COMPARISON CHARTS
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GENERAL FEATURES |
CZ PATCH |
CZ-ANDROID |
PERFECT
PATCH |
DX HEAVEN |
XSYN |
SYNTH-DROID |
| Version reviewed | 1.0 | 9/24/86 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | |
| Price | $99 | $99 | $59 | $99 | $99.95 | $79.95-$99.95 |
| Number of banks stored (SS disk) | 87 | 146 | 74 | 43 | ? | 25,000-30,000 patches |
| Sample patch banks supplied | 15 | 2 | 1 | 24 | no | 2000 patches |
| Copy protected | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | key |
| GEM utilization | some | full | full | some | full | some |
| Allow desk accessories | no | yes | yes | no | yes | yes |
| Keyboard equivalents to mouse | yes | yes | no | some | yes | some |
|
SET-UP |
||||||
| Assign MIDI channel | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Synths supported | CZ | CZ | DX-7/TX | DX-7TX | CZ, Yamaha
DX21/27/100, DX7/TX, Roland |
CZ,Korg DW8000 |
| Number of patch banks displayed | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | ? |
| MIDI thru/channelization | no | no | yes | yes | thru only | yes/yes |
|
LIBRARY FUNCTIONS |
||||||
| Display file name for bank | yes | no | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Store patch/envelope files | yes/yes | yes/no | yes/no | yes/no | no/no | yes/yes |
| Move single patch/bank | yes/yes | yes/yes | yes/yes | yes/no | yes/yes | yes |
| Patch name length | 8 | 16 | 10 | 10 | 10 | yes |
| Hardcopy bank patch names | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| File edit options | no | D,F,R | D,R | F | no | no |
|
EDIT FUNCTIONS |
||||||
| Smart editor | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Graphic envelope editing | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Number of simultanious graphs | 3 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Voice edit options | C,SW | C,SW | C | C | C,CP | C.SW |
| Envelope edit options | C,SW,ID | C,SW | C | C | C,CP | C,SW |
| Envelope scaling | yes | no | no | no | no | yes |
| Compare edit to original | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Unedit | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| AI patch generation | no | yes | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Test souind from keyboard | yes | no | yes | yes | no | yes |
|
|
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| GENERAL FEATURES | MUSIC BOX | MUSIC STUDIO | MIDIPLAY | MIDI VIEW |
| Version reciewed | 1.1 | - | v425 | - |
| Price | $49.95 | $59.95 | $49.95 | $49.95 |
| Nimber of tracks | 8 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Number of simul. voices | 8 | 15 | 16 | 16 |
| Copy protected | no | yes | yes | no |
| Input sources | CK | CK,MK | MK,PD | MK,PD |
| Monitor resolution | med/high | low | med/high | low |
|
SET-UP |
||||
| MIDI/monitor output | yes/yes | yes/yes | yes/yes | yes/no |
| Assign MIDI voicings | yes | yes | no | no |
| Assign MIDI effects | some | no | no | no |
| Programable int synth | no | yes | yes | no |
| Free memory indicator | yes | yes | no | NA |
|
DATA INPUT |
||||
| Real time data recorded | no | no | all | NA |
| Step time data recorded | N,PC,TM | N | no | NA |
| Number of time signatures | 4 | 8 | NA | NA |
| Smart measure entry | yes | no | NA | NA |
| MIDI note range | 24-83 | 0-120 | 0-127 | 0-127 |
| Note timing resolution | 1/32 | 1/32 | NA | NA |
|
EDITING FUNCTIONS |
||||
| File edit options | no | F,D,R | no | no |
| Segment edit options | CP,I,D | CP,I,D | CP | NA |
| Transpose/octave range | yes/2 | yes/5 | yes/1 | no |
| Duration scaling | no | yes | no | NA |
| Add lyrics/song title | no/no | yes/yes | no | NA |
|
PLAYBACK |
||||
| Vary tempo | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Set cue point | yes | yes | yes | no |
| Play selected tracks | yes | yes | NA | NA |
| Medly play | no | no | yes | yes |
| Music disk cost | NA | NA | $19.95 | $19.95 |
| BBS song files | few | many | NA | NA |
|
SCORING |
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| Single voice score | yes | yes | no | no |
| Sheet music score | limited | yes | no | no |
| Add enhancements | text,pic | no | NA | NA |
|
|
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|
