Rain Recording

The user interface is easy for the average person to understand; the apps as well as the Window System sounds are on their own volume slider. In many cases Per App Volume Control may not apply to DAWs, which will utilize exclusive mode (for performance) and are exempt from the Volume Control. Otherwise, it's a great feature for the customer trying to play multiple apps with sound.

Other Vista Features

Figures 2 & 3

One of the most talked-about features in Microsoft Windows Vista is a new glass-like interface called Aero Glass: The various windows, icons, toolbars, and other elements sport a translucent 3D design that you can see through, with animations, glassy reflections, drop shadows, scaling and vector-based graphics (the downside: you'll need a powerful graphics card). This also means other possibilities, like making semi-transparent virtual instrument GUIs so you can see the controls, yet also see what's happening on the tracks related to the instrument. Microsoft has made some real leaps forward in navigating your PC with a 3D "rolodex"-style flipbook of your active windows (Figure 2). Users will appreciate the way the new search feature works, especially the way it navigates (Figure 3). But while the user interface seems more intuitive on the whole, it may take a little getting used to; if you want to go with what you already know, it's possible to go back to the classic (2000/XP) look.

There's also a new Windows Media Player with a cleaner, more modern user interface. It allows playlists to span multiple devices, and offers greater sync compatibility with various devices. I was able to auto-sync music, videos, and photos with no problem (currently there are over 130 devices on Microsoft's PlaysForSure compatibility list). Also, Speech Recognition is built into Windows Vista so you may want to try to control your sequencer transport with your voice. Clicking on the Start menu no longer opens a long list of programs, as the Vista Start Menu integrates a desktop search feature (Quick Search) that helps you find and launch just about anything on your PC. Type in a word, name, or phrase, and Quick Search can find the right file. The new Start Menu also makes it very easy to navigate installed applications on your PC. The audio DSP built into Vista is interesting, but will be more relevant to consumers than to the pro audio world. New audio and communication features include room correction (to find a "sweet spot" for the listener), bass management, loudness equalization DSP, acoustic cancellation (for communications), virtual surround (5.1 and 7.1), microphone array solutions, speaker phantoming, and various other audio features. Although designed primarily for media centers and home theater, it is interesting that Microsoft is focusing on these features, which could eventually make their way into music apps and plug-ins.

Call Security

Windows Vista eliminates the need for separate antispyware and firewall programs, as these security measures are built into the OS. There's also a new User Account Control policy that changes the experience in a number of ways, most noticeably by preventing applications from auto-installing themselves without your approval - although unfortunately, you will be prompted for approval when installing legitimate applications as well. Driver signing, while controversial, is designed to help increase Windows security by letting users identify the source of the software they are installing, thus avoiding malware (spyware, viruses, etc.). A "signed" driver (or any signed component) simply allows Windows Vista to verify the author of the software and assure it is from a trusted source. Without this signature, Windows Vista cannot tell whether the code is legitimate or a virus. In Vista, Windows validates that 64-bit drivers are signed before they are allowed to run. 32-bit versions of Windows Vista do not require signing to load a driver, but there are certain features that may not work (such as playing some protected content) if unsigned drivers are running. Microsoft has not been too forthcoming over the new Digital Rights Management protection Vista will incorporate, but it seems there will be protection at the OS and driver level, and the ability to disable output depending on the digital rights incorporated in the media. DRM is important to musicians who want to protect content distributed to end users/consumers, but how it's accepted - and whether it's intrusive - remains to be seen.