Abaltat Muse
Tunepresto's Abaltat Muse is a software application that enables users to create original soundtracks for their video, regardless of musical knowledge. It is developed by Abaltat.
Overview
Abaltat Muse composes music to moving pictures using a combination of video recognition software and artificial intelligence. Abaltat Muse creates its own compositions without the use of pre-recorded soundtracks or music loops.
All that is required for a basic musical composition is a QuickTime file, which is loaded into Abaltat Muse and the application does the rest. Muse then provides you with the necessary tools to refine or update tracks at any time. The resulting music has the quality of a recorded band and can be altered in real time to achieve the best possible sound to accompany the uploaded movie sequence.
You can arrange the various aspects of your composition in your preferred manner. These include selecting a Compose Method, a musical genre (Band), a drum track and a time signature. You can then choose an appropriate BPM (Tempo)and decide how many musical notes are in each bar (Complexity) and how much, if any, repetition there is in the piece (Jingle). This provides you with limitless options in adjusting the composition, using factors such as melodic constraints, scale modulation, and audio mix. All these adjustments can be performed using keyframes in a timeline synced to the picture.
Abaltat Muse composes the music and plays it out using a sample player and virtual instruments. The software incorporates technology from experts in the audio industry, namely Native Instruments and Garritan Libraries. Consequently, the audio and instrument quality is high. The audio can be exported as AIFF or WAV files. The composition can also be exported as a MIDI file, should the user require further sweetening on his or her composition in a digital audio workstation or MIDI sequencer.
Features
Analysis
After the user imports (or drag and drop) a QuickTime file into Muse, the application analyzes the duration of the user's clip and all of the color saturation from each movie file you import. This information can then be used as a basis for composition. The length of this process depends on the size of the uploaded file.
Composing
There is a large yellow button on the main interface window where compositional settings can be entered, the variables of which include Band (musical genre), Compose Method, Complexity (number of beats per bar), Jingle (repetition) and drum pattern. The program then uses these settings to compose an original royalty-free video soundtrack. There are several diverse musical styles to choose from.
Arranging
The keyframes on the timeline are used to change small aspects of the soundtrack. Tonality (major to minor, etc.) can be changed, the pitch of the melodies can be transposed up or down, volumes on individual tracks can be changed, and the user's preferred instruments can be modified. The keyframes can be inserted into any point on the timeline, giving the ability to match up specific changes to edits or actions in the video. There is a keyframe icon on the main window which can be inserted at any point chosen by the user.
Exporting
The final composition can be exported as AIFF, WAV, or in MIDI, either as an individual tracks or as a mixed track. Soundtracks can then be imported into all editing applications and audio applications that support the standard MIDI format, including Apple Inc.'s GarageBand or Logic Pro and Digidesign's Pro Tools. Soundtracks can also be exported as a QuickTime video file allowing for quick uploads to the web.
Interface
Main Window
The main interface window is simple to navigate. From here, the original video file and all of the composition/movie settings can be viewed, volume settings can be adjusted, individual tracks can be soloed or muted and the soundtrack can be rearranged. This is also where the compose button which can be found, which is where all of the already mentioned compositional settings are set before the soundtrack is composed.
Color Timeline
When a movie file is loaded into the application it is analyzed and the Color Timeline window displays the color saturation over time. The y-axis displays the colors and the x-axis displays the time in seconds. The color intensity can be viewed easily which can help to select a color to use as a basis for composition.
Workflow
- Drag and drop a QuickTime file onto Muse icon
- File is analyzed
- Press compose button
- Select a preset
- Select musical style, tempo, drum pattern, etc. (optional)
- Press OK and a basic soundtrack is composed
- Add preferred instruments, change volumes, alter tone, and much more (optional)
- Export your soundtrack as audio (MIDI, AIFF, WAV) or as video (QuickTime)
- Import your MIDI file into Logic Pro, GarageBand, Pro Tools (or any other MIDI sequencer)
References
- abaltat.com
- http://www.videomaker.com/article/14042/
- http://www.bhphotovideo.com/find/newsLetter/Abaltat-Muse.jsp
- https://www.youtube.com/user/Abaltat
- https://web.archive.org/web/20100905044246/http://www.tunepresto.com:80/products/abaltat-muse-2-0/?