Numerology 2 gets an "Awesome" in MacLife

[jim]

Review now online:

http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/five12_numerology_20

the bottom line:
"There is no hardware equivalent that can deliver even a fraction of the step-sequencing prowess of this monster. If you're a Mac musician, prepare to be astounded and delighted."

Cheers,
Jim

[shamburglar]

Congrats Jim! You've earned it, you are designing an incredibly unique app here... there is no equivalent.

[ZenPunkHippy]

Very well deserved Jim ...

"Numerology 2 gets an Awesome rating in MyLife" ;) (oh that was bad, but what the heck!!!)

Peace,
Andy.

[ayrtbh]

yes, numerology is the coolest software I've ever used.
now I play with it every night,
fire numerology,
play a while,
record something,
then I can sleep.

congratulations Jim !

[Per Boysen]

On Mon, Jul 20, 2009 at 5:57 PM, ayrtbh <> wrote:


> yes, numerology is the coolest software I've ever used.
> now I play with it every night,
> fire numerology,
> play a while,
> record something,
> then I can sleep.
>
> congratulations Jim !
>



Lucky you! Numerology makes it hard for me to sleep :-))
Looking forward for the announced "pro version":

[ayrtbh]

On Mon, Jul 20, 2009 at 5:57 PM, ayrtbh <> wrote:





Lucky you! Numerology makes it hard for me to sleep :-))
Looking forward for the announced "pro version":

ya, it is. actually ' a while ' always equal four to five hours.
:)

[jue]

hello,

what a lucky man, can sleep with Numerology in reach......

sometimes I am sleeping while Numerology is running at low level as an audio carpet.

best
jue

[john brennan]

"Audio carpet" Thats an ambient track name if ever I heard one . Brilliant :D

[jim]

Tks for the props everyone. I just posted the first 2.2 beta and will have more news on future releases (incl. the pro version) in a few days....

Cheers,
Jim

[doctorvague]

Congrats Jim, you deserve it!

[dbiedny]

Well, in the last few days I've turned no less than 4 folks onto Numerology, so expect some sales!

I had also sent Jim a personal testimonial, but I don't think he's posted it anywhere, so I'm going to take the liberty and put it here right now:

---------------------

It's not very often that a software tool appears that redefines how we think about making things, the ways that we go about being creative with some degree of originality and integrity. In the world of music production, MIDI sequencers and audio editing programs - for the most part - all present slightly different takes on the same general techniques. Numerology has successfully bucked this trend, offering a very cool new spin on making music from scratch, steeped in tradition while simultaneously breaking new ground. For those of us who have played around with analog step sequencers over the past few decades, the limitations of the hardware have proven to be highly frustrating, and in this sense, Numerology has shattered the notion of what a step sequencer can accomplish, dramatically expanding the sheer complexity and entropy of the musical sequences that are possible with this approach. There is absolutely nothing like this program, it is clearly the ultimate step sequencing environment, bar none, joining U&I Software's unique MetaSynth software as an enabling reason to invest in a Mac for any serious musical hobbyist or professional. When I realized that I could use the extensive modulation sources to drive the controls of my Audio Units synths and effects, my head almost caved in on itself, confronted with the sheer potential of this potent new musical instrument and the ways in which it continues to surprise and delight my aural proclivities. In an era when the term "awesome" is thrown around with some degree of impunity, Numerology proves itself to be truly awesome in scope and sophistication. Jim Coker has created a masterpiece, and deserves the recognition of being on the the true innovators in the realm of Mac creative tools.

David Biedny

-----------------

And what's all this about a Pro version? Are you trying to kill me, Jim? :-)

dB

[shamburglar]

Use your new power wisely Jim. It appears you are amassing a giant army of Numerologists. First there is the "pro" level then what's next eh? The church of Numerology hee hee.

[jim]

Well, in the last few days I've turned no less than 4 folks onto Numerology, so expect some sales!


Awesome!

I had also sent Jim a personal testimonial, but I don't think he's posted it anywhere, so I'm going to take the liberty and put it here right now:[snip...]


I'm working on a website update for that wonderful quote, just juggling it a bit with a few dozen other items.... ;)

And what's all this about a Pro version? Are you trying to kill me, Jim? :-)


Of course not! :) I should have a posting on that up real soon now.... ;)

Cheers,
Jim

[shamburglar]

@dbiedny... I totally understand man... welcome to the boards here. Numerology has really blown my mind as well, I tried a lot of programs like PD, Supercollider and a bunch of others but I'm just not a coder, I don't understand that stuff. Num really filled that void with the stuff I was trying to accomplish with those programs but in a way and with a toolset that makes much more sense to me. I've owned it for quite a while now and the excitement never quite wears off, I use it everyday. Its a very unique and inspiring tool.

On another note thats great you were able to show it to some other people and get them psyched about it. I showed it to a couple of electronic musician friends of mine (real gear junkies, they don't really use the computer) and had such a "Debbie Downer" moment when they said "It's kind of like Reason." To which I responded no way, its more like the "Anti-Reason fools!" they just didn't get it. :p

If you have any questions about stuff people are very helpful here.

