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capella playAlong

Introduction - Description - Feature List - How to Order

Take your own choir home with you...

...or play every solo to a large orchestral accompaniment!
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capella playAlong makes it possible for you to choose the musical backing you want and to take it with you into your living room! capella playAlong is the only software in the world that allows you to access an almost inexhaustible store of finished scores and to create your own play-along CD in no time at all.

Using capella playAlong, you can create your own play-along accompaniment CD to help you play your own part. And the great thing is - you decide which part this is!

What you need

Take any music file...

  • Any MIDI file saved in a Standard MIDI Format (.mid). You can export files from any MIDI sequencer or notation program you have, or use thousands of free MIDI files available on the web.
  • Any MusicXML file. This file format can be exported from capella, Finale, Sibelius, or any other notation program or scanner that supports .xml files.
  • Your own or any other capella file: there are thousands of files available for free on the Internet.

All you have to do is leave out your "part" while you're creating the CD; If you want to play along to the CD as a duo or trio, you can remove other parts too.

Unlike other programs, capella playAlong does not tie you to your computer to practice. Play your CD at home, in the car, or rip it to your MP3 player. Your music can go with you anywhere that you want to play or sing.

Description

cappella playAlong offers you unexpected possibilities:

  • You are free to play each solo part yourself!
  • On the occasion when there is no capella, MusicXML, or MIDI score readily available for a specific piece of music, you can transform any sheet music into a capella score using capella-scan (not included)!
  • If you're not in the mood to be a soloist: Play one of the orchestral parts in one of Beethoven's symphonies "quietly and unobtrusively"!
  • If you are a member of a church choir and need to practice: You can add your voice to the others by singing it at home to the CD!
  • Are you a leader of a choir or orchestra? Create a CD for all the parts in no time at all. All you have to do is remove the soprano, alto, tenor, bass or an instrument of your choice one after the other. The whole process is completed in a matter of seconds.
  • Would you like to practice improvising? Then simply create a CD with a swinging rhythm section!
  • Would you like to play more than one part one after another for yourself or for others? Simply create a CD with the same piece and remove a different part in each version!
  • We've all been there: You want to play a part but the third member of the trio is missing. Well now you can let capella playAlong play the missing viola in a string trio, while you play cello along with your real-life violinist.

capella plus one
You can also do the opposite: Create a CD (you can also do this for other members of the choir) on which your own voice is stressed while the volume of the other voices is reduced. Once you are sure that you have mastered your part, switch over to capella playAlong and reduce the volume of your part until it is very quiet compared with the other voices. Do this until you can remove your voice altogether. The next time you arrive for choir/orchestra practice, you'll be assured of admiring applause!

Nothing can go wrong!
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capella playAlong has been designed to assist you. The software will take you through each step in a clear and understandable way, from choosing a music file to adjusting the volume and from stereo distribution to burning the audio CDs. Some of the program's features, such as taking account of articulation signs (staccatos, tenutos, accents), might not be relevant to you, so you can simply ignore them and move on. Don't be intimidated by the large number of 19 steps! In most instances, you will only need to concern yourself with half of these from choosing the score to burning the CD. The most important thing, however, is that you'll be creating your own play-along CDs in no time at all!

Impressive sound quality

It's no good having great speakers in the living room if the quality of the sound card is not up to the job. On-board sound cards are renowned for delivering poor quality. capella playAlong has found an elegant way of getting round this problem: The sound files are generated using its own conversion system, which makes them completely independent of the sound card and is guaranteed to sound much better. If, on the other hand, your PC has a high-end sound card that produces excellent sound quality, you're free to use it instead. Here too, is no need to connect cables between the sound card's input and output sockets, since capella playAlong activates your sound card directly.

The brand new version 2.1 of capella playAlong also supports sample players and sound libraries for excellent results.

Inspired: The project concept

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Every CD you create is a project. You can save and pass on completed projects. Because the software only saves the properties set by you (such as your choice of score, transposition, sound levels etc.), the project files are tiny. The music itself is not saved. You can also edit and change finished projects later. You'll find the automatic instrument categorization function a great help: It enables you to find just what you're looking for lightning fast in your own or in other people's projects. capella playAlong comes complete with a number of finished projects for beginners, for more advanced users and for professional musicians and singers.

Feature List
The ability to create play-along and sing-along CDs easily and in no time at all
Imports capella files, MIDI files and MusicXML files from any notation or sequencing program that supports these formats (e.g. from Finale®, Sibelius® etc.)
A wonderful, incredibly simple user interface designed with assistant design
The user's own part (or several parts) can be highlighted, lowered in volume or removed altogether
The software can be adjusted to meet any practice speed
Dynamic symbols (forte, piano etc.), repeats, articulations are taken from the score
Transpositions available in different keys (singers sometimes sing deeper, beginners prefer to play in G-major than in G flat major...)
Metronome function available to count in or as permanent accompaniment
Tuning assistance for singers and instrumentalists
Excellent sound quality regardless of the PC's sound card; no jungle of cables
Supports sample players and sound libraries for excellent results.
Swing quantization which allows you to adjust the playback style
Users can print out their own parts (please download free demo version of note processor capella professional)
Many finished CD projects for beginners, for more advanced users and for professional musicians included.

How to Order

capella playAlong runs on Windows 2000, XP, and Vista. It must be activated within 30 days of installation. Download it to try it out before ordering:

You may order capella playAlong from the Recordare Online Store for $129.95. You can also purchase capella playAlong at a discount as part of our Big Notation Bundle. The bundle includes capella professional, capella-scan, and capella playAlong all for $439.95 - a $90 savings over purchasing the software separately.

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Copyright © 2008 capella-software GmbH and Recordare LLC.

Last updated January 2, 2008.