MakeMusic! Inc. recently announced an expanded edition of its SmartMusic Studio application. The new version, 8.2, adds support for Mac OS X, more than 30 new accompaniments, and extra recording options that include the ability to save as a compressed MP3 file. The company also announced an enhanced SmartMusic Web site that features an easier subscription activation process.
SmartMusic Studio is subscription-based software that features a variety of exercises and other instruction aimed at budding musicians. It offers an Intelligent Accompaniment feature that plays along with students by following their musical performance through a microphone. Students can then listen to a recording of their performance and save it or e-mail it to parents and teachers. The new accompaniments in version 8.2 include Schubert’s “Introduction & Variations” for flute and the Concerto #2 for trombone by Blazevich.
Existing SmartMusic subscribers can request SmartMusic Studio 8.2 on CD-ROM through the MakeMusic! Web site. Annual subscriptions are US$90 per year and schools can now offer then for $20 per student, with a 10 student minimum. MakeMusic! also noted that a SmartMusic 8.2 Subscription Starter Kit will soon be available at select retailers. It will include the software, a one-year paid subscription, and instrumental and vocal headset microphones. No pricing was given.