#Amiga and MIDI
18 messages in this thread
Mike,
I and many others appreciate your (MI) help in this area. MIDI has such a
vast potential. I really can't see why the Amiga is touted as a video computer.
I mean it's as if that's the ONLY area the Amiga is good for. I know people
that are working for large Amiga software developers who hold this notion. How
could the Amiga NOT be suitable for MIDI applications? There's lots of stuff
out there for the Mac. It doesn't have a built in MIDI port. People have spent
hundreds of dollars on MPU-401's (for a long while, the ONLY universally
accepted interface for IBM computers. It use to be in the $300-$400 range). My
ECE cost me $50.
We really could use more programs. I hope more developers will follow your
lead and create for the Amiga musicians. And how about you shareware authors?
Even a simple MIDI Monitor program would be great (yes, I've used the one from
the Pregnant Badger Library. It's functional, if you are a programmer. Why not
put a slick user interface on it? More appeal and easier to use that way.).
Mike, I really tried doing some things in assembly (I don't know C), but
just couldn't figure out how to interface with the MIDI lib routines. Maybe you
could take a look at the library and do a simple program to at least get
something started.
(heavy sigh) This is such a great computer… I can't see why music
programmers aren't supporting it.
Again, thanks for your efforts.
Regards,
Allen
Allen,
Wouldn't do any good for me to look at the midi lib; I don't have a midi
keyboard! (yet). If you want to send me some code you're having problems with,
I'll look at it. If it's short, post it in AmigaTech to get more help.
—Mike
The problem is that I don't know how to interface with the MIDI library
routines. I think I could successfully write little PD things (at least it's a
start) if I knew how to send/receive, etc. All of the example code (for the
MIDI lib from Pregnant Badger) is in C and I no speakee C 🙂
Regards,
Allen
Allen,
Well, I'd recommend learning C before using assembly, even though I hate C.
It's just that most Amiga examples are in C. —Mike
Mike,
(learning C before assem) – I know… for some reason, C seems so foreign to
me. Assem seems right at home. Evertime I pick up pick one of several of my
'learn C' books, I think of how much time I am missing practicing 🙂 I know
some day I'll motivate myself enough to really learn C.
Regards,
Allen
Allen,
you MIGHT want to wander over to Tech and download all of the lectures
"CLECTn.ARC" and class COs "CLASSn.ARC" from the C class I taught last year.
Maybe they would help.
'Course, when you compare an ECE and an MPU-401, you also have to consider what
each one does in relation to the other. That's why the MPU's and compatibles
are a little on the expensive side. I think the reason for not seeing lots &
lots of Amiga MIDI software is that it's difficult to maintain halfway decent
timing stability while keeping the multitasking running smoothly. For instance,
the Mac has basically similar MIDI hardware available for it, but Mac
programmers generally aren't concerned with other stuff running at the same
time, so they can use neat little tricks for time-stamping the MIDI data that
would be impractical for us.
Steve,
It is not really "diffivult" to maintain decent (not to mention excellent)
timing on the Amiga, once the correct programming techniques for multitasking
have been mastered. It is the latter that is difficult for some people.
My time code generation program produces acurately timed output even after a
guru occurs! 8) —Mike
What kind of resoulution are you dealing with on your stuff?
We use 192 ticks per quarter note. —Mike
Steve,
While I'm not a professional programmer, I think the timing issue is one of
lack of experience and not deficiencies in the multitasking OS. How do I know
this? I am running "Morning Dance" by Jay Beckenstein (of Spyro Gyra) right now
through Music-X while I am typing this reply to you. I've got all of my synths
cranked up and the music has not missed a beat (through two dirs, a disk load –
the editor I'm using now, and typing). While it's true that Dr T's KCS V1.6 did
have some timing problems when multitasking (sequences would noticably slow
down), I have not tried it with V1.6a or Level II yet. Can't comment on Texture
or Master Tracks Pro either, but it is clear that it can be done.
I'm not sure where this 'rumor' got started, so I don't want to paint a
gloomy soundscape (hehe) of the past. I am hopefully looking toward the future.
🙂
Gotta go. This tune is screaming for some sax 🙂
Regards,
Allen
Allen
Just a note for the record dept.:
The Smooth Clocker module for SoundScape fixed all the timing problems I had.
(Though I definitely experienced some using the original Clock module for
timing.) SoundScape isn't a bad package once you learn it's in's & out's. I do
miss the SoundScape Tape Deck module not supporting Note Off w/velocity events.
That's one of the main reasons I got Music-X.
David
David,
What synths/modules do you have which support release velocity?
Rick
Rick,
>> What synths/modules support release velocity?
Acording to my MIDI implementation book: (which is outdated – 1986)
the Ensoniq ESQ-1, Mirage, SDP-1
Fairlight CMI
Casio CZ-1, CT-6000
Fender Chroma Polaris
Sequential T-8
Akai AX-73, VX-90, S900
Oberheim 6/6R, Matrix 12/Expander, XK
Siel DK 700
and, leaving the book,
the Kurzweil Midiboard, and all of the Kurzweil 1000 series modules and the
K1000
support note-off velocity in one form or other, (and no, I don't have all of
them – wish I did, or at least a few of them 8) and a lot of the newer
equipment is starting to support it. I know that it hasn't been popular in the
past but usage is picking up. It really does make a noticeable difference in
quality.
David
Oh, no doubt it makes a difference! I was just curious as to which ones you
had access to, as it's traditionally been the high-end machines which support
it. (None of my machines know a THING about release velocity!)
Rick
David,
Yes, I know about Smooth Clocker. Actually I have a lot of respect for Todor
and his work. He was not only the first to really support the Amiga MIDI wise,
he also continued and expanded his support even to the point of printing how to
write supporting code articles in magazines.
As for me, I was rather disappointed upon first looking at the program (its
initial release) and I just never looked (seriously) again.
BTW, have you heard anything out of him lately?
Regards,
Allen
Allen,
No, I haven't seen anything from Todor Fay recently. Maybe somebody else has
some knowledge of his recent work?
David
I talked to todor earlier this summer . He wrote the unfortunately named WHo
What Where Why Which How Whence Whither program. He claimed he was working on a
better music system. SOundscape as an idea is great but I think he spends a lot
of time locked in a closet and doesn't get much constructive criticism. Or at
least not from the Mimetics crowd. (He had parted company with them). Oh well –
now there are lots of music multitasking systems popping up on other computers,
confusing the whole issue.
— just the facts : J H H Lowengard