Conference hydra::amiga_v1

    I have been using MIDI with a CASIO CZ-101 (a great digital synth
    for under $300!).  I use Deluxe Music Construction Set.  It does
    a good job a playing the music, and a can enter notes into a score
    using the CZ keyboard.  But DMCS doesn't handle the timing well
    (it doesn't claim to).  
    
    DMCS does allow up to 16 MIDI channels, with the CZ I can have
    four Amiga based instruments at a time plus either four different CZ
    instruments (one note each, no chords) in four MIDI channels or a single
    instrument that can play up to eight note chords.  DMCS also allows
    for an infinite number of staffs of infinite length- until you run
    out of memory.  DMCS can change the CZ settings in the middle
    of a score.  DMCS cannot control the volume of the notes played
    thru the CZ (could be a limitation of the CZ).
     
    
    
    Do you know of any MIDI software that can record music in real-time.
    
    I'm also interested in PD MIDI stuff.

    What is the price of the Yamaha Sound Generator?  Does it have a
    KeyBoard?

    ProMIDI Studio has the ability to enter scores real time.  It is
    a MIDI sequencer package.  There is a utility that comes with it
    that allows translating the tracks to SMUS compatible files. I just
    picked up a periodical-on-a-disk (AMY) that has an article on how
    to use ProMIDI and DMCS together. Haven't read it yet, but when
    I do, I'll post the info here.
    
    
    					Jim
    

    re .2
    
    List price on it is $495.  There is a very long note in the computer
    music notes file (NOVA::COMMUSIC...I haven't figured out how to
    set up a KP7 yet). There is no keyboard.  I picked up a Yamaha KX88
    MIDI controller keyboard with it.  If you are after the 'piano'
    feel in a keyboard, this has got it.  
    
    					Jim
    
    P.S.	You shouldn't have to pay list price. $395 is a closer
    		estimate to what you can get it for. Most places will
    		deal.
    

< Note 684.0 by WINERY::COLLUM >
                              -< TX81Z and MIDI >-

>    Just picked up a Yamaha TX81Z FM sound generator. Sounds great!
>    Anyone out there know of any software (PD or commercial) available
>    to program it?

I haven't heard of any patch editor or librarians for the Amiga, 
though the latest Amazing Computing has a "rumor" that Dr. T will 
be porting their software to the Amiga.  Strange 'cause I heard 
some time ago that they didn't think there was enough demand.  
Maybe now that the A500 is out...
    
>    I've heard of Texture, but haven't seen any reviews on it. Anyone 
>    out there using it? 
>              				Jim

Not me.  I thought there was a review in COMMUSIC notes file, but 
I believe that was a version for another computer.

John

    Just picked up Fred Fish disk #101. It has a very complete midi
    library on it. Takes care of most of the bookkeeping involved in
    a multi-tasking midi environment.  Soundscape offers documentation
    for their midi library, but you have to buy their developers package
    at 150.00.  This library is FREE and has quite a few demo programs
    included.  With this and Power Windows (it just occured to me, I
    haven't seen any note on Power Windows here...) writing a TX81Z
    (or FB01 or DX7II or...) would be a snap. I think I'll start work
    on the TX81Z and post it whenever I'm done (if there are any TX81Z
    users out there).
    I'll also ARC the midi library and try to get it on line.
    
    					Jim
    

    The ARC file can be found in WINERY::USER3$:[COLLUM]MIDI.ARC
    
    Inside of this ARC you will find the following files
    		
    		md.arc
    		mdl.arc
    		mde.arc
    		mu.arc
    
    They are arc's of the following directories (in order)
    
    		midi/dev/
    		midi/dev/libsrc/
    		midi/dev/example/
    		midi/util/
    
    If ARC has the capability of retaining directory tree structure,
    I'm not aware of it.
    Documentation can be found in midi/util/
    
    Good luck. If anyone comes up with some  neat application. Let us
    know!
    					Jim
    
    
    

    I haven't tried running the MIDI package yet, but from looking
    at its documentation I believe it does not time-stamp the messages
    it constructs from the serial port.  This is a fatal flaw, since
    note messages are useless unless you know when they were received.
    Not having time-stamping is good enough for a voice librarian
    (the supplied applications) but not good enough for a sequencer.
        John Sauter

     I noticed that too. In the docs it makes reference to this
    shortcoming. Does anyone have the Soundscape Developers Kit? Does
    their library give access to the clock panel. I have the Pro Midi
    Studio, but no reference as to the calling procedures to their library.
    Their was an article in Amazing Computing, but I don't believe all
    library calls were documented.  I asked Mimetics about it and they
    sent me a non-disclosure form that i had to fill out before they'd
    give me any information.  I need to put this before Digital Legal
    before signing anything.  (Are we...DEC...getting into the music
    software business? conflict of interest?)...:^)
    
    					Jim
    
  
      
    

    I also sent for the developer's kit and got a non-disclosure agreement.
    It didn't describe the kit enough for me to be willing to send them
    $150, so I didn't take it to DEC legal.  Also, I dealt with essentially
    the same people in their previous incarnation as AlphaSyntauri.
    They had a developer's kit for $100 with no non-disclosure.  I bought
    the kit, then returned it when it didn't meet my expectations. 
    I had to get the Post Office to send them a letter before they'd
    refund my money.
    
    I may still buy the regular package, only because it seems to be
    the only game in town.  I wrote my own sequencer for the Apple,
    and I may eventually do it for the Amiga too, but I don't want
    to wait that long before producing music.
        John Sauter

    I was able to get a bit of information from one of the people from
    mimetics. They said the Pro Midi Studio sources were included as
    part of the kit, but was very vague.  Does anyone out their know
    exactly what is included in the kit?
    If sources are included, I may end up getting it.  Bug fixes are
    easier if done yourself (then you set the priorities). And right
    now, this seems to be the only thing out there.
    
    A question about the MIDI interfaces.  Every one that I've seen
    is attached to the serial port.  Can these interfaces be used for
    other computers (provided software be developed for them)? If they
    can, then why do MIDI interfaces for other computers cost so much?
    
    						Jim
    

    There are two kinds of MIDI interfaces: those based on the Roland
    MPU-401, and those which are essentially a data rate convertor for
    the serial interface.  The MPU-401 is an "intelligent" interface,
    it buffers MIDI messages and does the real-time work: it time-stamps
    input messages and accepts time stamps on output messages.  Because
    it contains a CPU and memory for buffers, it has a significant cost.
    
    On the Amiga interfacing directly to the serial port is quite simple--
    you don't even need a power supply.  Hence, if you are willing to
    do all of the real-time work on the 68000 you can get away with
    a very inexpensive MIDI interface.
    
    Currently, the Roland MPU-401 is the standard interface for IBM
    PC-compatible computers, and is available for the Apple II.  All
    other computers use the "bare" serial interface.
    
    Serial interfaces differ in price by offering additional features:
    a way to bypass the box so you can keep your modem plugged in
    and an audio I/O port for syncing to a multi-track recorder are
    the usual options.  Expect to pay more for them.
    
    I've got the ECE interface (sorry, Jon) which has a serial port
    bypass but no tape sync jacks.  I plan to do synchronization using
    an external SMPTE box: the Roland SBX-80.
        John Sauter

Anybody hear of a patch editor for the FB-01?  Real soon now? Never? Any 
comments on Music-X?