Midi Sequencer

[ssq]

Hello! I just got myself a MIDI interface for the Amiga and really liking it. I am currently learning to use OctaMED 4's midi functionality on the A1200. What is the best MIDI sequencer in your opinion for a stock A1200 and/or an A500, both without accelerator cards/addons?

[daxb]

BarsnPipes

[adrdesign]

It depends on what you want to do.

If you want to stay tracking (using samples) I would use OctaMED5 or OctaMED SoundStudio. Since OctaMED 6 it can handle midifiles. It sync samples with midi data if you use 4channels (syncs perfect), so you could revamp some old modules with new midi tracks. Note if you use a lot of channels it have timing issues, but its not so bad. You can create your own tracking commands to be sent by midi to get some fx out for the module like cutoff, reverb, chorus. It can seem hard in the beggining: READ THE MANUAL!!! (I could help if you need me)

PRO: Easy transition from tracker to midi.
CONS: Notes are always quantized, it looses the human feeling. It cant handle too much channels.

If you want to make multichannel midi music easy-way, then use Sequencer One. Clean interface an few basic options, something like a tape multitrack. Can handle midifiles.

Pro: Very easy of use
Cons: No use for complex sequences.

(The hard way would be Dr T. KCS and the related programs.)

If you want to have the most powerful midi daw ever done, use Bars&PipesPro. Each MIDI channel is a tube where you can put "tools" to alter the incoming/outcoming midi data the way you want. It worths a try. You can hook it to SuperJam! (you have tons of styles to make songs)

Pro: The best GUI and music program concept ever done. SuperJam!
Cons: Sample support is limited, and sounds a little... well... it sounds bad actually.

BONUS: There are few softsynths for live playing. Some of the best are FMSynth and Aegis Sonix.

Hope It helped. Good Luck!

[ssq]

Thanks a lot for the replies! I had been toying around with FMSynth and Sonix long ago, when I first fitted the CF card as HD.

What I think I'm going to do is to connect the Amiga with a Yamaha RM1x groovebox (no sync though, only used as a 16-part sound module) or a Roland JV so I probably won't be using samples anyway. I want to have a look at OctaMED SS as I'm pretty comfortable with the tracker interface, but being limited on the number of channels is a bit of a problem.

I've been reading lots of good things about Bars 'n' Pipes but I thought that it's a bit "heavy" for a non-accelerated Amiga, is it the case?

I did get hold of SuperJAM! and looking forward to try it out, but I don't seem to be able to find any information on Sequencer One. Also took a look at the Steinberg Pro-24, is it any any good for MIDI-only sequencing (i.e. notes, automations, sysex)?

[adrdesign]

I found a version included in AmigaFormat. You can find here. Its in Coverdisk 30b. It can handle midifiles very well.

http://amr.abime.net/issue_186_coverdisks

Since OctaMED 6 you can make your own midi tracking commands and handles sysex since v4 (very easy way). Just read the amigaguide manual.

Good Luck!

EDIT: If you want to get the most of your roland JV out, Bars&Pipes has some plugins where you can program your own sounds and drum kits. It works like a chard for the JV. Bars&Pipes is not a heavy program (not more heavy than soundstudio), it could work fine on a plain a500. It depends if you use lots of plugins (there are LOTS). Try it with the mt editor, give it a week or so. You will use it forever

find it here
http://fromwithin.com/liquidmidi/archive.shtml
lot of stuff here (including the gs drumset editor)
http://aminet.net/search?query=bars%26pipes

[ssq]

Great, thank you!!!

[emufan]

Originally Posted by ssq

... but I don't seem to be able to find any information on Sequencer One.

on the eab ftp you can find Sequencer One ( path: /TheZone/files/Sequencer.One-Collection.zip )
its version 2.0 / included 2.3 is fake version.

[ssq]

Cool, The Zone also has some Dr. T's software too!

[emufan]

Originally Posted by ssq

Cool, The Zone also has some Dr. T's software too!

there were some additions to the Dr. Ts editor lately.

next to those i found the following:
Steinberg Pro24A v1.34 (tosec lists only version 1.0)
Rave_v1.0-Cirrus.Software-1993 (midi/sample sequencer with good looking gui)

rave starts from floppy emulating an A600. crash on a1200/030 emulation - no WB icons

zoned:
Rave_v1.0-Cirrus.Software-1993.dms
Steinberg-Pro24A_v1.34.dms