uge@athena.mit.edu (Eugene A Beidl) (10/26/90)
In article <1990Oct25.153513.7648@arc.ab.ca>, erkamp@arc.ab.ca (Bob Erkamp) writes: |> Well there is no 'best' computer. This is a decision that everyone want's |> someone else to make. I would recommend seeing what you're friends/assiciates |> are using so that you can share tips/files etc. Also look at some of the |> software that is out there to find what will do what you want to do for the |> price you want to spend. The range of software/hardware is quite extensive and |> with out more information it is difficult to make any recommendation. Also |> consider that you may not be using this machine strictly for music in which |> case you may want to look at the availability of other software products |> as well. A few things though...If you want a machine that is MIDI ready |> right out of the box look at an Atari (preferrably the MEGA line as it is |> expandable). If you are considering a Macintosh they are expected to be |> releasing some low end/low cost machines in the very near future. Happy |> Shopping. |> |> Bob Apple has released their new Macintosh Line and a good savings (they had to cut into their 80% profit margin, though), and I am considering purchasing one of them. They are just like the Mac SE's (same clock rate) except limited expandability and a few other things. Do those of you with Mac SE's find they are fast enough for sequencing sophisticated pieces of music, or do you get some wierd effects occurring? --Eugene A. Beidl
mark@giza.cis.ohio-state.edu (Mark Jansen) (10/30/90)
I see that comp.graphics has a weekly posting designed to take the net traffic off the usual questions such as places for beginners to learn, image formats and so forth. Maybe we should do the same. Which is the best MIDI computer is a typical such question. Here's my quick answer. There is no best machine. Atari computers the least expensive machines with built in midi port and a good set of basic software. Probably best for most beginners at home. Commodore Amiga another cheap solution, especially important if you want to do color graphics as well or multi-media stuff not as much software choices as Atari machines. IBM and clone computers because the market for these machines is so large you can get very good prices for hardware and boards but the user interface is in general quite inferior and the software choices are limited. Can get some fine low cost deals if you have your eyes open. Macintosh computers probably the best MIDI and music computer but quite expensive. Groundbreaking software ideas with superior ease of use usually are found on the Macintosh first. Studio musicians usually use Macintosh's. If you have the money the Macintosh buy it. and by the ways what are the other weekly questions that get asked? - where to get FTP code and data files and formats - what are the lowest price synthesizers - what are the details of the MIDI format - introductory textbooks on MIDI and computer music - what are the schools in computer music - what are the magazines for computer music other thoughts on this? -- Mark Jansen, Department of Computer and Information Science The Ohio State University; 2036 Neil Ave., Columbus, OH USA 43210-1277 mark@cis.ohio-state.edu