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From: gblock@csd4.csd.uwm.edu (Gregory R Block)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy
Subject: Re: How to beat a NeXT
Message-ID: <9728@uwm.edu>
Date: 24 Feb 91 01:58:15 GMT
References: <1991Feb23.014310.4975@cc.helsinki.fi>
Sender: news@uwm.edu
Reply-To: gblock@csd4.csd.uwm.edu
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Originator: gblock@csd4.csd.uwm.edu

From article <1991Feb23.014310.4975@cc.helsinki.fi>, by jalkio@cc.helsinki.fi: 
>> 	
>> 	Okay I have tried to stay out off all flame wars reguarding my
>> computer is better than yours.  Over the years I have found that all
>> compters have there place in the world.  But I have to point something
>> out here.  The Amiga does have 8 bit sound, that is true, and so does
>> the MacII.  So the NeXT has 16 bit audio, thats nice.  But what good is
>> it?  The people that I know who do real work in sound editing and
>> producing all use Mac II, Amiga and Atari STs, and you know why they do.
>> Simple, they edit the sound on the computer and send it trought a MIDI
> 
> Editing _synthesizer_ sounds is quite different from editing samples.
> You _can_ send samples through MIDI but it is so slooow. 
> 

	Yes, but you only need to do it once.  Once it's through, you can save
it on the master, or on the computer...  And most master keyboards do have disk
drives, yes.  At least most of the good and useful ones do...

> 
> Well, SoundTools for MAC has the same Motorola 560001 chip than NeXT
> does. So do many other boards. There are boards containing 8 DSPs and
> more for NeXT (and surely for other computers, too).
> 

Oh, that's great.  I'm sure there ARE boards containing 8 or more dsp's.  Of
course, only the CUBE can use BOARDS!!!  The NeXTStation is "scuzzy cludges",
not "state of the art boards"....  It has no "slots".  And since that is the 
comparison at hand...

>> ports exist for the NeXT, is sound manuplating software there?
> 
> You can use the MAC midi interfaces on NeXT, too. NeXT isn't the
> ulitmate _MIDI_ platform, but the people at music research seldom use
> MIDI anyway. MIDI is just a slowish interface for commercial keyboards
> etc. (It would be nice to see a good MIDI sequencer on NeXT, though.)
> 

It may be slow, and it may be poor at times.  But it is a STANDARD, it is
WIDELY USED, and it is COMMON among electronic synthesizers and instruments.
The support is there.  The interface is there.  The standard is there.  The
NeXTStation is NOT.  The Amiga IS.  I'd say that's a plus.

>> 	Most of the people I know use MacII and Amigas and non that I
>> know use the NeXT, hell most of them didn't know what it was or had even
>> heard of Stevie Jobs.  Reason simple because it doesn't have MIDI or the
>> software to support it.
> 
> NeXT doesn't have many _MIDI_ programs, but MIDI is a kind of a dinosaur
> (or will be) anyway. NeXT is more suitable for more advanced music
> usage, like Csound etc. _Any_ computer can handle MIDI. I have had an
> Atari MEGA4 for 5 years and I have used with several MIDI synthesizers,
> etc. Now I want to leave that behind and move to something different and
> more flexible.
> 

	Yes, but that doesn't exist for it, either.  It's a lovely idea, but it
is not as widely used, or as common as MIDI.  Also, not ANY computer can.  But
the ATARI systems are built around it, and most 16-32 bit processors can handle
it.  It's nice that you want to leave it behind, but on the next, YOU DIDN'T
LEAVE ANYTHING!  You have gone from a computer with GREAT MIDI support, and
gone to a computer with support for a built-in DSP.  And that will replace
MIDI???  I believe that maybe there are ways to get around the SLUGGISHNESS of
MIDI.  That is part of my job...  I've found a way to get around most of the
problems that occur.  But, unless everyone plans on a "build-it-yourself"
response on MIDI software for the NEXT, you're up **** creek without a paddle,
if you have no software...  Are there any CSOUND implementations for the NeXT?
Or is it as much vaporware as MIDI on the NeXT?  Or do you need to use the
Macintosh interface for THAT, TOO???


-- 
gblock@csd4.csd.uwm.edu | Amigas, Amigas everywhere, but not a one can think.
----Gregory R Block---- | Where's an AI when you need one?
________________________| A Mac, by any other name, would smell like a lawsuit
Roses are red, Violets are blue:  Go buy a Mac, and you'll be screwed too...