[Search for users] [Overall Top Noters] [List of all Conferences] [Download this site]

Conference napalm::commusic_v1

Title:* * Computer Music, MIDI, and Related Topics * *
Notice:Conference has been write-locked. Use new version.
Moderator:DYPSS1::SCHAFER
Created:Thu Feb 20 1986
Last Modified:Mon Aug 29 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2852
Total number of notes:33157

1025.0. "Atari ST Computer - Where to Buy Software" by LANDO::ALLISON () Tue Nov 24 1987 15:27

    	My techie urges won over me and I bought an ST 1040 the other
    day.  Where does one find software and documentation for the ST
    internals and MIDI ports for these creatures?  The few stores that
    seem to carry anything usually just have games.  Do any of the local
    (southern NH/mass), music stores carry ST software?
    
    	I'm looking for an assembler (or efficient C), so I can write
    a real time MIDI translator.  This will allow many split regions
    from my master controller (KX88), allow note # shifts and many other
    little MIDI things I've always wanted.  I also want to write a program
    to intercept a program change message from the KX88 and send out
    a number of program changes to various tone modules.  Then when
    I want to layer patches together, I won't have to make sure that
    they are all located at the same program number.  These seem like
    some pretty basic things to do with an ST, but I'm not aware of
    any existing software to do it.  I have seen a box of some sort
    that Yamaha makes to do some of these things.  I assume it's fairly
    expensive since its got to be fairly low volume.  
    
    	I did manage to find the Dr. T "MIDI Recording Studio" software
    at Lechmeres for $30.  This is a stripped down version of the KCS
    package with 8 tracks.  For the price it's great unless you have
    10 tone modules and want a 50 track sequence.  It does cause stuck
    notes between my KX88 and TX81Z on occasion.  The guy at Dr Ts says
    to slow down the ST MIDI data output rate to solve this???  I'll
    have to try that trick tonight...
     
                                                
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
1025.1Try Compuclub in Framingham.MAY20::BAILEYSteph BaileyTue Nov 24 1987 16:3061
    Hmm.  First software and doc tools:
    
        My prefered C compiler for the ST is Mark Williams C.  The
    documentation and code quality are excellent.  It lists for $150.00,
    but I have seen it for as low as $110 through mail order places
    (I don't remember where).  It does provide and assembly language
    interface, but I haven't played with it enough to say if it is really
    useful.  With a little elbow grease, you can call separately assembled
    routines.  The documentation provided is completely adequate for
    writing MIDI hacks.
    
        Personally, I do most of my programming in Modula-2, but if
    I had known the code generation of my compiler was going to be so
    lousy, I would have started in C.  I have many hours invested in
    Modula routines, so I will stick with it until I figure out how
    to cross the interface.
    
        I don't know what assemblers are availible for the ST, but you
    must make sure that it produces a known linker format (MWC or DRI)
    if you want to integrate assembler and C.
    
        The only other books with much information on the ST are the
    Abacus series.  I am boycotting them since the don't have an index
    and the printing is done on an el-cheapo laser printer, and they
    just generally don't seem to be worth the money.
    
        Dr. T is promising a program with capabilities similar to the
    one you are proposing to write, but for $150.  If you had a specific
    set of capabilities in mind, and weren't really interested in using
    a GEM (menus and windows) interface, then you could whip up a program
    in almost no time.
    
    The Yamaha box is called the MEP-4 (Midi Event Processor) and is
    actually quite a popular unit (so I hear).  I think the price is
    around $500 list.
    
    I have two short sample fragments (written in Modula-2) which show how
    to use some of the ST Midi capabilities.  Get them by saying:
    
         copy candid::"/usr/users/public/inter.mod" inter.mod
         copy candid::"/usr/users/public/poler.mod" poler.mod
    
    
    Canned program:
    
    Most all of the greater-mass area music stores carry canned ST
    programs--sequencers, patch editors, librarians, etc..
    
    About your ``stuck notes''.  It sounds to me like they didn't ``do
    the right thing'' in their output drivers.  I have a comparable
    program by Passport (Midisoft Studio) which has no such problems.
    Getting full bandwidth from a Midi port with a 68000 isn't trivial.
    
    
    If you have any problems or questions, just let me know.
    
    
    Steph
    
    
    
1025.2Bit Bucket in Newton MassBOLT::MINOWJe suis marxiste, tendance GrouchoSun Apr 03 1988 20:2913
The Bit Bucket on Washington St. in Newton Mass (less than 1 mile from the
West Newton Mass Pike exit) sells midi software (and has a synthesizer
connected to an Atari St in the store).  The "Dr. T" company is local,
and I've seen them giving demo's in the store.  They're also reasonable
people to do business with.

Martin.

Directions: Mass Pike to West Newton exit (just East of Rt. 128).  Take
Washington St Eastbound (you will soon be North of the Pike) for about 1/2
mile until you come to a business district.  They are on the South side
of the street at a complicated Y-shaped intersection.

1025.3White Mountain Computer, Nashua, NHVIA::GLEASOND.A.R.Y.L.Mon Apr 04 1988 14:098
    You might also check out White Mountain Computer on Rte.  101A in
    Nashua; they're about 1.5 miles from Rte.  3's exit 7W heading toward
    Amherst.  They don't sell ST's anymore, but they keep a good selection
    of ST software in stock (certainly a far better selection than I've
    seen at Lechmere's).  I bought my Dr. T's KCS there.

				*** Daryl ***