SmartLIGHT MIDI Driver to Allow Learning Songs Without Tablature
June 17, 1997Optek Music Systems, Inc., a music
education company which develops and manufactures the SmartLIGHT
Interactive System for guitar, announced today the introduction of the
beta version of the SmartLIGHT MIDI Driver, a software tool that allows
musicians to learn and play their favorite tunes with full band
accompaniment and without chord charts and sheet music.
Optek will demonstrate the driver at the NAMM (National Association of
Music Merchants) Show, July 11-13, in Nashville, TN. The company is
partnering with music software tool maker Passport Designs to bundle a
Passport's Master Tracks Pro demo sequencer with the SmartLIGHT guitar.
The driver also works with software created by Midisoft, Emagic, Coda,
Opcode, Steinberg, Voyetra and PG Music, which are supporting Optek's
technology. Additionally, Optek will be a reseller of Tune 1000's full
line of MIDI albums.
"Guitarists can now jam alongside their favorite artists, which is the
next best thing to being on stage with them," said Rusty Shaffer,
founder and CEO of Optek. "The SmartLIGHT MIDI Driver is a powerful tool
that accelerates peoples' ability to learn and play precisely the songs
they're interested in without having to learn the hard way from charts
and books."
With the company's new driver guitarists will be able to purchase
SmartLIGHT Ready MIDI albums from Optek or download standard MIDI files
from the Internet, route them into their computer-controlled SmartLIGHT
guitars via a MIDI sequencer program and choose the
tracks they want to light up on the guitar. A series of 132 LED lights
in the SmartLIGHT guitar's fretboard illuminate specific notes and
chords of the track, allowing users to learn and play a variety of parts
including rhythm, lead, melody and keyboard. Built-in soundcards in
Macintoshes and PCs allow users to see and hear the tracks, as well as
interject themselves into the song, playing the desired part with full
band accompaniment.
SmartLIGHT MIDI Driver Features and Benefits
In addition to lighting up the guitar parts or other selected
instruments, the driver allows guitarists to see multiple inversions of
guitar fingerings so they can modify or customize the sound they want to
achieve. A "lefty" option transposes the chords and notes for
left-handed players. A "copy and paste" function allows users to copy
one or more tracks in their MIDI sequencer software. Guitarists can hear
the tracks in real time as the tracks are being output to the SmartLIGHT
guitar or while they're playing back a track with the guitar to help
them follow along and shorten learning time. The SmartLIGHT's footswitch
can also be enabled to mimic the same functions as a computer mouse,
such as play, stop and pause. By eliminating the need to switch back and
forth from the computer to the guitar, this functionality allows
musicians to concentrate on learning and playing songs.
Creating a Mini-Band
Playing with a friend takes on a whole new meaning with the SmartLIGHT
system. By
hooking up two guitars to one computer, SmartLIGHT owners can send
selected tracks to each guitar and play in tandem. One can play rhythm
guitar while the other plays lead guitar. By hooking up several
computers and guitars, a music instructor can lead an entire class.
Combining the Features of the MIDI Sequencer with the MIDI Driver
Existing MIDI features which can be employed while "driving" the
guitar include transposing to another key, looping, soloing or muting
various instruments, and adjusting the speed.
PC and Macintosh Versions and System Requirements
Beta versions of the Macintosh and PC drivers will be available July
1. The 1.0 version for both systems will be available August 1.
SmartLIGHT guitars are compatible with Macintosh System 7.0 or higher,
Windows 3.1, Windows 95 and Windows NT. The MIDI Driver is currently
compatible with Macintosh System 7.0 or higher and Windows 95.
About Optek Music Systems
Optek Music Systems, Inc. is a music education company that develops
and manufactures the SmartLIGHT Interactive System, a computer-driven
guitar which simplifies and accelerates a person's ability to learn and
master guitar playing and to improve technique. A series of inlaid LED
lights on the fretboard allow users to learn guitar without referring
back and forth from the guitar to chord charts and song books. The
SmartLIGHT Interactive System is designed to help players at every
levelbeginning, intermediate, advanced and professional musicians. Neal
Schon of Journey, Gerry Beckley of America and Charlie Crowe of Brooks &
Dunn own SmartLIGHTs. Optek was founded in 1988 and has its headquarters
in Raleigh, NC. For more information, visit their web site at www.optekmusic.com. | 
