I am thinking in buying the SwarSystem software an need some help from you who might have it or know it very well.
1) Does it come with Sarangi sounds?
2) Is it preprogramed with lots of Leharas in different taals?
3) When the lehara starts, does it have an introduction similar to way you hear in records/real life?
and last, is it worth the money you spend? and what is the hardware/sound cards etc, you need to have before installing it?
I quite know the SwarShala software (I have made it;-) so here are your answers:
1) Not yet. Sarangi is a difficult instrument to tackle, but we will certainly add it in the future. We currently have sitar, sarod and guitar melodic instruments, and we will shortly be adding (version 3.0) harmonium, bansuri and shehnai, as well as a better playback of string instruments (multi-regions and better meend).
2) The software comes with several lehras in different ragas. You can of course add yours in a very simple way.
3) What do you mean by introduction? Alap? I guess you can add any introduction you want.
4) I cannot answer this question on my own, but you can find out some Testimonials from our clients on our web site.
5) SwarShala runs on Windows 95/98/2000/Me and NT 4.0. You will need a standard sound card preferably supporting the DirectX standard.
Let me know if you have further questions. You can send them directly to support@swarsystems.com.
Apart from SwarShala, I know of a nice software called Ragaparichaya (www.ragaparichaya.com).
There is also another cheaper tabla software (www.taalmala.com), but I'm not very fond of that, as the fellow not only blatantly stole our ideas, but he even started with our copyrighted tabla samples, denying it, until he realised he could be sued for that and recorded his own.
I would also like to mention that we are now working on the next version of SwarShala, which will be a wonderful piece of software for anyone interested or seriously involved in Hindusthani music.
