Several years ago, Master Tracks Pro was one of two choices if you wanted a professional MIDI sequencer. But as new, more powerful sequencers appeared and the competition kept adding features, Master Tracks failed to keep up.
The latest release of Master Tracks Pro doesn’t return it to the big league of MIDI sequencers: The program still doesn't have now-standard features such as a notation view, note resolution higher than 240 parts per quarter note, and online help. On the other hand, at a list price of just under $150, it’s inexpensive enough to attract entry-level and semi professional MIDI musicians.
Suave Simplicity.
Master Tracks still has an easy-to-understand interface. The main window, the Track Editor, shows you your song and is right next to the control faders. When you double-click on one of the measure boxes in the Track Editor window, you get the Step Editor window, in which you enter and edit the notes of your song, using notation that looks like the dots on a piano roll.
As with previous versions of Master Tracks, you can place your tune into the program by either selecting and clicking or typing in notes. Now you have two more ways of getting your music into the sequencer: You can click on notes on an on-screen piano keyboard, or you can use the QWERTY keyboard as if it were a MIDI keyboard. As with a MIDI keyboard, you can enter the notes in both step time and real time.
If you take advantage of Master Track Pro's use of the QuickTime Musical Instruments extension, the program's Built-In Synth option will play your sequences by using QuickTime's General MIDI sounds, so you don’t have to have an external MIDI instrument to hear your song in the appropriate arrangement. Unfortunately, Built-In Synth isn’t appropriate for hearing your tune as you play it, because thenotes you play on your QWERTY keyboard or on the on-screen keyboard have a long triggering delay.
The Pricels Right.
Entry-level and semiprofessional MIDI musicians who don’t need all the latest and greatest features in sequencers will get a lot of bang for the buck with Master Tracks Pro 6.0. But even with the support for MIDI Machine Control, OMS, and SMPTE that Master Tracks offers, professional MIDI musicians shouldn’t toss their feature-packed MIDI programs in favor of this comparatively stripped-down program — unless they need a slim program to plunk onto their PowerBooks.
Breen, Christopher. (November 1995). Master Tracks Pro 6.0. MacUser. (pg. 73).