Re: [microsound] music software for blind people (OT?)

[Björn Eriksson <nowerik@xxxxxxxxxx>]

For recording and editing (+effect processing) I think that SoundForge is
the most adapted software with JAWS. I have been told that SoundForge is one
of few program that you can do almost everything with keyboard. For
multichannel purposes the Sonar (this was called Cakewalk before... right?)
should be the program that works best. I think there is a script for this
that is called Caketalk That should make the Sonar work well for blind
people. (I also think that Cakewalk supports note script program Sibelius if
he is up to that sort of composing).

One more thing to keep in mind (but I am sure he already have thought about
this) is to steer the audiostreems from JAWS to another soundcard (onboard)
than the one he uses for the audio programs. Then he can use the small
computer speakers for the communication and the better studio speakers for
music production.

As to the other questions on the other softwares - I don't know. But I think
it is good for him to get a steady ground that works well so start with
Soundforge/Sonar I don't think is a bad start.

I've gotten these infos above when trying to adapt a radio studio for a
blind person that  will study next year at the school where I teach. I have
not tested this yet but I know that there are people in Sweden that works
proffesional with Soundforge/Sonar.

Yours,
Björn Eriksson

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tim Mortimer" <tmortimer@xxxxxxxxx>
To: "microsound" <microsound@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2003 6:22 AM
Subject: [microsound] music software for blind people (OT?)

hi

i have a (newish) friend. he's blind.

he used to make music using a rack mount EPS 16+ sampler & a Yamaha MIDI
wind instrument controller thingy... & he plays tin whistles & percussion
also...

he now has a PC however. he is running Windows XP & something calls JAWS
which enables him to navigate around the menu's using voice identification
of the menu items etc.

quite simply, i rave at him incessantly about things like Reaktor & MAX MSP
& i'm sure he's very interested (he's quite involved in the arts in general,
& he has a sound installation project in the pipeline involving other
disadvantaged/ disabled people.. but to get back to the immediate
question...)

what kind of software (if any?) is available for him to use? Sonar & Cool
Edit both interface with Jaws (apparently) but for starters / beginners
sake, is there any simple, easy to operate sound design/ synthesis/ sample
editing/ midi sequencing/ recording software that has been specifically made
for use by blind people in mind?

Even a simple "granulab" or  whatever would get his attention im sure, if
he, as a blind person, was able to operate & navigate the menu's... (in fact
a series of freeware/ shareware "1 task only" standalone apps could be the
ideal in this situation - i don't think he's going to be much cop at wiring
together Reaktor patches for example...& learning an all inclusive total
sound design app is hard enough for me, & i can see! & poke around in my
computer to get things working when they are not...he doesn't really have
that luxury at the moment...)

so any links or further information would be most welcome.

(needless to say, longer term i am interested to see what comes out of my
collaboration with this chap in terms of alternate strategies of sound
manipulation, controller interfaces etc for blind/ disabled people, & the
potential for existing apps like Max or whatever to create Patches or Apps
with this "target demographic" in mind....)

incidentally, he really dug all the ~scape stuff & burnt friedman i gave him
on MP3!  - i guess now i better burn him a microsound cd.... ; ) .

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