|
SoftStep is a Windows based modular MIDI step sequencer patterned somewhat after the modular analog step sequencers.The big ones, with lots of knobs and blinky lights.
But SoftStep goes far beyond its step sequencer roots, to give you algorithmic composing tools of all kinds, including fractal, chaos, probability, and numerical based algorithms of virtually unlimited flexibility.
View a comparison of our four composing programs: ArtWonk, MusicWonk, SoftStep and BankStep.
SoftStep has been reviewed in the December 2001 issue of Electronic Musician Magazine. Click here to read the review online. Note: the version reviewed was 2.0 - The current version of SoftStep is 3.1.
The November, 2003 issue of Electronic Musician has an article on Algorithmic Music software, including SoftStep: "Game of Chance" by Dennis Miller.
Free 30 Day Trial
You can try SoftStep free for 30 days. You get the full program with nothing disabled or omitted.
Go
to Free Download
Browse Online Manual
Printable PDF Manual
Comparison of ArtWonk, SoftStep
and BankStep
Composing Music with SoftStep
The composing elements in SoftStep are Modules, which are math and logic functions that you treat as physical boxes with knobs and sliders, that you can create, destroy, move around, connect and reconnect.
To create a MIDI composition with SoftStep you create the modules and connect them together to produce a MIDI data stream that will in turn drive any MIDI synthesizer, or Windows MIDI sound card.
You can begin with a simple sequence, and then repeat, modify or combine and recombine it with other sequences. You can modify any compositional element of your piece in real time and immediately hear the effects of your changes.
Not only do you hear the changes instantly, you also see them. SoftStep modules are visually dynamic, with values changing, lights blinking, indicators flashing. This visual dynamic is what sets SoftStep apart from other modular algorithmic programs, that let you make the connections but otherwise give minimal visual feedback. With SoftStep, even large, complex patches are easy to follow because nearly every module gives an animated visual indication of its processes.
You can make a Standard MIDI file at any or all stages of composition. The file can either be used directly or imported into a composition program for further modification. Here are some example MIDI files created with SoftStep. All are taken from the example files installed with SoftStep:
The above examples are somewhat restricted in their complexity and subtlety in order to keep the example patches that produce them easy to follow and to use as a starting point for your own compositions. To hear what may be accomplished with SoftStep when your intent is to make music rather than create an example patch, visit the following link:
http://fm4.orf.at/soundpark/s/spylero/main?audiolist=all
SoftStep is a big program, but it is easy to get started with it. Tutorials and extensive help files demonstrate the potential of each modular element. SoftStep is accessible even to users with no previous experience with synthesizers and/or conventional music notation, but also provides experienced users with a friendly and flexible creative environment.
Real Time Ultra Arpeggiator
With SoftStep you can accept MIDI input from your keyboard, process it in innumerable ways, then send it out to your soft synth, sound card or MIDI sound module with no perceptible lag. This gives you an incredibly flexible tool for building ultra arpeggios that can take input notes and controller movements and generate complex musical phrases and effects, providing independent real-time control over rhythm, duration, accents, chord density, pitch bending, tonal variation, panning, repeats, randomization, etc.
SoftStep runs on all Windows operating systems from Windows 95 on. This includes Windows 95, 98, ME, XP, 2000, and NT4. While there are no hard limitations on CPU speed, we recommend 450 MHz or faster for best results. You also need a MIDI compatible sound card or interface. If you can play a .mid file, SoftStep will work. A graphics display of at least 1024x768 High Color (16-bit) or True Color is recommended. For best results, system memory should be at least what is recommended by Microsoft for the version of Windows you are running, and no less than 32MB.
Our software works great with just about any Windows sound card, MIDI driver or device. This includes most sound cards, external MIDI interfaces to hardware synthesizers, and software synthesizers. We have extensively tested for real time coexistence and compatibility with the entire SoundBlaster Live! and Audigy lines of sound cards and most popular popular software synthesizers such as Reaktor, VAZ, ABox,VirSyn Tera, GigaSampler/GigaStudio, Kyma, and Creamware SFP/Pulsar.
