CompuServe Thread

KCS2-V.3.01 (cont.)

4 messages in this thread
#30425From: craig allen seemanMar 10, 1990 3:22 PM
I've been using KCS level II 3.0 for many weeks now. I also just purchased Th Copyist Pro. The problem is Copyist Pro is not MPE compat. Dr. T's says I'll have to upgrade to DTP version. The nice thing about having this combo with MPE will be to see sequences in sheet music form. With a minal amount of fuss I can send my sequences to Copyist and see it desplayed on screen in standard musical notation. Only problem is Copyist is not meant for sequence editing. I can at least now visualize mistakes and compare tracks and go back and edit them. Another great thing about Level II that no other sequencer seems to come close to is the PVG and Master Editor. This allows me to create edit functions that I just couldn't do with any other seqeuncer. Being that I'm the avant-garde type I need those features. To me, More important than display is, power! Nothing equalls KCS II in that area!
#30643From: Dominick J. FontanaMar 14, 1990 10:53 PM
Craig, In reference to DR. T's KCS Level II-V.3.01, you state that power is more important to you than display. I tend to agree, but what is wrong with having both power and display? For that you need Bars&Pipes from Blue Ribbon Bakery. You also suggest that nothing equals Level II in terms of power. Have you tried all the other available sequencers for the Amiga? If not, how do you know that Level II is the most powerful? The Master Editor is powerful, but somewhat tedious. I found the PVG to be the single most user-unfriendly portion of a program I ever recall using. All in all, KCS is not implemented in a musical fashion. Dom Fontana
#30837From: John ColdrickMar 19, 1990 11:04 PM
Just throwing my two cents in here… > how do you know that Level II is the most powerful? Well, I *have used all existing Amiga sequencers(except for Master Tracks) and I own both Level II and B&P, and believe me, Level II *is* the most powerful MIDI tool now on the Amiga. Having said that, I strongly agree that there are much easier to use and more 'musical' sequencers out there. Bars & Pipes does have many features, but many of those features are aimed towards not-so-great keyboard players to add a little AI to the sequencer. Not that it can't be used to produce powerful compostition tools, but you are limited by the tools, which you can't get for free. Level II also is limited by it's tools, but they are much more open ended, thus more powerful and much more difficult to get into. I just think that for undecided buyers out there it's important to understand that there are strengths and weaknesses for every product. B&P and HMSL are the only object-oriented Amiga music programs out there, but Level II is the most powerful sequencer/editor. If you are an average user, admittedly, you'd probably want to go for Music-X or B&P, the more 'techie' musicians will likely opt for Level II or HMSL. IMHO! J.C.
#30953From: Dominick J. FontanaMar 21, 1990 10:15 PM
John, Concerning your comments about Bars&Pipes and Level II, I respectfully disagree. First, how do you know that level II is the most powerful sequencer if you never used MasterTracks Pro? Is it from what you've read or heard? Have you used MTPro, but never purchased it? The point is that the fragment of my message that you chose to comment on was stated because the person I was responding to never evaluated all the sequencers of which we were discussing. Before B&P, I thought MTPro was the best. You now mention that the one sequencer that you're not familiar with is one that I consider light years better than Level II. In effect, you are totally discounting MTPro, and making a recommendation of Level II over a product that you haven't used. I don't claim to know about every Amiga sequencer. I just give my opinion on the four that I own. Namely, B&P, MTPro, Music-X, and Level II. As a matter of fact, I paid $65.00 for a copy-protected update of Level II, just so I would know of whence I speak. Of course, I agree that any software, be it music or otherwise, is a matter of preference, and they all have their strengths and weaknesses. And of course, I don't consider my opinion any more valid than yours. That's all this is, is a matter of opinion. However, I feel that if I give the rationale behind my opinion, then maybe those who agree with my rationale will be more motivated to accept my opinions. I have stated many times that Level II is the most powerful sequencer of the four that I own. But the interface is so horrible that it's not worth the effort. You made it sound like I stated that level II wasn't the most powerful. Even if it currently is the most powerful, it's not the most useful. I also disagree that B&P is geared towards non-keyboard players. (By the way, a number of tools are free with B&P). I also disagree that casual users will like B&P and Music-X and technies will like Level II. I am a technically oriented user with a multi-track recording studio, and I don't like Level II. You're trying to carve a niche for Level II that doesn't exist. Best regards…………..Dom Fontana