Autoscore Pro 2.0.2 - Rating: Freakin' Awesome

By Judy Munsen

For years, folks with musical ideas but no MIDI instrument were left out of the world of convenient MIDI composition and arrangement. Wildcat Canyon Software closes the gap with Autoscore 2.0.2 Professional, its ingenious software package that allows anyone who can sing or play an instrument to create songs and arrangements, play them back using QuickTime Musical Instruments or MIDI Instruments, save them as standard MIDI files, and print notated scores.

Autoscore 2.0.2 comes on two floppy disks, and the package includes a microphone and a stand. Installation is easy. If at first you don't get adequate recording levels with the microphone, try Apple's PlainTalk microphone (you'll need to adjust levels in the Configure part of the Test Mic window). One word of caution: Autoscore doesn't work well with Open Music System, so disable that extension before working with the program.

Autoscore 2.0.2 records your voice or instrument as a WAV file and converts this information into MIDI data almost instantaneously. It's astounding to sing into the microphone and immediately see your music notated on the monitor. The package also includes Opcode's Musicshop 1.02 sequencer, so you can edit notes, add tracks, create arrangements, and mix your musical opus.

Both Autoscore's and Musicshop's manuals get you started, but they aren't detailed enough to tell you how to use these programs' deeper features. Fortunately, you'll be able to record with the microphone and start editing your music without much customization. As with any instrument- or voice-recognition software, becoming proficient takes time, but Autoscore 2.0.2 offers sophisticated customizations to help you input your music.

For voice and other instruments that vary in pitch, Autoscore 2.0.2's pitch-tracking features are invaluable. You can also hear reference tones from the Autoscore menu to keep you in tune. Tru-Track Mode limits the notes in the sequence to a particular key. Before each note, TruTrack sends a single pitch-bend message. What you hear is the exact pitch you recorded, even if it's sharp or flat. The Pitch Bend Tracking Mode is really exciting because it continuously tracks your pitch - it doesn't generate new note messages when you slide from one note to another. This effect can be bizarre or ultrarealistic, depending on the instrument you choose to play the part.

Autoscore 2.0.2 Professional impresses with its ease of use and accurate sound analyzer. It brings new meaning to the term moderato cantabile.

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