Sound, Music & MIDI Collection 2/SMMVOL2.bin/WIN/WIN_MISC/KPLSDEMO.ZIP/KPLSBROC.TXT

Text File | 1994-11-17 | 9.3 KB | 212 lines

SSEYO Koan Plus

Fabulous ever-changing Mood Music from your computer
====================================================

You wonÆt believe your ears!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Koan Plus has been specially designed to let you play ever-changing and
free-flowing harmonious  background music, for use while you work or just to
chill out to.  As the Koan Music Engine  composes its music in real time,
whenever it plays it will be different - a real musical kaleidoscope; pieces
can even include pre-set 'seed' melodies. Koan Plus comes with 10 Koan pieces
for you to play(*), 10 MIDI file recordings of these pieces and 10 studio mastered
mood music tracks, recorded whilst saving the Koan pieces output to the MIDI
files above - giving you an hour of mood music on CD too!

(*) The pieces Koan Plus plays are created in Koan Pro, the Koan authoring system.


ItÆs non-intrusive......
++++++++++++++++++++++++

There is enough to demand your attention these days, isnÆt there?  Everything
under the sun seems to want your attention, and computer games are a good
example of that.  The music created by Koan Plus is non-intrusive and provides
 a soothing background in which you get on with your daily tasks.  You could
even say it is an æearsaverÆ.


.....yet expressive, too
++++++++++++++++++++++++
It also sounds very natural and expressive, not at all like you would expect
computer generated music to sound.  We have created the product with just this
 in mind, to make the music expressive, subtle, ever-changing and intriguing and
we think we have succeeded - and so do other people.   All that said, Koan music
is not meant to replace existing music but to extend the musical capabilities of
your computer, allowing you to enjoy music in new and exciting ways.


Copyright free music?  Authors can relinquish their rights.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Koan Plus has a built in facility to allow recording of Koan piece outputs to
a MIDI file. Authors can choose when they write a piece to allow you to make
MIDI file recordings of it. They can also choose to waive any rights they may
have to MIDI file or other recordings made of their piece (8 of the 10 pieces
supplied with Koan Plus are supplied with this waiver)- this information is
shown in the piece notes dialog (shown opposite).    When you make a recording
in this instance we believe you own the copyright to that recording(**) , so you
can use it anywhere.  Imagine you have a multimedia project you are working on.
Maybe you just donÆt have the time to first choose an appropriate piece of
background music and then get the authorÆs consent to use it.  Or maybe you
know of a piece you like but you just donÆt want the risk of æpinchingÆ that
piece and getting caught later.  Making MIDI file recordings of (rights waivered)
Koan pieces takes away the worry and confusion over copyright - you record it,
you own it.  It is that easy.

(**) Although SSEYO believes this to be the case it can provide no warranties
whatsoever as to the legality of this statement and we recommend you seek a
qualified legal opinion.


Visually appealing Windows application
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Koan Plus is not just great ambient music news, it's a great looking application
 too.  We have given you a number of modules so that you can easily load your
pieces, put them into albums of your choice and then play them.  Each piece has
its own description that you can read, provided by the author.  You can see the
 way the music changes with the Analyser module.  Its bars move in time with
the music, reflecting the changes as they happen; you can see the MIDI line
usage or the range of notes that are used.


Most importantly of all, where would I use it?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Koan Plus will come in handy for a number of things.  Obviously it's a great
looking addition to your Windows desktop!  On a more serious note, most people
donÆt like complete silence all the time while they work or play.  They
certainly donÆt always want to have a radio on - which can be quite distracting
- or to hear those same old CDs time and time again.  Instead, sometimes try
having Koan music on in the background, it makes a great change.  Also, use
MIDI file recordings of the music for your own multimedia ventures.  If your
soundcard supports Text to Speech, try having it play while your computer
talks to you for a completely new and exciting experience.  Or, you may simply
want to extend your use of your soundcard investment and make more use of it in
new and exciting ways.


