IMPORTANT: If your computer reads your "MacGAMUT 6" User CD as RESOURCE_CD instead, or if it automatically tries to install something other than MacGAMUT, click here!
If you are using MacGAMUT 6: If a tech problem brought you to this page, and if you're not using the latest version of MacGAMUT 6 (Version 6.0.3a for the User Disk Windows software; Version 6.0.3b for the User Disk Macintosh software, Version 6.0.1 for the Instructor Disk's Windows software; Version 6.0 for the Instructor Disk's Macintosh software; ), download and install the current Updates. Could be you won't even need to come back to this page after you've installed the Update! Click here to go to the Updates page.
If you UPGRADED to MacGAMUT 2000: If you've already used your free UPGRADE to move from MacGAMUT 3.8 to MacGAMUT 2000, you may want to consider buying the UPGRADE to MacGAMUT 6. Click here for ordering info. But, if you prefer to continue using MacGAMUT 2000, make sure you have downloaded and installed the final MacGAMUT 2000 Update (Version 2000.05). It's likely you won't even need to come back to this page after you've installed the Update. Click here to go to the 2000 Update page.
If you UPGRADED to MacGAMUT 2003: If you've already used your free UPGRADE to move from MacGAMUT 2000 to MacGAMUT 2003 you may want to consider buying the UPGRADE to MacGAMUT 6. Click here for ordering info. But, if you prefer to continue using MacGAMUT 2003, make sure you have downloaded and installed the final MacGAMUT 2003 Updates (Version 2003.12 for Windows; Version 2003.12a for Macintosh OS X; Version 2003.10 for Macintosh OS 7 - 9). It's likely you won't even need to come back to this page after you've installed the Update. Click here to go to the 2003 Update page.
Questions
about buying MacGAMUT:
Q: How much will it cost my department to use MacGAMUT?
Q: Since some of my students will be using MacGAMUT 2003 on Macs and some on Windows, how do I split my bookstore order between the two platforms?
Q: Why don't you offer site licenses for installing MacGAMUT in a computer lab?
Q: Why don't I find MacGAMUT listed among the software products offered in my computer/music catalogs?
Q: How does MacGAMUT compare to other ear-training programs?
Questions about installing MacGAMUT:
Q: I just got my MacGAMUT CD-ROM, and I can't wait to try out the program. But when I put the MacGAMUT CD in my CD-ROM drive, nothing happens. What do I do next?
Q: Can I use MacGAMUT on a networked computer? If so, do I need to know anything special about how to install it?
Questions about MacGAMUT registration:
Q: I can't find my Registration Number. Where is it?
Q: I've been warned never to open e-mail attachments because of the danger of infecting my computer with a virus. How can I be sure it's safe to use my startMG6.mgs file when it arrives as an attachment?
Questions
about startMG6.mgs files:
Q: I can't find my startMG6.mgs file. How do I get one?
Q: I copied my working startMG6.mgs file from my hard drive onto a flash drive [or other removable media] so I could take it to another computer to work on, and I made a back-up copy too. But when I tried to use the startMG6.mgs file on the other computer, it wasn't the most recent version of my file. What gives?
Q: I copied my startMG6.mgs file onto removable media, but when I put the disk in a different computer, the name has been changed. Will the file still work?
Q: Every time I start the program, it sets me back to zero. I mastered several levels the other day, but now it says I haven't mastered anything. Help!
Q: I've lost my startMG6.mgs file, and MacGAMUT won't let me do anything without that file. How can I get another one?
Q: My startMG6.mgs file doesn't work. When I try to use it, MacGAMUT
gives me a message saying my file isn't in the proper format for
a startMG6.mgs file. What's wrong?
Q: I have registered my software
on the MacGAMUT website and I'm 100% sure that I filled
in the correct e-mail address. However, I have not yet received
the Registration E-mail with my startMG6.mgs file attached. How
do I get my file?
Q: I've registered my software, but I can't seem to get into the program. Can I get some detailed instructions to get me started?
Q: Since "startMG6" is part of the name of the file, I assumed I could just double-click my startMG6.mgs file and MacGAMUT 6 would start right up. That seems to work fine on my Windows computer, but it doesn't always work on a Mac. Why not?
Q: When I double-click my startMG6.mgs file on my Windows computer, it tries to open some application other than MacGAMUT 6. Is there some way to fix this so it starts MacGAMUT?
Q: Help! My CD is damaged/lost! Do I have to buy a new one?
Q: My CD isn't working any more. What can I do?
Q: I've got my MacGAMUT "key" CD in the external drive connected to my computer, but MacGAMUT doesn't recognize that it's there, so it keeps prompting me to insert the CD. Is there anyway around this problem?
Questions about sending files as e-mail attachments:
Q: I've tried attaching my startMG6.mgs file to an e-mail message to send it to another computer [or to my instructor], but then the file doesn't work when it gets to the other computer.
Q: OK, I've tried sending it zipped and it still doesn't work to send it by e-mail. Now what?
Q: How do I upgrade my MacGAMUT 2003 software to MacGAMUT 6?
Q: When I upgrade from MacGAMUT 2003 to MacGAMUT 6, will I lose my records of everything I did on the older version of the software?
Questions about hardware/system specifications:
Q: Can my students use MacGAMUT on a departmental (or campus-wide) network?
Q: What are the minimum hardware and system requirements for MacGAMUT 6?
Q: I'm not getting any sound at all when I use MacGAMUT on my Windows computer. Help me!
Q: I really hate the sound I'm getting from my MIDI keyboard when I use MacGAMUT. I've checked the instrument, and it's set for piano, so that's not the problem. What gives?
Q: I'm having trouble with sound, and it's ruining my chances at mastery. Help!
Q: Sometimes my MIDI keyboard seems to work fine, but other times it does strange things like playing intervals in the wrong direction or playing just plain awful sounds or not playing all the notes. What can I do?
Q: I'm not getting the "tick" sound for the metronome from my MIDI keyboard, even though I've selected it in the Hear Beats before Exercise submenu in the Tempo menu. What gives?
Q: I'm getting a strange pitch for the metronome even though I've selected tick in the Hear Beats before Exercise submenu in the Tempo menu. Sometimes it's really confusing because the pitch is a half-step away from the beginning pitch or the tonic. Why is this happening?
Q: I sometimes hear the beats played before a melody and sometimes not. How can I fix this?
Q: I'm using Windows sound, using the sound card in my computer, but I don't think the instrumental sounds are very realistic. Is there something I can do to improve the sound quality?
Questions
about using MacGAMUT:
Q: Yesterday, I worked on Keyboard drills in MacGAMUT 6 and mastered a couple of levels. But when I returned to Keyboard today, I'd lost credit for the levels I'd mastered yesterday. Help!
Q: I can't access the Melodic, Harmonic, and Rhythmic Dictation libraries. The computer tells me I have to find them, but then either I can't find them, or else the computer can't read them when I do find them. Do I need new copies of the libraries?
Q: I understand I should always use the very latest update of MacGAMUT, but how do I know if I have the latest update?
Q: I'm having trouble getting the notes and accidentals written on the right line or space on the staff.
Q: I'm working on a Scales level that seems to require an accidental for every pitch. It's a pain to use the mouse to select each accidental again and again. Why isn't there an easier way?
Q: Do I really have to click on the erase HD box to get rid of a Roman numeral?
Q: Entering the notation in Melodic Dictation seems cumbersome. I have to click on each duration box and then go down and enter the note. When the durations change a lot from note to note, that's a pain.
Q: I'm trying to enter my notation for the Alto and Tenor voices in Harmonic Dictation (or 4-voice Chords), but MacGAMUT won't let me do it. Why not?
Q: I hate to mention it, but I'm sure MacGAMUT graded something wrong. I got the identification right, but my notation was wrong, and I still got full credit for the exercise.
