MindChimes 4.0

You don't have to practice feng shui or decorate your home in beaded curtains and lava lamps to enjoy this virtual sound effects program. Created by a classical musician and composer, MindChimes simulates chime sounds with wind patterns that are natural and believable. Nine chime sounds are available, from bells and crystal glass to bamboo. Most impressive is the fact that MindChimes' sound algorithm eschews looping, which creates a natural randomness that assures sounds will never play exactly the same way twice. For creative types, the Chime wizard lets you blend chime sounds using 10 octaves to create different moods and harmonies. The program's simple interface creates an intuitive environment in which to quickly start creating music with just one click. Occasionally we noticed that MindChimes would briefly stop making music when we closed certain application windows, but the music would quickly resume on its own. Overall, we found MindChimes to be a well-thought-out program and a refreshing alternative form of background music.