Xref: utzoo rec.music.synth:2436 comp.sys.ibm.pc:11417
Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!lll-winken!lll-lcc!ames!nrl-cmf!cmcl2!brl-adm!husc6!mit-eddie!uw-beaver!tektronix!orca!stank
From: stank@orca.TEK.COM (Stan Kalinowski)
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth,comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: MIDI PC
Message-ID: <2476@orca.TEK.COM>
Date: 4 Feb 88 16:47:48 GMT
References: <387@lscvax.UUCP>
Reply-To: stank@orca.UUCP (Stan Kalinowski)
Organization: Tektronix, Inc., Wilsonville, OR
Lines: 43
Keywords: MIDI PC software hardware
Summary: CMS interface and Cakewalk review (preliminary)


I recently purchased the CMS MIDI interface board and Cakewalk
software.  I think CMS stands for Computer Music Systems, check their
ad in the back of Keyboard magazine for details.  There was a review
of the Cakewalk sequencer software package in the December (I think)
issue of Keyboard magazine.  After playing with Cakewalk a little I
think it's an OK package.  Not great, just OK, good price.  Keep in
mind that this is the only package I have ever used.  I should mention
that the release notes that came with Cakewalk say that they have
fixed the bug mentioned in the Keyboard magazine review.  I haven't
verified this because the bug was in a feature that I'm not ready to
use yet, and I trust the manufacturer's word that it's fixed.

Cakewalk seems to serve my needs but I wish there was a way to show
the actual notes on a staff instead of the rather cryptic spreadsheet
style of MIDI record notation.  I'm a beginner at music and I don't
play very well in real time.  I would like to be able to see the notes
I'm playing interms of whole notes, half notes, rests, etc so that I
can clean up my playing and the "music" I'm attempting to record.  In
my rather hasty look at IBM MIDI sequencer packages (I'm an impulsive
buyer) I didn't find any other low priced (or otherwise) package that
integrated the sequencer and music scoring functions.  (Gosh, if I had
the time and the entrepreneurial spirit I could design the ultimate,
unified MIDI music support package for the IBM PC, I could make a
fortune...  Naaahhh.)

The CMS interface card seems to work OK, but again, I have only used
it with Cakewalk.  The CMS interface board is implemented with a few
chips that have the Roland name on them.  I assume this is the same
chip set that Roland uses, so I guess I don't need to worry about how
closely the CMS board emulates the Roland MPU-401 interface.  What I
don't understand is how Roland can get away with selling their
interface for twice the price of the CMS board.


------> standard disclaimer <-------

I am only a customer using CMS and Cakewalk, I do not have any
personal or business affiliations with the manufacturers of these
products.
-- 
US Mail: Stan Kalinowski, Tektronix, Inc.	
         Information Display Group, Graphics Workstations Division
         PO Box 1000, MS 61-028, Wilsonville OR 97070   Phone:(503)-685-2458
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