Q: I was working on MacGAMUT, and the program wouldn't let me quit. There was no Exit button on the screen, and Exit [Windows] or Quit [Mac] was dimmed in the menu. Other than pulling the plug, how am I supposed to stop working on the program?
Q: I had 7 out of 10 right and got the next one right, and I still had only 7 out of 10 right! This happens to me all the time, and it's just not fair! Why won't MacGAMUT let me get mastery when I only need to get one more right and I do get it right?
Q: MacGAMUT graded one of my Melodic Dictation exercises wrong. I'm not really complaining because my score was higher than it should have been, but it counted several notes right even though those notes were different from the notes in the same position in the correct melody. Have I found a bug?!
Q: Why does the program tell me my MacGAMUT CD-ROM must be in the CD drive, even though I have put it in?
Q: When I double-click my startMG6.mgs file, it tries to open some application other than MacGAMUT 6. Is there some way to fix this so it starts MacGAMUT?
Questions
about instructional considerations:
Q: Why can't I just have my students turn in a printout of their statistics rather than my collecting all their startMG6.mgs files and checking them myself on my office computer?
Q: This may seem like a silly question, but I can't find anyone among our theory faculty who knows what the Anh. Pentatonic and Hir. Pentatonic scales are. What are those scales?
Q: I'm a teacher just starting to use music technology for instruction. Where can I get more info about music theory and ear-training software, and about using music technology in general?
Q: Do I need to have and use an Instructor Disk so my students can use MacGAMUT?
Q: I'd like to do some work editing MacGAMUT's libraries to correspond more precisely with our curriculum and textbook. But I'm not finding the Enter/Edit programs I seem to recall from past years on my MacGAMUT 6 Instructor Disk. What's happened to those Enter/Edit programs?
Q: I'm not requiring my students to buy MacGAMUT, but I am going to put it in my music computer lab to make it available for my students to use. Do I need to do anything special with the presets? And if so, how do I install them, since students will be sharing MacGAMUT CD-ROMs?
Q: Aren't the melodies in the first couple of levels of Melodic Dictation awfully long for beginning students?
Q: How can I help my students who complain that they can't hear the bass voice in the MacGAMUT Harmonic Dictation exercises?
Q: If I require my students to work a certain amount of time on MacGAMUT ear-training drills each week, how do I know they're actually working and not just sitting there doing nothing while the clock runs?
Questions about this and that:
Q: How did you come up with the name MacGAMUT for your software?
Q: I know MacGAMUT started out as Mac-only, but since there are a lot more MacGAMUT Windows users than MacGAMUT Mac users now, shouldn't you call it something more appropriate, like WinGAMUT?
Q: I've found apparent bugs in other music theory programs which the publishers assure me will be fixed in the next release, but I've waited years, and there's still no new release and no fix. Will I have to wait as long to get fixes for any problems in MacGAMUT?
Answers to questions about buying MacGAMUT:
Q: How much will it cost my department to use MacGAMUT?
A: That depends on how you want your students to use MacGAMUT. If you adopt the software as you would a course textbook, students buy their own individual copies of the MacGAMUT 6 User Disk at the bookstore (or directly from MacGAMUT, Inc.), and you get a free Instructor Disk and a complimentary copy of the User Disk for your own use. You and your students have individual records of their progress, and your students have their own CD-ROMs, so they can use MacGAMUT wherever they have access to a Windows or a Macintosh computer. You can install MacGAMUT 6 software from your complimentary User Disk on as many lab computers as you like without violating copyright, since each student must insert his/her own CD-ROM key disk in the computer and use his/her personal startMG6.mgs file to access and use the software. Total cost to your department: $0.00 (as in zero, zip, nada)!
On the other hand, if your department wants to purchase a number of copies of MacGAMUT 6 for a computer lab, we offer a 20% discount, a free Instructor Disk, and free shipping for institutional orders of as few as 5 User Disks. Of course, in such a lab installation, you must have a way for students to check out and return shared CD-ROM "key disks," you don't have individual record-keeping, and students can only use MacGAMUT in the lab. But your department can equip a 5-workstation computer lab with MacGAMUT for a grand total of only $160.00! If you have more than 5 workstations in your lab and you want more than 5 students to be able to use MacGAMUT simultaneously, add just $32 for each additional copy of the software. Sure, the total cost to your department for a lab installation is a bit more than zero, but it's still the biggest bargain you'll find in instructional music software!
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Q: Since some of my students will be using MacGAMUT 6 on Macs and some on Windows, how do I split my bookstore order between the two platforms?
A: There's no need to be concerned about splitting your order. Every MacGAMUT 6 CD-ROM includes everything students need to install and use MacGAMUT 6 software on both Macintosh and Windows computers. The whole idea is that your students should be able to use the software on both platforms interchangeably. We have found that many students use MacGAMUT in a Mac lab at school during the day and then use it on their Windows computers at home or in the dorm in the evening. Since our goal is to maximize MacGAMUT's portability, ever since we published the first cross-platform version of MacGAMUT in 2000, we have distributed the software as a hybrid CD-ROM, so instructors, students, and bookstores would not have to choose one platform over the other. Both platforms for one low price: what a deal!
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Q: Why don't you offer site licenses for installing MacGAMUT in a computer lab?
A: We don't offer site licenses in the sense that many software companies do. Generally, site licenses permit institutional purchasers to install high-cost software on a number of machines in a lab at a reduced cost. We keep the price of MacGAMUT software low so students can afford to buy it as if it were a textbook, and we have not developed a separate product specifically for site-licensing. But when institutional purchasers buy 5 or more copies of MacGAMUT software, they get a 20% discount, and they get a free Instructor Disk and free shipping thrown in, too. Of course, if you use MacGAMUT in a lab situation where students share User Disks, you will not have individual student records, and students can only use the software in the lab, since they don't have the portability owning their own program disk affords them. But many institutions have found buying MacGAMUT for a lab to be a low-cost option for providing their students with a very effective learning tool.
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Q: Why don't I find MacGAMUT listed among the software products offered in my computer/music catalogs?
A: It seems that many "resellers" are not interested in carrying MacGAMUT because our suggested retail price is so low that they can't make enough profit to make it worth their while. More than one cataloger has told us they would be interested in listing our software only if we were to increase the retail price of MacGAMUT to $100 or $125 per copy. But if we priced our software that high, individual music students couldn't afford to buy their own copies, defeating our goal of increasing student access to MacGAMUT by keeping it affordable!
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Q: How does MacGAMUT compare to other ear-training programs?
A: We're really proud of MacGAMUT, and we think it's the best ear-training program available at any price, but then, you'd expect us to say that, wouldn't you? And we're telling the truth because we are honest folk who wouldn't lie to you, but then, you'd expect us to say that too, wouldn't you? Seriously, we always feel more than a little uncomfortable when anyone asks us this question, not because we don't have an opinion, but because no matter what we say, it's only reasonable for people to wonder just how objective we can be. Fortunately, other people (people who aren't on the MacGAMUT staff!) have addressed this question. Click here to see Deron McGee's 2002 Journal of Music Theory Pedagogy review of several ear-training software programs. We think everyone should read this article! For other impartial assessments of MacGAMUT, you can read other published reviews. We also get a lot of unsolicited comments both from instructors and students. You'll find a few of these testimonials scattered through the pages of this website, but we've also gathered the bulk of them together and attempted to organize them into topics. Click here to see the long list of Comments. But you really ought to try MacGAMUT software yourself to decide whether it suits your needs. We provide free demo versions that are as close to the real thing as possible, and we make it easy for you to access these demos. (Students can download the Mini Demos, and instructors can request a free Instructor Demo Disk.) Try out our demos, and try out the demos of other software products. Then you can judge for yourself how MacGAMUT measures up!
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Answers to questions about installing MacGAMUT:
Q: I just got my MacGAMUT CD-ROM, and I can't wait to try out the program. But when I put the MacGAMUT CD in my CD-ROM drive, nothing happens. What do I do next?
