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

[Josh Mattoon <dockthepod@xxxxxxxxx>]

hi,

i'd imagine that most "patcher" based sound sythesis
software wouldn't work very well for someone who is
blind.  my suggestion would be to try a text based
language, such as csound.  csound combined with a
scripting language can be very fun, and you can also
control csound quite well now in realtime with midi.

plus, csound is free (extra so now that is has been
re-licened LGPL)

~josh

--- Tim Kugel <guitardo@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> 88=08 =i
> tim,
> how blind? I am legally blind and have low vision.
> I might be able to help from that perspective
> though,
> 
> tim
> 
> Tim Mortimer wrote:
> 
> > 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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