Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watnot!watmath!clyde!cbatt!neoucom!wtm From: wtm@neoucom.UUCP Newsgroups: rec.music.synth,comp.sys.amiga,comp.sys.mac Subject: Re: Todd Rundgren & Computers & Amiga Message-ID: <529@neoucom.UUCP> Date: Wed, 1-Apr-87 23:17:56 EST Article-I.D.: neoucom.529 Posted: Wed Apr 1 23:17:56 1987 Date-Received: Sat, 4-Apr-87 08:02:36 EST References: <577@plx.UUCP> Organization: Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine Lines: 74 Keywords: West Coast Faire Xref: utgpu rec.music.synth:530 comp.sys.amiga:3166 comp.sys.mac:2124 Summary: I agree that the Amiga 8-bit DACs need some work Hi, Yes, the new Mac II seems like it has the capability to threaten what is now Amiga's unique market niche as a "media machine". The design of the A-1000 as a multi media device (not to mention multi tasking device) is what prompted me to get an Amiga 1-1/2 years ago. Based on the kinds of articles that are popping up in the popular magazines these days, it would appear that the world is cathing on to what we Amiga owners already know-- that multi media computing can be both fun and productive. Before I get upteen nasty emails, I guess I should temper (appropriate word, huh?) what I mean. The Mac II certainly is not an alternative to the Amiga, since the Mac II is in an entirely different price category. You can buy about four basic Amiga systems for the cost of a basic Mac II. What worries me is that the momentum of the Mac II as a technology leader might carry over into the more slug-ish normal Mac products that are more price competitors with the Amiga. The new A-2000 (or is it A-2500 as seen in the Amigaworld pictures?) is a nice step in the direction of staving of the Mac II. Actually the A-2000 is a more practical machine since it is stating out with a big price advantage (about 50% less than Mac II) and has a more popular device (IBM PeeCee) buss. I think both you and I'll cetainly agree that the PeeCee buss is nasty and outdated, but there are zillions of nifty things already available to plug in, ranging from hi-res graphics cards, 80386 coprocessors, and even 68K cards that can run (Xe | U | ? )nix. Stick that in your Nubus. True, the Mac II Nubus derives from VME buss, but people still have to revamp their cards to be able to Mac them. Nubus cards are also going to be expensive for some time to come, for the same reson that current A-1000 add-ons are expensive. In response to the original poster: The amiga sound capabilities are pretty impressive relative to all the other technology as of 1-1/2 years ago (especially in the price range), but the other guys are catching up and surpassing us. I've been using the Amiga to write music, and I'm definitely not satisfied with the quality of the 8-bit sound. It doesn't have enough subtlety to express really neat musical ideas. The Amiga sound is quite adequate for preview purposes to rough out a score with Deluxe Music, or whatever. Certiainly, the sounds are adequate for most adventure game software. I wrote to Electronic Arts, since there was a little survey card in the box with DMCS asking what sort of stuff we want to see. They were asking both hard- and soft- ware. I suggested that I'd like to see a nice waveform editor. Also, I put a bug in their ear that I'd like to see a quality 14 or 16 bit sampler that can hack 44.1 KHz sampling rate (for CD compatibility) or higher. I guess I could handle 12 bits in a pinch, as long as I wasn't using the Amiga as a solo instrument. I'd also be willing to put up with an option card that has FM- analog synthesis (like that used in Yammaha DX series keyboards). Speaking of Yammaha, I've been using the FB-01 synthesizer via a midi interface on my Amiga at home. The FB-01 has very nice sound quality. It supports up to 8 different voices, depending on how many instruments are selected, and the octave ranges allocated. The price is pretty reasonalbe: About $280 + $49-59 for a midi adapter for the Amiga's serial port. The FB-01 does not have internal amplification, but it can be patched into your stereo just as you would your Amiga. The FB-01 is also small, about the size of a textbook. --Bill Bill Mayhew Division of Basic Medical Sciences Northeastern Ohio Universities' College of Med. Rootstown, OH 44272 USA phone: 216-325-2511 (wtm@neoucom.UUCP ...!cbatt!neoucom!wtm)