Conference napalm::commusic_v1

I just got this from net.music.synth on the USENET.

	- Rick


From:	ROLL::USENET       "USENET Newsgroup Distributor" 25-JUN-1985 04:55
To:	PIXEL::COHEN ! sent to @synth.dis
Subj:	USENET net.music.synth newsgroup articles

Newsgroups: net.music.synth
Path: decwrl!decvax!ittvax!dcdwest!sdcsvax!sdcc3!sdcarl!andy
Subject: Roland MPU401 manual update and driver
Posted: Mon Jun 17 12:29:22 1985


For those who use or are interested in the Roland MPU 401, there has just
been a rewrite of the manual. It is written by a real live native english
speaking person. It apparently makes clear many hidden features and is
a massive improvement. 

Also, I would like to reannounce an upcoming public domain driver -
utilities package for the MPU401 and the ibm. I will distribute source
(Mark Williams C and assembler) as well as binary. I am attempting to
solicit other programmers time to help add capabilities (graphics fo
instance). Anyone interested reply by mail.

I also rewrote it in English.  It isn't hard to vastly improve Roland's manual.
    John Sauter

In the latest issue of Musician, there are several articles on MIDI software,
computers, synthsizers, etc.  The article by Freff describes some of the
IBM sequencing software available.

Also, the latest issue of Keyboard contains a review of the TEXTURE package
written by Roger Powell of Utopia.  Sounds very powerful.  I wish I had the
bucks for an IBM.  Better yet, I wish the IBM software ran on a Rainbow....

Derek

The people at Cherry Lane Technologies claim to be preparing Texture for
the Apple IIe (128K).  Any month now...
   John Sauter

For those looking for computers with MIDI interfaces, the ATARI ST is
supposed to have one and for $800 for 512K RAM, disk drive, and monitor
68000 machine with GEM, it ain't a bad deal at all (and of course there
is the MIDI on it).  Also, I think that there is a MIDI interface available
for the ATARI 800XL (XE too probably) and with the machine only $100, it
can't be too expensive.

chad

    I need some info about purchasing a MIDI card for my IBM XT.  I
    currently own a Kawai K1-r and will probably be using a cheap MIDI
    keyboard for now.  I will probably buy Cakewalk for a sequencing
    program.  Someday I would like to get rid of the Kawai and get a
    keyboard/synth.  I don't plan on doing real fancy stuff on this system,
    but would like it to do most of the basics.  What type of features will
    I need for doing this?  Will 1 in and 1 out work or will I end up being
    limited by this?
    
    Byron

    
    One in and one out isn't bad.  Lots of people use patchbays, switchers,
    or merge boxes to handle the input selection.  Output is easy.  You can
    feed it straight out & daisy chain using the thru port on each MIDI
    box, or you can use a little one-in/n-out buffer box to drive each MIDI
    box directly (no propagation delay), or ...  If 1/1 turns out to be a
    limiting factor you can upgrade to Cakewalk Pro which will let you use
    multiple MIDI interfaces at the same time.
    
    The biggest choice you'll have to make is what type of synchronization
    hardware to buy into.  Some choices are: (1) none, (2) chase-lock, or
    (3) SMPTE.  I'm sure our fellow noters will add more in the following
    reply.
    
    Sync is important only if you plan to do multi-track or film/video work
    at some point in the future.  With 4 track recorders as cheap as they
    are I wouldn't rule out multi-track, so then you need to decide between
    professional level sync (SMPTE) or something like Music Quest's Chase
    Lock.  FSK is no longer a choice, because Cakewalk dropped FSK support
    with version 4.0.
    

    OK, I think I can survive with 1 In, 1 Out.  Could someone explain the
    uses for these Chase-lock and SMPTE options.  What do you use these
    things for?  I have a 4-track and would probably use it to record this
    stuff but I don't know if I would ever need to synch anything or not. 
    What type of 4-track synching are you referring to?
    
    Byron

    Chase-lock and SMPTE.. syncing sequencer and tape..
    
    I have a MAC running Performer and two SGU's, a KZ1000PX and an EMAX,
    both rack units.  I've also got an 8-track.  Though there's plenty of
    polyphony between these two SGU's, I often end up with audio on seven 
    of the 8 tracks (track 8 has the sync tone).  Why do I sync and bounce
    instrument parts to tape ?  One, I just might run out of polyphony,
    esp. if the patches I use are multi-layered and eat more than their
    share of voices.. then I might bounce one or more instrument parts to
    tape.  Another is if there's a part that calls out for specific
    effects, and I either can't isolate it during mixdown or don't have
    enough effects units to do it all at once, then I'll bounce the part to
    tape, mono OR stereo, with all effects pre-recorded.
    
    Chase-lock.  SMPTE and other sync schemes, accompanied by a smart
    enough sequencer, will allow you to start your piece in the middle of
    the tape, while synced and slaved to tape, and have the sequencer
    'catch up' in a second or so.  The 'chase' part is because of MIDI
    continuous controllers - if I've got a big pitchbend up on a part,
    and start the tape before or after the bend (and return), the part
    could play back badly out of tune.  The same thing could happen with
    MIDI volume, cc#7.  You'd want the relative volumes of all the MIDI
    channels to be correct, no matter where in the composition you start
    THE TAPE.  So once you've started THE TAPE in the middle somewhere, the
    sequencer software will 'chase' all CC's from the beginning of the
    piece.  
    
    karl

I'm going to jump on this note for a quick question about PC's and MIDI.

Is there anyone out there who is running SCO Open Desktop on a PC or clone and
using the MSwindows compatability to also run a MIDI sequencer package? Does
anyone know if it's possible?

Reason being: I'm planning on a getting a 486 machine and running SCO, I'd
also like to be able to use this pc as a multi-media hub in my studio...


thanks

dbii

    I think you'd be pushing your luck. Windows running under Unix, and you
    want to read/write a lot (LOT) of data reliably?
    
    The solution is to have a DOS partition on your PC, and run your MIDI
    stuff from there. ODT supports a 32-meg DOS partition; be sure to use
    some version of DOS 3.3, _not_ DOS 5.0, to create the partition. You
    can then select DOS at the Unix boot: prompt to do DOS tricks, and
    under DOS you can FDISK to set the active partition to DOS, if you want
    faster reboots during an extended session using DOS. There are ODT
    utilities for pushing data between the DOS and Unix partitions, so the
    32-meg limit shouldn't be a constraint. Just get plenty of space: the
    ODT development kit is around 130-meg.

Cool, my intention is to begin shopping for a machine with 200+ mbytes of disk
space. I just got my ODT literature today. It's expensive!

dbii