jacobson@uxe.cso.uiuc.edu (12/20/88)
Thanks to those of you who have already responded to my questions about the ST, and MIDI applications on the ST. In particular letter told me of a person who has an Amiga 1000 and 2000, as well as a 1040 ST, who prefers the ST for MIDI work. I have sent email asking more about why, but I am curious. Are there any of you other ST users on the net who are into MIDI who have Amigas or use them also who find reasons for choosing the ST over Amiga. I like both machines and don't intend to start flame wars again. I really honestly want to know which would be best for my friend to purchase. If one or the other is significantly better I would like to know why, or if they are about the same that info would be helpful. I want my friend to purchase what is best for him, so knowing how each performs (good points and bad ones) is essential to an informed purchase. Below I want to list the specific things my friend wants to do with MIDI on the computer he chooses. I would like to know if most software or any software on specifically the ST can do what is required. In additions I have some questions about the price to purchase computer and software which does what my friend requires (he has a limited budget to work with). MIDI requirements: 1) Keyboard used is a Ensonic ESQ-1. Is software generic enough to be used with it, or is it specific to only certain keyboards? 2) Needs a sequencer which allows what he calles transcribing. This means that the sequencer allows the MIDI keyboard input to be printed out as notes (on a scale). Are most packages sequencers? And do they allow what my friend describes??? He has seen it on other MIDI setups, do the ST (or Amiga) allow this????? 3) He wants to be able to edit in patches to his compositions that were input from the MIDI keyboard. Do most MIDI applicatons do this or allow it???? If not all, which ones allow this (as well as the requirements of item # 2 above)???? 4) What are the prices of applications which meet the requirements above??? (see items below) 5) Costs are a big question. My friend has a total maximum budget of $1000 for purchase of the computer, monitor, and needed MIDI software. Can this be done with the ST???? The local dealer thought he could not get by with a 520 ST, but would need the miniumum of 1 MEG of ram that the 1040 requires. Unfortunately the dealers cost of this machine which is in hard to get supply is a little steep (at or slightly over $1000-which puts us over budget already just for the computer-nothing left for hardware) Is a 1040 really needed for what my friend wants to do or would a 520 suffice???? Any info you could provide to answer these more specific questions would be most appreciated. I don't know much about MIDI on the Amiga I use, and am even less informed about it on the ST. But I would like to provide the information which is balanced and tells my friend whether he can do what he wants with either the ST or Amiga, for what he can afford to spend. Happy Holiday to you All! M680XX machines for ever! Russ Jacobson Illinois Geological Survey 615 E. Peabody Drive Champaign, IL 61820 217 244-2425
wright@hpccc.HP.COM (Jeff Wright) (12/28/88)
> 1) Keyboard used is a Ensonic ESQ-1. Is software generic enough > to be used with it, or is it specific to only certain keyboards? MIDI is standardized enough that he shouldn't have to worry about this. > 2) Needs a sequencer which allows what he calles transcribing. > This means that the sequencer allows the MIDI keyboard input to > be printed out as notes (on a scale). Are most packages sequencers? > And do they allow what my friend describes??? He has seen it on > other MIDI setups, do the ST (or Amiga) allow this????? > > 3) He wants to be able to edit in patches to his compositions that > were input from the MIDI keyboard. Do most MIDI applicatons do this > or allow it???? If not all, which ones allow this (as well as > the requirements of item # 2 above)???? > > 4) What are the prices of applications which meet the requirements > above??? (see items below) Typically these features are not both included in the same software. Most vendors sell sequencing packages that allow music entry from the keyboard, and scoring packages for creating a score in standard musical notation. The exceptions seem to occur on the low and high end. Dr. T's KEYS software is an inexpensive (<$100) "sequencer" that works with standard musical notation. Steinberg and C-Lab sell full-featured professional sequencers that do the same for $200-300. Hybrid Arts sells both an inexpensive sequencer and an inexpensive scoring package, which I believe are called EZ Track and EZ Score and are both about $90. I don't have any experience with any of the above software -- I just know the features and prices. A lot of music stores are starting to sell software, so you might be able to find one that can help your friend. Otherwise, read magazines like START and Keyboard. > 5) Costs are a big question. My friend has a total maximum budget > of $1000 for purchase of the computer, monitor, and needed MIDI > software. Can this be done with the ST???? I bought my 1040ST and color monitor (used) about 6 months ago specifically for MIDI. I bought the Sonus SST sequencer and Hybrid Arts CZ Android patch editor/librarian. With the word processor and drawing package that came with the ST, I feel like I have a pretty respectable set-up, and my cost was under $1000. I have been happy with everything, but I don't recommend SST. --Jeff Wright (My views are my own. Music is not a concern of my employer.)