Okay, you got me: I didn't really soil myself, but this is mind-blowing. I'm serious. Watch this video:
Direct Note Access: the new Melodyne dimension
Direct Note Access: the new Melodyne dimension
MIDI functionality for real audio!! So freakin' amazing. How much? About $370 for the good stuff. [Thanks, G.]
It does seem interesting but not for musicians but sound engineers. A musician could more quickly play something new than futz around in the computer interface.
I also have a sense that this may be a way of generating interest not in their future product but in the present product. The Direct Access technology will not be available until autumn 2008. There is no beta release. Basically, the flash video advertises vaporware.
Given the complexity of what is proposed in the video, I think the best approach is "I'll believe it when I see it."
You are exactly right that this is vaporware, but I can't help but get excited about it because I'm a mediocre musician. :) Right now I have a lot of fun (and some pretty decent results) dorking-around in Garageband, but there are vast limitations to the amount of manipulation one has with the tracks.
All that is to say, what I am able to do is a bit more like sound engineering than actual musicianship, so this is right up my alley. And if nothing else, the video is fun to watch and a fun idea.