GENERAL FEATURES |
SYS/EX |
DATA
DUMPSTER |
TR707
DUMPSTER |
PRO
CREATOR |
| Version reviewed | 2.0 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| Price | $150 | $89.95 | $64.95 | $240 |
| Need TOS in ROM | no | no | no | yes |
| Copy protected | yes | yes | yes | chip |
| GEM utilization | no | full | full | full |
| Allow desk accessories | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Mouse based | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Desk accessory version | no | yes | yes | no |
|
SET-UP |
||||
| Instruments supported | MIDI 1.0 | MISI 1.0 | TR707/727 | DX-7/TX |
| Hard drive supported | yes | yes | no | no |
| Free memory indicator | yes | yes | NA | NA |
| MIDI slow option | built-in | yes | NA | no |
| Support folders | no | yes | yes | no |
| # MIDI data files displayed | 1 | 20 | 20 | 2 |
|
REQUEST/MIDI FILE FUNCTIONS |
||||
| Request files on disk | no | yes | NA | yes |
| MIDI data buffer size | 350K | 310K | NA | NA |
| Smart "buffer full" recovery | yes | no | no | NA |
| Create composie MIDI files | yes | yes | NA | NA |
| Request looping option | yes | yes | NA | NA |
| File edit options | C,D | D,F | D,F | D |
| Name individual tracks | NA | NA | yes | NA |
|
|
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|
GENERAL FEATURES |
EZ-TRACK |
MIDIPLAY |
MIDI REC
STUDIO |
MIDISOFT
STUDIO |
SUPER
CONDUCTOR |
| Version reviewed | 1.0 | 425 | 1.0 | 2.10 | 1.3 |
| Price | $65 | $49.95 | $39 | $99 | $69 |
| # Tracks | 20 | 1 | 8 | 32 | 16 |
| Event capacity (520ST) | 27,000 | 250,000 | ? | 30,000 | ? |
| Copy protected | no | yes | yes | no | no |
| GEM utilization | full | no | some | full | full |
| Allow desk accessories | yes | no | no | yes | yes |
| Keyboard mouse equiv. | P | all | P | P | some |
|
SET-UP |
|||||
| MIDI system commands | no | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Set instrument modes | yes | no | no | yes | no |
| MIDI slow option | no | no | yes | yes | no |
| Sync to external device | no | no | yes | yes | no |
| Song pointer | no | no | no | yes | yes |
| Beats/measure range | NA | NA | 1-999 | 1-16 | 1-99 |
| Tempo (beats/min) | 1-480 | ? | 10-999 | 12-480 | 40-213 |
| Metronome | a/v | no | a/v | a | a/v |
| Free memory indicator | yes | yes | no | yes | yes |
| Format data disk | yes | no | no | no | no |
|
DATA ENTRY |
|||||
| Count-in | no | no | yes | yes | yes |
| MIDI channels/track | 1 | 1-16 | 1-16 | 1 | 1 |
| Set cue point | no | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Punch in/out | no | no | no | yes | no |
| Step-time recording | all | no | all | N,V,PC | all |
| Filtering | no | no | CC,AT | AT | all |
| MIDI thru | yes | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Step-time playback | yes | no | yes | yes | no |
| Track name length | 16 | 8 | 8 | 24 | NA |
|
EDITING |
|||||
| Edit modes | T,S | no | T,S,E | T,S,E | S,E |
| Track manipulations | C,M | no | C,M,D,R | C,M,D,R | no |
| Transpose octave range | 4 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 8 |
| Parameter scaling | no | no | all | no | no |
| Event manipulations | no | no | all | N,PC | all |
| Time correct location | yes | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Time correct duration | no | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Event hardcopy | no | no | yes | no | yes |
KEY TO CHARTS
AT = aftertouch
C = copy
CC = MIDI controller
CD = change drive
CK = ST keyboard
CP = cut and paste
CZ = CZ-101/1000/5000/CZ-1/CZ-230S
D = delete file
E = event
F = format disk
FF = fast forward
ID = insert/delete
M = merge tracks
ME = measure counter
MK = MIDI keyboard
N = note
PC = program change
P = performance features only
R = rename file
RW = rewind
S = segment
SW = swap
T = track
TM = tempo
V = velocity
The ST has become electronic music's favorite computer, thanks to its low price, high power and built-in MID! ports. These charts compare the features of MIDI programs for the ST; they're compiled from reviews and charts that have appeared in previous issues of START. For ongoing coverage of MID! software and hardware for the ST. turn to every issue of START, the ST Quarterly-the #1 Guide to MIDI for the Atari ST!
