=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- APPLE II MUSIC & SOUND FORUM CONFERENCE LOG July 15, 1992 10 PM ET Topic: MIDI, SynthLAB And the Apple IIGS Forum Leader: Joyce Madden (AFL JoyceM), Forum Assistant: Gene Koh (AFA Gene) Forum Consultants: Greg Dib (ELECTMUSIC), Ed Rosenblatt (AFC Eddie), Lindsay Hough (LindsayGS) Copyright (c) 1992 America Online All Rights Reserved =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- AFL JoyceM Tonights topic is on MIDI. How to start, etc. Ian, you are really putting out some nice programs - thanks IRSMan Thanks :) AFC Eddie Anything new Ian? IRSMan Well, Matt K. is going to do an actually look-at-able graphic player for me :) AFL JoyceM Ian, is it possible for the GS to make MOD files? IRSMan Sure, its possible. Just a pain in the rear for programmers :) AFL JoyceM How much of a pain? IRSMan I may do a quick inverse modifier so you can edit in soundsmith or something :) An actual MOD editor is beyond me with everything else I'm doing now but I'm told that someone is working on one. AFC Eddie That would be something! AFL JoyceM Oh, a regular AOL user? IRSMan Not that I know of. AFL JoyceM Oh...do you know this person? If not, could you contact him/her? IRSMan Sorta...I talked to him a bit on Internet. He has some interesting ideas on reducing clicking with his swapper. Dunno if he'll actually get past vapor tho. AFL JoyceM We would be very interested in talking with him. IRSMan His editor supposedly will also do soundsmith, sorta like noisetracker. IRSMan But I've only heard his player on the phone so I have no idea how well it works AFL JoyceM Well, the next time you think of it, have him get in touch with me thru Internet... AFC Eddie Ian, what's the progress of AudioZap 2.0? IRSMan Its coming along fairly nicely. AFL JoyceM The PC side of AOL is having a MOD contest and we were asked if we could make MOD files - neither the GS or the MAC can, presently. IRSMan I'm trying to fix the !@)$ moving line so its more accurate and its resisting AFC Eddie Can PC's make MODS? IRSMan I got mail from a Mac AOL user who used to use a GS and looked at modzap. He wants me to defect. AFL JoyceM Yes AFC Eddie Don't do it, Ian!! AFL JoyceM No, Ian...we won't let you :) IRSMan I'm getting a 486 and a SoundBlaster tho instead...eat that Scully! AFL JoyceM Right on, Ian - my next computer will be an IBM clone - don't trust Apple anymore! IRSMan (not that I especially like DOS boxes, but our college is heavily into them) AFL JoyceM But I expect my GS will outlive me :) IRSMan Me too :) AFL JoyceM And I really have no desire to change platforms :) IRSMan I just hope more people write nice software for the GS. I was very disappointed that 7 Hills gave up on SS 1.0 AFC Eddie So was I! IRSMan (I'll admit I have SS 1.0b5 that a friend gave me) AFL JoyceM I agree, Ian - Yes, I sure enjoyed your comment on Megatracker about SS :) IRSMan Heh. AFC Eddie Ian, is this a beta version? IRSMan Yeah, 0.40. Its not really that great right now, but its a lot of fun. It even knows MIDI Start/Stop/Continue :) AFC Eddie Wow! AFC Eddie I can't wait! Will it do MIDI input? IRSMan Somewhat. AFC Eddie Hey, it's a start! IRSMan You can enter notes via MIDI into the spreadsheet. And it tracks program changes and all that good stuff :) AFC Eddie That's a lot! AFC Eddie And you end up with SS format? IRSMan Yeah. Except that I support a lot more F/X (most of which aren't done yet) And my instrument loader isn't working the greatest so its best to start songs with SoundSmith and go from there at this point :( AFC Eddie Gotcha, Ian. IRSMan The signature is different from SS (IAN92a vs SONGOK) but only NTGS pays attention to the signature bytes :) AFC Eddie Ian, what do you think of Avatar? IRSMan What's Avatar? AFC Eddie You don't know? IRSMan Ahh...no AFC Eddie Heineman's new super GS compatible. IRSMan What?! AFC Eddie To be unveiled at Kansas. IRSMan I should've guessed...What's the salient features? :) AFC Eddie You can get the lowdown in the Across the Boards area. IRSMan Ahh, I see. AFC Eddie Either 16 or 24 bit graphics...Super speed. PC components. IRSMan Wow...and this is actually real? AFC Eddie Run GS wares. Yes, prototype