A: Whether you're using a Windows or a Macintosh computer, you need to install MacGAMUT before you can begin using it. This seems to be especially confusing for Windows users who are used to having an installer CD that just goes right ahead and tries to install the program whenever you put the CD in. However, since the MacGAMUT CD has to be inserted in the CD drive every time you use your MacGAMUT software (this CD is much more than just an installer), we figured it would drive people crazy if the installer asked you whether you wanted to install MacGAMUT every time you put it in your CD drive. So this minor inconvenience at the start seemed like a small price to pay for not hassling you the rest of your life! For detailed instructions about how to install MacGAMUT, click here for Windows instructions, or click here for Mac instructions.
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Q: Can I use MacGAMUT on a networked computer? If so, do I need to know anything special about how to install it?
A: Yes, MacGAMUT can run on a networked computer, but your network administrator may need to install MacGAMUT for you. Many networks are set up to prevent individual users from installing any software themselves. In that case, when you attempt to install or update MacGAMUT, you will probably get a message saying something like "Installation failed. You do not have access or permission to install software." Only your network administrator can solve this problem for you since he or she is the only one who has the secret codes that will allow software installation on that network. There's really no trick to installing MacGAMUT on a network. You just have to know the right person who is able and willing to do the job for you!
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Answers to questions about software registration:
Q: I can't find my Registration Number. Where is it?
A: Your unique Registration Number for MacGAMUT 6 is printed right on the face of your User Disk CD-ROM.
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Q: I've been warned never to open e-mail attachments because of the danger of infecting my computer with a virus. How can I be sure it's safe to use my startMG6.mgs file when it arrives as an attachment?
A: It's true that attachments are frequently the vector of choice for those who disseminate computer viruses, and it's wise to be leery of unexpected e-mail attachments. But you can be sure that it's safe to use your startMG6.mgs file when it arrives. First of all, you have just requested this file by registering on the MacGAMUT website, so it's not arriving unsolicited. There's no chance of mistakenly opening some other file, since the e-mail accompanying your startMG6.mgs file is clearly identified as being from MacGAMUT, and the attached file includes your registered name in its title: "[your name] startMG6.mgs".
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Answers to questions about startMG6.mgs files:
Note: If you've installed MacGAMUT software from a MacGAMUT 6 User Disk, you've installed an introductory video called How to Manage Your startMG6.mgs File, which gives step-by-step instructions for getting started using MacGAMUT and for keeping track of your startMG6.mgs file. If you've downloaded the UGRADE to MacGAMUT 6 from this website, you can download this "how-to" video separately. Click here to download the video.
Q: I can't find my startMG6.mgs file. How do I get one?
A: The short version is that you need to register your software. The "Getting started" insert (white with blue printing) packaged with your MacGAMUT 6 CD-ROM tells you exactly what to do. Your unique 9-digit MacGAMUT 6 Registration Number is printed directly on your MacGAMUT 6 User Disk CD-ROM. After you have successfully registered, MacGAMUT will create your personal file automatically and return it to you immediately as an e-mail attachment. Download (or save) the startMG6.mgs file onto your hard drive. Remember where (in which folder) you have saved it. You will need to find it every time you use MacGAMUT! For more detailed instructions, Click here to go to the Registration page.
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Q: I copied my working startMG6.mgs file from my hard drive onto a flash drive [or other removable media] so I could take it to another computer to work on, and I made a back-up copy too. But when I tried to use the startMG6.mgs file on the other computer, it wasn't the most recent version of my file. What gives?
A: You've run into one of the joys of trying to keep track of current file versions on either Windows or Macintosh computers. Computers are lazy, just like people, and they tend to wait as long as possible to update file information. MacGAMUT forces the computer to write a current copy of your startMG6.mgs file whenever you leave the program, but MacGAMUT can't do much about what the computer does after that. The only way to be absolutely sure "what you see is what you get" when you copy files on either Mac or Windows is to close the folder the file is stored in and then reopen the folder (additionally, on Macintosh you may also have to click on the file name to force it to update the file info). Closing and reopening the folder forces the computer to update the connection between the file as listed on the screen and the file as it is actually stored on your computer. You can also use the Details view on Windows or the List view on Macintosh for easy access to complete information about when the file was most recently updated to be absolutely sure the date and time info are correct.
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Q: I copied my startMG6.mgs file onto removable media, but when I put the disk in a different computer, the name has been changed. Will the file still work?
A: Yes, it probably will, but it would be easier for you to keep track of if you change the name back to the original name! If you're working on a Windows computer, the .mgs may or may not show, depending on whether your computer is set up to show or hide file extensions, but the .mgs extension must be there so that Windows and MacGAMUT can recognize it as a startMG6.mgs file. In the old days (before the Windows operating system), DOS file names could be no longer than 8 characters with a 3-character extension (for example, THISFILE.XXX). The altered name for your startMG6.mgs file is the computer's attempt to conform to this old name format, even though it's not necessary on Windows computers and never was necessary on Macintoshs.
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Q: Every time I start the program, it sets me back to zero. I mastered several levels the other day, but now it says I haven't mastered anything. Help!
A: There are a couple of possibilities here:
- Is it possible you've been working in Practice Mode? If you have credit for the time you have spent but don't have credit for the levels, that's probably what happened. Make sure Regular Mode is selected on the levels screen, not Practice Mode. Check the Help (MG Help on Mac) menu for more info.
- If all your stats are wiped out every time, and MacGAMUT displays "new file" as the last time you worked on the program, you're probably starting by double-clicking the attachment to the original e-mail that came with your startMG6.mgs file. Some Internet Service Providers give you a fresh copy of the attachment each and every time you open it. If you do a search for all files containing the word startMG6 on your computer, you'll probably find multiple copies of the startMG6.mgs file. Locate the most recent startMG6.mgs file (or the one you've done the most work on), move that file to an easy place to find on your computer (e.g., to My Documents in Windows or to the Documents or MacGAMUT 6 folder on Macintosh), and then always start from that file instead of from the attachment.
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Q: I've lost my startMG6.mgs file, and MacGAMUT won't let me do anything without that file. How can I get another one?
A: It's too late to remind you that you should have been making regular back-ups of this all-important file and storing the latest back-up copy in a safe place, right?! You'll probably remember to make more regular back-ups in the future. But for now:
- If you originally received your startMG6.mgs file after registering at the MacGAMUT website, you can get a replacement file by registering again. Go to the Registration page, click the link for previously registered users who need a new start.mgs file, and enter your name and registration number just as you did the first time to get a replacement file delivered by e-mail. Sorry, but the replacement file will start you back at zero. If you've lost your Registration Number, e-mail TechSupport@macgamut.com. We can look up your number for you, but only if you can give us the exact name you originally registered under and the e-mail address where the file was originally sent.
- If you have given your instructor a copy of your startMG6.mgs file recently, you might ask your instructor if you could have a copy of that file so you wouldn't have to start all the way back at zero. The copy you've given your instructor is in exactly the same format as your working start.mgs file, so it will work just fine.
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Q: My startMG6.mgs file doesn't work. When I try to use it, MacGAMUT gives me a message saying my file isn't in the proper format for a startMG6.mgs file. What's wrong?
A: There are several possibilities:
- If you just sent the file as an e-mail attachment, the problem is probably the way you sent the file. See the E-mail attachments section below.
- If e-mail attachments aren't involved, then the problem is more serious. If you have been using MacGAMUT for a while and this happens, hopefully you have a back-up copy of your file that you can use instead. If you don't have a back-up copy, you'll need to get a brand new startMG6.mgs file, so see the answer to the question immediately above.
- If this is the first time you've tried to use your startMG6.mgs file after you registered, e-mail TechSupport@macgamut.com and tell us exactly what happened. In addition, include the exact name you originally registered under, the 9-digit Registration Number printed on your CD-ROM, and whether you are using a Windows computer, a Macintosh computer, or both. We'll get you up and running as quickly as possible.
