From: kls30@cd.amdahl.com (Kent L. Shephard)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.advocacy
Subject: Re: NeXT vs. (MIDI) Sampler
Date: 9 Sep 92 15:11:28 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Amdahl Corporation, Sunnyvale CA

In article <92Sep09.054359.14397@acs.ucalgary.ca>,
bstone@acs.ucalgary.ca (Blake Stone) writes:
>> Presto *IS* a good package.  It will be a pro level application
>> as soon as it supports a multiport interface such as the MOTU
>> MIDI TimePiece.
>
>Presto is a wonderful package, but it is light years behind
>something like Performer 4.01 in terms of being a complete
>package.  Part of that is simply something that will evolve over
>time, nobody's 1.0 product can have that many features (nor am I
>convinced its necessarily desirable... I'd prefer to see multiple
>packages working together).
>
>There are some problems that need NeXT's attention though... for
>serious applications the MIDI merge feature in Presto is
>useless... but that's not Pinnacle's fault, it's the MIDI driver.

All multiport interfaces I've seen merge pretty well.
I configued my MOTU MidiTimePiece and hooked it up to
my NeXT and it works fine. Support for multiple ports 
*IS* coming.

What you need to do is just direct input to an output.  Also once 
recorded you can assign it to any channel you want.  I don't find a 
real problem with the midi merge.

>3.0's is no better.  No problem, I've got a hardware merge to do
>the job, but it's one example of an area where there is work to
>be done  Support for multiport interfaces is in a similar boat...
>it requires reworking the MIDI driver which is less than trivial
>and would need to be ported to NS'486 and the NRW and...

I don't know if it needs reworking.  From what I recall it needs
a massage *NOT* a rewrite.

>
>> > As far as NeXT as a sampler goes: Yah.  Under 3.0 you can play a
>> > number of stereo sample simultaneously, but exact timing?  Nor
>> > pitch control, nor...
>
>> Exact timing can be had via Presto or Ensamble.  Pitch shifting
>> is possible and I've heard rumours of it being implemented in
>> the new CCRMA MusicKit.
>
>Ahem.  Presto's timing for sample playback is not bad with
>monophonic lines if you don't push it.  (It's great with
>polyphonic multitimbral synthesized stuff though!).  But it's
>hardly a replacement for an S-550 as the original poster was
>asking.

Mono lines under 2.0 multiple under 3.0 isn't a problem for a 
machine under 3.0 provided you have a decent amount of memory
and a fast harddrive.  Don't try to play more than 2 stereo samples 
at a time due to disk performance limitations.

NO it will not replace the S-550 you are correct.  I plan to buy 
an Akai S-950 and use my NeXT for sample editing and recording,
of samples since the Akai has AES/EBU as an option.  A S-1000sample
play back unit isn't a bad idea either since the sampling functions
I don't need anyway.
>
>The 56001 just doesn't have the horsepower necessary to duplicate
>what a state-of-the-art musical instrument does!  (But then

Wrong again, ask Studer Editech about the Dyaxis system, Digidesign
about their boards, Peavey about their samplers, and a host of other
companies that use the 56001s in samplers, editing systems, and
hard disk based recorders.

>again, maybe I'm spoiled by my K2000).  Nor does the NeXT
>architecture give it access to the kind of memory needed for such
>applications etc etc...

Actually the limitation is the amount of memory the DSP has.
Small memeory means small data buffers.  That can always be 
expanded.
>
>> > NeXT as a hard disk recording system may be another matter.
>> > MetroTrack promises amazing things...  I see no reason why the
>> > NeXT shouldn't be at least as well suited as a Mac or PC, and
>> > quite possibly better suited.
>
>> Better suited than a Mac or PC since all the hardware except A/D
>> is built into the system.
>
>The 56001, yes, I'll agree.  But the D/A on my Cube is soooo
>noisy as to be unusable in a serious application.  Maybe newer
>monitors and/or soud boxes are better off.

Is it the D/A or the environment?  The D/A in my machine is as good as
the synths and decent CD players on the market.  All I can think that 
you would use the D/A for is to hear the DSP instruments and to preview
what you plan to write to DAT.

If I'm doing digital editing, I'm writing out of the DSP port
directly to DAT.
>
>Less well suited in that it runs an operating system that doesn't
>guarantee anything (to quote Avie only slightly out of context).

Provided you aren't running a lot of applications digital recording 
is responsive and I haven't had any dropouts yet.  That's is when I'm
not trying to run Improve, and WP while doing recording (sic).

On a Mac you *can't* do anything else while recording since the
Mac OS isn't preemtive..

>Given the shared resource environment inherent in a multi-tasking
>platform you're harder pressed to use the machine to its
>potential without risking disaster.  Luckily, we've got so much
>potential....

That's true.  I usually do recoring and DSP and nothing else at the same
time.  Maybe a terminal window open also.
>
>> MetroTracks looks like it will be a great application.
>
>No argument!  I haven't ordered my copy yet, but I suspect I will
>eventually.
>
>Blake

As soon as it's available I'll get it.  I need it so I can use my custom
board.  I've been using SoundWorks and stuff from the archives.
-- 
/*  These are only my opinions.  Whose else could/would take credit? */
/*  - If you are anti-abortion you are passing out condoms and doing */
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