The Blue Ribbon SoundWorks

The_Blue_Ribbon_SoundWorks_logo

The Blue Ribbon SoundWorks was a software company that specialized in developing audio and music software for personal computers. The company was founded in 1986 by Eric Gieseke and Melissa Jordan Grey. It gained prominence for its innovative products that catered to musicians and audio professionals.

History[edit | edit source]

The Blue Ribbon SoundWorks was established in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The founders, Eric Gieseke and Melissa Jordan Grey, were both passionate about music and technology, which led them to create software that bridged the gap between these two fields. The company initially focused on developing software for the Amiga computer platform, which was known for its advanced multimedia capabilities.

Products[edit | edit source]

The Blue Ribbon SoundWorks is best known for its flagship product, Bars & Pipes, a MIDI sequencer that was highly regarded for its user-friendly interface and powerful features. Bars & Pipes allowed musicians to compose, edit, and play back MIDI sequences with ease. The software was particularly popular among Amiga users and received several awards for its innovation.

Another notable product from The Blue Ribbon SoundWorks was SuperJAM!, an intelligent music composition tool that allowed users to create music by simply specifying a style and structure. SuperJAM! used advanced algorithms to generate music that sounded natural and professional.

Acquisition[edit | edit source]

In 1995, The Blue Ribbon SoundWorks was acquired by Microsoft. This acquisition was part of Microsoft's strategy to enhance its multimedia capabilities and integrate advanced audio features into its operating systems. Following the acquisition, some of the technology developed by The Blue Ribbon SoundWorks was incorporated into Microsoft's products, including DirectMusic.

Legacy[edit | edit source]

The Blue Ribbon SoundWorks left a lasting impact on the field of music software. Its innovative products set new standards for usability and functionality in music composition and editing software. Many of the concepts and technologies pioneered by The Blue Ribbon SoundWorks continue to influence modern audio software development.