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Q: I have registered my software on the MacGAMUT website and I'm 100% sure that I filled in the correct e-mail address. However, I have not yet received the Registration e-mail with my startMG6.mgs file attached. How do I get my file?
A: When you register, your personal startMG6.mgs file is sent out automatically and immediately. It should arrive in a matter of seconds. How long it actually takes for you to receive the file is entirely a function of how your own internet service provider processes incoming e-mail. But even if your e-mail provider hangs on to your mail for a while before sending it on to you, it should be at most a matter of an hour or two before you receive your startMG6.mgs file. If your e-mail normally arrives in a timely fashion, or if your file still hasn't arrived after an hour or two:
- It's possible that your startMG6.mgs file has already arrived, and you aren't looking for it in the right place. Many e-mail services have a screening process that filters out "junk" and "spam" mail and saves it in a different inbox. Since the Registration e-mail is coming from the MacGAMUT server and not from a personal e-mail account, your e-mail provider may be assuming it's "junk" mail and then depositing it in the alternate inbox. If that is a possibility with your e-mail setup, check your "junk" or "spam" mailbox first.
- Something on your computer may be set up to delete or quarantine attachments from unknown addresses. It may be your e-mail program, an anti-virus program, an internet security or firewall program, or even your internet service provider that's stopping the attachment. In that case, check out the Help menu for each of these programs or services. You should be able to change the problematic preferences or options to allow e-mail attachments from macgamut.com to be delivered to you. If you can't make such a specific change, change the preference or option temporarily--just long enough to receive your startMG6.mgs file--and then change it back again to its original setting.
- If you still can't find your startMG6.mgs file, please e-mail TechSupport@macgamut.com with your full name and Registration Number, and we'll send you your startMG6.mgs file from a personal account rather than from the MacGAMUT server.
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Q: I've registered my MacGAMUT software, but I can't seem to get into the program. Can I get some detailed instructions to get me started?
A: Have a look at the Managing Your StartMG6.mgs File and Exploring the Melodic Dictation Window videos. Both video tutorials are accessible from the Windows Start menu under All Programs/MacGAMUT 6/Video Tutorials or inside the Video Tutorials folder in the Applications/MacGAMUT 6 folder on a Macintosh. There are also two separate sets of detailed instructions for people who are having difficulty getting started. Click here for detailed Macintosh instructions, or click here for detailed Windows instructions.
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Q: Since "startMG6" is part of the name of the file, I assumed I could just double-click my startMG6.mgs file and MacGAMUT 6 would launch. That seems to work fine on my Windows computer, but it doesn't always work on a Mac. Why not?
A: Make sure your startMG6 file name ends with .mgs so that the Macintosh will be able to link your startMG6.mgs file with the MacGAMUT application. That should solve the problem, once and for all. If it doesn’t, the problem is easy to fix. Just right-click on your startMG6.mgs file, and select Get Info. Click on the Open with arrow to make it point downward, and then select MacGAMUT 6 from the list of applications in the popup menu. Click the Change All button, and from then on, double-clicking any .mgs file will always open MacGAMUT 6.
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Q: When I double-click my startMG6.mgs file on my Windows computer, it tries to open some application other than MacGAMUT 6. Is there some way to fix this so it starts MacGAMUT?
A: Either MacGAMUT 6 hasn't been installed on this Windows computer (it's not enough just to have the MacGAMUT CD in your CD/DVD drive; you must run the installer program to install the software), or else some other program you have installed recently has wiped MacGAMUT's .mgs file association off the map. Install (or reinstall) MacGAMUT 6, and the installer program will set everything up properly so that MacGAMUT 6 will start up when you double-click your startMG6.mgs file.
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Answers to questions about CD problems:
Q: Help! My CD is damaged/lost! Do I have to buy a new one?
A: If your MacGAMUT CD-ROM becomes damaged in use, you can get a FREE replacement. Yes, this guarantee applies even if your disk vanishes into thin air or if your dog chews on it (though it would be safer for your dog if you used a real Frisbee next time instead of your MacGAMUT CD). Do not return a damaged MacGAMUT CD to the bookstore where you bought it. We’ve asked bookstores not to exchange new CDs for damaged ones. Just send an e-mail to the MacGAMUT business office at office@macgamut.com, requesting a replacement CD. If you don’t have e-mail access, you can call our business office at 1-800-305-8731 (toll-free from the U.S. and Canada) or 001-1-614-442-5876 (from all other countries) during business hours (weekdays, hours may vary seasonally) to request your replacement CD. Whether you’re contacting us by e-mail or by phone, be sure to include both your name and postal address. We’ll get a replacement in the mail to you right away. Please retain your damaged CD until the replacement arrives, since we may ask you to return the damaged one for quality control inspection. The replacement CD-ROM will not include a new Registration Number, so you’ll continue to use the startMG6.mgs file you used with your original disk. So, if you anticipate losing your CD, it would be wise to record the Registration Number and keep it in a safe place.
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Q: My CD isn't working any more. What can I do?
A: Most likely, you have put your CD-ROM in the drive, but have not allowed sufficient time for your computer to read and recognize it. Try again, but be more patient this time to give the CD time to spin and the computer time to recognize it. If you’re absolutely sure it still isn’t working, it could be scratched or cracked. If so, see the question and answer immediately above.
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Q: I've got my MacGAMUT "key" CD in an external drive connected to my computer, but MacGAMUT doesn't recognize that it's there, so it keeps prompting me to insert the CD. Is there anyway around this problem?
A. Yes! Downloading and installing the MacGAMUT 6 Update will fix this problem of MacGAMUT's not finding the key CD in an external CD/DVD drive.
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Answers to questions about sending files as e-mail attachments:
Q: I've tried attaching my startMG6.mgs file to an e-mail message to send it to another computer [or to my instructor], but then the file doesn't work when it gets to the other computer.
A: E-mailing files from one computer to another can often be problematic. Unfortunately, MacGAMUT files are no exception. The good news is that the internet gremlins tend to leave certain kinds of files alone. The best way to send a file over the internet is to use compression software to create a .zip file ("zipped") and attach it to an e-mail message.
- In Windows: Right-click on your startMG6.mgs file. Choose Send To, and then choose "Compressed (zipped) Folder."
- On Macintosh: Click on your startMG6.mgs file to highlight the name of the file. Then choose "Compress [or Create Archive of] [your file's name]" from the File menu.
If all else fails, you can try sending your files "straight up" with no compression, but don't count on the files coming through in good shape. If even zipped files don't work for you, see the answer to the next question.
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Q: OK, I've tried sending it zipped and it still doesn't work to send it by e-mail. Now what?
A: If there's no way you can make attachments work, your best remaining option is to do it the old-fashioned way and transport the file on a flash drive or other removable media.
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Answers to questions about upgrading:
Q: How do I upgrade my MacGAMUT 2003 software to MacGAMUT 6?
A: If you have a MacGAMUT 2003 start2003.mgs file that you downloaded from the Register your software section of this website, you won't believe how easy it is to upgrade. Click here for more information on upgrading. If the last version of MacGAMUT software you bought was before the release of MacGAMUT 2003, you are not eligible for a free upgrade to MacGAMUT 6. Click here for information about purchasing MacGAMUT 6.
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Q: When I upgrade from MacGAMUT 2003 to MacGAMUT 6, will I lose my records of everything I did on the older version of the software?
A: No, all your records will be preserved and transferred to the new software version. MacGAMUT 6 will create a new startMG6.mgs file, picking up your name, statistics, and presets files from your start2003.mgs file. From then on, all you have to do is remember to start from your new startMG6.mgs file instead of your old start2003.mgs file!
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Answers to questions about hardware/system specifications:
Q: Can my students use MacGAMUT on a departmental (or campus-wide) network?
