Seer Systems
Encyclopedia
Seer Systems developed the world’s first commercial software synthesizer
in the early 1990’s. Working in conjunction with Intel, then Creative Labs, and finally as an independent software developer and retailer, Seer helped lay the groundwork for a major shift in synthesis technology: using personal computers, rather than dedicated synthesizer keyboards, to create music.
(creators of the groundbreaking Prophet-5 synthesizer) in 1979. Working as Publications Manager, he drafted the technical manuals for all Sequential products. Mr. Jungleib was a charter member of the International MIDI Association (which later became the MIDI Manufacturer’s Association http://www.midi.org) and helped to establish the MIDI protocol.
In 1992, Jungleib was invited to teach a seminar on MIDI at Intel Architecture Labs
. This led to the launching of an Intel project to create a software synthesizer for the 80486 processor. Jungleib assembled a development team, and at the end of 1992 founded Seer Systems http://www.seersystems.com to work on the project. The resulting synthesizer, code-named Satie, was demonstrated by Andrew Grove
in his keynote speech at Comdex
in 1994. Intel discontinued the project in 1995, possibly due to friction with Microsoft
over Native Signal Processing.
Seer began afresh with a Pentium-based architecture. That same year, the founder of Sequential Circuits, Dave Smith
, joined as President.
Seer struck a distribution deal with Creative Labs in 1996, which contributed to strong financial results for the AWE64. Over 10 million software synthesizers, the “Creative WaveSynth”, were shipped as a result. It was the first publicly available synthesizer to use Sondius WaveGuide
technology developed at Stanford’s CCRMA.
In 1997, Seer released Reality, the world’s first professional software synthesizer for the PC. Reality won the 1998 Editors’ Choice Award from Electronic Musician
Magazine. Industry veteran Craig Anderton http://www.craiganderton.com called it a “groundbreaking product.” 1999 saw the introduction of SurReal 1.0, an affordable player for Reality and SoundFont instrument sounds, the release of Reality 1.5, which added web features, more polyphony and better sound card support, and the issuance of US Patent #5,886,274 ("System and Method for Generating, Distributing, Storing and Performing Musical Work Files”/Inventor, Mr. Jungleib/Assignee, Seer).
But by 2000, legal struggles with hostile investors, limited distribution and piracy caused Seer to cease active development, suspend sales through retail outlets, and briefly shift to an online sales model. An unrelated company, Seer Music Systems, founded by Canadian engineer Ian Grant, acquired the distribution rights and continues to offer legacy demos and support.http://www.notemuseum.com
Since 2003, Seer's primary focus has been upon protecting its intellectual property (the ‘274 patent). Over several years, and following related litigation, the technology was licensed to Beatnik http://www.beatnik.com/ (2004), Microsoft
(2006) and Yamaha
(2007).
Announced in January 1997, Reality ran on Pentium PCs under Windows 95/98. Version 1.0 offered multiple types of synthesis, including PCM wavetable, subtractive, modal and FM, as well as physical modeling via the Sondius waveguide technology licensed from Stanford University. Reality was the first synthesizer able to simultaneously play multiple synthesis types on multiple MIDI channels in real-time.
Reality 1.5 was released in 1999, adding more polyphony, support for a broader range of sound cards and the ability to load and play SoundFont 2.0 samples. It also incorporated SeerMusic, enabling fast Internet playback of music files using a combination of MIDI and Reality synthesis data.
SurReal
In February 1999, Seer announced SurReal, a playback-oriented version of the Reality synthesizer engine. It was designed to be more user-friendly, and had fewer controls, but could load and play complex Reality soundbanks as well as SoundFonts. SurReal also supported SeerMusic for internet delivery.
SeerMusic
SeerMusic was introduced in January 1998. By combining MIDI performance data, synthesis parameters and sample data, music playback files could be significantly smaller than standard compressed digital audio data.
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
in the early 1990’s. Working in conjunction with Intel, then Creative Labs, and finally as an independent software developer and retailer, Seer helped lay the groundwork for a major shift in synthesis technology: using personal computers, rather than dedicated synthesizer keyboards, to create music.
History
Seer’s founder, Stanley Jungleib, joined the staff of Sequential CircuitsSequential Circuits
Sequential Circuits Inc. was a California-based synthesizer company that was founded in the early 1970s by Dave Smith and sold to Yamaha Corporation in 1987. The company, throughout its lifespan, pioneered many groundbreaking technologies and design principles that are often taken for granted in...
(creators of the groundbreaking Prophet-5 synthesizer) in 1979. Working as Publications Manager, he drafted the technical manuals for all Sequential products. Mr. Jungleib was a charter member of the International MIDI Association (which later became the MIDI Manufacturer’s Association http://www.midi.org) and helped to establish the MIDI protocol.
