ScaleMaster for Mac OS X Released

A good understanding of scales is of particular importance to improvising musicians and song-writers. ScaleMaster addresses this topic in a systematic fashion helping with scale classification, construction and spelling in all common clefs. Playable guitar, bass, mandolin and piano instruments are provided as visualization and fingering help and a rating mechanism helps remembering favorites among the over 200 listed scales. A chord filter lists over 40 of the most common chord forms and helps matching chords with possible scale candidates. All this and much more is for the first time available for the Mac in ScaleMaster. More information and screen shots are available on the ScaleMaster page.

ScaleMaster is fully compatible with Mac OS 10.7 (Lion) and is now available on the Mac App Store.

ScaleMaster for Mac OS X now in Review

Work has concluded on the first Mac OS X edition of ScaleMaster. It is currently in review and expected to be available by 12.12.2011. Stay tuned for the exact release date. ScaleMaster is compatible with Mac OS 10.6.6 and up and will be available through the Mac App Store. Additional information and screenshots are available on the ScaleMaster page.

New Sound Libraries Available

Three new sound libraries are now available as In-App purchases for ChordLab , EarMan, Mozart and ScaleMaster as well as the iPad versions of these titles. The Folk Pack includes the libraries Accordion, Harp and Pan flute, the Winds Pack 2 adds Trumpet, Saxophone and Bassoon and finally the Folk Strings Pack features Dulcimer, Saz and Bouzouki.

iOS 5 Update Status

All music applications running on iOS have now been updated for iOS 5. This includes Almond, BandMaster, ChordLab , EarMan, Mozart and ScaleMaster as well as the HD iPad versions of these titles. These fairly comprehensive upgrades also include additional fixes and features and are recommended for all users. Several other titles are still in review and will be available shortly.

Senet Deluxe 1.5 for iOS Released

Senet is an ancient Egyptian race game and the predecessor of our modern Backgammon. Senet Deluxe is available for the iPhone/iPod touch and as a gorgeous iPad optimized version. Version 1.5 features updated graphics, full screen display on iPads, optimized animation, imrpoved game logic and two choices of game board. Senet Deluxe is localized into Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish.

Mozart 2.0 for Mac OS Released

Mozart 2.0 is an educational game for music students that brings fun into reading music. As when reading notes stream from the left to the right and have to be identified on any of the 6 provided instruments. The problem is that there are not only notes to deal with, but also all sorts of other entities that may explode, shift places or change the key signatures around for no reason at all. There are two basic instruments where either letters like C, D, E or tone syllables like Do, Re, Mi are assigned. Four advanced input instruments - bass, guitar, mandolin and piano - are also available.

Version 2.0 adds positioning and accidentals in the advanced instrument and a new training mode that allows a 50% speed reduction and specific position assignment in the advanced instruments. Also new in version 2.0 is a display option for left-handed players that affects the stringed instruments bass, guitar and mandolin. As before movable and fixed Do solfége styles are supported and all stringed instruments can be custom tuned.

To make the game play more immersive Mozart 2.0 includes several new note characters and plays a background track. A level restart token was also added that allows advanced players to keep their game play in the higher levels instead of having to go through all basic levels first. Additionally the entire scoring mechanism and game graphics were revised. Help is now available from the familiar Mac help menu and the top ten list has been revised to include level information.

Mozart 2.0 is fully compatible with Mac OS 10.7 (Lion) and is now available on the Mac App Store.

Mozart 2.0 for iOS Released

Mozart 2.0 is now available for the iPhone/iPod touch and the iPad. Most notably in version 2.0 is a distiction between basic and advanced instruments. Advanced instruments are those based on real instruments like guitar or piano. For one these instruments now evaluate octaves (i.e. middle c will require a different input than c an octave higher). Additionally instrument positions come into play. So the guitar instrument for example will move up to higher positions as the game level increases.

Another big change is that Mozart 2.0 includes accidentals. These start appearing in the higher game levels and include double-sharps and double-flats as well as all basic accidentals. Accidentals don't appear in the Letters and Solfége instruments since those don't have input options for non-diatonic notes.

Other prominent changes include a new Training Mode for practicing specific positions, a new soundtrack, left-handed display choices for the bass, guitar and mandolin instruments, major graphic updates, a completely revised scoring mechanism and many new game characters. A newly available level restart token allows starting a game at a formerly achieved level. When a level restart token is identified correctly a heart shaped icon appears next to the score display with the level number indicated. Additional level tokens acquired in higher levels replace any previous tokens. This feature allows advanced players to keep the game play in the advanced levels of the game.

There are many more new additions and features in version 2.0 than can be listed here. Visit the respective websites for more in-depth information regarding the iPhone or the iPad versions, a brief manual and a short movie. Mozart 2.0 is a free upgrade for all current users.