:: Saturday, November 18, 2006 ::
Product review: SoftSkies, eye candy for iTunes
SoftSkies screen shotI'm not in the habit of writing product reviews, but the folks at SoundSpectrum (makers of the excellent audio visualization software G-Force) were kind enough to offer me a free one-year license for their new product, SoftSkies, as reward for my customer loyalty. Although I'm under no obligation to write a review of this latest product, I'm doing it because I want to and because I think it's a cool plug-in for any music lover.

So. End of disclaimer. Here's the review.

SoftSkies is a visualization plug-in that works with iTunes, Windows Media Player, Winamp and about half a dozen other audio players. (It also has a stand-alone feature if you prefer.) The main feature is SoftSkies' "patent-pending real-time cloud rendering engine."

SoftSkies screen shotLike G-Force before it, SoftSkies gives you a visual to go with your music (screen shot, right), so you can stare at your computer screen, mesmerized by the swirls and shifting colors of the clouds as they roll by to the tempo of whatever music you happen to be listening to at the moment.

The description from the SoftSkies website is pretty straightforward:

SoftSkies is a music visualizer and screensaver that produces mood-enhancing animated cloudscapes, rich with color and realistic motion. SoftSkies features professional color design, patent-pending cloud animation, dynamic image scenery and fine-grained visual control. SoftSkies is ideal for relaxation, music appreciation, and enhancing the ambiance of any social setting.
Unlike G-Force, however, SoftSkies offers a more placid, laid-back ambience and would probably be a nice addition to an emergent worship service. G-Force seems to be tailored more for raves, house parties or concerts, where the visualizations hop and vibrate to a more pulsating beat. Not that SoftSkies won't work for your house music (I've got it plugged in to some Ladytron right now, and the clouds are floating along just fine to the up-tempo experience) but it doesn't seem quite as "active" as the G-Force visualizations. SoftSkies seems more appropriate for softer stuff. But, just as you can use G-Force for softer stuff, so can SoftSkies adapt to rowdier rock.

The photo below, posted on the SoftSkies forum, gives a side-by-side comparison of the two programs. G-Force is on the left.



The other nice thing about SoftSkies is its V-Bar feature (available with the "gold" package). This allows you to actually work while running SoftSkies as a vertical or horizontal strip on your screen. The V-Bar doesn't take up much real estate on your monitor, so if you're programming, writing or blogging, you can still enjoy SoftSkies.

According to some posts in the SoftSkies forum, some iTunes users have experienced some glitches (like no clouds, just "a nice blue gradient"). So, if you're an iTunes user, you might want to download the trial version for testing before plunking down the $20 for the gold package (or $30 for the platinum). It's a good idea to experiment with the trial version first, anyway.

I originally discovered SoundSpectrum's G-Force via Andrew Jones, who was using it as an alternative to staid PowerPoint presentations in his ministerial work. This was way back in 2002. I've also written about Andy O'Meara, the guy who created the software and the company, back in 2004 on my (now mainly inactive) e-vangelism website.

Tags: , , , ,

:: Andrew 10:51 + ::
...

bloggedy blog recommends

Save the Net

bloggedy pod (my podcast page)

Independent hotels
in Missouri

Get Firefox!

null

eMusic's Power Charts: The Most Interactive Music Charts Online.

Never Mind the Bibles

In rotation

What I've been listening to lately. Click album cover or hyperlink to hear track samples and learn more.

Sermon on Exposition Boulevard Rickie Lee Jones, Sermon on Exposition Boulevard

Children Running Through Patty Griffin, Children Running Through

Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? Of Montreal, Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?

Tones of Town Field Music, Tones of Town

The Girl Collection De Bossen, The Girl Collection

Robbers & Cowards Cold War Kids, Robbers & Cowards

Carinvore Simon Dawes, Carnivore

Until Death Comes Frida Hyvonen, Until Death Comes

Tratore Basics 2: New Brazilian Rock Tratore Basics Vol. 2, Novo Rock Brazil

Modern Times Yusuf: An Other Cup

Modern Times The Beatles: Love

Two Thousand The French Kicks: Two Thousand

Paper Television The Blow: Paper Television

Freedom Haters Unite! A Bloodshot Records Sampler, Vol. 1 Freedom Haters Unite! A Bloodshot Records Sampler

Beast Moans Swan Lake: Beast Moans

Prototypes Prototypes: Prototypes

Violence Is Golden Scanners: Violence Is Golden

Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives Voxtrot: Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives

Your Biggest Fan Voxtrot: Your Biggest Fan

Translate Macon Greyson: Translate

Get Evens The Evens: Get Evens

Veruca Salt IV Veruca Salt: Veruca Salt IV

Modern Times Bob Dylan: Modern Times

Look Your Best Pink Tuscadero: Look Your Best

Blue On Blue Leigh Nash: Blue on Blue

I Am  Not Afraid Of  You And I Will Beat Your Ass Yo La Tengo: I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass

Boys and Girls in America The Hold Steady: Boys and Girls in America

The Longest Meow Bobby Bare Jr.: The Longest Meow"

Hello Love The Be Good Tanyas: Hello Love

The Lemonheads The Lemonheads: The Lemonheads

Ben Kweller Ben Kweller: Ben Kweller

We Are The Pipettes The Pipettes: We Are the Pipettes

Surprise Paul Simon: Surprise

Sev7en Exene Cervenka and the Original Sinners: Sev7en

A Hundred Highways Johnny Cash: American V: A Hundred Highways

For the Best of Us The John Doe Thing: For the Best of Us

Runaway Bombshell The Fondas: Runaway Bombshell

Flat-Pack Philosophy Buzzcocks: Flat Pack Philosophy

Citrus Asobi Seksu: Citrus

The Loon Tapes 'n Tapes: The Loon

2006 Pitchfork Music Festival Sampler Various Artists: 2006 Pitchfork Music Festival Sampler (24 free tracks)

News and Tributes The Futureheads: News and Tributes

Zoysia The Bottle Rockets: Zoysia

Let's Get Out of This Country Camera Obscura: Let's Get Out of This Country

Bang Bang Rock & Roll Art Brut: Bang Bang Rock & Roll

A Blessing and a Curse Drive By Truckers: A Blessing and a Curse

Broken Boy Soldiers The Raconteurs: Broken Boy Soldiers

The Life Pursuit Belle and Sebastian: The Life Pursuit

The Greatest Cat Power: The Greatest

bloggedy tags

from our sponsors

for your viewing pleasure

24x7
rocketboom
the Richard Show

where in the world?

Locations of visitors to this page