Mac OS X | Audio / Video | Editors | FretPet X

FretPet X - 1.0.7

music sequencer with a guitar-based interface

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All Time:	(3.7)
Version 1.0.7:	Not rated (0.0)
Selected Version:	1.0.7
Release Date:	2007-01-31
License:	Commercial
Downloads (version 1.0.7):	194
Downloads (all versions):	8,356
Price:	$30.00

Information Related to Version:

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Product Description:

FretPet is a music sequencer with an interface based entirely around the guitar in which you compose using chords, fingerings, and picking patterns. FretPet plays through the built-in Quicktime synthesizer and provides a MIDI source for synthesizers like GarageBand, Absynth, FM7, Reason, MIDIPipe, etc. FretPet has been completely re-written to take full advantage of the amazing musical powers of Mac OS X.

Create and modify chords with simple point-and-click interfaces
Instantly find guitar fingerings for any tuning and position
Compose chord progressions and picking patterns
Play through QuickTime and MIDI outputs
Play through synths like GarageBand, Absynth, FM7, etc
Export MIDI files and QuickTime Music Movies
Find all twelve names for any chord
Absorb music theory without breaking a sweat

What's new in this version:

Drag-selecting no longer scrolls too fast
Fixed cosmetic glitches in the D# dot graphics
Click-and-hold can now be used to override fretboard dots
Command key shortcuts now work in the Save Alert
Filters are now disabled when they would have no effect
Fixed the Undo/Redo behavior of several filters
The Dots Display setting is now properly saved
Numbered Dots now show the correct extensions

Operating System Requirements:

This product is designed to run on the following operating systems:

Mac OS X 10.4 Intel
Mac OS X 10.4 PPC
Mac OS X 10.3.9
Mac OS X 10.3

Additional Requirements:

Mac OS X 10.3 or higher
Universal Binary

Feedback Summary:

Version 1.0.7:
Overall Rating:	Not rated (0.0)	Features:	Not rated (0.0)	Support:	Not rated (0.0)
Ease of Use:	Not rated (0.0)	Quality / Stability:	Not rated (0.0)	Price:	Not rated (0.0)

Key to Types of Feedback:

Reviews Reviews Troubleshooting Usage Tips Developer Notes Commentary Featured Reviews

A lot of thought and effort. - Version: 1.1d7, 11/17/2007 05:15PM PST

rayk86ss

Someone obviously put a great deal of effort into making this product, but I'm not sure that it addresses the needs of many guitar players. Opening the application causes at least five small windows to appear. These windows show notes on a guitar neck, keyboard, and sequencer at the same time. The images are too small to look at while holding a guitar. I had to put the guitar down and peer intently at each image over the top of my glasses. A magnifying glass is a recommended accessory.

The program comes with several demo music like things with and extension of .fret. Opening one of them causes the computer to begin playing and the notes to flash on the guitar neck, etc. The demo music is rather mechanical sounding and uninteresting. As the chords change the display also shows mode changes from Ionic to Dorian to Myxolidian, etc. If I wanted to learn to play guitar so that I sounded like a machine this program could teach me in minutes.

I am sure that I am being unfair in my criticism. I think that this application could be a tremendous resource for someone that could learn how to use it. For an old fashioned guy who is uninterested in the modes of the major scale Fretpet is perhaps overkill. For example: Suppose I have a midi file of a Lester Young or Charlie Parker sax solo. I can already play the song in garage band and learn it by ear, but suppose I want to work out the most efficient fingering with a guitar neck display. Fretpet may allow such work, but I could not figure out how.

All in all it may be a lot quicker and easier to learn to read sheet music instead.