In 1992, Jungleib was invited to teach a seminar on MIDI at Intel Architecture Labs
Intel Architecture Labs
Intel Architecture Labs, also known as IAL, was the personal computer system research and development arm of Intel Corporation during the 1990s...
. This led to the launching of an Intel project to create a software synthesizer for the 80486 processor. Jungleib assembled a development team, and at the end of 1992 founded Seer Systems http://www.seersystems.com to work on the project. The resulting synthesizer, code-named Satie, was demonstrated by Andrew Grove
Andrew Grove
Andrew Stephen Grove , is a Hungarian-born Jewish-American Businessman/ Engineer, Author & a science pioneer in the semiconductor industry. He escaped from Communist-controlled Hungary at the age of 20 and moved to the U.S., where he finished his education...
in his keynote speech at Comdex
COMDEX
COMDEX was a computer expo held in Las Vegas, Nevada, each November from 1979 to 2003. It was one of the largest computer trade shows in the world, usually second only to the German CeBIT, and by many accounts one of the largest trade shows in any industry sector...
in 1994. Intel discontinued the project in 1995, possibly due to friction with Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
over Native Signal Processing.
Seer began afresh with a Pentium-based architecture. That same year, the founder of Sequential Circuits, Dave Smith
Dave Smith (engineer)
Dave Smith is an engineer and guitarist who pioneered many groundbreaking technologies in music technology. Smith was responsible for the first polyphonic and microprocessor-controlled synthesizer, the Prophet 5...
, joined as President.
Seer struck a distribution deal with Creative Labs in 1996, which contributed to strong financial results for the AWE64. Over 10 million software synthesizers, the “Creative WaveSynth”, were shipped as a result. It was the first publicly available synthesizer to use Sondius WaveGuide
Digital waveguide synthesis
Digital waveguide synthesis is the synthesis of audio using a digital waveguide. Digital waveguides are efficient computational models for physical media through which acoustic waves propagate...
technology developed at Stanford’s CCRMA.
In 1997, Seer released Reality, the world’s first professional software synthesizer for the PC. Reality won the 1998 Editors’ Choice Award from Electronic Musician
Electronic Musician
Electronic Musician is a monthly magazine published by Penton Media featuring articles on synthesizers, music production and electronic musicians....
Magazine. Industry veteran Craig Anderton http://www.craiganderton.com called it a “groundbreaking product.” 1999 saw the introduction of SurReal 1.0, an affordable player for Reality and SoundFont instrument sounds, the release of Reality 1.5, which added web features, more polyphony and better sound card support, and the issuance of US Patent #5,886,274 ("System and Method for Generating, Distributing, Storing and Performing Musical Work Files”/Inventor, Mr. Jungleib/Assignee, Seer).
But by 2000, legal struggles with hostile investors, limited distribution and piracy caused Seer to cease active development, suspend sales through retail outlets, and briefly shift to an online sales model. An unrelated company, Seer Music Systems, founded by Canadian engineer Ian Grant, acquired the distribution rights and continues to offer legacy demos and support.http://www.notemuseum.com
Since 2003, Seer's primary focus has been upon protecting its intellectual property (the ‘274 patent). Over several years, and following related litigation, the technology was licensed to Beatnik http://www.beatnik.com/ (2004), Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
(2006) and Yamaha
Yamaha
Yamaha may refer to:* Yamaha Corporation, a Japanese company with a wide range of products and services** Yamaha Motor Company, a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company...
(2007).
Products
RealityAnnounced in January 1997, Reality ran on Pentium PCs under Windows 95/98. Version 1.0 offered multiple types of synthesis, including PCM wavetable, subtractive, modal and FM, as well as physical modeling via the Sondius waveguide technology licensed from Stanford University. Reality was the first synthesizer able to simultaneously play multiple synthesis types on multiple MIDI channels in real-time.
Reality 1.5 was released in 1999, adding more polyphony, support for a broader range of sound cards and the ability to load and play SoundFont 2.0 samples. It also incorporated SeerMusic, enabling fast Internet playback of music files using a combination of MIDI and Reality synthesis data.
SurReal
In February 1999, Seer announced SurReal, a playback-oriented version of the Reality synthesizer engine. It was designed to be more user-friendly, and had fewer controls, but could load and play complex Reality soundbanks as well as SoundFonts. SurReal also supported SeerMusic for internet delivery.
SeerMusic
SeerMusic was introduced in January 1998. By combining MIDI performance data, synthesis parameters and sample data, music playback files could be significantly smaller than standard compressed digital audio data.