Metro 4 Gets Notation Upgrade

Cakewalk, the leading provider of music and sound creation software, today announced that it has enhanced its Metro 4 MIDI and digital audio software with notation editing and printing capabilities. The move provides users with the efficiencies and value of a single application within which to record, edit, mix and print music. The enhanced Metro 4 is available immediately.

"With its new notation capabilities, Metro 4 is one of the few solutions available offering integrated MIDI, digital audio, and scoring on the Mac," said Brian McKeever, product manager, Cakewalk. "And when you consider its low price and professional feature set, Metro 4 is the clear choice for the project studio."

Metro 4 is a full-featured music and sound authoring tool for the Macintosh. It is the ideal solution for value-conscious musicians, studio engineers, composers, music educators, ensembles, bands and choirs.

The new notation capabilities in Metro 4 enable users to compose, arrange and publish professional music scores. Users can view, edit and print multiple MIDI tracks as sheet music. Any changes in the score are immediately reflected in the musical notation, offering tight integration between Metro's MIDI editing environment and the music display. Plus, users can transcribe a live performance from a MIDI instrument, or simply use a mouse to enter notes into a notation window.

Metro 4 supports notation essentials such as dynamics markings, performance instruction text, page titles, multiple lines of lyrics, and repeat markings. Entering and editing musical elements on the page is a simple click-and-drag process.

Staves can be easily hidden for quick editing and printing of individual parts. When the score is ready for final printing, users can make adjustments to staff positioning with the mouse, add titles and page numbers, and print to any Macintosh-compatible printer.

In addition to notation capabilities, Metro 4 offers these professional features:

• Integrated MIDI and digital audio recording/editing, enabling users to record and play back up to 64 tracks of audio without the need for additional audio hardware.

   

• Real-time audio processing effects for reverb, flange, chorus, parametric EQ, and delay. Apply audio effects fast with pre-programmed and custom effects presets.

   

• Support for Adobe Premiere and VST-compatible plug-ins, enabling users to add processing power easily and affordably.

   

• Ability to enhance audio tracks with the BIAS SFX Machine Lite multi-effects audio plug-in (included with Metro 4). Includes 20 special effects presets.

   

• Variable sampling rates; record and edit audio at the resolution needed with variable sampling rates of up to 48 kHz.

   

• Unique composition tools like Note Spray and Rhythm Explorer to help users discover new rhythms and melodies.

   

• "Post production" capabilities on any QuickTime movie. Extract and edit audio from QuickTime movies, and create new soundtracks.

   

• Synchronization of audio and MIDI tracks to popular SMPTE/MTC formats, for creating soundtracks for film and video.

   

• Text markers; quickly create film and video "hit point" lists by inserting text markers on the fly during playback.

   

• Piano Roll view, which enables users to edit a performance graphically, adding nuances not possible with other notation software.

Pricing and Availability

The estimated street price for Metro 4 with notation is $199 (MSRP $249). The product is available immediately.

For users who purchased Metro 4 software after September 1, 1998, a free notation kit is available from Cakewalk. Users who purchased Metro 4 prior to September 1, 1998 can purchase the notation kit for $19. Users of Metro 3 can upgrade to Metro 4 with Notation for $79. Users of Metro 1 can upgrade to Metro 4 with Notation for $119.