Computer Music magazine reviews LiveSet, an interesting MIDI environment manager from PeterTools. It scores a perfect ten — they gave a top rating and an “Innovation” award. LiveSet is a ReWire host that provides low-level control of MIDI devices. It displays software instruments and sequences and lets you control them in real time, and reroute MIDI to any physical MIDI output or ReWire device. Devices are wired to various LiveSet modules, which are presented in a great big virtual rack like Reason — oh well, nothing’s perfect.

The LiveSet modules do various fairly simple things, like transpose MIDI notes to a different pitch, or generate chords from single notes. There’s an LFO, which simply generates an oscillating MIDI control signal, and a module that smooths out velocity information from MIDI notes (excellent if your keyboard skills are as rudimentary as mine). These simple modules turn out to be very useful — the reviewer thinks that LiveSet “serves to highlight the MIDI limitations of most ‘pro’ software!”

Reason users get extra modules — one allows you to trigger sets of mutes and solos by simply hitting a MIDI key. Another lets you manipulate loop positions and directions and so remix your tracks in real time. They say these open up huge possibilities, especially when performing live — “Incredible!”

The modules are simple, but according to this review, LiveSet is more than the sum of its parts. When they are brought together, “the effect they have on live performance is staggering.” Overall they give it a perfect ten out of ten and say: “This is a perfectly executed, insanely useful program that any aspiring live musician would be mad to overlook; once you’ve tried it, you’ll genuinely wonder how you ever got by without it.”