shelf now.

Or am I giving videographers too much credit?

[deaf dunderkwac]

ok...easy... has a place for testing arrangements for simple tunes (the type I seem to have problems wanting to make)

you -r- giving videographers too much credit... except for a few I've met.


250 seems like 2 much tho

[customdigi]

How about just TELLING the composer what style/mood they want, and what hit points to hit? Isn't that what they are being paid for? As good as the video game/film/tv writers are these days, and with all the tools at their disposal, this seems unneccesary to me...just my .02.

-Matt

[HHaynes]

250 seems like 2 much tho

unless they're making it for Mac...

[filkertom]

How about just TELLING the composer what style/mood they want, and what hit points to hit? Isn't that what they are being paid for? As good as the video game/film/tv writers are these days, and with all the tools at their disposal, this seems unneccesary to me...just my .02.

-Matt

Well, see, that's what's getting me about this (and, for that matter, about SonicFire). The market they're going for would seem to be do-it-yourself indie filmmakers, the ones who can't really afford a composer, who have an idea of the style of music they'd like and wish they had a tool for "creating" it. Because, as you say, I can't imagine an actual film composer using this.

[deaf dunderkwac]

250 seems like 2 much tho

unless they're making it for Mac...

then it's like... way to cheap!

[deaf dunderkwac]

doesn't concord or ulead also have one of those.... seems I have a cousin who makes cheesy videos using a tool like that...
I should check, but this one (Sonicfire) is easy enough to use and add hit points... still 'beta' testing...

[Breakpete]

I agree with nuffink. Probably the Acid engine with some "Theme wizards" and a huge loop & sample library.

[DaveSmom]

Haha... This all reminds me of "transitions" for most film-editing software... You can't use a single one.... Unless you're making "Funniest home videos"