Introducing O-Gen Plus!
O-Generator is one of my all-time favorite pieces of software, and I am THRILLED to announce that a brand new version will be available soon to MusicFirst customers. Introducing O-Gen Plus! This new version, which will be launched this April, is a whole new O-Generator - featuring a completely redesigned interface, three different views for students to create music, new sounds, MIDI device capability, and much, much more! I am absolutely thrilled that students and teachers will have a new way to create music - accessible to ALL students - no matter their music making experience. Here is a short video featuring O-Generator co-creator, and dear friend of mine, Marcel Pusey.
For many years now, O-Generator has offered a simple, engaging music making interface that enables students to compose and learn using popular and world music styles. O-Generator makes music accessible to all students, of all abilities. It engages students by using music that engages them! Students can create their own songs and loops from a wide range of instruments. Record as audio files or use loops from the loop library. Guided step-by-step lessons teaching core music principles of rhythm, melody, harmony, and songwriting in popular and world music.
There are three new views with O-Gen Plus: the original circle view (O-Gen Plus), Arrange view, and Grid view. The Arrange view is similar to any other digital audio workstation (DAW) like GarageBand, Soundtrap, etc. It allows students to use any of the beats and musical motives that they have created in the traditional O-Gen view to create full length musical compositions. The Grid view is something that I am very excited about. It will allow students to hook up a grid MIDI controller - like the Novation LaunchPad - to trigger their loops and recordings. This is something that I have wanted to see for YEARS. I am a huge fan of Ableton LIVE and love the innovative ways that students who may not be able to read music or play a traditional instrument can create music. The Grid view will allow students to drag audio loops and recordings to each of the squares so that they can trigger them in a live performance situation. All on a Chromebook or other similar devices!
I am SO excited that this new version of O-Gen Plus will be available to MusicFirst customers in April. We’ve been working behind the scenes on this project for a year now and I am sure that music educators and their students will LOVE the new version. Look out for announcements from MusicFirst in the coming months to find out how you can take O-Gen Plus for a test drive and how to add it to your MusicFirst Classroom. Happy 2024!!