A: Yes, but MacGAMUT needs to be installed on each computer it will be used on. In many cases, you'll need the help of the network administrator to make that possible. The advantage of using MacGAMUT on a network is that users should be able to store their startMG6.mgs files in a central location so they can easily access the same file from a number of different computers on the network.
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Q: What are the minimum hardware and system requirements for MacGAMUT 6?
A: Pretty simple, really. MacGAMUT 6 software has been designed for use with all Windows computers running Windows 98 or higher, and for all Macintosh computers running System 10.3 or higher. The computer must have a CD or DVD drive. Beyond that, if you've got a MIDI keyboard, you may choose to use it for input and output, but a MIDI keyboard is optional and is not necessary for anything except the Keyboard drills in Intervals, Scales, and Chords. If you have any questions or doubts about the adequacy of your computer setup, download the appropriate Mini Demo from this website. If your computer will run the Mini Demo, it will run MacGAMUT 6 with no problem. It's as simple as that!
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Answers to questions about sound:
Q: I'm not getting any sound at all when I use MacGAMUT on my Windows computer. Help me!
A: If MacGAMUT sound has been working fine before now, the problem is usually that some other program has changed the volume and/or audio settings on your computer, so chances are that the problem can be solved easily by adjustments in the Volume Control and Audio Properties windows. Check out Solving Windows Sound Problems for detailed, step-by-step instructions (with illustrations!) to help you solve the problem.
If you are a new MacGAMUT user or if the audio setup on your computer has changed recently, make sure you have assigned the proper sound card in MacGAMUT’s MIDI Output Device menu. Go back and start MacGAMUT again. Continue through the sound test, even though you are still getting no sound. When you get to MacGAMUT’s main menu, select Intervals, then Aural Training, and then start with Level 1 in Practice Mode. When you get to the first exercise screen, go to the Sound menu at the top and click on MIDI Output Device. There you will find a selection of sound cards and perhaps other devices to choose from. Experiment, selecting each choice in turn and then going back to the interval exercise and clicking the Play button until you get sound. You may need to guess at the name of the interval that you haven’t actually heard (probably getting it wrong) so you can have an infinite number of hearings, but since you’re in Practice Mode, it won’t hurt your score if you guess wrong.
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Q: I really hate the sound I'm getting from my MIDI keyboard when I use MacGAMUT. I've checked the instrument, and it's set for piano, so that's not the problem. What gives?
A: MacGAMUT is sending General-MIDI messages telling your MIDI keyboard that you want piano sound. The only problem is that your MIDI keyboard doesn't speak the same language if it's not General-MIDI-compatible. Turn General MIDI off in the Sound menu the next time you use MacGAMUT, and MacGAMUT will stop sending messages about instrumental timbre to your MIDI keyboard. With many MIDI keyboards, turning the keyboard off and then back on resets it to the default timbre, which is usually piano sound. Or you can set whatever instrument you want on the MIDI keyboard itself, and you'll get the sounds you expect. (Check your MIDI synthesizer manual for instructions about setting the instrumental timbre directly on your synthesizer.) For more info, select "General MIDI" from the Help (MG Help on Mac) menu at the top of any exercise screen, or check the "General MIDI" section in the User Guide.
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Q: I'm having trouble with sound, and it's ruining my chances at mastery. Help!
A: First, make sure you have installed the latest version of MacGAMUT. Click here to go to the UPGRADE/Update page. Also, it's best to work on solving your sound problems in Practice Mode, where it won't hurt if you get an exercise wrong because you can't hear the sound at all or don't like the sound you're hearing. Then look through the rest of this Sound FAQs section to see if your specific question is covered here. Explore the menus at the top of any MacGAMUT exercise screen, especially the Sound menu and the Help (MG Help on Mac) menu. If your sound problems are on a Macintosh, use QuickTime Update (under System Preferences/QuickTime) to make sure you have the latest version of QuickTime. If none of this solves your sound problems, e-mail TechSupport@macgamut.com with as many details as possible. With sound problems, it's especially important to tell us whether you're working on a Windows or Macintosh computer as well as what system you're using (Mac 10.5.2 or Windows Vista, for example).
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Q: Sometimes my MIDI keyboard seems to work fine, but other times it does strange things like playing intervals in the wrong direction or playing just plain awful sounds or not playing all the notes. What can I do?
A: MacGAMUT is designed to work with MIDI synthesizers that are set up "normally," but with all the bells and whistles and buttons on synthesizers these days, it's sometimes difficult to understand how to reset a synthesizer to function normally. Start by selecting the simplest settings from within MacGAMUT. From the Sound menu, toggle General MIDI on/off and set the MIDI Output Channel to 1 (all voices on 1). Next, turn off your synthesizer, wait a moment, and turn it back on again. Then play a scale from one end of the keyboard to the other to make sure you don’t have split keyboard, multi, chordal accompaniment, or some other tricky setting turned on. (Check your MIDI synthesizer manual for more info about how to reset it to “normal.”) If this still doesn’t solve your problem, ask one of your techno-music buddies for help. It’s a lot easier for someone who can take a close-up look at your specific MIDI synthesizer to solve the problem. All we can tell you is that MacGAMUT isn’t what’s causing your problem.
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Q: I'm not getting the "tick" sound for the metronome from my MIDI keyboard, even though I've selected it in the Hear Beats before Exercise submenu in the Tempo menu. What gives?
A: If you don’t have General MIDI turned on (check the setting in the Sound menu and click General MIDI to toggle to On if it’s currently Off), or if your sound source is not General-MIDI-compatible, or if the 1 (all voices on 1) option is selected from the MIDI Output Channel submenu in the Sound menu, you won’t hear the tick. Choose pitch instead.
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Q: I'm getting a strange pitch for the metronome even though I've selected tick in the Hear Beats before Exercise submenu in the Tempo menu. Sometimes it's really confusing because the pitch is a half-step away from the beginning pitch or the tonic. Why is this happening?
A: If your sound source is not General-MIDI-compatible, it will misinterpret tick instructions and it may play a pitch that sounds wrong in the tonal context of the melody. The easiest way to solve the problem is to choose pitch instead of tick, but you can also toggle General MIDI to Off in the Sound menu. If the pitch option is selected or if General MIDI Off is set, the metronome should play pitches an octave or two above or below the beginning pitch of the melody.
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Q: I sometimes hear the beats played before a melody and sometimes not. How can I fix this?
A: If you've selected pitch for the metronome from the Hear Beats before Exercise submenu of the Tempo menu, keep in mind that the beats are played an octave or two lower or higher than the starting pitch of the melody. Depending on the instrumental timbre you have selected, it's possible the metronome pitch can't be heard in that range. Select a different instrument and see if that helps (piano always works). If you've selected tick and you're not hearing the metronome beats, choose Change Metronome Sound from the Tempo menu. That will let you try different metronome sounds and test them to make sure you not only have one you can hear, but also have one you like!
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Q: I'm using Windows sound, using the sound card in my computer, and I don't think the instrumental sounds are very realistic. Is there something I can do to improve the sound quality?
A: Check the MIDI Output Device in the Sound menu. Try the various choices and see if any of them sound better (you may not hear anything at all with some of them!).
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Answers to questions about using MacGAMUT:
Q: Yesterday, I worked on Keyboard drills in MacGAMUT 6 and mastered a couple of levels. But when I returned to Keyboard today, I'd lost credit for the levels I'd mastered yesterday. Help!
A: Remember when you first registered your MacGAMUT 6 User Disk on-line, and we told you to be sure to download and install the Update? This is why! And whenever you move to a different computer, remember to install the software from your CD first and then install the Update, too.
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Q: I can't access the Melodic, Harmonic, and Rhythmic Dictation libraries. The computer tells me I have to find them, but then either I can't find them, or else the computer can't read them when I do find them. Do I need new copies of the libraries?
