Conference napalm::commusic_v1

       
       Haven't actually seen this software, but just read about it this
       morning in PC magazine.  Looks pretty glitzy and is the kind of
       thing I'd use to introduce somebody to computer-based sequencing. 
       But the 10 track limitation (and the cost) makes it less than
       competitive for more advanced users.

       

Ballade is very nice for beginners. It contains a complete 10 channel mixer
with control over velocity, effects and panning. In edit mode you can look
at your sequences in standard notation (what's probably new on PCs!) and you
have full control over notes, velocity and so on. In version 2.0 you also
can read and write standard midi files using a seperate converter program.
The bad thing is that there is no way to manipulate your music through 
quantization or things like that. You can just record, edit and play your
notes. That's it. But this is done in a very nice way.

Regards

	Joerg

            <<< DNEAST::SYS$TOOLS:[NOTES$LIBRARY]COMMUSIC.NOTE;2 >>>
             -< * * Computer Music, MIDI, and Related Topics * * >-
================================================================================
Note 2514.0            Anyone got the latest Ballade demo?            No replies
SIEVAX::MARSH "Witty saying to follow..."             5 lines  10-DEC-1990 02:55
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
	Has anyone got the V2 Ballade demo for the IBM PC that they could
make available?

Dave.

    I have uploaded the latest copy of the Ballade V2 demo to MIDILIB.
    Ballade is a sequencing package for the IBM PC with a Roland LAPC-1 or
    MT32 compatible sound module. The demo is a full working version with
    the exception of the save commands. The new version also includes a
    sheet music printing option together with the usual music & tone
    editors and mixing panel. This demo also includes a number of sample
    song files that demonstrate Ballade and the Roland sound modules.
    
    The demo is in PKZIP format and needs to be unzipped with the -d option
    otherwise it won't work. You can get PK(UN)ZIP from any good shareware
    library or CSCMAS. If there is a demand I will also upload the latest
    PKZIP to MIDILIB as well.
    
    The demo and song files all appeared in the Compuserve public Midi
    forum.
    
    Have fun.

Hello...
I have some problems unzipping MIDI:A$:[MIDILIB.TOOLS.IBM.BALLADE]BALLEDE2.ZIP

When I try:
	MIDI> pkunzip -d a:ballade2.zip

here's what PKUNZIP is telling me:
	Searching ZIP: a:BALLADE2.ZIP 	 ==> takes about 10 minutes!
	PKUNZIP: Warning! a:BALLADE2.ZIP - error in ZIP use PKZipFix
	PKUNZIP: No file(s) found.

Same message with option '-v' or without any option at all.

I have PKUNZIP version 1.1 3-15-90 and haven't got PKZipFix
All the other IBM-tools are perfectly unzippable (although several of them
make my PC go wild or drop stone dead -- VOYETRA and LMP are ok!)

(Where can I find the latest PKZIP and PKUNZIP -- I don't know what CSCMAS is)

Can you help me out please?
Thanks in advance....

Dirk

    When you copy from Vax to PC use the command NFT COPY/BLOCK ...
    	Maurizio
    

    If you are using Kermit, you have the have the file in fixed-length 512
    byte block format.  There are programs around that can convert.
    
    But now that I have it downloaded and unzipped, it won't run.  I go to
    the directory, say BALLADE.  It says something like Ballade Version 2
    being loaded, the disk squeeks around a bit and then death.  I have to
    reboot.
    
    I have tried with both CGA and Herc.  I have tried with all TSRs
    removed, etc etc.
    
    Anyone have any hints?
    
    Thanks!
    
    Burns
    

re .7

>    But now that I have it downloaded and unzipped, it won't run.  I go to
>    the directory, say BALLADE.  It says something like Ballade Version 2
>    being loaded, the disk squeeks around a bit and then death.  I have to
>    reboot.
>    
>    I have tried with both CGA and Herc.  I have tried with all TSRs
>    removed, etc etc.

	It needs a VGA screen. It looks very neat & detailed, also has an MT32 
voice editor.

	Unfortunately my machine with the MIDI card is a VAXmate (CGA monitor) 
the VGA machine in the office that I tested it on doesn't have a MIDI card & I 
can't take it home. Oh well...

Nigel

    
    
    
    Looks like you're going to have to take your MIDI card and MT32 into
    the office!  Oh, and your PA...
    
    

Rats!  Does the actual product also run only on VGA?

Thanks,

Burns

Since Ballade is now out for the Macintosh, I thought I'd pourloin this note
rather than start a new one. Could the title be modifed to take this into
account? 

I received a short letter from Dynaware this week telling me that V1.1 for the
Mac will be shipping shortly. Some of the problems with V1.0 may therefore be
fixed by then, but what the heck, I'll list 'em anyway! 

Crashes: I can crash this beasty with no problem on a IIsi. If you close all
the windows using the close boxes and then select CLOSE from the FILE... menu,
down she goes, taking the Mac with her. Bit non-standard, their use of close 
boxes.

Speed of conversion from MIDI to Ballade format: slooooooooooooooow. If a 
simple program like Studio Session Midi Utility can load a midi file in about
five seconds, why does Ballade need three minutes or more?

Speed of start up: takes longer than it should. They should dump the start up
screens. They should also dump the bit which initialises my D-110! I have to
reset all its channel assignments after starting Ballade.

MIDI reading: it seems to get confused about some MIDI information. I've seen
it put the drum track on channel 2, for example, when it was originally on 10.
It only reads Type 1 files, by the way. Pity the demo guy said it also read Type
zero...

Dynaware asked for comments on V1.0; I think I'll send some in. Let's hope V1.1
is better, cos it looks as if it has a lot of potential. The Mac versions are
16 tracks, by the way. 

Gavin