Testimonials and Reviews
Wow! What a brilliant program!
... Thankyou again for providing me with this music software and the musical journey I am making with it. As an amateur and purely intuitive music maker, both TS and BM are opening so many 'musical' doors for me
Within minutes of downloading the software and just 'playing around' with its parameters, I was generating rhythms and beats and was literally conducting like a true professional. I learned more about time and signatures in those first few minutes than it had taken me a lifetime to from books!
An appreciation of the music software as provided by Robert Walker (AKA Robert Inventor)
by Alan Collins
First, I should explain that I am not a musician, nor a mathematician, nor for that matter, an IT/computer expert...but I'm interested in those areas, largely as a way of exploring creativity. Some years ago, whilst looking for software to help me realise the 'music' I had in my heart and head, I stumbled upon Fractal Tune Smithy and proceeded to download the demo. I had no idea what to expect, although I was familiar with the term 'fractal' and naturally fascinated by the use of fractals. The software, however, proved to be more than just a sound-pattern-generation machine (what's the point of just pressing a button to hear or see patterns, as interesting as they are?) but rather was an inspirational tool that has provided me with much musical knowledge of and insight into what music is and how music happens! It took me some time to figure out how to use the software in conjunction with midi programmes I use, and more recently VST instruments I have at my disposal, but after many happy hours of 'playing around' I soon managed to find a way of manipulating the sounds to suit my limited musical skills. FTS provided the impetus to research and discover all manner of musical expressions and often, when 'stuck for an idea' I will call upon FTS to suggest something, and more often than not, after adjusting and manipulating its parameters...it does! As an artist, I make use of a sketch book, which I often refer to for 'ideas' for paintings...and in the same way, FTS is like a sketch book; armed with a midi keyboard, and making use of its recording facility, I can record and save 'ideas' and return to them from within the programme, or else export midi-files to other software through which I can develop those musical ideas. In any 'creative act' doing and making is paramount to the process - but so is finding and choosing and FTS is a programme that makes all four possible. I strongly advise any musician, amateur or professional, to download the trial of this software, and see and hear for yourself, what it can do for you, either as an introduction to the science within music, or as a tool for developing ideas - you will not be disappointed.
As if that were not enough, FTS has a sister product called Bounce Metronome. A metronome is to musicians what, I suppose, classical composition is to an artist...but BM is so much more than just a beat/time keeper. It is a visual musical instrument in its own right. These words will not describe what the software is capable of...and again within minutes of downloading the software and just 'playing around' with its parameters, I was generating rhythms and beats and was literally conducting like a true professional. I learned more about time and signatures in those first few minutes than it had taken me a lifetime to from books!
My last recommendation is that all schools should have this software on board and used as part of the music curriculum...if music is for everyone, then FTS and BM is for music and everyone!
A word about the author: Robert Walker has remained in contact with me since that first download I made all those years ago, and has helped me with problems and has been kind and generous...he obviously cares about his inventions, and although obviously a busy man, his 'after sales' manner is second to none. There is a forum on his website that has solutions and guidance to any difficulties, and I have seen, when visiting it, the products mentioned here are going from strength to strength...and so my congratulations and best wishes to Robert.
Alan Collins
