jkh@meepmeep.pcs.com (Jordan K. Hubbard) (10/10/90)
Well, having asked this group some time back just what the "final scoop" on Soundtracker / Noisetracker's PD status was, I decided to post a followup describing what I'd found. First of all, it must be noted (with some dismay) that none of the personal replies I got (and I did get quite a few) contained any concrete information. Everyone seems to have a hard-and-fast opinion as to why or why not Sound/Noise tracker is PD, but no one can cite any real evidence. The actual authors seem to be dead or missing and I have yet to see anything resembling an offical statement from either: 1. The original authors, or anyone who even knows the original authors. 2. Any company claiming copyright on any current or subsequent version of either Soundtracker or Noisetracker. On the flip side, I also have yet to see anything that looks like an official "release into the public domain" on Soundtracker or Noisetracker (I haven't actually _seen_ noisetracker, but no one has sent me any such notice from it). Faced with such a conflicting array of opinions, I decided to go on a literature search across a range of different periodicals. I have found 4 references to Soundtracker in various articles on public domain software (I can provide all references on request) in Amiga World (US), Amiga Format (UK) and Kickstart (BRD). Over 20 different companies publically advertise Soundtracker in PD collections, usually for around $10USD. One U.K. firm offers an 8 channel soundtracker (this may be indeed Noisetracker, or it may not) for L12.50 (about $20USD). Versions are almost always not specified, though in two cases, the companies have referred explicitly to 2.0 and 2.1 3 Firms offer Noisetracker, though the version is not specified. All offer the above as PD software and at PD prices. The articles that actually go out of their way to mention it mention it explicitly as PD. The host of 3rd party "soundtracker rippers", players and instrument makers also tends to lend the impression that it has been considered PD, or at least some sort of de-facto standard, for a long time. I have yet to see an advertisement from a company offering either Soundtracker OR Noisetracker as a commercial product. The jury is still not in, but here is some additional evidence. Let me know if you'd like more detail on periodical issue and page numbers for reference. Jordan -- PCS Computer Systeme GmbH, Munich, West Germany UUCP: pyramid!pcsbst!jkh jkh@meepmeep.pcs.com EUNET: unido!pcsbst!jkh ARPA: jkh@violet.berkeley.edu or hubbard@decwrl.dec.com
bard@jessica.stanford.edu (David Hopper) (10/11/90)
I, for one, shall continue to use SoundTracker until the pigs blow my door in
and confiscate the damn thing. It's an *amazing* program that has helped sell
a few Amys over here.
Whoever owned this program has had more than ample time to make his/her voice
known. Tough. It's mine, now.
Dave Hopper | /// Yesterday, CS. | Academic Info Resources
| /// Today, Anthropology. | Mac & UNIX Consultant
bard@jessica. | \\\/// | "Somebody get me a job
Stanford.EDU | \XX/ Tomorrow... bleeding ulcers. | with a computer I LIKE"joseph@valnet.UUCP (Joseph P. Hillenburg) (10/12/90)
Well, I KNOW SoundTracker is commercial, since our user group librarian bought a copy at the Amiga dealer in Indianapolis. It came with the docs and everything, although in german. -Joseph Hillenburg UUCP: ...iuvax!valnet!joseph ARPA: valnet!joseph@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu INET: joseph@valnet.UUCP