Re: True Midi & Soundsmith/MOD composer

[irsman@iastate.edu (Ian Schmidt)]

In article <dwellman.335l@amiganet.xnet.com> dwellman@amiganet.xnet.com (Dan Wellman) writes:

>I was wondering if anything exists for the GS that allows composition/playing
>of MIDI files and SS songs (thru the GS) at the same time?  (In other words,
>have part playing thru your keyboard via MIDI, and maybe the percussion
>playing thru the GS, Soundsmith-style?)

Sounds like you want MegaTracker.  I don't know if it'll ever be released, but
it does these things right now...you haven't lived until you've heard
FUN.MUSIC.* on a modern 16-bit synth, or Import MIDI File'd :)

>Such an application would be certainly cool.  Maybe one could even
>load in the MIDI file (edited in MTPro, touched up or whatever) , so the
>program wouldn't necessarily have to do extensive MIDI data editing, just
>SS editing.

MT does that too, although the tracker model and MIDI are pretty horribly
mismatched, so it's kinda a hack :)

>I know Soundsmith has an AWFUL timing system (it's either too fast or
>too slow, no in-betweens) so I gather the program would have to have a 
>more flexible tempo selector, to coincide with the MIDI file's bpm/speed.

MT allows 8 clock speeds, which are sub-governed by the usual SS system.  This
means you can nail 30-300+ BPM with very acceptable gaps between the speeds :)

>Is there anything like this in development?

It's been in development since early 1991, and I wouldn't hold my breath.  But
it does exist, the GS -can- do it :)  (watch for some converted MIDI files, in
SoundSmith format...hehehe :)

-- 
Ian Schmidt / irsman@iastate.edu / IRSMan@aol.com
"I wanna decide who lives and who dies" - Crow, MST3K