A: There are a couple of possibilities here.
- If you can't find the libraries on your Windows computer, the default installation location for them is C:\Program Files\MacGAMUT 6. On a Macintosh, the default location is inside the MacGAMUT 6 folder in the Applications folder.
- If you're using MacGAMUT for a class, your instructor may be using different libraries. If the names of the libraries you're looking for are something other than MGRhythms 2003.mgr, MGMelodies 2003.mgm, MGProgressions 2003.mgh, then you'll need to get copies of the different libraries from your instructor and copy them onto your own computer.
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Q: I understand I should always use the very latest update of MacGAMUT, but how do I know if I have the latest update?
A: MacGAMUT respects your privacy, so we will never invade your computer to see what version you are using. That means you need to make sure you always have the latest update. We recommend you check for updates about once a month, just to be sure you always have the latest version. With any luck, you’ll check many, many times, and never have to download and install an update, but you should still keep checking, just in case!
First, you need to know what version you’re currently using. We’ve made it easy for you to see the version info by making it part of the name of the main exercise window. Just look in the title bar of the window, and you’ll see something like MacGAMUT 6.0 or MacGAMUT 6.0.2, for example. Those numbers after the decimal points make all the difference, so be sure to take careful note of them.
Then visit this website, and look for info about updates. If an update is available, the link to it will be displayed prominently, and the exact version number for the update will be part of the info given. For example, a link on the MacGAMUT homepage might be “NEW!!! UPGRADE/Update now to MacGAMUT 6.0.3!” If the new version is a later one than you are using, you should download this updated software. Click on the links to get to the UPGRADE/Update page, and then download and install the latest update onto each of the computers you use MacGAMUT on. If you have installed the update successfully, your window title version info should now match the update version info (in this case, the window title should now be MacGAMUT 6.0.3).
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Q: I'm having trouble getting the notes and accidentals written on the right line or space on the staff.
A: If the problem is that you’re having difficulty placing the accidentals on the correct line or space on the staff, try putting the note on first. Then, when you enter the accidental close to the right line or space, MacGAMUT will help you by “snapping” it where it’s supposed to go. You can also put the note or accidental on any line or space of the staff, not worrying about the exact placement, and then move it up or down to the correct location. Just click on the note or accidental, and hold it while you either drag it up or down on the staff or else use the computer keyboard arrow keys to move it up or down. Hint: You may find it easier to work in Practice Mode while you get used to entering pitches or anything else that seems difficult at first. That way you can relax and not have to worry about your score while you practice using the software.
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Q: I'm working on a Scales level that seems to require an accidental for every pitch. It's a pain to use the mouse to select each accidental again and again. Why isn't there an easier way?
A: You're in luck. There is an easier way! Check out the Accidentals submenu under Keyboard Equivalents to Mouse Clicks in the Help (MG Help on Mac) menu, and while you're in the vicinity, you might want to check out the other submenus as well. Also, if you're interested in alternatives to other kinds of mouse clicks, take a look at the Computer Keyboard Shortcuts to Screen Buttons item, also in the Help menu. The same info is also available in the MacGAMUT Keyboard Shortcuts file that was installed from your CD-ROM along with everything else (accessible from the Windows Start menu under All Programs/MacGAMUT 6/Text Files or inside the Text Files folder in the MacGAMUT 6 folder in the Applications folder on a Macintosh).
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Q: Do I really have to click on the erase HD box to get rid of a Roman numeral?
A: No, you don't. If you just don't like clicking on the erase HD box, you can always type lower-case e instead to turn it on and off. But the easiest way to get rid of a Roman numeral is to replace it with a different one. And there's yet another technique you can use to clear a Roman numeral you've already entered on the screen: first click Clear Choices, and then click on the Roman numeral you want to erase. This method replaces whatever was in the box with a "blank" Roman numeral.
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Q: Entering the notation in Melodic Dictation seems cumbersome. I have to click on each duration box and then go down and enter the note. When the durations change a lot from note to note, that's a pain.
A: Try using the numbers 1 through 7 and the period to select the durations you want on your computer keyboard . You can select the duration (without even looking!) with one hand and position the pitches using the mouse with the other hand. You can also enter all the durations first (or second) by clicking on the note-entry slot numbers above the staff . Of course, if you have a MIDI keyboard (and if your instructor hasn't altered the presets to prevent MIDI entry), you also have the option of playing the melody in. If your keyboard skills aren't the best, remember you can choose to play the pitches and durations either separately or at the same time when you use MIDI entry for Melodic Dictation.
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Q: I'm trying to enter my notation for the Alto and Tenor voices in Harmonic Dictation (or 4-voice Chords), but MacGAMUT won't let me do it. Why not?
A: There are separate buttons immediately to the left of the Grand Staff which you use to select the Soprano and Alto voices in the treble clef, just as there are separate buttons for Tenor and Bass voices in the bass clef. Chances are that all you need to do is click the "A" and "T" buttons to solve your problem (or type the number 2 to select the alto voice, and type the number 3 to select the Tenor voice). Check out Entering Pitches in the Help (MG Help on Mac) menu.
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Q: I hate to mention it, but I'm sure MacGAMUT graded something wrong. I got the identification right, but my notation was wrong, and I still got full credit for the exercise.
A: Thanks for your honesty, but MacGAMUT probably did exactly what it's supposed to do. Whenever you're not required to enter notation, MacGAMUT will still mark your notation, but it won't count as part of your grade since it wasn't required.
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Q: I was working on MacGAMUT, and the program wouldn't let me quit. There was no Exit button on the screen, and Exit [Windows] or Quit [Mac] was dimmed in the menu. Other than pulling the plug, how am I supposed to stop working on the program?
A: There's actually a very good pedagogical reason why you couldn't quit or go on to the next exercise. Whenever you are working toward Mastery in Regular Mode, you must complete your response to the current exercise before you can leave the program or switch to a different kind of exercise. As soon as you have your answer checked the first time, the Exit button will reappear, and the Exit (Quit on Mac) option in the File menu (MacGAMUT menu on Mac) will be fully operational. The problem is that, when permitted to quit (or to go on to the next exercise) at any time, students often choose to bypass exercises that are harder than they want to attempt. So having the option of quitting or going on at any point is pretty much the same as allowing students to ignore any test questions they think are too difficult. In Practice Mode or Review Mode, the Exit and Go On buttons are always operational, as is the Exit (or Quit) option in the File menu (MacGAMUT menu on Mac).
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Q: I had 7 out of 10 right and got the next one right, and I still had only 7 out of 10 right! This happens to me all the time, and it's just not fair! Why won't MacGAMUT let me get mastery when I only need to get one more right and I do get it right?
A: The problem is that you have to get 8 out of the last 10 exercises correct in order to achieve mastery. It’s not just any set of 10 exercises. It has to be the last 10. There’s a graphic display of your progress in the row of boxes at the bottom of the MacGAMUT exercise screen. As you complete each exercise, a green box (for a right answer) or a red X (for a wrong answer) shows up in the box that is furthest to the right. If all ten boxes are full (as they would be if you had 7 out of 10 correct), the red Xs and green boxes all get shoved over one box to the left to record your new answer. That means the red X or green box that was furthest to the left gets shoved off and forgotten because it’s no longer one of the last 10 exercises you have completed. If that box happened to be green (i.e., if you got that exercise right), and you just added a new green box on the right, your score won’t change. You still have only 7 of the last 10 exercises correct. Your score will go up if a red X drops off the left when you get an exercise correct, which means your goal is to make enough of those red Xs drop off the left so that you can achieve mastery. I know it’s frustrating to be that close and still not achieve mastery when you get one right, but watching your progress in the boxes should help you understand what’s going on.
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Q: MacGAMUT graded one of my Melodic Dictation exercises wrong. I'm not really complaining because my score was higher than it should have been, but it counted several notes right even though those notes were different from the notes in the same position in the correct melody. Have I found a bug?
