rwn@ihlpa.ATT.COM (Bob Neumann) (06/15/87)
I'm still undecided as to which PC I will purchase for my computer music system. After reading articles about both the MAC and the atari ST (as well as other systems) I've reduced my options to the MAC SE and the Atari ST. Of course, since I am buying the computer mainly for music purposes in my home studio, the main consideration should be the software that will run on the system. I would like to have the following capabilities in my system: 1) SMPTE and MIDI time code capability that works! -so that I don't have to rewind a tape and start over when doing tape sync. 2) A MIDI sequencer that is EASY to use and is reliable (seems like a simple enough request but I've talked with users who have encountered problems with various pieces of software, i.e. Southworth total music, etc.). 3) Ability to initiate sample dumps via MIDI. 4) Voice librarian (for DX-7 and Oberheim products) that will run without exiting the sequencer. 5) ability to move the sequenced tracks back and forth in time to adjust "feel". 6) Conversion of sequenced data to music notation (to be dumped to a printer) would be nice but is not a requirement. I've been reading about the SMPTE-track package by Hybrid Arts for the ATARI ST which seems to have requirements 1-5, and the ST is reasonably priced. I understand that their is a limited MIDI interface on the ST itself. OK, I could go with a MAC SE otherwise, but is software/hardware available for the MAC SE that will do what I want. I saw the new Southworth stuff (including the JAMBOX, etc) at the NAMM show in June 1986 -they said their stuff would be shipped in August - yet I undersatnd that the product is still not available to purchase. Anyone care to comment on the differences between the two computer systems and how their performance might influence my decision? Also any comments about any MAC software that I am not aware of that would meet my requirements, a force my decision towards the MAC SE? Hopefully, the buzz on the floor of the NAM show two weeks from now will influence my decision as well.. Thanks for your help. Bob Neumann
czei@osu-cgrg.UUCP (Mike Czei...) (06/24/87)
In article <4244@ihlpa.ATT.COM>, rwn@ihlpa.ATT.COM (Bob Neumann) writes: > I'm still undecided as to which PC I will purchase for > my computer music system. After reading articles about > both the MAC and the atari ST (as well as other systems) > I've reduced my options to the MAC SE and the Atari ST. > The Dr. T sequencer package for the Atari gets my vote as the best sequencer around. I don't care for the computer, but the KCS is the best sequencer I've ever seen. -- Michael S. Czeiszperger "I'm the Doctor, wether The Ohio State University you like it or not." Advanced Computing Center for Art and Design Sound Synthesis Studios Columbus, OH 43210 {decvax,ucbvax}!{cbatt,cbosgd}!osu-eddie!{osupyr!artsvax,osu-cgrg}!czei(uucp)
exodus@uop.UUCP (Greg Onufer) (06/26/87)
> In article <4244@ihlpa.ATT.COM>, rwn@ihlpa.ATT.COM (Bob Neumann) writes: > > I'm still undecided as to which PC I will purchase for > > my computer music system. After reading articles about > > both the MAC and the atari ST (as well as other systems) > > I've reduced my options to the MAC SE and the Atari ST. Look in this month's issue of ST-Log... there are a few articles on the merits of each computer when used with MIDI. Also a few interesting notes: 1) The keyboardists in the Pointer Sisters use STs exclusively and have agreed to advertise ST MIDI for Atari... 2) Tangerine Dream uses 6 Atari 1040 STs in their studio setup. They have produced scores for Sorcerer, Risky Business, and Legend. 3) Mike Pinder of the Moody Blues has supported Atari MIDI ever the Atari 8-bits were first released. His new solo project depends heavily on ST MIDI technology... 4) Jay Ferguson has composed songs for movies such as the Terminator, Perfect and used an Atari 8-bit system and now uses STs. 5) The Jazz Artists- Lee Ritenour uses an ST MIDI system with his SyntheAxe and records digital (MIDI) and analog simul. in the studio. Lee, Abraham Laboriel, and Don Grusin all use ST-based MIDI systems... The new MGM movie introduction logo which will be released this summer on all MGM movies was programmed entirely on an ST, controlling a bank of synths and samplers. SMPTE timecode was used to synchronize audio and video... The video was produced by Digital Productions, to round off everything! 6) Editor Jock Baird of "Musician Magazine" (largest audited paid circulation in the music-making industry) claims 1987 to be the year of Atari... (April '87 issue) [excerpts from ST-Log magazine (May '87) taken w/o any permission-- they're all loose quotes anyways, pretty much from memory...] And besides, may pay for a MAC, which is essentially little over $200 in parts plus some software (admittedly, decent _code_, not concept!) when you're going to have to buy the midi, buy the midi software etc... Or you can get an ST for half of the Mac's price (almost) and buy some software and have $$$$ left over.... some people never learn (the apple logo is colorful, ain't it?) Greg Onufer
blevins@hpccc.HP.COM (David Blevins) (06/26/87)
Reviews I've read of Dr. T's MCS say that it is indeed a very flexible
sequencer, but that the user interface is somewhat unwieldy. It might
not be the right choice for someone who desires a "tape deck" sort of
sequencer to play musical ideas into, without having to read the manual
from cover to cover three times. (Like me; I'm lazy.)
I saw Beam Team's product at the Atari World show last week; currently
they have some very nice looking voice editor/librarian for several
different synths. Their approach is modular, and they will be releasing
a full-feature sequencer later this year; accessing the voice librarian
does not require that you leave the sequencer. (The sequencer is definitely
still vaporware, but each voice editor has an 80K event single-track
recorder built in so that you can tweak a voice to fit a particular piece
of music.) The software is from W. Germany. Their US office is in
Oakland (phone 415-658-3208). Voice editors are $100 ("X-Syn"), and the
"X-Track" sequencer is supposed to be $150..
dB hplabs!hpccc!blevins