Music Creator 2002

by Cakewalk

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005NCJC
• Date first available at Amazon.com: July 23, 2001
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #21,884 in Software (See Top 100 in Software)
  • #42 in Software > Video & Music > MP3 Software
  • #58 in Software > Video & Music > Software > MIDI
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

Music Creator 2002 is an excellent tool for creating and editing MIDI music, and does a fair job of handling digital audio as well. The interface is somewhat overwhelming to the uninitiated, but with a little practice and the use of the many tutorials included with the software, you'll soon be making sweet music with ease.

This product's strong suit is MIDI audio, and recording, rearranging, and playing MIDI tracks is a snap. If you have an instrument with a MIDI interface, just connect it to the PC, fire up the software, hit the record button, and start playing. If you don't have a MIDI-compatible instrument, just use the included loops and samples, or import your own to create an infinite variety of music tracks. Once mastered, the interface makes it easy to layer tracks any way you like, dragging and dropping them into position to make a final multitrack session that's as complex or as simple as you like. Music Creator 2002 is also compatible with Virtual Sound Canvas DXi files, granting access to literally hundreds of different instrument sounds.

Fixing mistakes in a MIDI recording is as simple as activating the program's editing mode, which lets you record only a certain segment of a piece without disturbing the music that comes before and after it. Once a recording is made to your satisfaction you can edit it in nearly any way imaginable, from changing the tempo to adjusting the volume levels of individual tracks.

One of the nicest features of Music Creator 2002 is that it lets users easily create, edit, and print sheet music. Notes appear automatically on the staff when played on an attached MIDI instrument, and it also is possible to simply drag-and-drop notes onto the staff. Lyrics can then be added for a professional-looking result.

Music Creator 2002 can be used to record and edit digital audio from any source you can connect to a PC, but doesn't offer the professional functionality of tools like Cakewalk's SONAR or Home Studio 2002. If you really want to tweak your digital recordings, consider investing in one of these separate packages, each which integrates with Music Creator 2002. A basic mixer is included with Music Creator 2002 that lets you apply real-time audio effects like reverb and flange and otherwise adjust digital audio files. Finished recordings of all types can then be exported in a variety of formats, including MP3, Real Audio, and WAV, for playback or output to a recording device.

Music Creator 2002 is not for the dabbler who wants to quickly throw together some music, but anyone willing to put in the time necessary to exploit all the program's features will discover that in many ways it is a professional-quality product selling at a consumer-friendly price. If you already have some music editing experience you'll find that this is one of the easiest products to use of its type, especially for working with MIDI files and sheet music. --T. Byrl Baker

Amazon.com Product Description

Create music on a PC easily. Whether you're an aspiring musician or just looking to be more creative, Music Creator makes it all happen. Just plug in any instrument or microphone and click Record. Music Creator is designed to let you concentrate on creating music instead of bogging you down with confusing software. It's all laid out in an intuitive track window that lets you quickly record, edit, arrange, and mix music.

Music Creator can also help you create loop-based music without having to play an instrument. Create entire compositions or add new sonic layers to your existing songs. Loop Explorer helps you find the right samples fast. Browse the included Cakewalk Loops sample, then just click and drag to paint your canvas of sound. Even make your own loops out of any MP3 or WAV file. Supports ACID-format loops.

When it comes to composing and printing sheet music, Music Creator has it all. You can record and transcribe any performance using any MIDI instrument, or just point and click to add and move notes in the Staff view. Reading music is optional with familiar cut-and-paste editing tools. Just point and click to visually compose, edit, and arrange your music.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Music Creator 2002, November 9, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Music Creator 2002 (CD-ROM)

If you enjoy to write your own music or just fool around and rewrite music then I recomend this to you. I have used this program and now am going to buy it because I was able to play on my instrument any note and it would record it on the screen, which it would write as sheet music instead of me trying to fumble with lots of papers trying to write all the words out and notes. This is an ausome thing that is definetly worth the money.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must Have For Music Makers, June 5, 2002

By 

Rush Fanatic "Ray" (Colorado Springs) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Music Creator 2002 (CD-ROM)

This has got to be one of the best music creator programs I have EVER seen. Lots of programs have a good outline and look simple to use, but when you have a question, you have to go to the "help" menu. A lot of help those are. They might as well be written in Japanese. However, Music Creator 2002 has an organized, simple tell-how (not in Japanes or jibberish... or Japanese jibberish0 that can get you making music in no time. The day I bought it I was already making the piano track for a song I had in mind. In a matter of minutes I had the first 20 measures done with the EXTREMELY easy note writer. But just because it's easy doesn't mean it's weak. You can make anything from a classical concerto of trumpets to a hardcore head-bangin' hippie band. With the free trial of Pyro Mp3 CD maker, you can make your own CD ready for shipping to that record company you've wanted a contract with since you were 12. With a good sound card (the one that came w/ your computer will work but you probably won't be able to change MIDI to Wave or Mp3) and a little time and thinking you can make an orchestral overture or a jumpy jive beat in minutes.

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars All Talk, No Action., May 17, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Music Creator 2002 (CD-ROM)

I keep reading about what a powerful program this is. On the best days, I can only marginally agree. I have used other inexpensive programs that gave me the same type of results that were MUCH easier to use. (I use these types of programs on a regular basis with little to no trouble.) The screen is busy with all types of displays, but seldom will many people actually use most of the stuff. Looks good, but basically useless. The "help" section of the program is usually pretty helpful...the only problem being when you look up a topic, it tells you that you can't do that particular function with this program. That has happened SO many times, I have begun to think that you can't really do ANYTHING with this program. Though this program is really written to do midi-input, the company advertises that you can also do manual notation. I tried that function as well, and it is absolutely the worst I have ever used, bar none. There are so many things that it won't let you input, it is nearly completely useless. I'm certain that if someone wanted to pursue a false advertising claim, that there would be plenty of room for it. I have used children's notation programs that produced better results with less than half the effort. The bottom line is that this program is basically all talk with little worthwhile result.