From: koelman@cuby.stc.nl (Ton Koelman)
Subject: Re: NeXT vs. (MIDI) Sampler
Reply-To: koelman@stc.nato.int
Organization: SHAPE Technical Centre, NL
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1992 11:04:15 GMT

In article <1992Sep8.143531.1510@metrosoft.com> gvh@metrosoft.com (Gordon  
Van Huizen) writes:
> In article <1992Sep7.105950.12821@stc.nato.int> koelman@cuby.stc.nl (Ton  
> Koelman) writes:
> > In article <1992Sep4.085649.13034@uklirb.informatik.uni-kl.de>  
> > frerk@informatik.uni-kl.de (Frerk Meyer) writes:
> > > Is a NeXT (I don't have one) with his DSP Chip a full substitute for
> > > an of-the-shelf MIDI-driven Sampler (Roland S-550)?
> > > Do I have to buy additional Software for that use, or is it  
included?
> > > Are there large libraries of digisized sounds for the NeXT?
> > 
> > No! NeXT as a sampler/harddisk recorder is a toy. So is NeXT
> > as a midi sequencer. NeXT dropped the music kit. Wise decision.
> > 
> 
> What in the world makes you say this? Could you perhaps lay some form of  
> foundation for such a radical claim?

Maybe I'm a bit too radical. It's just that I've been
rather disappointed with the software support for MIDI
and sampling (and synthesis) so far.

> While I wouldn't recomend the NeXT as a "substitute for an of-the-shelf  
> MIDI-driven Sampler", it is an EXTREMELY good platform for  
sample-playing,  
> hard disk recording and MIDI sequencing.

As I said, I only see a hardware potential. What
off the shelf software are you referring to?
 
> In fact, the platform is so rich for these purposes that many successful  
> music professionals have been rolling their own software and using  
public  
> domain offerings on the NeXT instead of commercial applications running  
on  
> other platforms. Many of the scores you hear behind national TV  
> commercials and such things as MTV filler clips are produced daily on  
> NeXT's. Other professionals are using them NOW as cost-effective hard  
disk  
> recorders. Several CD's have been released using material created or  
> recorded and mixed on a NeXT.

Maybe we ought to compile a FAQ containing all this stuff. 
I'm volunteering..
 
What software do they use?
How many tracks of hard disk recording?

> In terms of raw talent in each and every machine, the NeXT can't be beat  
> as a cost-effective platform for music and audio work. High-quality  
> hardware from several maufacturers exists for analog and digital audio  
> input and output. Several MIDI interfaces specific to the NeXT are  
> available and a few Mac MIDI interfaces will work (including the Opcode  
> Studio 3, which provides SMPTE support amongst other things). And for  
> those people requiring more audio processing horsepower, there are  
several  
> high-end processing boards developed, available and in-use around the  
> world. The NeXT is THE computer of choice in cutting edge music research  
> around the world, integrating MIDI with dynamic synthesis. 
> 
> We are now reaching the point where commercial software developers are  
> releasing their products for the NeXT, extending this potential to more  
> users. Pinnacle Research has announced and released VERY stable and  
> worthwhile beta versions of Presto, the world's first commercial MIDI  
> sequencer for ANY computer platform that features DSP sound generation,  
> including sample playback. Presto is a well-implemented product, and new  
> features are continually arriving.

I'm a fairly heavy (amateur) MIDI user. I run Cubase on
a 500$ ST. Presto is a toy compared to that.
It doesn't even have external sync!!!!
The only cute thing about it is that roll of toilet paper
where you get your measures...

> Metrosoft is officially announcing and demonstrating MetroTracks at the  
> AES convention is San Fransisco next month. MetroTracks is the first  
> commercial hard disk multitrack recording software for the NeXT.  
Interest  
> in music on the NeXT is so strong that we have been literally swamped  
with  
> beta site requests for MetroTracks, most from highly-qualified  
individuals  
> and institutions. Some are already using NeXTs for audio and music,  
while  
> many others are disatisfied with the offerings on other platforms and  
are  
> looking for an alternative.

To be honest, I am considering NeXT for my future music set up.
I've asked your company for specs already but got no reply.
 
> While the Music Kit has been turned over to a third-party, the Sound Kit  
> and MIDI Driver are still under NeXT's wing and have been significantly  
> upgraded for NeXTSTEP 3.0. This is NOT the course of action of a vendor  
> dropping support for music and audio on the platform.

Agreed

> The NeXT is a highly capable platform for the applications you mention,  
> and is emerging as a highly competitive alternative in terms of both  
cost  
> and performance. I most definately would NOT call it a toy.

I apalogize for being somewhat radical.
I've been disappointed so far.

--
Ton Koelman   e-mail: koelman@stc.nato.int (NeXT Mail Welcome!)
SHAPE Technical Centre, P.O. Box 174, 2501 CD  The Hague
The Netherlands  (voice: 31-70-3142429, fax: 31-70-3142111)