Re: Need IIe, IIgs MIDI software

[Mitch Monger <m@m.com>]

> Michael J. Mahon wrote:
Mitch Monger wrote:

> I must be missing something--having the DOC integrated into
> a capable machine like the IIgs, which can be trivially adapted
> to MIDI in/out, would seem to make a "IIgs MIDIbox" be simply
> a matter of programming...

In addition to the capabilities of the SID, The MIDIbox also has 
built into it:

* 2 additional envelopes with optional non-linear curve which
  can be assigned to Pitch, Pulsewidth and Filters
* 6 additional LFOs with different waveforms which can be
  assigned to Pitch, Pulsewidth and Filters
* Fine Tuning
* Pitch Bender
* Portamento/Glide function
* Delays
* optional Oscillator Synchronization
* Arpeggiator
* Poly, Mono and Legato Mode
* seperate keyboard zones for each voice (key splitting) allows
  to play voices seperately
* Free controller assignments to Modulation Wheel, Velocity and
  Aftertouch
* wave and CC sequences which allow more percussive sounds
  (Wavetables)
* the wavetable sequencer can be combined with the arpeggiator in
  order to realize complex textures
* LFOs, Envelopes, Wavetables, Arpeggios optionally syncable via
  external MIDI clock
* up to 6 CV ins with 8 bit resolution which are forwarded to the
  LFOs (6th waveform) and can control the OSC frequency,
  pulsewidth and filter
* up to 8 CV outs with 12 bit resolution (in experimental state)
* OS independent SysEx editor based on JSynthLib
* BankStick support (128 sound patches per stick)
* can be used as .sid file player (see MIOS Download section)
* optional minimal control unit (Step A)
* the possibility to control up to 4 SIDs (Step B)
* a complete control surface (Step C)

There are also those bright flashy LEDs and twiddly knobs. 
Nothing beats knobs and sliders for most musicians. Of course, an 
external MIDI controller would do that. And an add-on card for 
extra DOC chips?

But what about the many functions listed above? Are they possible 
to do in software on a IIgs? Would you need a faster processor 
and bus to handle all of this? Another thing I'm wondering is 
that is it possible that Ensoniq somehow hobbled its chip in the 
IIgs so that it wouldn't compete with their synths? Think 
Motorola ROKR vs iPod. This probably isn't an issue, but it might be.

http://www.vintagesynth.com/ has the general specifications of 
the Ensoniq ESQ-1 synthesizer. I wonder if it would be possible 
to emulate this, or even part of it on a IIgs. Perhaps the big 
sticking point would be the analog filters and envelopes which 
would need to be emulated. I don't know. Wish I wasn't such a 
greenhorn about all this.

-Mitch Monger