Jalmus is a free, open source music education software helping musicians, especially pianists, to improve their sight-reading. You can train to read music with both exercises on notes or rhythms.
sourceforge.net/projects/jalmus
Category Archives: Mac
Nootka ~ Learn Classical Score Notation
Nootka is an application to help learn classical score notation. It helps in understanding the rules of reading and writing scores and helps with developing skills of playing and singing notes.
Simply: users looks at piece of a score, plays it, while Nootka is listening to it, checks and shows was it played well. All in real time.
Features:
- interactive interface to discover the rules of musical notation
- exercises with possibility to create own sets
- accurate method for detecting sung and played sounds
- natural sound of guitars
- clefs (treble, bass and others) and grand staff
- analysis of results
- different kinds of guitars and their tuning
nootka.sourceforge.io
sourceforge.net/projects/nootka
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foo_dsp_delta ~ Foobar2000 Noise Sharpening
A digital signal processor that makes dull songs sound sharper, as in brighter.
Strictly speaking, nobody really needs this DSP. It’s just that some people like the effect. If you want to compensate deficiencies in your playback equipment or listening environment, the convolver or the equalizer are more appropriate tools. ~ HA post
There are four interrelated DSPs enclosed, only use the last one, Noise Sharpening.
Noise sharpening can/should be used alone. ~ HA post
http://foosion.foobar2000.org/components/?id=delta
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Helm ~ Open Source Synthesizer
Helm runs in GNU/Linux, Mac OSX and Windows. Run Helm as a standalone synthesizer or as an LV2, VST, VST3 or AU plugin. Comes in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions.
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Foobar2000 ~ Output Components
Listing of specialized output components that extend Foobar2000 in order to interface directly with system hardware or software output devices. Some of these are already installed by default and the remainder should be installed as needed.
By default foobar2000 uses the Windows Audio Session API (WASAPI) output in shared mode on modern versions (v1.6 and later). This means foobar2000 sends audio through the standard Windows audio stack using WASAPI unless you explicitly select another output (like WASAPI exclusive, ASIO with a plugin, or other output components).
The built in outputs and all installed output components can be selected from in the Preferences: Playback > Output > Device submenu.
Official output components:
- www.foobar2000.org/components/view/foo_out_asio (ASIO)
- www.foobar2000.org/components/view/foo_out_ks (kernel streaming)
- www.foobar2000.org/components/view/foo_out_spatial
- www.foobar2000.org/components/view/foo_out_upnp (UPNP)
- www.foobar2000.org/components/view/foo_out_wasapi (WASAPI)
- www.foobar2000.org/components/view/foo_out_wasapis
Alternative output components:
- foobar.hyv.fi/?view=foo_out_digital
- github.com/sammoth/foo_out_pulse
- sourceforge.net/projects/foobar2000-wasap2-output
- foobar.hyv.fi/?view=foo_out_wasapis
- foobar.hyv.fi/?view=foo_out_wasapic
- foobar.hyv.fi/?view=foo_out_xaudio2
Displaying Output Information:
foo_outinfo allows foobar2000 to display the actual specifications of the audio being played and the output device information using titleformatting.
foobar.hyv.fi/?view=foo_outinfo
ASIOhrp Utility:
hydrogenaud.io/index.php?topic=97127.msg978428#msg978428
Exclusive output modes:
Exclusive mode (in the context of foobar2000 and Windows audio) means that the player takes sole control of the audio device, bypassing the Windows system mixer for the duration of playback.
Here is what that entails, factually and practically:
What happens in exclusive mode
- The audio device is locked to foobar2000 while playback is active.
- No other application can play sound through that device at the same time.
- Audio data is sent directly to the driver via WASAPI Exclusive (or ASIO), without Windows resampling or mixing.
- The device switches to the exact sample rate and bit depth of the track being played, if the driver supports it.
How this differs from shared mode
- In shared mode, Windows mixes audio from multiple applications and resamples everything to the format set in Windows Sound → Device Properties → Advanced.
- In exclusive mode, Windows’ mixer is bypassed entirely, so there is no system-level resampling, mixing, or volume processing.
