Path: utzoo!utgpu!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!lll-lcc!ames!haven!purdue!bu-cs!mirror!rayssd!galaxia!amanpt1!mrr
From: mrr@amanpt1.zone1.com (Mark Rinfret)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: MIDI Questions ..
Keywords: Who, what, when, where, and how?
Message-ID: <540@amanpt1.zone1.com>
Date: 5 Jan 89 12:14:59 GMT
References: <10294@shamash.cdc.com>
Organization: HyperView Systems
Lines: 71

In article <10294@shamash.cdc.com>, jwabik@shamash.cdc.com (Jeff Wabik) writes:
> Forgive me if this topic has come up recently...  
> 
> 	1) What types of interface boxes are out there, what are the
> 	   differences, and which is best.  Are there interfaces that

There is a wide range of products available, ranging in price from $40-$100.
The primary differences appear to be the number of MIDI ports available
(In, Out, Thru, Sync, etc.).
> 	   attach to the Amiga by other than the Serial port?  Are
Nope.
> 	   those 5-pin DIN looking cables as innocent (pin 1 to pin
> 	   1,...,pin 5 to pin 5) as they look?
Yup.
> 
> 	2) What software is cool?  I've heard Deluxe Music Construction
> 	   Set is funky.  I saw the MIDI software flow thru .binaries.

DMCS is a nice scoring package, but its MIDI user interface stinks. I can
provide details if you want.  DMCS is the only scoring package I use since
I haven't seen anything better.  

Open question to other net.readers: 
Are there any good _configurable_ patch editors out there?  I have a Casio
CZ-1 (superset of the the CZ-101, CZ-1000, CZ-3000 family) which is not
supported in any commercially available software.  If I can buy a truly
configurable patch editor (editable sysex codes, etc.) I won't have to 
finish writing mine :-).

> 	   last week, but haven't played yet ..  I'd like to be able 
> 	   to "program" a complicated score (like 4 voices, or more) 
> 	   from the (musical) keyboard, then play back on either Amy
> 	   or the Casio .. 

Forget DMCS on this one.  I'm not aware of a good alternative, though.
As I understand it, you can record "tracks" of information with several
of the sequencer products available (see below), but none of them provide
a scoring interface.
> 
> 	3) Why invented liquid soap and why?

Don't you mean "Why invented soap and who?" :-) :-).
(I'm sure glad this wasn't Pete Da Silva's message. HIS typos are his
OWN damned business! :-) )

> Basically, I know nothing about this stuff so any other information
> would be great, too..

I haven't ventured into the "sequencer" area yet.  Sequencers let you take
"tracks" of pre-recorded MIDI information and edit it, cutting and pasting
song segments much as you would edit a text document.  I think you'd have
to devote just about all of your free time to MIDI music in order to benefit
from this level of effort.

Get yourself some back issues of AmigaWorld and Amazing Computing.  There
are ads, product reviews, etc. for lots of this stuff.  MIDI on the Amiga
is great fun for me.  Keep us posted on your progress.  E-mail me if you
want to chat some more.
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> 	-Jeff

	Sure!
		Mark

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