at Kansas. IRSMan Cool! AFC Eddie I figured you'd know about it by now! He says there are lots of other features too, but he's not talking. IRSMan No, I've not heard a thing...have to check out ATB AFC Eddie We're talking about MIDI, or anthing else about Music and Sound! AFL JoyceM Eddie, what does MIDI stand for? AFC Eddie MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface! It's a way for Computers and musical instruments to communicate with each other! AFL JoyceM Something like a Modem, then? AFC Eddie Actually, there is data transfer between MIDI devices, yes, but much faster than any modem's baud rate! AFL JoyceM What programs support the use of MIDI, for the GS, that is? AFC Eddie There are quite a few of those. Some are sequencing programs that allow you to make your own recordings, called sequences. There are also notation programs, that can turn your music into transcript. And there are some programs that do both! Mastertracks from Passport is the best sequencer for the GS, if you can find it! AFL JoyceM So we're talking about: MusicStudio, MusicWriter, MasterTrack jr and Pro. Any more? AFC Eddie Yes, Diversitune and SynthLAB! AFL JoyceM Can you take the song files from any of these programs and put to use with SynthLAB? AFC Eddie If you use a MIDI sequencing program that uses the standard MIDI format, like Mastertracks, there is a great utility program that can convert these files to SynthLAB format. It's called MIDImate! And it was done by our very own Lindsay Hough (Lindsay GS)! AFL JoyceM Is that available here on AOL? AFC Eddie There is a demo available online, and you can order the full version directly from Lindsay. It works great! I use it all the time. StingRay63 Can I ask a question? AFC Eddie Sure! StingRay63 You are talking about software that uses the MIDI format, don't you need something that generates that stuff? AFC Eddie That's right. We've been talking about the software, but there's also hardware! You need: A computer! AFL JoyceM :) StingRay63 <-- have one :) AFC Eddie A MIDI device, such as a keyboard or other MIDI equipped instrument; and a MIDI interface to connect them together! Sting, do you have a MIDI instrument? StingRay63 No, sure don't. I'm still recovering from buying the computer!! AFC Eddie LOL! AFL JoyceM :) AFL JoyceM Some of the MIDI keyboards are coming down in price - the enjoyment alone is worth the price. AFC Eddie Agreed, Joyce! AFL JoyceM Sting, do you play an instrument? StingRay63 Used to play clarinet and bassoon. AFC Eddie You should know that there are MIDI wind instruments! AFC Eddie With the same fingering you're used to playing. StingRay63 Really?? AFC Eddie Yes, great ones from Yamaha. StingRay63 Have one of their motorcycles, but that probably wouldn't help. AFL JoyceM Do they have a Clarinet MIDI, Eddie? AFC Eddie Hmmmm, MIDI motorcycle, eh? AFL JoyceM :) AFC Eddie It's not a MIDI clarinet, Joyce, but a MIDI wind instrument, with standard Woodwind fingering. AFL JoyceM Interesting. I know they have MIDI drums now....never ending since MIDI is the in thing today :) StingRay63 And what about the box you need to plug into the GS? AFC Eddie Yes, there are even MIDI lighting systems for concerts. AFL JoyceM So of the software, MusicStudio, MusicWriter, DiversiTune are commercial programs and still available. synthLAB comes on System 6 now (and we also have the older version in AMS). MasterTracks both jr and Pro are very difficult to find! AFC Eddie You need a MIDI interface. That's a simple box that connects the device to a serial port. AFL JoyceM You think that Mastertracks is a must-have program, Eddie? AFC Eddie It's a must for serious MIDI sequencing (recording) Joyce. It's editing abilities are unsurpassed. AFL JoyceM If you don't have the program and can't get it, what is the next best? AFC Eddie For making multi-track recordings, I'd suggest Diversitune. It comes with its own instrument sounds, so you can play back your files on any GS, even without a MIDI instrument attached, and still allows lots of editing. And, you can add your own lyrics with the bouncing ball effect! AFL JoyceM Can you convert the DT song files to use with synthLAB? If so, how? AFC Eddie As