Re: Need IIe, IIgs MIDI software

["Michael J. Mahon" <mjmahon@aol.com>]

Mitch replied:

<snip long list of snazzy features  ;-) >

>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?

If _lots_ of extra hardware is needed, then using the IIgs as is
becomes less desirable.

But I thought that one DOC chip was enough for one IIgs, and
that a mouse/GUI simulated panel might replace the real panel
knobs, sliders, LEDs, and switches.  Obviously not, for someone
who wants that "hands on" feel.  ;-)

>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.

It would have to be evaluated on a feature-by-feature basis.
I expect that much of it could be done just with software.

I doubt that the DOC was hobbled, since any change in a chip
is expensive.  And the IIgs is an unlikely competitor for a
dedicated synth.

>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.

The filters are, indeed, a problem.  The SID has a versatile
filter built in, but the DOC--and the IIgs--does not.  The
65816, even accelerated, is no match for real-time digital
filtering.  ;-(

-michael
 
Music synthesis for 8-bit Apple II's
http://members.aol.com/mjmahon