Variations Digital Music Library System and Variations Audio Timeliner (review)

Abstract

For information regarding the scope of this column, consult the headnote in the September 2011 issue. The dates of access for each review of an online source indicate the dates during which the reviewer was evaluating the resource. All Web sites were last accessed to verify availability on 1 February 2012. Variations Digital Music Library System and Variations Audio Timeliner. [Bloomington, IN]: Indiana University, 2005-. http://www.dlib.indiana.edu/projects/variations3/index.html (Accessed December 2011). [Requires a Web browser, Adobe Flash Player, and an Internet connection. Full Variations system requires installation of Linux operating system, MySQL 5 database, Java, Darwin streaming server, DjVuLibre, Apache Web server, and Tomcat Web application server. Variations Audio Timeliner requires a Pentium II 500MHz processes, 256MB RAM (512MB preferred), 2GB hard drive or better, 16-bit audio, 1024x768 resolution, and QuickTime 7.0 or higher. Required operating systems include Windows 2000, XP, or Vista for Windows or Mac OS X for Macintosh. Pricing: free.] First launched by Indiana University in the mid-1990s, Variations is a digital asset management system uniquely designed to handle music materials. The software became available to other institutions as an open source release in 2009. While there are other systems on the market that institutions have adapted to manage musicrelated assets (such as DSpace (1) and CONTENTdm (2)), none of these focus specifically on music and none handle music materials as effectively as Variations. Iii its most current incarnation, Variations offers back-end tools for digitizing audio and print materials as well as front-end interfaces for accessing streamed audio and digital scores. Since Indiana's open source release, many institutions are using Variations as a reserves system, though it has potential for much broader applications. The system could be used for delivering institutional musical performances, rare/special collection recordings, or non-music recordings such as speeches. readings, and broadcasts. In addition to providing mechanisms for digitizing and delivery, Variations also offers tools specifically designed to enrich the user experience. Such tools include customizable bookmarks, playlists, annotation options, and quizzing functions. Variations is available both as a browserbased interface and as a standalone Java application (see figures 1 and 2). Presently the Web version works only with audio (riot scores)! The stand-alone version is available for the latest Mac or Windows operating systems (Mac OS X, Windows Vista, and Windows 7) and requires QuickTime software to function. (4) Details for downloading Variations will vary by institution, as will the way in which users launch and use the system. Users who wish to explore either the standalone version or browser-based interface with sample tracks may visit the Variations Web site for more information. (5) The particular process used at Baylor University) is discussed laler in this review. [FIGURE 1 OMITTED] AUDIO PLAYER In addition to the standard playback/ control functions one would expect (volume control, play/pause.and navigation). the audio player allows users to create playlists. These playlisis are exportable as either HTML, files or native Variations files (V2P). Either Format results in a small file (approximately 4KB). Opening a playlist file or HTML document launches Variations and loads the playlist. The audio player also has a bookmarking feature that allows users to mark locations within it recording for later use. While the default name for the bookmark is taken from the track listing. users can rename and rearrange bookmarks and can also add comments to each bookmark. From the edit screen, users can manage bookmarks by organizing them into folders. sending bookmarks to a playlist, or exporting them as HTML. or Variations (V2B) files. SCORE VIEWER The Variations score viewer allows navigation of the entire score through a scrub bar. …