You would probably be thinking why I am suddenly deviating from my usual domain - music related software. It was Mayank who suggested so. And moreover, I am a mechanical engineer by education!Coming to FluidSIM, it is an industry oriented software which stands up to its name - Simulation of fluid systems. As the term fluid holds, this software is available in both hydraulic and pneumatic versions (FluidSIM - H and FluidSIM - P)
A library of the various components required for any fluid system is available on the left pane from which we can drag and drop any component. Connections between components can be made by clicking and dragging between the two required nodes.
Simulation can be done by dedicated buttons for play, stop, forward, rewind etc. And if the connection is wrong, the simulation fails to take of warning the user of the probable cause. The simulation is a smart animation of the operation in the designed circuit diagram itself. Designs ranging from a simple actuation to a complex multi level hydraulic system can be designed with much ease.
And the buzz word currently being smart mechatronics systems, provision for electrical (e.g. Relay, power supply, ladder etc.) and digital components (e.g. AND, OR, NOR etc.) is also given making this software a good bet for the mechanical engineer for both education purposes and for the industry.
Links : FluidSIM
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Posted by
Sathya Narain |
Wavosaur! Does it sound familiar? This audio editing software is fully loaded with hell lot of effects and features. You don’t have the time and patience to use each and every feature included. And the best part about this program is that it is just about 464 KB!
You can record, cut/copy and paste, record and even create loops. And for those with an idea of music jargon, we can analyze and even ‘batch-convert.’ And also included in the long list of features, is the support for VST plugins for more effects. This program also allows multiple document editing.
Main features include the ‘must use’ features like solo, mute, insert silence, fade in/out, normalize etc. The various file types that can be loaded are wav, mp3, aif, aiff, raw binary, au/snd, ADPCM Dialogic vox, Akai S1000 sample, Amiga 8svx & 16svx. The advanced features according to the website include resample, bit-depth convert (8,16,24,32 bits), pitch shift, vocal removal, DC offset removing, auto-trim, silence remover, interpolate, auto detect region, crossfade loop, exporting multiple wav file from regions.
Analyze options include, 2D and 3D spectrum, waveform generator, oscilloscope and other frequency analyze options. And most importantly this software has no installer. It comes just as an executable file.
Final Verdict :
The final word is that I would not suggest this program for recording, but for editing purposes, this software wins hands down.
Software version and other info :
Version : 1.0.1.0
Homepage : WavoSaur
Supported OS : Win 98, 2000, XP, Vista
License : Free
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Posted by
Sathya Narain |
I partly agree with the MUTOOLS website which claims the MU.LAB to be a state of the art, ultra-light music application. It may not be the state of the art audio software around, but it is a ‘ultra light’ application. Simple to use and yet packs in a punch.
Integrated with a 32 bit audio engine, MU.LAB features single click recording of audio and MIDI for the keyboard totting musicians. The in-built effects are minimal – MuVerb (reverb), Stereo Echo, multimode filter (audio filter) but there is support for external VST audio and MIDI plugins.
And then there are the MuSynth and MuX, sound engine and audio/MIDI effects engine. One of the good features I found in this program is the multi undo/redo option without which I felt crippled on previous occasions working on various softwares.
One of the major drawbacks in this software is the absence of a VU meter which would be helpful for live recording. Also a ASIO driver is required apart from the existing sound driver. I am sure all computer musicians will have one installed!
The free version offers only 8 tracks while the full version offers unlimitewd tracks. But then, as the website quotes, “a creative soul can do A LOT with 8 tracks!�
Overall review and thoughts :
Though this software promises to be a good bet for the computer musician, I would give this second preference compared to other better software.
Software version and other info :
Version : MU.LAB 1.0
License : Free
HomePage : MuTools
Supported OS : Windows Me, NT, 2K, XP, Vista, Apple: OSX
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Posted by
Sathya Narain |