Technical implications
- Enables bit-perfect playback, assuming no DSPs or volume scaling are active in foobar2000.
- Prevents interference from system sounds, notifications, or browser audio.
- Reduces latency and avoids format conversions imposed by the OS mixer.
Trade-offs and limitations
- System sounds and other apps will be silent while exclusive playback is active.
- If an application already has exclusive control, foobar2000 cannot start playback on that device.
- Some USB DACs and Bluetooth devices have limited or unstable exclusive support, depending on drivers.
- Exclusive mode does not improve audio quality if the DAC or downstream hardware already resamples internally.
In foobar2000 specifically
- Exclusive mode is available via:
- WASAPI (event or push) [exclusive]
- ASIO (with the ASIO support component installed)
- Selected in:
Preferences → Playback → Output → Device
When exclusive mode makes sense
- You want guaranteed bit-perfect output.
- You use a dedicated DAC and do not want system sounds mixed in.
- You frequently play material at multiple sample rates and want automatic hardware switching.
When it is unnecessary
- Bluetooth audio (which is always lossy and resampled regardless).
- Casual listening.
- Systems where all audio is already set to the correct fixed format.
Resources:
wiki.hydrogenaud.io/index.php?title=Foobar2000:Components/WASAPI_output_support_(foo_out_wasapi)
wiki.hydrogenaud.io/index.php?title=Foobar2000%3aPreferences:Output#Output_Device
Foobar2000 ~ How To Install A Component
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_Stream_Input/Output (ASIO)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Plug_and_Play (UPNP)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_legacy_audio_components#Kernel_Streaming
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FreqAnalyst ~ Spectrum Analyzer VST
Blue Cat’s FreqAnalyst is a free spectrum analyzer plug-in that lets you monitor the spectral content of your audio signal in real time.
This plug-in has been designed to provide extreme smoothness and high resolution for both time and frequency: unlike most spectrum analyzers, Blue Cat’s FreqAnalyst is able to display continuous variations even with a very high frequency resolution, thanks to its unique smooth interpolation algorithms.
Most aspects of the audio to frequency display conversion can be managed, which lets you total control over the monitoring. A special thresholding system has been developed to help you see the important parts of the spectrum easily. In case you need extra precision in a particular frequency range, you can zoom the display and check the part of the graph you are interested in.
www.bluecataudio.com/Products/Product_FreqAnalyst
References:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectrum_analyzer
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Tune It! ~ Tune Your Instruments
Tune It! is a piece of software that helps musicians to tune their instrument. It can also be used to monitor the pitch during live performance.
Tune It! is based on a original and very accurate pitch detection algorithm. It can tune a wide range of instruments such as guitar, bass, piano, flute, violin, saxophone, etc…
Tune It! is available for both Windows and Macintosh platforms. It can be ran as a standalone application or as a plugin within a VST or AU host.
Features:
- Automatic note recognition from A-1 up to A6.
- Programmable A440 reference from 400 to 480Hz (step of 1Hz or 0,1Hz).
- Programmable Precision
- The highest precision, the finest tuning.
- The lower precision, the lower latency (suited for tuning control during live performance)
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PyKaraoke ~ Cross-platform Karaoke Player
PyKaraoke is a free karaoke player for Linux, FreeBSD, NetBSD, Windows, OSX and GP2X.
You can use this program to play your collection of CDG, MIDI and MPEG karaoke songs. No songs are provided, you must obtain these from elsewhere.
Visit here to find out more about what a CDG or MP3+G file is. In short, CDG is the format of professional karaoke CDs. These CDs can be ripped to your hard disk, and turned into a .mp3 file together with a .cdg file. This player gives you the ability to play those mp3+cdg files.