A: Probably not, although we certainly appreciate your honesty. MacGAMUT is probably doing exactly what it's supposed to do. The problem may be that MacGAMUT is more intelligent than you expect! It tries to grade your Melodic Dictation exercises the same way a teacher would, giving you credit for whatever is correct in the melody, even if you leave out a note or two, or add one or two extra notes. That means that the program is comparing the correct note not only with the note you have entered in the corresponding note-entry slot, but with other nearby notes as well. It's possible that MacGAMUT made a mistake, just as a teacher might, in trying to give you all the credit you deserve. But the next time something like this happens, see if the "wrong" notes of your melody match up with nearby notes in the correct melody. Chances are, you'll find that the "wrong" notes really shouldn't have been counted wrong, and that your melody is closer to the correct version than you had realized. Of course, grading Melodic Dictation is a pretty tricky thing to do for both computers and humans. If you are convinced MacGAMUT has made a serious mistake, please contact TechSupport@macgamut.com with all the gory details.
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Q: Why does the program tell me my MacGAMUT CD-ROM must be in the CD drive, even though I have put it in?
A: Most likely, you have put your CD-ROM in the drive, but have not allowed sufficient time for your computer to read and recognize it. Try again, but be more patient this time to give the CD time to spin and the computer time to recognize it. If you're absolutely sure it isn't working, it could be your CD is cracked or scratched. If so, simply e-mail the MacGAMUT business office at office@macgamut.com to request a replacement CD. Be sure to include your postal address!
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Q: When I double-click my startMG6.mgs file on my Windows computer, it tries to open some application other than MacGAMUT 6. Is there some way to fix this so it starts MacGAMUT?
A: Either MacGAMUT 6 hasn't been installed on this Windows computer (it's not enough just to have the MacGAMUT 6 CD-ROM in your CD drive; you must run the installer program to install the software), or else some other program you have installed recently has wiped MacGAMUT's .mgs file association off the map. Install (or reinstall) MacGAMUT, and the installer program will set everything up properly so that MacGAMUT will start up when you double-click your startMG6.mgs file.
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Answers to questions about instructional considerations:
Q: Why can't I just have my students turn in a printout of their statistics rather than my collecting all their startMG6.mgs files and checking them myself on my office computer?
A: If accomplishment and/or time spent on MacGAMUT drill constitutes part of your students' graded coursework, we STRONGLY recommend that you require students to submit their startMG6.mgs files to you rather than your accepting student-generated text files, which may have been edited before submission. Prior to version 2003.10, students could save their own text files of their statistics from within the User program's Get Stats window to submit to their instructors, either electronically or in printed form. The problem is that such text files are not secure and cannot be made secure. After instructors began complaining that students they thought they could trust had falsified their records by editing text files, MacGAMUT stopped supporting student-generated text files of statistics. Since that time, some instructors have allowed their students to submit "screen shots" of their MacGAMUT stats. But screen shots, too, may easily be edited, so they are not a reliable record either.
Individual student startMG6.mgs files, on the other hand, are stored in an encrypted format that students cannot alter. When you collect copies of your student files and decrypt them yourself using the Check Stats application from your Instructor Disk installation, you can be sure you are getting accurate information about your students' accomplishment and effort. For a complete discussion of how to use Check Stats effectively and efficiently, please see the Verifying and Organizing Student Statistics section of the Instructor Guide 6 (on both Instructor Disks and Instructor Demo Disks, or click here to see it now)..
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Q: This may seem like a silly question, but I can't find anyone among our theory faculty who knows what the Anh. Pentatonic and Hir. Pentatonic scales are. What are those scales?
A: Not a silly question at all. When instructors wanted us to add "20th-century" scales to MacGAMUT, there seemed to be no real agreement about what specific scales should be added. So we took the easy way out and just added scales from one of the most widely-used theory texts: Stefan Kostka and Dorothy Payne's Tonal Harmony (published by McGraw-Hill). The Anhemitonic Pentatonic scale (also called diatonic pentatonic) is a fancy name for the usual "black-key" pentatonic. Kostka/Payne notate it as G A B D E. The Hirajoshi Pentatonic is almost the same, except it has major thirds instead of minor thirds (and a couple of minor seconds instead of all major seconds). They notate it as G A B-flat D E-flat. MacGAMUT probably adds to the confusion by presenting these as 8-note scales instead of 5, primarily because it seemed like playing just 5 notes for some scales would practically give the answer away!
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Q: I'm a teacher just starting to use music technology for instruction. Where can I get more info about music theory and ear-training software, and about using music technology in general?
A: Here are some websites that provide solid, helpful information, including useful links to other websites where you'll find even more information:
- Association for Technology in Music Instruction (ATMI) maintains an active Internet LISTSERV where you can ask questions and, even better, get answers. The annual ATMI conference, held in conjunction with The College Music Society's annual conference, is a great place to learn about the latest technology and software and to get together with other people who are also interested in music technology and teaching. The 2008 conference will be held in Atlanta, Georgia, September 25-28. Of course, we'll be there exhibiting MacGAMUT software, and we hope you'll stop by and chat with us. The balloons floating above our exhibit make us easy to find!
- Technology Institute for Music Educators (TI:ME) was created "to promote technology as it applies to music education." If you are teaching music in K-12, this is the place to start. They sponsor summer workshops in music technology and an annual conference.
- PALATINE Learning and Teaching Support Network at Lancaster University (U.K.) has an excellent website with links to many music software companies and products as well as to music software clearinghouse websites, providing a good starting point for on-line research.
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Q: Do I need to have and use an Instructor Disk so my students can use MacGAMUT?
A: The answer to this one depends on how you want to use MacGAMUT. The Instructor Disk has a couple of programs you may want to consider using. Here's a quick run-down of what these programs will do for you:
- Check Stats: If you require your students to submit evidence of their work on MacGAMUT, then you most definitely need the Check Stats program to read and verify the accuracy of the files students submit. Because of a number of cases of students' "enhancing" the statistics for their work on MacGAMUT, we urge instructors not to trust student-generated text file reports or even screen shots of stats screens. Whether submitted in print form or sent as e-mails, these text or picture files may have been edited before submission to you. For maximum security, you should ask students to submit a copy of their startMG6.mgs files via e-mail. You will then use the Check Stats program from your Instructor Disk, to decode the encrypted statistics. Since you are translating your students' files yourself, it means you can be sure the files have not been edited. Any attempts to tamper with the encrypted form of the file will be immediately apparent. The Check Stats program permits you to open and read student files one at a time, or you can choose to save the data in a format that can be read into a spreadsheet program, so you can easily keep track of student statistics for an entire class. Check Stats 6 can even read and verify both MacGAMUT 2003 start2003.mgs files as well as MacGAMUT 6 startMG6.mgs files.
- Set Params: If there's anything you'd like to change about the way MacGAMUT software operates, you'll need to use the Set Params application from your Instructor Disk. Set Params gives you wide latitude to make changes in the operational parameters of your students' User Disk software in order to customize it to your curriculum, your students, and your teaching style. For an introduction to the range of options Set Params affords you and a demonstration of how easy it is to use, you may want to take a few minutes to view the Using Set Params video from your MacGAMUT 6 Instructor Disk.
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Q: I'd like to do some work editing MacGAMUT's libraries to correspond more precisely with our curriculum and textbook. But I'm not finding the Enter/Edit programs I seem to recall from past years on my MacGAMUT 6 Instructor Disk. What's happened to those Enter/Edit programs?
