Apple II Music & Sound Conference November 21, 1990 10PM EST Guest: Kent Carmical - Passport Designs, Inc. Subject: MasterTrack Pro vs. Jr. Forum Leader: Joyce Madden (AFL JoyceM) BrianP16 What exactly is Master Tracks JR.? AFC Eddie It's a MIDI sequencing program that allows you to create multitrack songs! MDW Flyer A lower cost sequencer for MIDI keyboards etc. using the GS. Kent RC MT Jr is a scaled down version of pro for beginners BrianP16 Does it work with Sonic Baster? STRAT61 Basically it's MTPro without some of the whistles and bells. :) AFL JoyceM Before we start with our guest...I have several announcements. So: First of all it sure is nice to see some familiar faces tonight... :) If you all haven't read or heard...MIDISynth and SynthLAB has been released by APDA this very date. The article on this release is in our New Files library. The cost is $25!!!! STRAT61 <> DYA Jim Great!!! AFC Eddie YeaH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)))))))))))))) DYA Jim Finally! LindsayGS BTW the AUG area should have a downloadable press release for newletters MDW Flyer RRRRRROOOOOOAAAAAARRRRRRR of the crowd. AFL JoyceM The article also gives you a phone number to call. In the USA it is: 1/800-282-2732. I called and ordered my copy today. It is on backorder :) DYA Jim Isnt't that 1-800-282-apda? :) LindsayGS Does anybody know what version is released? AFC Eddie I believe 1.0b3 LindsayGS nah - b is beta, right? AFL JoyceM Actually I think what has happened is that APDA released the program, but the shipping area doesn't have it yet :) They told me a week. The version is 1.0B3 Joshie EMT Has anyone besides me, seen SynthLab yet? BrianP16 Do you need advanved musical knowledge to use MTJr.? LindsayGS no brian, just play some notes into it AFC Eddie BRian, you need a MIDI capable instrument DYA Jim The interface is good, but it is lacking in some features I would have liked BrianP16 What is and MIDI capable instrument? LindsayGS Look on the back of the keyboard, Brian - says MIDI in, MIDI out AFL JoyceM Okay...now on to bigger and better things :) A reminder about our contest for November and December and that is the song files must be of the Holiday type. Remember FIVE FREE hours of connect time are given to the winner each month :) Tonight we will be giving away a copy of MasterTracks Jr to the person who askes the best question.../...AND we will also give away a ticket to AppleFest in California for the person who says the secret word. Tonight we have with us, Kent Carmical (Kent RC) of PassPort Designs who will discuss with us the various programs they make for the Apple IIGS. Kent...would you like to introduce yourself and say something about Passport? STRAT61 protocol Joyce? Kent RC Hello all. I do technical support for Passport amongst other things. Viking E Is there any way to use MDIdeas digitizer to capture and converts sound to MIDI MDW Flyer No. Viking. AFL JoyceM No protocol UNLESS you all get out of hand. Please wait until each person has finished their question or statement :) BrianP16 Will a Sonic Blaster work with Master Tracks Jr.? AFC Eddie No, Brian. AFL JoyceM First of all...of those here, who owns or uses a Mastertracks program? STRAT61 I do. LindsayGS i do MDW Flyer Kent. Will we ever see a patch librarian for the GS marketed for the GS. Kent RC Passport currently makes 3 products for IIgs: Mastertracks Pro, Mastertracksjr, and a MIDI Interface AFC Eddie I do. MDW Flyer I do. ELECTMUSIC I own both DYA Jim I will in the future.. :) Kent RC Flyer, I don't think well see a patch libs DAGII Question: Passport was in the sequencer business well ahead of the crowd - How is your head start helping you out now? Kent RC DAG, that's a tough question, I guess experience is its own reward. BrianP16 I thought the //GS had a built in MIDI interface. Am I wrong? AFC Eddie Wrong, Brian. BrianP16 Thanks Ed, I love being heard. Viking E To all those whom own Mastertracks, What digitizer are you using? how is it? DYA Jim Viking, why would you use a digitizer with MasterTracks? LindsayGS Kent - if not from Passport, is passport interested in supporting the efforts of other GS programmers (re pathlibs, etc) MDW Flyer I've still got an old II version of Master Tracks & lots of music I'd like to translate to MT Jr. Is the file format for the old MIDI files available? Counse Kent, could you explain some about the MIDI and the "opcode" I have seen referenced in Incider ads. AFL JoyceM -------******** PROTOCOL******************. Type a '?' for a question and a ! for a statement. YOu will be called on in order of your requests. Kent RC Counse, MIDI is a protocal for communication between computers and synths (hows that for a gross over) Opcode is another Maker of music software BrianP16 What's so big about MIDI? DAGII The trend is away from hardware to software these days. How is Passport joining in the fray here? Kent RC Dag, Passports trend is away from hardware DAGII Many consumers are having trouble affording the purchase of new equipment/ software etc. just to have the latest. How does Passport plan to cut the obsolescence cycle? Kent RC Dag-- Well, we are kind of maxed out with the IIgs. DAGII After all, technology changes so fast as does software. GA Kent RC Not much more we can cram into it and retain a reliable product Kent RC Joyce spoke to me about a price reduction for Pro, and that sounds like a good idea! I will bring that up with the powers that be. We do plan keep up with current system software. AFL JoyceM What do you all think would be a fair price for the MasterTracks Pro? Remember, it is a very powerful piece of software!. AFC Eddie Considering you're buying the product knowing it is unlikely to be upgraded... DYA Jim [about $150, I'd think..] DAGII I have yet to pay more than about $150 for any one software product. Kent RC Thats a good to start with BrianP16 I have a sonic blaster, what would happen if I tried to use MTJr.? AFC Eddie Nothing, I'm afraid, Brian. STRAT61 Well, considering that AppleWorks was more expensive than that. I would have to consider prices in the 224-250 range as fair for Pro. Kent RC We have had problems with Sonic Blaster. sometimes works, sometimes crashes. Has anyone had success with sonic blaster? AFL JoyceM I am using the MDIdeas stereo card. Viking E I would like to know what are the possiblities of MIDI on my GS with your Product As compared to a studio or to an ibm. GA Kent RC Viking, you can compose music, among other things Using Pro/ Jr, and MIDI equipped synths, you can sequence, arrange, and perform. what a vast question. Pro is competitive with any PC sequencers. Viking E OKay I was just wondering how I can help a friend who is using a studio ? GA Kent RC Perhaps somthing more specific LindsayGS Kent - you guys got into programming the GS when there were no programming tools and then make a crack program - now that there are superb programming tools, you're getting out!! My questions are do you really believe you've packed all that you can into a GS and 2) has anybody at PP really looked at the new MIDIsynth tools??? (or is it just a marketing decision?) AFC Eddie Good Question! Kent RC I'm sure that there are plenty of new tricks left in the IIgs. I know that this isn't a good answer for the faithful users but sales plays a part in the development of the program--along with support from Apple. And things tend to gravitate to the newer, more powerful machines. AFL JoyceM Kent, any chance of us being able to change their minds? :) Kent RC But we are not abandoning the IIgs, it just doesn't get the development time that it used to. Well passport is not immune to the masses, when we get alot of requests, we pay attention. STRAT61 Kent, is there a new version of MT out (or coming out) what are the changes, and how what kind of sales did Passport have for MT for the IIGS? Kent RC Somewhere between the Atari and the Amiga! I don't have specific numbers on the sales, but another factor in the development of the program was rather sketchy factory support. STRAT61 Okay, but is there a new version now or in the future, or do we make do with what we've got? AFL JoyceM MasterTracks Pro version 1.04 works just fine with GSOS 5.03. Kent RC Now, there is more support from Apple, but it is sporadic. Strat, for the while, the current version stands. ELECTMUSIC Kent... is the same lack of support found with the Mac? Kent RC No, the Mac is supported wonderfully, but I must say that NOW the GS sees better support but it was rather lax during crucial times. AFL JoyceM Remember guys...if you all go out and buy the program...that shows our support :) MDW Flyer I use MT Jr., & have the old DOS 3.3 version of MT8. I'd like to translate the old DOS 3.3 files to a readable form for MT Jr. Would Passport supply the file formats for the old MT8 & MT4 files if I wrote to get them? LindsayGS Flyer - hook two Apples together MDW Flyer I only have the GS now, and the old Master Tracks will not run on the GS. Kent RC MDW, I will check and see if they are available, contact me at Passport, we have a few programming manuals for the IIe available. MDW Flyer One more quicky. Can we expect to see any new products from Passport? Kent RC For the gs, no, but the other platforms are quite active DYA Jim I've been doing some MIDI research, and it seems a lot of people claim that I don't need a synth that