GarageCUBE has released Miraton, a new music composition and playback tool for Mac OS X. What's more, Miraton has been released as open source under the GPL license, so enterprising programmers and musicians can tweak it to their own liking.
Miraton is designed to import any sound files supported by QuickTime. You link a sound and some settings to keys on your keyboard; when the key is pressed the corresponding sound is played. Your mouse can be used to apply real time effects like overdrive and pitch to the sound, with up to two effects associated with the mouse (one along its X axis, one on its Y axis).
Miraton was originally designed to be used with a keyboard and mouse connected to a laptop through long cable, carried like a guitar -- it'll work without such accouterments, as well.
Miraton has been developed using GarageCUBE's Open Media Toolkit software; the application is based on Mac OS Sound Manager. A future version will support Mac OS X's CoreAudio system as well. Visit the Web site for more details or download links.
This story, "Miraton released -- free music composition tool" was originally published by PCWorld.