Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uwm.edu!rutgers!rochester!newkodak!kodak!ektools!kinsman From: kinsman@ektools.UUCP (Andrew A. Kinsman) Newsgroups: comp.music Subject: RE: summary of beginner questions, Thanks all. -AAK Message-ID: <2677@ektools.UUCP> Date: 1 Jun 90 12:13:57 GMT Sender: kinsman@ektools (Andrew A. Kinsman) Reply-To: kinsman@ektools.UUCP (Andrew A. Kinsman) Organization: Eastman Kodak, Dept. 47, Rochester NY Lines: 114 From rochester!ames!pyramid!polyslo!rrauenza Tue May 29 08:03:58 1990 I'm replying to you message on comp.music. I also have an IBM PC (Turbo) and I have a couple of instruments (Keyboard, Electronic Casio Sax) that I would like to connect into my computer. I've been thinking of buying an Atari ST as they automatically support MIDI - Anyway.... I have heard that CakeWalk is good for IBM - not that I have ever seen it! You can anonymous FTP Cakewalk Music files from ucsd.edu - so I would assume it is a popular program. You can also FTP from there Delux Music Construction Set [music files]- But I believe DMCS is more for MAC and AMIGA... I, myself, haven't been toohappy with Electronic Art's software for IBM... Unfortunately in San Luis Obispo no one sells MIDI - So - I would appreciate it if you could send me a little note saying which MIDI software and Hardware you choose... I'd like to do it for under $300 - Id like it to work with a mouse - CGA - and be fairly standard. There are source files (in C) at ucsd.edu - I'd like to be able to write my own software for the hardware. Rich Rauenzahn rrauenza@polyslo.CalPoly.EDU [Now that you've started posting you will never stop. Enjoy!] From rochester!rutgers!gvgspd.gvg.tek.com!mrk Tue May 29 08:04:03 1990 Not only would one setup be usable for more than one instrument, it is usually possible to connect all of your instruments at once, and have them playing at the same time. Yes, each sequencer will tend to have its own proprietary storage format, but there is a standard format, called MIDI standard format. Many sequncers will read and write both thier own and the standard format. Typically, some amount of data organization is lost when writing the standard format. I use (and very much like) a program called Cakewalk. I bought it bundled with an PC interface card from a company call _Computer Music Supply_. These people sell a variety of PC related MIDI products. Give them a call at 1-800-322-MIDI and get their current catalog. > Do BBS's exist for exchange of music Well, yes and no. A few BBS's do have the occasional sequence, but by and large, the community is quite stingy with their work. Putting together a good sequence is a very time consuming and somewhat difficult process, and when completed, most of us aren't real anxious to just give them away. There are also some genuine technical problems. First, unless stored as MIDI standard files, they tend to be specific to the sequencer upon which they were written. Then, they tend to be specific to the synthesizer(s) for which they were written. Worse yet, they are often specific to the timbres one has programmed on specific synths. I always recommend that newcomers get a book titled _MIDI For Musicians_ by Craig Anderton. Most any decent music store that deals in synths will have it. Oh and one last thing. No matter what you read elsewhere, MIDI is an acronym for "Money Is Definately Imperative". ;-) This can become a very expensive hobby. One typically starts out small and comes up against the limitations of relatively simple equipment rather quickly. One thing leads to another, and soon one has several thousand dollars worth of synths, effects devices, software, etc. Even the cables to connect all this stuff can total in the hundreds of dollars. Michael Kesti Grass Valley Group, Inc. | "Like one and one don't make two, mrk@gvgspd.GVG.TEK.COM | one and one make one." !tektronix!gvgpsa!gvgspd!mrk | - The Who, Bargain From atexnet!uunet!seismo.CSS.GOV!black Wed May 30 03:38:08 1990 I'll answer part of your questions...The software compatibility with different instruments depends on what you are doing. There is a MIDI standard for NOTE ON, NOTE OFF, VELOCITY, VOICE SELECT, and quite a few others. Basically, if you have a program which generates MUSIC, it will be compatible with virtually all MIDI instruments. Then again, another thing one wants to do is save the voice patches, edit voices, save sequencer data (if your specific instrument does that), edit waveforms, etc...all of which is synthesizer specific. If you look in Electronic Musician magazine you will see adds for voice editors and such for DX7 KORG-M1 ENSONIQ-EPS, ETC. Two basic software packages are what you would need, one for manipulating the mechanics of the synthesizer, and one for playing music tracks. There's a few standards for the music tracks, the newest one of which is the "MIDI FILE FORMAT" for which a lot of new stuff is being made compatble (it seems to be becoming the industry standard). You'll find a lot of stuff in Deluxe Music Construction Set (DMCS) format. I believe DMCS also support MIDI FILE FORMAT now too. So DMCS might be a good start. Find a good electronic music store and check them out. I bought a synth about 3 years ago and it's the best damn investment I ever made. I shopped for a piano for 11 years and finally got a synth. Mike... From atexnet!sun!apple!well!csz Wed May 30 09:11:06 1990 If you get a MIDI setup for your XT, it can be used with any instrument/keyboard. The interface, sequencer, and instrument all speak the same language: MIDI. There is a standard file format -- the MIDI File Standard, often called "MIDI Files". Most sequencer software can save and read data in this format, as well as their own, but ask to be sure. I recommend Cakewalk or Cakewalk Professional as the best IBM MIDI sequencer, considering price performance and support. This program is written and distributed by Twelve Tone Systems in Cambridge, Mass. Andrew Kinsman rutgers!rochester!kodak!ektools!kinsman Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, N.Y. "Little Yellow Box Factory"