CompuServe Thread

Bars&Pipes – Review

4 messages in this thread
#28146From: Al HospersJan 26, 1990 6:43 AM
BTW Just thought you might like to know that there is a new update to KCS and Level II to V3.0. It now has a full Intuition interface, new manual (which BTW is also proofread), many many new features, computer keyboard help template, and contains our Multi Program Environment (MPE) to allow realtime dynamic data transfer, and comes with a MPE module called AutoMix to do realtime MIDI mixing. We were showing this at both Comdex and NAMM to great interest. Also Commodore has chosen Dr.T's to be part of a professional music bundle with Amiga 2000 computers. You get a 2000 with monitor, MIDI interface, KCS V3.0, Copyist Apprentice (MPE version), and an editor of your choice by Dr.T for the price of the computer. This is supposed to be advertised in all the magazines very soon. It was announced at NAMM last week. For more info, or upgrade to 3.0 call 617-244-6954 and ask for Evette or Tom. Al Hospers Dt.T's
#28216From: Dominick J. FontanaJan 27, 1990 12:43 AM
Al, Thanks for the info re KCS 3.0, but as a registered user, I already got the update info in the mail. There was no doubt that Level II was extremely powerful and flexible. The new version seems to alleviate the interface problem, but there is still no graphic editing. I prefer not to have to always deal with numbers. That's why I like Bars & Pipes so much. You actually enter data in musical terms. In addition, B&P is really more than a sequencer, so maybe it's not really fair to compare the two programs. I consider the Tools concept in B&P to be truly revolutionary. For instance, you can play one note, and the program will create an arpeggio and record it. It really is very different from Level II -3.0, or any other Amiga sequencer that I know of for that matter. Also, the person who requested information about a sequencer was a beginner, and I felt that B&P was much easier to comprehend than Level II. I guess it's just a matter of preference. I used Level II exclusively for about one year, so I am familiar with the program. Level II is like WordPerfect. It's powerful and gets the job done, but not terribly exciting. However, I prefer it over Excellence, which is more graphic, for my word processing chores. For some reason, I feel differently when it comes to sequencers. Rather than use the WordPerfect-Like Level II, I prefer the Excellence-Like Bars & Pipes. You are right though. Level II probably has the most dedicated sequencer features of any Amiga sequencer. Judged just as a sequencer, it is powerful. The Master Editor is also a big plus. Unfortunately, the other Amiga sequencers offer more than just sequencing, and the slight advantage Level II may have in editing options, I feel is more than offset by the other programs' varied other features. Then again, I have not actually seen or used v.3.0, so I can't pass judgment on it. My prior comments were directed toward Level II. Maybe now that the program is more Amiga-specific, I'll give it another look. But no matter how good the update is, I'll still continue to use Bars & Pipes for all it has to offer. Thanks, Dom Fontana
#28227From: Vicky AdairJan 27, 1990 3:13 AM
Just a suggestion! I am a musician, and I and alot of other musicians find the 500 to be more suited for the needs of a musician. Since we need to travel alot a 500 is more portable and with a meg of memory serves the needs of almost every musician I know that uses it. You might think of fixing up a 500 bundle. Not to mention that most strungling musicians are broke and the 500 is a little more accessable. 🙂 Vicky
#28250From: Bob LindstromJan 27, 1990 3:34 PM
Al: I can't keep up with you guys anymore 😉 I finally completed a review on Level II for Computer Shopper (Amiga version) and here's 3.0. Sigh, an editor's "work" is never done. I had seen 3.0 at Comdex but didn't realize it was now available. Congrats. Best Wishes, Bob Lindstrom Editor in Chief Computer Shopper