baron@transys.UUCP (02/24/87)
Well, I have had my Atari 1040st and the Stenberg Pro-24 Sequencer software for about a week now and I thought I would post a review. If you are not interested
please hit the "n" key now :-).
After reading a rather discouraging review of the product in Keyboard Magazine
(I think that is correct, but I read all of them), I had just about decided
to bypass Steinberg altogether. However, some friends who are also into
sequencing told me the new version was relatively bug-free and pretty
friendly.
First let me describe my setup:
1. Yamaha DX-7 (old one)
2. Yamaha TX-416 (four rack mounted DX-7's)
3. Korg DDD-1 digital drum machine
4. Aleysis MIDI-verb
5. Synhance Voice Vault , a voice expansion unit for the
TX-416.
6. Yamaha MEP-4 midi event processor. Allows controlling all
of the TX-416 rack and allows real time editing of your
midi-stream. Notes can be transposed, reversed, scaled in
velocitiy, or converted into controller events in real
time. Notes can also be delayed and detuned for echo,
flanging and chorus effects.
I use the DX-7 as my master controller, going through the MEP-4 for
channelizing and after-touch filtering, echo effects, etc. The MEP-4 is one
of the single most powerful pieces of midi hardware yet invented because it
is so versatile.
The Steinberg software is a 24-track, 16 channel midi event
recorder/editor. It allows the use of "patterns" much like a drum machine,
and "tracks" much like a tape recorder. Patterns can be edited, duplicated,
copied, shortened or lengthened, reversed, etc. Very powerfull editing
facility allows you to get down to the note and controller event level for
each "pattern".
I have been using an INDUS Midi DJ sequence recorder for about 7 months now,
and I first decided to transfer some of my songs onto the Atari.
Basically no problem, set the Atari to Midi-Sync, set the tempo pretty low
( to prevent overrun) and fire off the midi-dj with its midi out connected
to the midi in of the ST.
After the entire song is recorded onto one track you can use a "remix"
function to split the tracks out by midi channel.
In short I am fairly impressed with the actual program itself. Editing is
far easier than I ever dreamed. Simply click on the pattern box, type an
"E" and you are presented with the "note" edit grid. Notes can be dragged,
or lengthened or shortened entirely with the mouse. There is a "restore"
function in case you make a drastic mistake.
There are functions for dynamic velocity editing, global note limiting,
transposition, global velocity editing, and splitting/deleting the track by
note number.
In controller event mode you can globally delete certain controllers,
insert controller events, move controller events, ramp controller events
etc...
The program really shines in certain areas, and is a trifle short in
others. Note capacity is an amazing 100,000+ notes. I have already created
one medley (four keyboard parts + drums) that plays for well over 35
minutes nonstop. Not at slow tempo either. Song load time is fairly fast,
around four seconds for a single song, about 30 seconds for the
afore-mentioned medley.
All in all, I believe the program was a decent, if not exceptional value
for the price ($295.00).
One final note: The software is copy protected. You can make as many backup
copies of the master disk as you like, but you must insert a hardware
"key" into the cartridge port of the atari to boot the program. I
personally do not like copy-protected software, but this scheme seems
pretty robust. The key is just a prom or eprom (I can't tell) mounted on a
pc-board that fits in the slot. It is probably much hardier than a floppy
disk. Their replacement policy states that they will only replace a broken
key on receipt of the old damaged key. This might cause a problem if the
key were to become damaged, but I am unable to determine how likely that
would be.
In summation, for a fairly cheap and powerful midi sequencer the Atari ST
and Steinberg combination may be pretty hard to beat.
My total cost:
1149.00 for the Atari including color monitor.
295.00 for the Steinberg software.
-------
1444.00 total.
This is much less expensive than a Mac or Mac+, Amiga or even an IBM-PC.
Note capacity is higher than all except possibly a Mac+.
--
These are my own opinions, not those of my employer (self),
or any one connected with the company (mine)
Joe Portman (SA) USPS: TransSystems Incorporated
AT&T: 1-206-453-5560 1280 116th Avenue NE
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