List Of Manufacturers
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Pro Creator, $240. Steinberg Research, distributed by the Russ Jones Marketing
Group, 17700 Raymer St., Suite 11, Boston, MA 02118. (617) 353-4815
CIRCLE 262 ON READER SERVICE CARD -
Perfect Patch, $59. Aegix, P.O. Box 9488, Reno, NV 89507. (702) 329-1943
CIRCLE 251 ON READER SERVICE CARD -
Xsyn, S 149.95. Beam Team, 6100 Adeline Street. Oakland, CA 94608. (415)
658-3208
CIRCLE 252 ON READER SERVICE CARD -
SYS-EX. $150. Key Clique, Inc., 3960 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Suite 374, Studio
City CA 91604. (818) 905-9136
CIRCLE 257 ON READER SERVICE CARD -
K3PO + Synth-Droid, S99.95; Casio Synth-Droid and DW8000 Synth-Droid, $79.95.
Compu-mates, 8621 Wilshire Blvd., #177, Beverly Hills, CA 90211. (213)
271-7410; (818) 904-0661
CIRCLE 253 ON READER SERVICE CARD -
MIDI Recording Studio, $59; CZ Patch, $99; DX Heaven, 599. Dr. T's Music
Software, 66 Louise Road, Chestnut Hill, MA 02167. (617) 244-6954
CIRCLE 254 ON READER SERVICE CARD -
MIDlplay, $49. Electronic Music Publishing House, Inc., 2210 Wilshire Blvd.,
Suite 488, Santa Monica, CA 90403. (213) 455-2025
CIRCLE 255 ON READER SERVICE CARD -
EZ-Track, $65; CZ-Android, $99.95. Hybrid Arts, Inc., 11920 West Olympic
Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064. (213) 826-3777
CIRCLE 256 ON READER SERVICE CARD -
Super Conductor, $79.95. MichTron, 576 S. Telegraph, Pontiac, Ml 48053.
(313) 334-5700
CIRCLE 258 ON READER SERVICE CARD -
MIDI Magic, $39.95. Micro-W Distributing, Inc., 1342B Route 23. Butler,
NJ 07405. (201) 838-9027
CIRCLE 259 ON READER SERVICE CARD -
MIDIsoft Studio, $99. MlDlsoft Corporation, P.O. Box 1000, Bellevue, WA
98009. (206) 827-0750
CIRCLE 260 ON READER SERVICE CARD -
Data Dumpstor ST, $89.95; TR707 Dumpstor, $64.95. Music Service Software,
801 Wheeler Road, Madison, WI 53704. (608) 241-5615
CIRCLE 261 ON READER SERVICE CARD -
The Music Studio, $59.95. Activision, Inc., 2350 Bayshore Parkway, Mountain
View CA 94039. (415) 960-0410
CIRCLE 250 ON READER SERVICE CARD -
ST Music Box, $49.95. Xient Software, P.O. Box 5228, Springfield, VA 22150.
(703) 644-8881
CIRCLE 263 ON READER SERVICE CARD