This week I thought we might try something different and I would like to introduce you to some interactive music sites that I have found on the WWW (world wide web). Now all of these sites are for kids and adults alike and they are fairly easy to understand. So then let's get started shall we?
M/B Interactive :
For the following sites you need at least a 28.8 modem (some of them only a 14.4 modem but is noted what they require in each instance) and Shockwave. Netscape 3.0 or Microsoft Explorer 3.0 or higher each with the Macromedia Shockwave will do very well here. You can find Macromedia Shockwave here.
Now this is truly for the music lovers among us, especially those that like to interact with it... other than just dance to it. *smile* Just follow all instructions on how to use each individual instrument, sequencer or mixers on each site and most of all enjoy yourself.
The Remote
The Remote lets you pick among 5 songs on a picture that looks like a remote control but has a 3-D feel to it. You can then adjust the loudness and just listen to the songs or remix each of them.
The Viewer
Is similar to the Remote but here you can adjust the brightness of the small screen... looks almost like a miniature TV set with radio controls and brightness control You choose between several channels which provide you with different types of music and what looks like a movie or in some cases a screen saver type moving picture. Who ever came up with this had relaxing in mind.
Junglematic
The Junglematic is something for people that enjoy listening to Jazz and I am one of those that do. Here you can assemble a string of rhythm, beats and sounds. You can just pick some music and listen or mix, and write the music and then listen back to it. The only regret I have about this is that it seemed I had a pretty good song going here but there was no way to record and keep it so I could play it for my friends and show off my hidden musical talents. *smile*
Gaiatron and Naturemax727
Now this is nice too. Here you can make sounds with nature, as they said teach you Canary how to sing. This is very simple to follow and fun too. Make sounds like you are in the rain forest during a thunderstorm or on a spring morning when all the birds are coming out to sing. Mix and match and let the sequencer do the rest. Enjoy your master piece of natures sounds.
The Electrobop
Folks if you appreciate Jazz /Bebop music then try your hands at mixing and playing some nice music. The instruments that are being looped are drums/bass, percussions and chords. Than you get a choice of 4 different trumpet sounds and 4 different vibes sounds that you can interact into the looped music. It sounds really nice and I had a lot of fun listening to my own produced Jazz sounds. *smile*
The Wavesticks are something for everyone that ever dreamed of being a drummer. Go ahead and play those drums and here you have the perfect music background too. Have lots of fun.
Depth Charge
Requires Shockwave and a good Browser like MS Explorer. Here you get a choice for six different themes and then once you picked one you can interact with the music by clicking on different icons to change the beat of the music or the whole rhythm. This is nicely done also, but no site for those that have a dislike for music done in the Rap style.
Lego (an introduction on how to build a duck)
And here at last one site just for the kids. This is Lego and all kids and their parents have heard of it. Though I do believe that the site is a little bit too commercialized I did find the game of building a duck quite amusing myself. Kids will be able to play here and enter their results into a contest. I guess even the parents can try their hands at building the duck. I found it quite astounding how my mind went suddenly blank at the view of only a few lego blocks that were suppose to be used to build it, but did succeed after some trial and error.
Interactive Sites
