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From: grr@cbmvax.UUCP (George Robbins)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga,rec.music.synth
Subject: Re: Amiga midi problems?
Message-ID: <2306@cbmvax.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 4-Sep-87 22:15:56 EDT
Article-I.D.: cbmvax.2306
Posted: Fri Sep  4 22:15:56 1987
Date-Received: Sun, 6-Sep-87 02:02:07 EDT
References: <1408@ico.UUCP> <1601@ulowell.cs.ulowell.edu> <628@cup.portal.com> <19269@cca.CCA.COM> <610@sugar.UUCP>
Reply-To: grr@cbmvax.UUCP (George Robbins)
Organization: Commodore Technology, West Chester, PA
Lines: 25
Xref: mnetor comp.sys.amiga:8103 rec.music.synth:1398

In article <610@sugar.UUCP> peter@sugar.UUCP (Peter da Silva) writes:
> 
> I've heard and read comments from various people about the Amiga's unfitness
> for "serious" music. I'd really like to know what the problem is. Midi is
> Midi, after all (as Leo pointed out). There seems to be some perception
> that something is wrong with timing on the Amiga. Could someone please tell
> me whether it's a fundamental problem in the timer, programs failing to follow
> the rules outlined in the RKM, or hot air?

As pointed out a couple of times, there is no fundamental reason why the Amiga
is not fit for serious MIDI use.  There is a minor difficulty in the system
software doesn't provide a timer service with enough resolution to accuratly
timestamp midi events.  A number of people have written MIDI device handlers
that use one of the available hardware timer to provide this service.

The ST has some slight advantage, since it's MIDI port is built in and does
not tie up the serial port.  However as others have mentioned, it the software
that's really the important thing and the MIDI user has to balance the cost,
software quality/availabity and any non-MIDI applications to decide which
system is best for that user.

-- 
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)