Re: What Can "SynthLAB" do?

[irsman@winternet.com (Ian Schmidt)]

In article <4o5mhf$p0p@news.smart.net>, E.G. Land <land@> wrote:
>
>	I've only had my 2gs for a couple of months when I decided to
>	run the synthLAB icon.
>
>	I was amazed at how powerful this program seemed. I'm thinking
>	I can actually compose music with it.
>
>	Problem is (a). No manual, and, (b). I don't write or read 
>	music.

The answer is "not much" unless you also have a PC or Mac around running
some sort of sequencer, a MIDI controller (usually a synth keyboard,
can be a wind controller), and a MIDI interface for the IIgs.  synthLAB
was intended by Mark Cecys as essentially a proof of concept for the
MIDISynth toolset, and as such doesn't have any editing features of any kind;
it can simply record incoming live MIDI.  Note that Dave Tribby has a pair
of programs which allow importing MIDI files into synthLAB, and constructing
instrument banks (Midi Surgeon and, uhh, I'm drawing a blank on the second).
The former's only available from GS+ (or was, GS+ is out of business now so
I'm unsure of the status on the 'ware).

If you do have the right equipment, synthLAB can be a fun toy, although the
7-voice limitation is EXTREMELY irritating.  Mark Cecys later relased
SoundProcess, which works a lot like synthLAB, only it has 16 voice polyphony
and neat filters.  (Oh yeah, it runs on the Ensoniq Mirage sampler, which
uses the same 5503 DOC as the IIgs.  Neat old box, and they're cheap now too).
--
Ian Schmidt - irsman@winternet.com - http://www.winternet.com/~irsman/
    "Where would I be without IBM?" - P. Robb, Information Society