Music Works
Encyclopedia
Music Works, also Music Works Personal, was a music notation sequencing program for Windows 9x
that used midi protocol technology. It was developed by Brisbane, Australia based Middle Earth Software in the late 90s
, which then changed its name to Tierra Media (which means "Middle Earth"). Its native file format
was .MWW, but it could also import and export .mid. It had a font
-based interface
, and formatting up to the look of professional notation. Early versions of Music Works featured commonwealth
music terms, and an easily crack
able bug: the copy protection
for the trial version could be circumnavigated by simply reinstalling
the program. This was only fixed in the final, polished version, which was Music Works 3.5 Personal. With that, Middle Earth Software changed to tierramedia.com.
, proprietary binary file
format developed by Middle Earth Software that stored MIDI
and additional information. The .mww files were typically about six to eight times larger than .mid files. Music Works had an autosave
feature that created a "~MW" file, identical to an MWW file, that backed up the music while being working on. The program was stable enough that this was in case the OS
crash
ed or some other problem was caused by multi-task
ing.
Music Works featured an interesting bug
from a combination of OS obsolescence
and their proprietary format. Since Music Works could only run in the 9x kernel
, and .mww was limited to Music Works, music saved as .mww can neither be played, as there are no .mww players, nor converted to .mid, as Music Works only ran in the 9x kernel. The result was thousands of silent, unplayable music files.
Windows 9x
Windows 9x is a generic term referring to a series of Microsoft Windows computer operating systems produced since 1995, which were based on the original and later modified Windows 95 kernel...
that used midi protocol technology. It was developed by Brisbane, Australia based Middle Earth Software in the late 90s
1990s
File:1990s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: The Hubble Space Telescope floats in space after it was taken up in 1990; American F-16s and F-15s fly over burning oil fields and the USA Lexie in Operation Desert Storm, also known as the 1991 Gulf War; The signing of the Oslo Accords on...
, which then changed its name to Tierra Media (which means "Middle Earth"). Its native file format
File format
A file format is a particular way that information is encoded for storage in a computer file.Since a disk drive, or indeed any computer storage, can store only bits, the computer must have some way of converting information to 0s and 1s and vice-versa. There are different kinds of formats for...
was .MWW, but it could also import and export .mid. It had a font
Font
In typography, a font is traditionally defined as a quantity of sorts composing a complete character set of a single size and style of a particular typeface...
-based interface
User interface
The user interface, in the industrial design field of human–machine interaction, is the space where interaction between humans and machines occurs. The goal of interaction between a human and a machine at the user interface is effective operation and control of the machine, and feedback from the...
, and formatting up to the look of professional notation. Early versions of Music Works featured commonwealth
Commonwealth
Commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has sometimes been synonymous with "republic."More recently it has been used for fraternal associations of some sovereign nations...
music terms, and an easily crack
Crack (software)
Crack is a Unix password cracking program designed to allow system administrators to locate users who may have weak passwords vulnerable to a dictionary attack....
able bug: the copy protection
Copy protection
Copy protection, also known as content protection, copy obstruction, copy prevention and copy restriction, refer to techniques used for preventing the reproduction of software, films, music, and other media, usually for copyright reasons.- Terminology :Media corporations have always used the term...
for the trial version could be circumnavigated by simply reinstalling
Installation (computer programs)
Installation of a program is the act of putting the program onto a computer system so that it can be executed....
the program. This was only fixed in the final, polished version, which was Music Works 3.5 Personal. With that, Middle Earth Software changed to tierramedia.com.
MWW
MWW was the non-documentedUndocumented feature
Undocumented features are frequently found in computer software releases. Sometimes the documentation is omitted through simple oversight, but undocumented features are often elements of the software not intended for use by end users, but left available for use by the vendor for software support...
, proprietary binary file
Binary file
A binary file is a computer file which may contain any type of data, encoded in binary form for computer storage and processing purposes; for example, computer document files containing formatted text...
format developed by Middle Earth Software that stored MIDI
Musical Instrument Digital Interface
MIDI is an industry-standard protocol, first defined in 1982 by Gordon Hall, that enables electronic musical instruments , computers and other electronic equipment to communicate and synchronize with each other...
and additional information. The .mww files were typically about six to eight times larger than .mid files. Music Works had an autosave
Autosave
Autosave is a function in many computer applications or programs which saves an opened document automatically, helping to reduce the risk or impact of data loss in case of a crash or freeze...
feature that created a "~MW" file, identical to an MWW file, that backed up the music while being working on. The program was stable enough that this was in case the OS
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
crash
Crash (computing)
A crash in computing is a condition where a computer or a program, either an application or part of the operating system, ceases to function properly, often exiting after encountering errors. Often the offending program may appear to freeze or hang until a crash reporting service documents...
ed or some other problem was caused by multi-task
Computer multitasking
In computing, multitasking is a method where multiple tasks, also known as processes, share common processing resources such as a CPU. In the case of a computer with a single CPU, only one task is said to be running at any point in time, meaning that the CPU is actively executing instructions for...
ing.
Music Works featured an interesting bug
Software bug
A software bug is the common term used to describe an error, flaw, mistake, failure, or fault in a computer program or system that produces an incorrect or unexpected result, or causes it to behave in unintended ways. Most bugs arise from mistakes and errors made by people in either a program's...
from a combination of OS obsolescence
Obsolescence
Obsolescence is the state of being which occurs when an object, service or practice is no longer wanted even though it may still be in good working order. Obsolescence frequently occurs because a replacement has become available that is superior in one or more aspects. Obsolete refers to something...
and their proprietary format. Since Music Works could only run in the 9x kernel
Windows 9x
Windows 9x is a generic term referring to a series of Microsoft Windows computer operating systems produced since 1995, which were based on the original and later modified Windows 95 kernel...
, and .mww was limited to Music Works, music saved as .mww can neither be played, as there are no .mww players, nor converted to .mid, as Music Works only ran in the 9x kernel. The result was thousands of silent, unplayable music files.
External links
- http://www.tierramedia.com/about.asp Site of Tierra Media, formerly Middle Earth Software. The buy page was never made, even though the software was. All of the distributors listed on the about page went down years ago, except for Manaccom, which is still selling Music Works as recently as September 2010:
- "ManaccomManaccomManaccom was one of Australia's oldest software publishers, founded in 1986 and based out of Brisbane. It also published to New Zealand with distribution managed by Total Interactive....
- Australia / New Zealand, Guildsoft - UK / Europe, Trius Inc - United States"