Computer Music Starter Kit

Other products by Turtle Beach

Product Features

• Just plug your MIDI keyboard into your computer's game port and get started
• Use MIDI Orchestrator Plus, the full-featured sequencer program that helps you record your songs and print them out
• AudioStation LE allows you to play & record audio CDs, rip your own MP3s or WMA files, and manage your music library
• Check your record and playback functions for quality with SoundCheck
• Jam Grid lets you create new songs with a mouse click

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000021YTQ
• Item model number: 731855047604
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 24, 1999
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #6,701 in Software (See Bestsellers in Software)

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  Software > Video & Music > Instrument Instruction

• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

Are you a keyboardist who wants to explore the full potential of your MIDI synthesizer? Turtle Beach's Computer Music Starter Kit provides an excellent introduction to MIDI and sound synthesis as well as some powerful sequencing software that allows you to record and edit music on your computer.

This package consists of two parts: the Starter Kit and MIDI Orchestrator Plus. The Starter Kit covers installation of the software, hooking up your keyboard to the computer, and a detailed tour of the applications. The software for the entire package is loaded through a single CD-ROM, and the direction manual is very easy to follow. MIDI Orchestrator Plus is the orchestration software that performs sequencing, editing, and multitrack recording functions. Because of its size and complexity, it has a separate instruction manual, though the software is on the same CD-ROM as the Starter Kit.

The Starter Kit has a tutorial section called Understanding MIDI and Synthesis, which gives a thorough explanation of synthesized sound and the evolution of the MIDI system. It also offers JamGrid, which is essentially a beat box with an assortment of standard rhythm tracks (Latin, jazz, reggae, etc.) that can be played along with or manipulated to make new rhythm tracks.

MIDI Orchestrator Plus is a powerful sequencing program that allows you to compose, edit, score, and record music. Its layout is very intuitive, and both the manual and the help features are very clear. The demo songs included show off Orchestrator's big bag of tricks and give you a number of preset rhythm tracks to work with. Whether you are a MIDI beginner or a semipro, Orchestrator offers professional features that are easy to use. --Matthew Kohut

Product Description

With the Computer Music Starter Kit, you'll be able to create, record and publish your own music in no time! There's also a huge library of demos, manuals and videos you can test out and work with, to see what software you like, and what you need!

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars nice but, no printed manual........., May 12, 2002

By A Customer

This is a great software program to, get started in realisation of all the components of your computer and, the relationship of midi to it. The features are vast but, ah there is no printed manual. You have to download it from the software itself.I like being able to read the information from text and, also manipulate the screen. I would have given the software five stars except for the fact that, there is no manual included with the product bundling.If you don't mind shuttleing back and forth on your screen, you will love this software. Otherwise, a word of caution. This may take a while to understand.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great for Creating Your Own Music, March 18, 2002

By	"chp7mary3" (Morgantown, WV USA) - See all my reviews

The Computer Music Starter software is a very nice product. You can create music using your PC or by attaching a MIDI keyboard. Several tracks of different instruments and effects can be added. You can preview your creation, record it, and even print out the sheet music. For the price, this software offers some great features. My only dissapointment is the scarcity of documentation. This is a fairly complex product that could stand better manuals.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed with this product, January 4, 2003

By A Customer

If you have a newer computer using USB connections, don't buy this kit. The cable they supply won't work, and you have to find a USB to MIDI adapter somewhere else. I got fooled when I saw it was designed for use with Windows XP, and didn't realize that they meant it could be used by older computers that have upgraded to XP.
So, I've got to spend more money. ... The software is useless without the right cable connection.
I was also disappointed to learn from the manual that their software won't convert the MIDI files to .WAV format for creating my own CDs. Voyetra recommends you buy some more of their software ("AudioView") to do that job.
This product may have some value if you have an older computer, but it is not what they claim to be. It does not include "everything you need to create great sounding music..."