Amiga Tracker with MIDI support? 1230/32

[Hellrun]

Hi all, this is my first post. What a great forum you have here!

I'm revisiting my Amiga days, the A1200 is down from the loft since the recent release of the Indivision MK2. It's bringing back some memories now!

Ashamed to ask for help on my first post, but I am wondering which tracker software (suitable for blizzard 1230/32) will allow me to use a MIDI keyboard. I want to incorporate my Amiga into my home project studio. I have tinkered with protracker and digibooster (1.7) but have no idea of their MIDI capability and/or how to set it up.

Also, can anyone recommend a particular MIDI module?

Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks in advance!

[robinsonb5]

I *think* ProTracker will allow you to enter notes with an external keyboard, but if you want to use external MIDI sounds, then the best bet tracker-wise is probably OctaMED SoundStudio.

As for a MIDI module, look out for a Yamaha MU-10, and if you can't find one of those and are up for some homebrew electronics, do an Ebay search for XR385. That little WaveBlaster board is a very capable Yamaha XG sound module, just needs a Max232 or similar and suitable power supplies (5v - available on the external floppy port, and +/-12v, both available on the Serial Port.)

[Hellrun]

Thanks for your response however I think I may have worded my post incorrectly.

I do not intend to MIDI OUT from the Amiga, just purely use a MIDI keyboard as a controller for a tracker so I can play using samples/instruments.

Perhaps a MIDI interface rather than a module then. I own a Roland MT-32, I'm assuming the Yamaha model you mentioned is a similar multi-timbre style MIDI module?

Please let me know if I am not making sense. I read a post from yourself regarding a Project XG that was published on CU Amiga back in the day, I'm assuming this is what you were mentioning above? Not sure if this is purely for processing MIDI files via this card or if it is used as a MIDI signal path i.e IN/OUT to the Amiga.

[robinsonb5]

Originally Posted by Hellrun

I do not intend to MIDI OUT from the Amiga, just purely use a MIDI keyboard as a controller for a tracker so I can play using samples/instruments.

Ah, I'm with you - OK that's easier. Like I say, I *think* ProTracker can do this, but I'm not 100% sure.

Perhaps a MIDI interface rather than a module then. I own a Roland MT-32, I'm assuming the Yamaha model you mentioned is a similar multi-timbre style MIDI module?

Yes, that's right. And yes, in that case a MIDI interface is what you're after.

The "ultimate" MIDI interface is the TriplePlay Plus, which supports three independent MIDI Outs, but for what you want pretty much any Amiga MIDI interface should do.

Please let me know if I am not making sense. I read a post from yourself regarding a Project XG that was published on CU Amiga back in the day, I'm assuming this is what you were mentioning above?

That's right.

Not sure if this is purely for processing MIDI files via this card or if it is used as a MIDI signal path i.e IN/OUT to the Amiga.

MIDI Out from the Amiga goes into the card, which then acts like a MIDI Tone Module (MT32, MU-10, etc.) and generates the sounds - the improved version of the project I posted on Amibay also has a passthrough MIDI Out, which just sends a second copy of the MIDI Data to any other attached MIDI devices, and also a MIDI-In for connecting external keyboards, controllers, etc. In other words, it's a MIDI interface with built in tone module. It'd work for what you want, but it'd be overkill!
(The original CU-Amiga ProjectXG didn't have external MIDI sockets, BTW - it was purely to interface the Waveblaster card to the Amiga's serial port.)

[prowler]

Originally Posted by Hellrun

Also, can anyone recommend a particular MIDI module?

Originally Posted by Hellrun

Perhaps a MIDI interface rather than a module then.

Hi Hellrun, and welcome to EAB!

I have an Amiga MIDI interface which I have never used. It is identical to this one:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ws/eBayISA...m=140709553036

If it would be of any use to you, then you are welcome to it.

[Amiga1992]

If only note input is what you want, ProTracker will support it. I use 2.3d personally, with an Akai MPD26 pad controller.
One instrument at a time though, don't expect to be able to do fancy stuff like keyboard splitting or something like that.

Some of the key messages are mapped as commands on ProTracker too, for example, for changing instruments or for transport control (play, stop and record).

Pretty much any Amiga MIDI interface is the same. All the ones I have have 1 input and 3 outputs and in many cases you can usually switch these outputs between OUT and THRU.

[magnetic]

Yeah for full Midi Octamed is the way to role. I'm surprised nobody mentioned MUSIC X. This has very good MIDI support AFAIK.

Here is the one I have on my a1200/060

http://www.amiga-hardware.com/showha...cgi?HARDID=702

pretty sweet! I love the groovy pyramid on the box

[Amiga1992]

Music-X isn't a tracker software, which is what the original posted asked for.
Also he only needs to input MIDI in his Amiga to record notes. OctaMED has full MIDI output but input-wise it would be the same as ProTracker, maybe a little bit better.

[Hellrun]

Thanks for all of your input!

This sounds like good news to me, Protracker should be suffice. Looks like all I need is a MIDI interface (although I'd certainly be interested in hearing an example of this Project XG that you speak of, or seeing a video of it in action!)

prowler, I will send you a PM

[prowler]

PM received and reply sent.

[Photon]

MIDI interfaces are standardized and work the same way with any software, so you can get any of them and they will work. As for what MIDI events the programs respond to, it's different for each program. Bars'n'Pipes has fairly complete MIDI support for just sequencing and playing back in a studio, trackers support exactly what Akira said.

I'm not current on very recent trackers or the eminent Musicline, so I can't say about those.

[prowler]

Hi Hellrun,

Your Midi Master A500/A2000 was handed over at my local Post Office counter for delivery to you by First Class Post this morning at 10:45.

[Hellrun]

Now people like prowler are the reason I joined these forums!

What a great community!

Big thanks are in order I think.

[prowler]

Originally Posted by Hellrun

Now people like prowler are the reason I joined these forums!

What a great community!

Originally Posted by Hellrun

Big thanks are in order I think.

You're welcome. Let us know what you make of the interface.

[Hellrun]

Of course I will.

I can't promise anything great but I'll at least post some pics of the setup and hopefully a few songs in due time!

[prowler]

Originally Posted by Hellrun

I'll at least post some pics of the setup and hopefully a few songs in due time!

That sort of project is the lifeblood of these forums.

[prowler]

Hi Hellrun,

Have you received it yet? It's been a week now...

[Hellrun]

Sorry, I missed this post.(PM'd)

I'm unsure as to which MIDI port is IN. None of them are labelled, lol
Have had a quick play about but to no avail, I'm assuming the default MIDI channel is 1? Tried with Protracker 2.3

I would have thought there would be drivers required or something. There is a little red LED light on the MIDI box which illuminates when its connected to the Amiga, so there's sign of life

[prowler]

Originally Posted by Hellrun

I'm unsure as to which MIDI port is IN. None of them are labelled, lol
Have had a quick play about but to no avail, I'm assuming the default MIDI channel is 1? Tried with Protracker 2.3

I would have thought there would be drivers required or something. There is a little red LED light on the MIDI box which illuminates when its connected to the Amiga, so there's sign of life

Hi Hellrun,

Have a look in this thread:
http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?...ht=MIDI+Mapper
it may give you some ideas, if only for further questions.

I still have copies of most of the files uploaded there.

[Hellrun]

Thanks, I'll look into it.