A big day for computer music and Windows 7
| Posted in Music Technology
It’s been a busy day in the world of computer music, with a wealth of software developers and hardware manufacturers declaring their support for Windows 7. Just as Ben Scully of Synergy previously speculated right here on DV247, the Windows platform appears to be quickly gathering momentum within the music making community.
Indeed, Synergy itself has been quick to back up Ben’s words, by announcing today that all of its dedicated music PCs will now be shipping with the option of Windows 7, offering musicians a choice between Windows 7 Professional 32 bit or Ultimate 64 bit. Even better news is that Synergy has revealed that its AW300 PCs from the flagship Origin line will now boast state-of-the-art Intel i5 2.66Ghz quad core systems.
Elsewhere, manufacturers and developers have been announcing new drivers for Windows 7 at a phenomenal rate. Included is Edirol, whose website now includes downloadable Windows 7 drivers for almost its entire product range, with the few outstanding products expected to be added within the next 24 hours. New drivers for the RME Audio Fireface recording interface have also appeared online today. Also, in the space of today M Audio has moved from a Private Beta to a Public Beta support for Windows 7 on its entire FireWire range, while drivers for all MOTU products are now available.
Among those manufacturers expected to shortly announce support for the new operating system meanwhile are Native Instruments and Avid, meaning Pro Tools compatibility is imminent.
So what does this all mean? From the point of view of manufacturers and developers, it is crucial that a new operating system is greeted with this level of acceptance and activity. Therefore no one should be surprised that so much is happening. But the pace with which the music industry is reacting to Windows 7 is impressive, and indicates that the stripped-down functionality of the new OS has been met with enthusiasm where it matters most.
However, it’s important to note that while Windows 7 is generating precisely the kind of positive momentum that Vista failed to whip up, even the most ardent believers in the new operating system are remaining cautious about its take-up. Synergy computers can be specified with either Windows 7 or XP, a move that Ben Scully explains as catering for those “who don’t want to jump on the Windows 7 bandwagon straight away”.
Nevertheless, with so much music software and hardware now being made Windows 7 friendly, it isn’t hard to imagine formerly Mac-obsessed musicians switching over to the far cheaper and now very powerful PC platform.
About Barney Jameson
A contributor, editor and in some cases creator of more music and pro audio magazines than he cares to remember, Barney Jameson is a veteran of writing about gear, and a pretty keen singer songwriter to boot.
Having started his musical education reading old copies of the Melody Maker while riding the tube to University in the mid-nineties, Barney once sang in a band called Sugarstone, troubling record company chequebooks not quite enough to make it a career option. Instead, he achieved his goal of starting a music magazine of his own when he founded Playmusic in the early noughties. Later on, having exploited VIP access to as many festivals as possible, he wrote about the pro audio industry throughout Europe and the Middle East, travelling to far-flung destinations such as Dubai, Doha and Muscat (nice mountains).
As the latest addition to the DV247 team, Barney has big plans. But when he’s not plotting online domination of the musical instrument world, he keeps himself busy writing songs on a battered old acoustic guitar and playing them to audiences in his home town.
Tags: computer music, music PC, synergy, windows 7