PyKaraoke Features:
- CDG (MP3+G, OGG+G, WAV+G) playback – Play standard CDG karaoke files
- MIDI (.MID/.KAR) playback – Play MIDI format karaoke files
- MPEG playback – Play karaoke songs and movies in MPEG format
- Other formats – Play any other video formats by launching an external media player
- Playlist – Queue up songs, sit back and enjoy
- Searchable song database – Easily find your songs from the main screen
- Search inside ZIP files – Play MP3+G/MIDI files wrapped in ZIP files
- Cross-platform – Runs on Windows, Linux, BSD, OSX and GP2X
- Mini Frontend – Additional mini-frontend for low res displays and handhelds
- Export to MPEG – Convert CDG and KAR files to MPG files (command line only)
www.kibosh.org/pykaraoke
sourceforge.net/projects/pykaraoke
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Common Music ~ Algorithmic Music Composition
Common Music (CM) is a real-time music composition system implemented in JUCE/C++ and Scheme. It generates musical output via MIDI, OSC, CLM, FOMUS and CSOUND. Its user application is called GRACE (Graphical Real-time Algorithmic Composition Environment)
Features:
- Algorithmic music composition environment
- Runs on Mac, Windows and Linux
- Real time scheduling of musical algorithms
- Two coding languages for designing algorithms: S7 Scheme and SAL (an easy-to-learn alternate)
- MIDI input/output
- CLM/Sndlib audio system built in (Scottstaedt)
- CCRMA digital audio instrument definitions built in (Scottstaedt)
- Open Sound Control input/output
- Metronomes and running algorithm redefinition for live coding
- Data visualization
- Music pattern definitions
- Fomus system built in for computing music notations (Psenicka)
commonmusic.sourceforge.net
sourceforge.net/projects/commonmusic
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Jamulus ~ Internet Jam Sessions
The Jamulus software enables musicians to perform real-time jam sessions over the internet. There is a Jamulus server which collects the audio data from each Jamulus client, mixes the audio data and sends the mix back to each client.
jamulus.io
sourceforge.net/projects/llcon
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamulus
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PianoBooster ~ Boost Your Playing Skills
A MIDI file player that teaches you how to play the piano. PianoBooster is a fun way of playing along with a musical accompaniment and at the same time learning the basics of reading musical notation.
Features:
- Piano Booster follows your playing when playing along to a musical accompaniment. (If you stop then so does the music).
- Play a single hand and Piano Booster will play the other hand in time with you (and will also play the violins, the bass, the drums etc. in time with you).
- Change the speed of playback to match your playing ability.
- Transpose +/- 12 semitones without stopping the play back.
- Change the Key Signature of the piece.
- Plays any standard midi or kar file.
- Play along to any instrument in the midi file.
- Adjust the volume of the current part or the volume your piano part.
- See the accuracy of you playing.
- Change the start bar to start playing from any bar in the music. The repeat bars allows you to practice just a few difficult bars continuously.
- Timing markers are white crosses that are drawn over each note and show if you are playing ahead or behind the beat.
- A different instrument sound is used for the right and wrong notes that you play.
pianobooster.sourceforge.net
sourceforge.net/projects/pianobooster
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Foobar2000 ~ Biography Display Script
This is an updated biography script that works in the 32bit Spider Monkey Javascript panel. This won’t work in 64bit Foobar2000 installations.
Spider Monkey Panel ~ github.com/TheQwertiest/foo_spider_monkey_panel
Biography Script: The most recent version of the script is on, or near, the last page of this discussion. ~ hydrogenaud.io/index.php/topic,112913.0.html
- Download and install foo_spider_monkey_panel
- Download and unzip the newest version of the Biography script
- In Foobar2000 select “View > Layout > Enable Layout Editing Mode“
- Add a new panel or tab to your Foobar interface
- Right click in the new area and select “Add New UI Element…“
- Select “Spider Monkey Panel” in the Utility section
- You should now see a blank Spider Monkey panel and the message “Click here to open editor.“
- Click on the panel to open the editor and click the “Files” button and select “Import” and navigate to the biography script folder, select the script file “biography.x.x.x.js” and click “Open“
- Click “Apply” and click “Ok“
- Rename the Tab
- Disable “Layout editing mode” in the “View” menu
Forum Discussion:
hydrogenaud.io/index.php/topic,112914.msg929674
The Audio File 