[john brennan]

My " Debbie Downer " moment came when showing a DJ friend the glory of N2 his response ? "Its kinda like Ableton "!!! Drove me mad trying to explain how it aint . There aint no piano rolls here !! for a start :D

[shamburglar]

My " Debbie Downer " moment came when showing a DJ friend the glory of N2 his response ? "Its kinda like Ableton "!!! Drove me mad trying to explain how it aint . There aint no piano rolls here !! for a start :D

Hahaha... You know this raises an interesting point I wonder how many people download this program and don't really delve into it and try it for 5 minutes. I wonder if it ought to include a couple of really interesting stacks to peak peoples interest... so that they can begin to comprehend the possibilities of what you can do with this thing.

[john brennan]

Hahaha... You know this raises an interesting point I wonder how many people download this program and don't really delve into it and try it for 5 minutes. I wonder if it ought to include a couple of really interesting stacks to peak peoples interest... so that they can begin to comprehend the possibilities of what you can do with this thing.

Thats a kind of yes and no answer for me yea if it means people who mite be using N2 as their first ever sequencer and who may not be used to using software . Maybe if there was an educational version of N2 then this would be where such pre made stacks could be used , But personally speaking Ive probably got the most enjoyment of just building random stacks and throwing together different connections to see what happens and learning from that .

[jim]

Hahaha... You know this raises an interesting point I wonder how many people download this program and don't really delve into it and try it for 5 minutes. I wonder if it ought to include a couple of really interesting stacks to peak peoples interest... so that they can begin to comprehend the possibilities of what you can do with this thing.

You've hit upon a very important point -- Many folks see it or try it but it doesn't really 'click' for them. In many cases, the tendency does seem that they see it only a variation on other products (thus the "just like reason" or "just like ableton" comments). I think having more in the way of good demo songs and more tutorial videos will help get the word out, though I have to profess that I still enjoy the coding the most, and I have to regularly kick myself to jump out of developer mode.... (wow, what a nerdy admission!)

Cheers,
Jim

[Per Boysen]

I think having more in the way of good demo songs and more tutorial videos will help get the word out


Why not shipping it preloaded with something really cool? And some idiot-proof text like "press Play and tweak the faders!"

I have to profess that I still enjoy the coding the most, and I have to regularly kick myself to jump out of developer mode.... (wow, what a nerdy admission!)


Creative people like you need a marketing assistant! :-)

[blurk]

You've hit upon a very important point -- Many folks see it or try it but it doesn't really 'click' for them. In many cases, the tendency does seem that they see it only a variation on other products (thus the "just like reason" or "just like ableton" comments).
Devil's advocate comment here: maybe the drive to add more and more audio features is contributing to blurring the lines. I "got" Numerology pretty much immediately when I tried (I recall unreasonably grumbling at the price, but not the concept). The reason I got the concept was that I wasn't looking for yet another host, I have enough already. What I've been wanting (and even N2 isn't quite right for this) is a modular MIDI sequencer plug-in (preferably cross-platform but I know that aspect ain't gonna happen with N2) that I can use within my modular hosts.

It's the modular sequencing aspect that makes Numerology unique. But the increasing emphasis of audio processing features blurs the distinction and perhaps is distracting these other people.

[jim]

Why not shipping it preloaded with something really cool? And some idiot-proof text like "press Play and tweak the faders!"


That is the general plan -- to have a couple good demo songs and all-new examples.

Creative people like you need a marketing assistant! :-)

Yup!

Cheers,
Jim

[jim]

Devil's advocate comment here: maybe the drive to add more and more audio features is contributing to blurring the lines. I "got" Numerology pretty much immediately when I tried (I recall unreasonably grumbling at the price, but not the concept). The reason I got the concept was that I wasn't looking for yet another host, I have enough already. What I've been wanting (and even N2 isn't quite right for this) is a modular MIDI sequencer plug-in (preferably cross-platform but I know that aspect ain't gonna happen with N2) that I can use within my modular hosts.


The plugin option is a tricky subject, I'll have more information on that soon. There are many reasons for having audio in the program. It is the only way to trigger notes with zero delay. It makes Numerology suitable to use standalone for live gigs. In many recent cases, especially with Volta and/or SilentWay, I've been sequencing without using MIDI at all. And, perhaps most of all: It is really, really difficult to create decent demos and examples without any synthesis or sampling capabilities.

It's the modular sequencing aspect that makes Numerology unique. But the increasing emphasis of audio processing features blurs the distinction and perhaps is distracting these other people.

That is possible, but both the DrumKit and the AudioSample seem to be very popular.

Best,
Jim

[blurk]

The plugin option is a tricky subject, I'll have more information on that soon.
Yes, I don't doubt that. I suspect that if it wasn't tricky you'd have already done it. ;-)

There are many reasons for having audio in the program. It is the only way to trigger notes with zero delay.[...]
Hmmm. I never really considered that.

Anyway, like I said, it was a devil's advocate kind of comment. They're all good reasons and of course I'm not suggesting excluding the audio features, just that there's a tricky balance between gaining wider appeal and standing out from the crowd.

[jim]

Anyway, like I said, it was a devil's advocate kind of comment. They're all good reasons and of course I'm not suggesting excluding the audio features, just that there's a tricky balance between gaining wider appeal and standing out from the crowd.

Absolutely, and your comments are totally welcome. I find it to always be useful to backup a bit and re-examine important questions like that. That is one of the reasons that I haven't posted detailed info on the pro version yet, as I kept re-examining the options.

Cheers,
Jim