Computer Software by Laurie Spiegel

Music Mouse - An Intelligent Instrument -

                          FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions about Music Mouse
                          What's Been Said About "Music Mouse"
                          Music Mouse Features and Specs
                          Music Mouse Revision History
                          Music Mouse's Ultimate History

                          About Real Mice and Other Non-Human Animals

Read the Mac Music Mouse Manual

Download a trial copy of Music Mouse and see how you like it.

• Version 2.1.2 for Mac OS 9


(Outputs MIDI or QuickTime Audio)

• Version 2.1.2 Classic for


Runs under "Classic" on PPC Macs. Outputs QuickTime audio only.

• Music Mouse for Atari computers.


Runs on all Atari computer models and under the Atari Emulator STEEM on PC.

This is a 141k binhex-encoded file. Drop on StuffIt Expander icon to open.
Caveat: Music Mouse is for Macintosh, Amiga and Atari ST only.
It is not available for PC-Wintel computers.

             Note: If you want the Amiga or Atari ST versions of Music Mouse, it would be best to email me
                  to make sure there are still packages left, as these are physical packages, to be sent by snail-mail.

New in Music Mouse 2.1.2 as of Nov. 2004 -

Created "Music Mouse 2.1.2 Classic that runs under Classic on OSX Macs.
(QuickTime Music output only. No direct MIDI output.)

New in Music Mouse 2.1.2 as of Feb. 1998 -

Fixed serial port over-run problem in OS9 version. (Macs had been locking up if used with certain MIDI interfaces that continually send Active Sensing while MM's "MIDI Thru" option is turned OFF.)

Note: This is a free update for registered users of Music Mouse 2.1 or newer.


New in Music Mouse 2.1.1 as of September 1997 -

New versions of both the Manual and the IdeaBank/Tutorial fix the "squooshed font" problem some users have reported on some systems and printers. These manuals are unchanged except that the font problem is now fixed, and the actual program is unchanged.

Note: If you are a registered user and have this problem, but you have not received email notification of the download URL for the new versions of these manuals, email me.

New in Music Mouse 2.1 as of June 1997 -

Music Mouse can now use QuickTime and no longer requires MIDI.

The new 2.1 version of Macintosh Music Mouse works with either external MIDI or with Apple QuickTime audio.

If you're already a registered user for an earlier version, you can update to the current version using the registration form included in the demo package.

You need to have QuickTime 2.0 or later from Apple, including the QuickTime Musical Instruments extension, installed on your Mac in order to use the Mac's internal sounds.

This is a program I first wrote for my own use way back in 1986 on my spiffy new Mac 512k, that somehow ended up enough in demand that it became a so-called "product", and actually got rated as a "5 Mouse" program by MacUser Magazine. It lets you use the computer itself as a musical instrument, played by moving the mouse with one hand while you control dozens of available musical parameters from the Mac's "qwerty". It's a great musical idea generator, ear trainer, compositional tools, and improvising instrument. The software does a lot of harmony handling for you (you control the variables it uses for this), so it's useful - as are all "real instruments"at any level of musical training, experience, or skill, from beginning through professional.

The Music Mouse Screen

Click this mouse to download a demo of my Macintosh MIDI program Music Mouse - An Intelligent Instrument, a 167K binhex-encoded demo of version 2.1.2.

The "MIDI Terminal" is a simple MIDI-to-English translation utility for Macintosh computers. It's useful for seeing what data is and isn't coming into your computer from your MIDI gear, for hardware debugging or just to satisfy your curiosity.

The MIDI Terminal Screen

Click this terminal to download the MIDI Terminal Mac shareware program (112K, binhex-encoded StuffIt archive)

Or click

here

to read the MIDI Terminal's Revision History.

Just a basic "Help" documentation app for the classic Macintosh debugger. I won't even try to explain why I blew a couple hours making it. Freeware. (If it might be useful to you, or if you're even curious, you probably deserve one.)

Click this icon to download the MacsBugHelp application, a Mac freeware program for my fellow nerds (19K, binhexed StuffIt archive).