E-Scape
E-Scape is a music software for performance and composition which has been developed by Drake Music in response to the needs of disabled musicians or students who cannot be catered for by other technology.
E-Scape can be used to compose music or to perform music in many different ways. You can write your own music, import MIDI files from the internet and arrange or perform these pieces. E-Scape can be operated by switches, or by MIDIcreator, Soundbeam, keyboards or drum pads.
In the right hands, E-Scape can be powerful and flexible in enabling a range of disabled users to compose and perform, individually or as part of a group. E-Scape can be used by anyone, whatever their level of physical ability, musical experience or computer experience.
E-Scape won the 'Community Award' at the National Computing Awards for Excellence 2001.
E-Scape in use
E-Scape can be used in many areas, for example by individuals at home or in groups with teachers in a classroom.
A single disabled user can use E-Scape completely unaided, as the system is switch and menu driven, with guidance and prompting. Learners can start working with E-Scape at a beginner level and gain confidence from immediate results, then build up musical skills and knowledge gradually at their own pace. Users may write their own music compositions, load in MIDI files, or just transcribe written scores, which can then be performed live in a number of ways.
E-Scape can also be used within a group setting, with one or many people performing on E-Scape, integrated alongside other players - with E-Scape able to record, play back and edit group performances or group compositions.
Getting E-Scape PC
To find out more about E-Scape, receive a free trial version or to purchase a copy of the full software please contact Tim Anderson at Inclusive Music Tim Anderson
The full version for download normally costs £150, including support. Please email for more details.
Running E-Scape
E-Scape works on all versions of Windows, 95, 98, ME, 2000, XP, and requires a minimum 64 MB memory.
Acknowledgments
Thanks to Danny Oppenheim at IBM Watson Research Center, NY for Smalltalk structures and code which enabled E-Scape to develop on the PC. Also thanks to William Walker for low-level MIDI functions on the original Mac version.