• Z-Maestro - Free Garage Band Alternative
    28 replies, posted
[img]http://filesmelt.com/Imagehosting/pics/003c9c3422bc9f5ee067c0a0c4d9b4c5.PNG[/img] So you want to compose/edit music but you don't have the money or a Mac to do it? Z-Maestro is the solution to your problem. It's a free music composing and editing program designed by one of my good friends and it's pretty awesome. It has a ton of features inspired by Garage Band but built for Windows. It's also pretty small (<10mb) Requirements: XP or Vista .NET Framework 2.0 (required on XP only) 1GB or more of memory (I recommend 2GB) [b]Audio[/b] Z-Maestro supports a shitload of audio formats and you can export in MP3, WMA, WAV and even MIDI. You can also burn your tracks directly onto a CD/DVD. If you want to import some audio you just import it into your project and it will make a new track with the audio. [img]http://z-sys.org/products/zmaestro/images/zmscreen2.PNG[/img] You can also add audio effects such as chorus, echo, invert, decimator, and level. The effects don't edit the audio so they can be removed without harming the original. By default Z-Maestro also includes a few (128) instruments to play around with. [img]http://z-sys.org/products/zmaestro/images/zmscreen10.PNG[/img] If you want more instruments, you can just download one of thousands of free soundfont files from the internet. [img]http://z-sys.org/products/zmaestro/images/zmscreen9.PNG[/img] Spectrum editing is also available (above) even in the free version. [img]http://z-sys.org/products/zmaestro/images/zmscreen7.png[/img] You can also record directly with a microphone or MIDI device. [img]http://z-sys.org/products/zmaestro/images/zmscreen4.PNG[/img] Or you can just use the keys on your keyboard. [b]The Interface[/b] [img]http://z-sys.org/products/zmaestro/images/zmscreen3.PNG[/img] It has a really nice interface. You can do a lot without having to access a ton of submenus. The screenshot shows the Pro version which adds a few additional features (it's pretty cheap: $30 + future updates). [b]Feature List[/b] (for lazy people): -Instrument and drum parts -One-shot and adaptive audio parts -SoundFont 2 support -Spectral audio editing -Comprehensive documentation -No expiration -Free updates -Use projects commercially (Only Pro) -More than 3 tracks (Only Pro) -Supports the developers monetarily (Only Pro) [b]Export Formats[/b] -WAV -WMA (Only Pro) -MP3 (Only Pro) [b]Import Formats[/b] -MIDI -WAV -WMA (Only Pro) -MP3 (Only Pro) -OGG (Only Pro) -Audio CDs (Only Pro) Download: [url]http://z-sys.org/products/zmaestro/dload.aspx[/url] Screenshots: [url]http://z-sys.org/products/zmaestro/shots.aspx[/url] Soundfonts: [url]http://www.hammersound.net/[/url] you can search google for more (there are TONS) So give it a try, and if you like it show the developer some support. If you have any recommendations/ideas for improvements or feature requests just post them here, and I can relay the message to him.
Looks badass. When I get home I'm def. installing :smile:
Trying it out right now, so far its very easy to use.
oh so this is like FL Studio? if so, nice :haw: i assume it works on win7? EDIT: the 3 track limit sucks hard.
Eh, this is more like SoundBooth than GarageBand with the task-oriented interface. Now, the dead ringer for me would be MixCraft.
[QUOTE=BananasGoMoo;15943932]oh so this is like FL Studio? if so, nice :haw: i assume it works on win7? EDIT: the 3 track limit sucks hard.[/QUOTE] you could export then import to "merge" it into a single track
[QUOTE=Foda;15945306]you could export then import to "merge" it into a single track[/QUOTE] export my midi? its already a file. it has like 12 tracks and they won't let me import it because it has more than 3 tracks.
[QUOTE=BananasGoMoo;15945356]export my midi? its already a file. it has like 12 tracks and they won't let me import it because it has more than 3 tracks.[/QUOTE] I can talk to him about increasing the track limit on the lite version. He was actually debating on if he should limit it in the lite version.
[QUOTE=Foda;15962755]I can talk to him about increasing the track limit on the lite version. He was actually debating on if he should limit it in the lite version.[/QUOTE] i think it should be 10, and the pro has 20. just my opinion or remove track limit differences between the versions.
No .mp4 support. :frown: [editline]02:44AM[/editline] Also damn him and his Pro version mp3 support only :argh:
This looks kickin' rad.
[QUOTE=PrismatexV3;15974981]This looks kickin' rad.[/QUOTE] except 3 track limit per song. then it opens in read-only.
Oh god I love your friends server he's hosting the program on. 1 KB/s for a 6.8 MB file takes only an hour.
[QUOTE=Gray Altoid;15975020]Oh god I love your friends server he's hosting the program on. 1 KB/s for a 6.8 MB file takes only an hour.[/QUOTE] If it's too slow I can reupload to filesmelt or something. [QUOTE=Gray Altoid;15974949]No .mp4 support. :frown: [editline]02:44AM[/editline] Also damn him and his Pro version mp3 support only :argh:[/QUOTE] MP4 support requires licensing, which costs money (thanks apple!).
[QUOTE=BananasGoMoo;15943932]oh so this is like FL Studio? if so, nice :haw: i assume it works on win7? EDIT: the 3 track limit sucks hard.[/QUOTE] FL studio i found confusing to use :/
Can you see if he'll give it support for windows 7 when it comes out?
[QUOTE=MachoManRandySavage;16015279]Can you see if he'll give it support for windows 7 when it comes out?[/QUOTE] I know that right now he uses the Win7 RC on his desktop. Did you try running it yet in Win7?
Is it bad if i mistook that for a derma hud at first?
Trying for the sake of Z-
[QUOTE=Foda;16015359]I know that right now he uses the Win7 RC on his desktop. Did you try running it yet in Win7?[/QUOTE] No, I just assumed that since in the OP you said you need Vista or XP to run it, then it wouldn't work. I'll try it out.
FL Studio is easy to use once you get used to it. anyways, i'll use that until this program gets better.
It's not that great of a program, especially with the 3 track limit. FL Studio, no matter how much I dislike it, is better in it's current state. Works fine with Win7 though.
[QUOTE=PelPix123;16030747]...But does it load VSTs?[/QUOTE] FL Studio does.
[QUOTE=tarkata14;16030637]It's not that great of a program, especially with the 3 track limit. FL Studio, no matter how much I dislike it, is better in it's current state. Works fine with Win7 though.[/QUOTE] Why is it not as good? To make this program better I'll need suggestions to pass on how to make it better.
[QUOTE=Foda;16037359]Why is it not as good? To make this program better I'll need suggestions to pass on how to make it better.[/QUOTE] If I'm going to pay for something I'd get something better. The free version is too limited.
[QUOTE=Catdaemon;16040122]If I'm going to pay for something I'd get something better. The free version is too limited.[/QUOTE] Okay, but how is this program not as good? What is better about it? What do you mean by limited? I need specific reasons please.
[QUOTE=Foda;16043830]Okay, but how is this program not as good? What is better about it? What do you mean by limited? I need specific reasons please.[/QUOTE] Limits: 3 tracks only. Not all types of saves are avaliable (apparently? didnt test it long enough) it should have OGG and MP3: if audacity can do it, this should be able to. the free version. and where are the soundfonts? they should be in the right-click menu for each track. like rightclick>change instrument>select soundfont.
I'll download it in the morning on my PC, it looks great!
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