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From: grr@cbmvax.UUCP (George Robbins)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga,rec.music.synth
Subject: Re: Amiga midi problems?
Message-ID: <2185@cbmvax.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 6-Aug-87 12:00:34 EDT
Article-I.D.: cbmvax.2185
Posted: Thu Aug  6 12:00:34 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 8-Aug-87 14:17:41 EDT
References: <1408@ico.UUCP>
Reply-To: grr@cbmvax.UUCP (George Robbins)
Organization: Commodore Technology, West Chester, PA
Lines: 37
Xref: mnetor comp.sys.amiga:7180 rec.music.synth:1216

In article <1408@ico.UUCP> scottw@ico.UUCP (Scott Wiesner) writes:
> According to the "Computers and Music" writer in Keyboard magazine, the
> Amiga has an unreliable timer chip that causes problems in sequencers 
> written on the amiga.

	There is no ulreliable timer chip in the Amiga.  The issue is the
	granularity and precision of the system timer services available
	to the software.  Early software developers considered these to be
	unsatisfactory, but didn't realize that they could allocate one of
	the timers on the I/O chips for their own purposes.  By doing so,
	they get access to more than adequate precision.

>                        I've considered an Atari ST or one of the new 
> A500's to driver my ESQ-1, and while the ST seems to be the machine of 
> choice for synth stuff, the Amiga seems better overall.

	The Atari ST has been cheaper than the Amiga and is quite adequate
	for the role of programmable midi-controller, therfore many of the
	midi oriented developers targetted the ST, while while the developers
	intrested in programmable systhesis and sound sampling targetted the
	Amiga.

	Try to see a demonstration of the Mimetics/Soundscape Amiga
	software for some interesting crossovers between Midi and sampled
	sound.

>                                                          If the rumors
> of A500's showing up in mass retailers for Christmas is true...

	These rumors sound improbable at this point in time.  We do intend
	to sell lots of A500's through the dealer channels between now and
	Christmas, however.

-- 
George Robbins - now working for,	uucp: {ihnp4|seismo|rutgers}!cbmvax!grr
but no way officially representing	arpa: cbmvax!grr@seismo.css.GOV
Commodore, Engineering Department	fone: 215-431-9255 (only by moonlite)