can drive a complete MIDI setup; that software should be able to do it instead.. Can MasterTracks do this? or did this apply to other sequencing/MIDI programs on other computers? Kent RC The software (Pro) can handle a large setup with great ease. LindsayGS but not sysex on the A2GS - right Kent? Kent RC No sysex on the gs Kent RC The problem come when sync is introduced. Things can bog down a bit. DYA Jim How much is a bit? I'm just curious if I need a keyboard that is strong enough to be the controller of a possible future MIDI setup, or if Pro can do this? It can, right? STRAT61 I'm running 5 MIDI instruments off MT with basically no problems at all. Kent RC Jim If I was going merge MIDI and timecode I might look for a more powerful machine DYA Jim I'm not trying to do that much.. :) I guess it will be perfect for what I have in mind.. :) okay, GA MDW Flyer MT Pro can. The best possible MIDI interface, get the OpCode Studio Plus Two. Kent RC I agree about the +2 MDW Flyer That plus MT Pro will drive 12 devices. I have. Kent RC Yeah, it's not like its lame compared to the other platforms. Pro is quite powerful, probably the most powerful for the gs. AFL JoyceM ......okay, we have some winners..... STRAT61 I've noticed that when inputting keyboard info, controllers take up a lot of information. Would you recommend using the controller function to modify straight info and would this cut down on the byte size? Kent RC Yes, especially with instruments that feature poly aftertouch, like an EPS. It's best to filter out what you don't want on input rather than strip it out later STRAT61 I think the filter feature is great. Kent RC It's saved me several times. MDW Flyer Whats a ton of feathers weigh? A bytes a byte, filter it if it's not noticed. AFL JoyceM Kent...I have a Yamaha PSR 41 keyboard and when I use MTPro to start recording it sets off my auto rhythm and it starts to automatically play. How do I stop that....most annoying....when trying to record. GA Kent RC See if you can disable the rhythm section from recieving start messages LindsayGS What about external clock vs internal? AFL JoyceM Kent, the manual gives me no clue!! Kent RC Some of the home keyboards have a sequencer that won't quit, yet don't send clocks. AFL JoyceM Oh well, I will give it more of a chance with more experimenting. Thanks. AFL JoyceM Let me make some winner announcements...Both Strat61 and DAG II win one (1) hour of FREE connect time for the secret words said :).....AND.......the winner of the software donated by Passport Designs...MasterTracksJr is for.....drum roll please.....DYA Jim...!! Congrats. Jim...if you would E-Mail me your address I will get it mailed to you. DYA Jim Wow!!! This is great!!! Thanks!!!! AFL JoyceM Is there anyone who would like some AFest tickets? MDW Flyer Yes Shekar 1 Yes me! AFL JoyceM You would, Flyer?...and Shekar? Okay, leave me your address' in E-Mail and I will mail one each to each of you :) MDW Flyer That would be much appreciated. Thankyou. AFL JoyceM Okay.....Kent, how much longer do you want to answer questions? I know it is getting late. Kent RC I can go about 5 min if anbody has more Nuzz I'm a neophyte wanna-be musician. I cannot read music. If I purchase MT, is it easy enough for me to get started with? GA Kent RC Nuzz, little musical knowlege is needed, just spirit MDW Flyer ? Jupiter Re I was wondering in future versions of Master tracks pro or jr. will it use tool 35? Kent RC Stumped me with that one Jup, I'll have to check. DAGII The GS' Ensonic chip can be considered a 15 voice polyphonic/polytimbral synth. Has Passport ever considered doing a sequencer that uses the GS itself as a tone generator? Seems like a natural to me. MDW Flyer Are you a programmer Kent, & how long have you been with Passport? Kent RC Seems like a good idea to me, but there were hefty development snags. Hypertalk is the only language i'm any good at. Been there less than a year LindsayGS Kent - thanks for your time and patience :) DYA Jim Thanks kent! Nice to have you online! AFL JoyceM Kent, I really appreciate you coming here tonight and discussing Passport Designs products and MasterTracks. We will have to do this again, now that more and more people have finally decided the the GS is really a great computer for music and sound :) MDW Flyer Thanks for your time Kent, be lookin for you here in the future. STRAT61 Thanks Kent... Come back again. ELECTMUSIC MTPro is the Best Sequencing program I have worked with on any Apple II product!!! Kent RC Thanks to all of you for your patience, this is my first time. I hope you all will give me more chances to hone my skills in chat. Happy Thanksgiving America Online - 1990