janzen@ant.dec.com (Tom 296-5421 LMO2/O23) (07/18/88)
HI. I use Deluxe Music Construction Set. I also bought Synthia to make samples. However, I felt that I might expand my orchestra with samples from ECT Sampleware. I sent away for 29.50 for a disk called the Orchestra Disk. These are samples of real instruments. The original format they use is a Soundscape format. However, they make an IFF version available. They use the Mimetics Soundscape Sampler. The soundscape format is apparently more flexible per octave then IFF format, but I needed the IFF formatted disk to use it with DMCS. The first disk they sent was in a nice heavy plastic folder with covers as thick as those on an expensive notebook binder. The mail deliverer bent it in half to fit in my mailbox (there was no "don't bend" notice on the envelope). I sent it back and ECT sent a new one very very fast. I congratulate them on customer service response. The second disk I got had an unreadable root. Diskdocktor couldn't help. Perhaps disksalv could have, but I don't think I have it. I sent it back and ECT speadily replaced it. On this disk 3 instruments were unreadable by both AmigaDOS diskcopy and by CLIMATE. I guess I'll send it back, but meanwhile I was able to make a useable copy and use some of the instruments. When I say "folds down an octave above mid c", I mean that the pitch repeats from the octave below, so you don't have a complete scale; such an instrument plays a middle c when you score the octave above, in my example. This makes sense sometimes,but you should know in advance. I have a classical background and hoped an "orchestra disk" would have: flute, piccolo, clarinet, oboe, english horn, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, timpani, bass drum, snare, violin, viola, cello, double string bass, but oh well. Maybe it has a pop audience. My overall impression is that if you get good at making voices with Synthia, the voice made will be about as effective as samples. This is partly due perhaps to IFF limitations. Using these voices with Soundscape products may be more successful. Cello folds down an octave above mid c Nothing special, but is OK. Choir folds down 2 octaves above mid c I don't like it as much as the DMCS factory voice patch. Gong folds down at an octave above mid c Pretty good around middle C. I like it. Due to the decay, the loop point produces a pulsing I could do without. Horns no folding These are French Horns? OK, whatever you say. Marimba folds down at 2 octaves above mid c Pretty good, but Synthia can make good idiophones, too. Oboe folds down 2 octaves above mid c Doesn't sound like an oboe. Much. Orchestra hits 1,2,3,4 one of them folded at middle c As a classical guy, I don't care about orchestra hits. Although these could get interesting if you play a Lou Harrison sort of line with them. They sound like they have fifths in them. I can't hear a third. Piano no fold OK piano, I guess. More body than the DMCS piano, which is pretty good. Pizz viola folded at middle c No comment. Recorder folded at an octave above middle c? No comment. Strings folded down at an octave above mid c At least it's at pitch. DMCS strings an octave or two high. It shouldn't fold at so low a pitch. Tympani folded at middle c GOOD! I wanted timpani. Sounds really good at all pitches. Viola folded an octave above mid c Yawn. Bell unreadable Englishhorn unreadable Flute unreadable. So my reaction is lukewarm to the sounds. I was testing with the Aria from Bach's Goldberg Variations, or just playing from the screen keyboard. My expectations of medium-fidelity synthesis on the Amiga sound port are not high; I am pleased I could enter my complex woodwidn chamber works from college in DMCS so that the rhythms were played right for the first time. There is a thunderstorm so I am powering down. Tom Janzen Digital Equipment Corporation 111 Locke Dr. marlboro MA 01752 Digital is not responsible for my ramblings.