Where to get more pieces for your Koan Plus software
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The pieces Koan Plus plays are created in Koan Pro, which is the Koan authoring
system.  SSEYO will be creating more pieces for your enjoyment and these should
be available through the distributor from whom you purchased your Koan Plus
software.  Independent artists will also be releasing their own pieces and you
should also be able to find an increasing number of try-before-you-buy Koan
pieces on a number of bulletin boards.  The other alternative is to buy a copy
of Koan Pro and create your own!

Please contact SSEYO for further information on distributors and product
availability.


Koan music
==========

An unique new type of music
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Good music has traditionally been thought of as being pre-composed and
completely pre-defined.  Not so with Koan music.  Koan music is created for you
as you listen to it or have it playing.  It will ebb and flow just like real
music too, and this is because of the novel way we have designed it.

Koan music is unique in its approach.  For instance, the most commonly used
method to create ægeneratedÆ music was developed by Mozart.  He created a
system of automatic composition which required the use of a fairly large set of
(generally short)  musical phrases of a fixed length.  He would roll a dice to
determine in which order he should string them together.  The result was
generally quite reasonable, but fairly limited in expression.  Koan Plus does
not use the ærolled diceÆ principle at all to create its music.

Koan æpiecesÆ instead can use over 80 specially designed variable controls
which influence its music.  The values of these controls are written into the
Koan piece by its author, who created it with Koan Pro, and they change the
notes and melodies played in many special ways.  They are what allow the
creation of music that it smooth, non-intrusive, and natural sounding.
When you play back a Koan piece it interprets all the special information the
author has crafted into the piece - there and then, just for you.

The closest analogy to the Koan products is that of an Aeolian harp, where
the wind æplucksÆ its strings in an uncertain and changing manner, thus
producing quite æetherealÆ music.  Koan music can be ethereal or more down
to earth, depending on what the author wants.   Another comparison we would
make of the Koan products would be that they could be seen as the aural
equivalent of a log fire - and we all know how entrancing and calming it
is to look into a glowing, burning fire.


PC Requirements:
++++++++++++++++
Minimum (for non-rhythmic pieces - 5 included)
╖    386 DX 33MHz PC
╖    2Mb RAM
╖    DOS 3.0 or later
╖    Windows 3.1
╖    Mouse
╖    3.5" 1.44Mb floppy drive for installation
╖    2Mb free hard disk space
╖    A PC sound card/MIDI interface with an
    installed Windows MIDI driver

Strongly Recommended (for all pieces - 10 in total)
╖    486 33MHz  PC (or greater)
╖    4Mb RAM
╖    DOS 5.0
╖    Windows 3.1
╖    Mouse
╖    3.5" 1.44Mb floppy drive for installation
╖    3Mb free hard disk space
╖    PC soundcard/ MIDI interface with MIDI Mapper support and with the
    best quality sound synthesizer - Wavetable or LA

Included:
+++++++++
Koan Plus software, 10 Koan pieces and 10 MIDI files, provided on a 3.5" HD
floppy disk.

10 studio mastered mood music tracks, recorded whilst saving the Koan pieces
output to the MIDI files above, provided on audio CD - plus a free bonus audio
track.

Price information:
++++++++++++++++++
Koan Plus is retailing at 29.78 pounds + VAT and Koan Pro (which is
expected to be available in Jan 1995) will be 99 pounds + VAT.



Note:    Your software license covers you for all personal use of Koan Plus.
However, Non-attended æliveÆ playing of Koan Plus software or its use for
broadcast purposes requires a separate license.  Please contact SSEYO for
further information.

Koan, SSEYO and the SSEYO Logo are all trademarks of SSEYO Ltd.  Other products
mentioned may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective
manufacturers. Specifications may change without notice.
⌐ Copyright 1994 SSEYO Ltd.  All rights reserved.



UK and Republic of Ireland Distributor details:
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Koch Media
East Street
Farnham
Surrey  GU9 7XX
UK

Tel:  [phone]
Fax:  [phone]


For product availability elsewhere contact:
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SSEYO Ltd, PO Box 29, Beaconsfield, Bucks, United Kingdom  HP9 1EB
Tel: [phone]   Fax: [phone]

Internet:  [e-mail]
Compuserve:  100317,302