Notation/Sequencing Software

["Thomas B. Colvin" <tcolvin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

     I've been following the software thread with interest.  At SPAH '94 I 
     saw someone perform on chromatic accompanied by his own arrangements 
     composed and played back through a laptop computer.  I think the setup 
     was from computer thru a Roland Sound Canvas sequencer on to the PA.
     
     That leads to a question:  for composition and self-accompaniment in 
     performance, what is the smallest and easiest to setup and run 
     configuration of hardware/software.  (I hate carrying lots of heavy 
     gear around -- why do you think I took up harmonica in the first 
     place?)  Does anyone on the list ever perform with such computer 
     assistance.
     
     Some related observations:  I once saw someone playing in a major harp 
     competition with a self-composed audio cassette.  Unfortunately, the 
     playback was a quarter tone off pitch, and nothing could correct the 
     problem on site.  His performance was naturally an embarassing 
     disaster.  I myself was once asked to perform one number at a big 
     company function.  I practiced Summertime ahead of time with the 
     equipment just to be safe.  At performance time, I discovered that the 
     tape played back at a slightly different speed and wasn't in tune with 
     the harp anymore.  I stuck to singing and had to put the harp away.  
     Turns out that the equipment was a karoake setup (everyone else was 
     singing from music minus one tapes) with a variable pitch knob, which 
     was misset for my number.  I'll never trust audio tape accompaniment 
     again.  Maybe the computer/sequencer setup, if it's small and 
     convenient enough, will solve this problem -- as well as providing 
     lots of other musical options as well, such as preparing simple lead 
     sheets for band members, etc.
     
     Thomas "Tomcat" Colvin
     Manila, Philippines