A: A new combined Enter/Edit program for editing Rhythmic Dictation, Melodic Dictation, and Harmonic Dictation libraries is currently in the works. At this point, the old Enter/Edit MD/RD and Enter/Edit HD programs you remember only work on a Macintosh computer running in Classic Mode. Since Classic Mode is not an option on Intel Macintoshes, most instructors will have some difficulty finding a "vintage Mac" to run the old Enter/Edit software. Consequently, the old applications are of limited usefulness to MacGAMUT instructors at this time, so we have not included them on the MacGAMUT 6 Instructor Disk. If you do have access to an older pre-Intel Macintosh (and they are out there, just waiting to be rescued from some dusty storeroom), we'll be happy to send you installers for the old Enter/Edit programs. Send your request to TechSupport@macgamut.com. Though any editing work you do on libraries may be done only on a pre-Intel Macintosh, the libraries you produce will work perfectly on both Windows computers and on contemporary Macintosh computers and systems. And Ann is taking great pains in programming the new Enter/Edit software to make sure your custom libraries are still compatible, so you will be able to re-edit them if you wish with the new program.
Alternatively, if using vintage software on a pre-Intel Macintosh is not an option for you, but you would really like to develop your own libraries, please contact Bill Dilts at TechSupport@macgamut.com for assistance. If you can provide non-copyrighted materials, organized as you wish them, it's likely we can do the work for you.
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Q: I'm not requiring my students to buy MacGAMUT, but I am going to put it in my music computer lab to make it available for my students to use. Do I need to do anything special with the presets? And if so, how do I install them, since students will be sharing MacGAMUT CD-ROMs?
A: First of all, keep in mind that students who are sharing MacGAMUT CD-ROMs in a lab installation will also be sharing startMG6.mgs files since each User Disk's Registration Number entitles you to just one startMG6.mgs file. That means neither you nor your students will have records of individual student work. In such circumstances, most instructors just install MacGAMUT on their lab computers with one startMG6.mgs file on each computer. Without individual record-keeping, you have no way to require your students to work toward mastery, so they will be using MacGAMUT mainly in Practice Mode. Since most of the preset options you could set are disabled in Practice Mode, you might as well use the default presets that come as part of each startMG6.mgs file.
If you do decide to create your own presets files for a lab installation, it would be least confusing for your students if you just went ahead and installed your new presets in each startMG6.mgs file yourself. All the presets information is stored as part of the startMG6.mgs file, so you'd only have to do this once for each startMG6.mgs file to make sure each was set up as you wanted. Alternatively, you could copy the presets file onto each hard drive MacGAMUT will be used on, or make it available on a server accessible from the lab, and ask your students to check the name of the presets file listed on the "name" screen each time they use MacGAMUT. If the presets file name for the startMG6.mgs file they are using that day does not match the presets you want them to be using (if your presets have not yet been installed on that computer's startMG6.mgs file, or if another student has been using that computer's startMG6.mgs file with another instructor's presets), they would have to install your presets. For more information about startMG6.mgs files and about how to change and install presets files, see the Instructor Guide 6 (on both Instructor Disks and Instructor Demo Disks, or click here to see it now).
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Q: Aren't the melodies in the first couple of levels of Melodic Dictation awfully long for beginning students?
A: Too often, beginning students concentrate so intently on listening for individual intervals that they fail to hear the melody as a whole. In order to encourage them to recognize and remember longer phrases, some melodies in those early levels are characterized by repeated patterns. While the longer melodies may be frustrating to students at first, as they learn to hear and remember melodic patterns rather than thinking of a melody only as a succession of discrete and isolated intervals, their dictation skills will develop rapidly as they "stretch their ears." You might want to check out "Editing tools as music theory and ear-training tools" in the Instructional Considerations section of the Instructor Guide 6 (on both Instructor Disks and Instructor Demo Disks, or click here to see it now) for more info. If, however, you still find the beginning melodies too long for your purposes, you might want to change the presets, using the Set Params program from your Instructor Disk, to permit students to hear melodies by halves, so they are effectively notating two shorter melodies in each exercise. You might also be interested in our Prep Presets and Libraries, specially designed for pre-college and remedial college courses. Click here for more information.
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Q: How can I help my students who complain that they can't hear the bass voice in the MacGAMUT Harmonic Dictation exercises?
A: You might suggest that students who are having trouble hearing the bass voice try changing the volume and timbre of individual voices. The default setting for MacGAMUT 6 allows students to change the volume and timbre of individual voices. However, if you have changed that setting, students will have this option only in Practice Mode. Often, after working briefly with a markedly differentiated bass voice, students find they can hear the bass voice quite clearly, even when it is no longer artificially emphasized. If you want to be sure students can change individual voice volume and timbre at any time, you can use the Set Params application included on your Instructor Disk to check the Harmonic Dictation presets and select "Student can change voice volume." This setting allows students to make one or more voices louder or to select different instrumental timbres for one or more voices, even when they are working in Mastery mode. For a more complete discussion of this issue, see "Bringing out individual voices . . . " in the Instructional Considerations section of the Instructor Guide 6 (included on both Instructor Disk and Instructor Demo Disks, or click here to see it now).
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Q: If I require my students to work a certain amount of time on MacGAMUT ear-training drills each week, how do I know they're actually working and not just sitting there doing nothing while the clock runs?
A: Very soon after the first version of MacGAMUT was published in 1988, Ann was appalled to see one of her Ohio State students sit down at a lab computer, pop his disk in the floppy drive, and settle in to read the newspaper as he put in his time. Obviously, she took immediate steps to prevent that sort of abuse, and all later versions stop keeping time whenever a pause in the student's interaction with the software is long enough to suggest that he or she isn't actively working (just idly pushing the mouse around is not enough). The "grace period" allowed varies with the complexity of the exercise. Students can become quite incensed when they think the computer hasn't given them full credit for the time they've put in, but they're usually chagrined to learn that the software is smart enough to give them credit only for the time they're actually "on task," not for the time they're talking to friends, taking a restroom break, or going outside for a smoke.
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Answers to questions about this and that:
Q: How did you come up with the name MacGAMUT for your software?
A: We've even had non-musicians ask if MacGAMUT is Ann's maiden name! Actually, MacGAMUT is an acronym for Graded Aural MUsic Training on the Macintosh. Figuring that musicians would appreciate the allusion to the work of that pioneer of aural-training, Guido d'Arrezo, Barbara Murphy (now on the faculty at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville) came up with the GAMUT portion of the acronym when she was a graduate student at Ohio State, working with Ann on an earlier incarnation of what would eventually become MacGAMUT. When Ann later switched her programming efforts to the Macintosh platform, she simply added the Mac prefix. Of course, at that time we had no idea how incomprehensible (and unpronounceable) "MacGAMUT" would be to the bookstore workers who phone to order the software. Then, in 2000, Ann brought out the first cross-platform version of MacGAMUT which ran on both Macintosh and Windows computers, so the Mac prefix no longer seemed so appropriate, but see the next question and answer.
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Q: I know MacGAMUT started out as Mac-only, but since there are a lot more MacGAMUT Windows users than MacGAMUT Mac users now, shouldn't you call it something more appropriate, like WinGAMUT?
A: Well, that's the way the world is. A lot more people use PCs than use Macs, so it shouldn't surprise anyone that MacGAMUT users follow that same pattern with about an 80% Windows and 20% Macintosh split between the two platforms. As for the name, Ann's students suggested she switch the name to WinGAMUT when they first started urging her to create a Windows version! But we decided to stick with the old familiar MacGAMUT, partly because the name WinGAMUT wouldn't be any more appropriate than the name MacGAMUT since every disk has software for both platforms. Other people have suggested that we come up with a whole new name that is platform-neutral, which seems like a good idea too. But if we changed the name of the software, we'd have to change the name of the company, and the name of the website, and redesign all our print materials, etc., etc. Wouldn't you rather we spent our time creating ever-better software and providing the world's best customer service?!
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Q: I've found
apparent bugs in other music theory software which the publishers
assure me will be fixed in the next release, but I've waited years,
and there's still no new release and no fix. Will I have to wait
as long to get fixes for any problems in MacGAMUT?
A: Since