far as I know, the only way you can convert the DT files to any other format is if you have an external MIDI sequencer or another GS to load them into. There is no software that will make the conversion. AFL JoyceM But, one can do their own recording without MIDI with synthLAB, right? AFC Eddie Yes, by entering notes on the SynthLAB keyboard! StingRay63 But that is slooooowwww. AFL JoyceM See, Sting - anyone can afford to get System 6 and synthLAB and do his/her own recordings :) without MIDI! Slow, but free, so to speak :) AFC Eddie You can do your own recordings without MIDI on MusicStudio as well! Just put the notes on the staff! AFL JoyceM But you can't take those song files and use with synthLAB. AFC Eddie True, Joyce. AFL JoyceM Sting, we have an extensive synthLAB library. But it sure is fun to create your own songs:) StingRay63 Is there any documentation on recording with the synthLAB keyboard?? AFC Eddie Hmmmm, none that I know of, Sting. AFL JoyceM Soon, Sting. ByteWorks, right, Marty? StingRay63 I've played with it, but couldn't get very far. AFL JoyceM I am pretty sure that Byte Works will soon be putting out dox for synthLAB, etc AFC Eddie I've heard that also, Joyce. Nuzz But that may just be programmer type docs StingRay63 That's what they're telling me Nuzz. :) AFL JoyceM I have the dox from APDA for the beta version of synthLAB. Nuzz I thought there was an electronic manual with SynthLab, ie on disk. AFL JoyceM On a CD, I understand, Mike. AFC Eddie Yes, but it's quite short. StingRay63 And not very helpful. Just explains the menus, etc. Nuzz BTW, when I upload the new version of SynthInit, Robert Hill's Finder extender will allow you to play Midisynth songs from any program that supports NDA's by calling SynthInit. AFC Eddie WOW! That sounds wonderful! RobertHill Thanks for the plug :) AFL Marty Ooh! Excellent! AFC Eddie When's the new version coming out, Mike? Nuzz Its done. I am just so busyt getting ready for KC that I haven't uploaded it yet. AFC Eddie Great! AFL JoyceM Well.....] Nuzz No new features, just bug fixes, unless anyone has any ideas? AFL JoyceM Anyone tried Desk Tracker yet? AFC Eddie Yes, Joyce, I've tried it, and it works well! RobertHill It also works pretty well under File Extender (with a few exceptions). StingRay63 And what does it do?? AFC Eddie For a "Dead" computer, there sure is lots of new GS stuff coming out now! AFL JoyceM Agree, Eddie AFC Eddie Desktracker allows you to double click on a Soundsmith file to play it! Nuzz Oh, the 2 new ClipTunes NBA's went final today. They'll be on all future ClipTune disks with upgrade notices sent soon to existing users. AFC Eddie Thanks, Mike! Nuzz They make using Midisynth in HyperStudio lots easier AFL JoyceM My mind must be going, but what does NBA stand for? Thanks, Mike, look forward to getting my notice :) Nuzz New Button Action StingRay63 So how many different formats are out there? AFC Eddie Well, let's see: There's Standard MIDI, MidiSynth, Diversitune, Soundsmith, Noisetracker, MODS....Whew!!! Nuzz Oh yea, SoundREM went final today too ... Yay AFC Eddie SoundREM? Nuzz SoundREM is our native rSound Editor /creator for "Foundation" AFC SteveB It's the Foundation rSoundSample editor AFC Eddie Wow! Can't wait to try that! Is it in any of the Foundation betas? Nuzz Multiple edit windows, cut copy paste to the clipboard, etc Nuzz No Eddie, not on the betas. It'll start to sell in KC AFC Eddie Thanks, Mike! Nuzz $25 retail, $15 at the show, probably $20 afterwards AFL JoyceM This is what I get for being away for 3 months - new programs I have never heard of. So what is Foundation? AFC SteveB It's the coolest resource editor ever made, Joyce! Nuzz Its not just for tech-heads either. RobertHill Is Lunar Productions the one that is making Foundation? AFC SteveB Yep. Nuzz That is what you'll use to edit rbundles and Icons, etc AFC Eddie Edit rBundles? I have enough trouble spelling them! Nuzz Marc Wolfgram, Jim Murphy and Mark Collins AFC Eddie <----Prefers to edit triplets and sixteenth rests! AFL JoyceM Still waiting for dox on System 6 from Resource Central Nuzz Marc also wrote Genesys AFC Eddie ------------------------------ Log Off -----------------------