ram@lscvax.UUCP (Ric Messier) (02/02/88)
I realize that the Macintosh is usually the preferred machine to do music
synthesis but I happen to have an IBM PC and I am looking to get some
MIDI software and hardware. Also, I would like to hear some suggestions
for a good sequencer to go along with it all. Any help anyone can give
me will be greatly appreciated. Who knows, I might even name my first
born after you. :-)
--
Kilroy
'Just what cowpatch is Lyndonville Vermont in, anyway?'
dartvax!lscvax!ram
Can't deal, &CRASHdmt@mtunb.ATT.COM (Dave Tutelman) (02/04/88)
In article <387@lscvax.UUCP> ram@lscvax.UUCP (Ric Messier) writes: >... I have an IBM PC and I am looking to get some >MIDI software and hardware. If budget is the issue (or you just like to hack) there's a design for a MIDI board that's cheap and easy to build; see BYTE magazine, June '86. Cost of parts is under $50, including the board. If compatibility with existing commercial software is the issue, you'll need to get something compatible with the Roland MPU-401; most commercial software for the PC assumes this board. Costs in the $300s, I think. >Also, I would like to hear some suggestions >for a good sequencer to go along with it all. The sequencer software on the BYTE BBS for its board isn't what I'd call "good", but it's workable, and there are a few of us improving it. Actually, there's a small community of hackers building or using the BYTE board, with a software "wish list" of things we'll make. I know of 5 of us at AT&T, and two of us are already using the board (and the sequencer software) as we hack code for: - Improved sequencer software (Bill Chriss - incremental improvements, some already in use). - General-purpose I/O library (me - more than half done). - Patch editor/librarian (wish list, maybe my son will do it). - "Smart" performance aid (keyboard splits, MIDI reverb, etc) (wish list). - Visual (on-screen "sliders") real-time patch editor (wish list). If you like to hack as well as use music software, please join our "shop". Actually, I'll make a separate posting (maybe next week) with a proposed MIDI I/O interface that might make for portable MIDI applications. +---------------------------------------------------------------+ | Dave Tutelman | | Physical - AT&T - Lincroft, NJ | | Logical - ...ihnp4!mtuxo!mtunb!dmt | | Audible - (201) 576 2442 | +---------------------------------------------------------------+
stank@orca.TEK.COM (Stan Kalinowski) (02/05/88)
I recently purchased the CMS MIDI interface board and Cakewalk
software. I think CMS stands for Computer Music Systems, check their
ad in the back of Keyboard magazine for details. There was a review
of the Cakewalk sequencer software package in the December (I think)
issue of Keyboard magazine. After playing with Cakewalk a little I
think it's an OK package. Not great, just OK, good price. Keep in
mind that this is the only package I have ever used. I should mention
that the release notes that came with Cakewalk say that they have
fixed the bug mentioned in the Keyboard magazine review. I haven't
verified this because the bug was in a feature that I'm not ready to
use yet, and I trust the manufacturer's word that it's fixed.
Cakewalk seems to serve my needs but I wish there was a way to show
the actual notes on a staff instead of the rather cryptic spreadsheet
style of MIDI record notation. I'm a beginner at music and I don't
play very well in real time. I would like to be able to see the notes
I'm playing interms of whole notes, half notes, rests, etc so that I
can clean up my playing and the "music" I'm attempting to record. In
my rather hasty look at IBM MIDI sequencer packages (I'm an impulsive
buyer) I didn't find any other low priced (or otherwise) package that
integrated the sequencer and music scoring functions. (Gosh, if I had
the time and the entrepreneurial spirit I could design the ultimate,
unified MIDI music support package for the IBM PC, I could make a
fortune... Naaahhh.)
The CMS interface card seems to work OK, but again, I have only used
it with Cakewalk. The CMS interface board is implemented with a few
chips that have the Roland name on them. I assume this is the same
chip set that Roland uses, so I guess I don't need to worry about how
closely the CMS board emulates the Roland MPU-401 interface. What I
don't understand is how Roland can get away with selling their
interface for twice the price of the CMS board.
------> standard disclaimer <-------
I am only a customer using CMS and Cakewalk, I do not have any
personal or business affiliations with the manufacturers of these
products.
--
US Mail: Stan Kalinowski, Tektronix, Inc.
Information Display Group, Graphics Workstations Division
PO Box 1000, MS 61-028, Wilsonville OR 97070 Phone:(503)-685-2458
uucp: {ucbvax,decvax,ihnp4,allegra,uw-beaver}!tektronix!orca!stank