Trackman

Andrew Harvey gets re-acquainted with an old friend...

Trackman is a friendly sequencer which appeals to both experienced
and first time musicians and it's an excellent introduction to
sequencing and the enjoyment of making your own music.
Trackman manages to combine functionality with ease of use (hands
up those who really know how to use Cubase's Interactive Phrase
Sequencer!) and was originally a commercial package costing œ179.
Recently the entire package has been re-released as freeware which
prompted this review and our Reader Offer on page 9.

Sequence dancing

Once everything is connected up it's not difficult to figure out
all the features on your own but the manuals are a real treat.
There's a 44 page glossy coffee-proof A5 Tutorial manual which
takes you through features step by step and, with the help of some
simple example files on disk, shows you how to make use of all the
features at the "now press this button, now press that" level,
which beginners need yet rarely get.
There's a separate 68 page A5 ring bound Reference manual which
explains every program function in detail and both books are well
written, with no obvious errors.

Unlike most current sequencers which operate on the tape recorder
emulation metaphor, Trackman organises itself into Sequences, of
which there can be up to 100. Each sequence can have a maximum of
32 Tracks, each of which can be named and each with its own MIDI
channel 1-16 to 16 through the usual Atari MIDI Out socket. MIDI
channels 17-32 are also accessible using a hardware widget plugged
into the serial port - refer to the Further Information boxout for
more details.
Each Sequence can be up to 999 bars long. Sequences can also be
chained together in Make Song mod. Up to 100 sequences can be
chained like this and saved as a new sequence, which can in turn
be chained together with other sequences into a new sequence and
so on until all available memory has been exhausted. To anyone
familiar with the way many drum machines operate, this will be
familiar territory.

To record, the sequence can be looped over any number of bars, and
while it loops a new bit can be recorded on each pass round -
again like many drum machines. Alternatively, the loop facility
can be disabled, in which case Trackman works like a tape recorder
for MIDI information. Fortunately the Undo facilities are
comprehensive - undos can be undone.

Quantise can be used while recording or afterwards if preferred.
The options are fulsome, and also include various percentage
"swings" - which if applied after recording can turn a straight
four into something much sexier. Like all such functions, if the
result isn't satisfactory, press Undo.

Each of the 100 sequences (0-99) can be named, the name being
displayed on screen. Having recorded a number of sequences there's
a great way to audition the order of sequences before committing
the order to be fixed in the Make Song mode. Set Trackman running,
enter the number of the next sequence from the computer keyboard,
and that sequence will play when the current one has finished.
Each sequence has its own tempo, which can be active in the Make
Song mode, or all the sequences can be set to the tempo of the
first sequence in the chain. Another nice touch is the clock in
the top right hand corner of the screen, which shows how long ago
the current play or record session began.

Automated mixing anyone?

Finally, in this tour of the main screen, there are the track
displays along the bottom. Each track shows its number 1-16 (or
17-34 if the additional MIDI socket is fitted), its MIDI channel,
Solo or Mute buttons (to switch off either all the other tracks or
just that rack), and "faders". These can be moved up and down with
the mouse to balance the volumes between the different tracks.
This is particularly useful with a multi-timbral expander, as it
could save quite a bit of button pushing on the module. What is
particularly wonderful is that all these fader movements,
including track mutes and solos, can be recorded as part of a
sequence - it's just like having an automated mixing desk. On
playback, all the faders go up and down in exactly the same way as
when they were recorded. This is very similar to the Cubase
Mixermap page - except Trackman got there years earlier and it's a
lot more user friendly.

The piano rolls on

Screen Edit is Trackman's other main screen. This features a grid
where the pitch is displayed vertically and time horizontally with
notes shown as blocks. The notes are more or less heavily shaded
depending on their velocity - how fast you hit the keys, if your
synth sends out that information. The screen can display one, two
or four bars at once, but you can select which four bars are
displayed using the arrow keys at the bottom of the screen. With
some nippy mouse work, notes can be deleted, added, truncated,
expanded or simply moved around - and all while Trackman is
playing.

All the other features which make a good sequencer are present -
track copy, copy bars, MIDI filters, MIDI sync, Sysex dumps and a
few less common ones such as a Track Sheet. Although Trackman
features its own file format it can save standard MIDI files.
There's also a small stand alone program to convert MIDI files to
Trackman format.

Conclusion

Unlike most sequencers Trackman actively encourages your musical
efforts. It includes all the features most musicians are likely to
need and is clear, easy, and friendly to use. You're more likely
to be pleasantly surprised than irritated or frustrated - and the
price is right!
 
 
 
Publisher 
Hollis Research 

Status 
Freeware  
System 
All Ataris 

Pros 
Ideal balance between straightforward operation and facilities. 
Excellent Repeat function, real time transposing and real time  
recordable mixing. 
Trackman guesses sensible default values in edit fields - and more  
often than not, gets it right! 

Cons 
No longer under development, no support. 

90%

 
 

Ghosts in the machine?

Trackman includes features which encourage creativity instead of
merely recording what you play. For example, with Trackman
running, click on Transpose then press a note on the MIDI
keyboard, and the sequence transposes by however many semitones
the note played is from Middle C.

The erase function is almost as creative. When set to record,
click on Erase then hold down the note or notes to be erased and
it erases what's being held down.

The Repeat function is like a 16 note mini step time sequencer.
It's possible to choose which of the 16 notes are used, the speed
at which they play (set by the quantise rate) and whether the
pattern starts when a key is pressed or synchronises to the start
of a bar. Once the pattern is set, start Trackman in record in the
normal way, but click on the Repeat button. If a note is now held
down, it will repeat in the rhythm set. This is a great way to
create polyrhythms, or drum machine type programming, and a really
useful way to quickly build up pieces for anyone without keyboard
skills.

 Further information 

MIDIman, also from Hollis Research, is a very useful Universal
MIDI librarian which works as a desktop accessory and integrates
with Trackman. MIDIman has also been released as Freeware. The
original printed 30 page A5 ring bound manual plus disk is also
available to Atari Computing readers - refer to page 9 for
details.
The software is also available for download from:
 

URL: http://www.hollis.co.uk/john/
 

The serial port expander to add an extra 16 MIDI channels (which
can also be used with Cubase, Notator and Dr.T) is available from:
 

Westec
30 Fish Street, Goldhanger, Maldon, Essex, CM9 8AT
Tel: + (0)1621 788466
Cost: œ14.95 + 75p P&P

"Hands On" Midi Software Ltd
11 Warfield Avenue, Waterlooville, Hampshire, PO7 7JN
Tel: + (0)1705 783 100
Cost: œ24.95 + œ1.75 P&P
 
 


All features are accessed from the main screen. The sliders along
the bottom can be operated like a virtual mixing desk.


Imagine lying on your side looking at the piano keyboard and a
roll of paper feeding into it with all the notes on and you get
the idea.


Any of the 16 notes can be selected to repeat when a note is held
down


The sequences may be put in any order to create the final piece

The opportunities to correct the timings of notes or shuffle them
around are extensive


MIDI controllers are used to set the Solo or Mute or remotely
operate the main screen faders


 


Almost any kind of MIDI event can be
 taken from one track and
copied to another


A sequence can be rotated by varying amounts with anything that
falls off one end being put back in the other end
 

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