The recent Goodman PDL computer shows proved that music is alive and well in the Atari world. Derek Johnson features a show report, rounds up a bargain shareware collection and generally keeps you up to date with all things Atari.
PD Library Floppyshop have released a six‑disk, 51‑program pack of Atari MIDI and audio software. Priced at an amazing £8 plus postage (£1.25 UK, £2.25 Europe and £3 rest of the world), MIDI Programs Volume 1 gathers together sundry useful PD and shareware programs, utilities, desk accessories and MIDI help files, Standard MIDI File players, System Exclusive utilities (including Ben Hall's excellent Dump It), algorithmic composers (with Schoenberg, offering instant 12‑tone compositions from user‑defined note rows, a stand‑out) and arpeggiators. Martin Russ' IROS (Instant Randomising Octave Sequencer) is one of three arpeggiators featured, one of which works as a desk accessory. I've never used Petri Sinisalo's Real Arp or the Phonix MIDI Arpeggiator before, but they offer plenty of possibilities. Martin Russ is also further represented with his test utilities (MIDI Rat and MIDI Channel Scope). There are a few delay‑time calculators as well, which let you quickly work out the values needed to produce timed delays. All in all, it's a fine collection, but paper documentation is scant, so head to the Read Me files. I may well give some of this software specific coverage in future. Can't wait for Volume Two! Just remember that some software in this pack is shareware: if you use it, pay the registration fee.
Incidentally, Floppyshop are also marketing a four‑disk MIDI file pack (just £5, plus postage as above), which contains a large and varied collection, including classical, jazz, pop files and more. Because these are SMFs, and the disks are PC‑formatted, the collection isn't restricted to ST users: PC and Mac users can also take advantage of it. One last Floppyshop snippet: the library is now on the Internet: point your browser at www.netkonect.net/tachyon/flopshop/.
Net Gains
Wessex Atari Group, whom we featured briefly several months ago, have moved their web site to a new server (www.users.zetnet.co.uk/rgoring/wag/). The new site is steadily expanding, and contains loads of info and links for all users of the Atari. As an Internet service provider ZetNet (telephone 01595 696667, fax 01595 696548) offer good value, at £80 a year, or slightly more if you pay in instalments. They've also recently upgraded their hardware (as a ZetNet user myself, I can vouch for the improvements), and quite a few 'Atarians' are on hand to help, via ZetNet Atari‑specific newsgroups. Tell 'em I sent you!
Showing Out
Regular readers of this column will know that Goodman's PDL (01782 335650) ran a couple of Atari shows at the end of April; Sunrise Audio Systems' Sol Barnet was actually there, and he files this report.
"The general feeling of the two shows was positive and encouraging, with attendance up on the last event, and we also got proof that plenty of musicians are still using the ST and Falcon for making music. On display was a host of new products and software updates. Titan Designs and Black Scorpion [telephone 0121 693 6669, fax 0121 414 1630, email 100345.2350@compuserve.com], two companies fully behind the Falcon as a platform, showed off two new system accelerators — Nemesis and Afterburner 040 — both working in conjunction with their new screen‑resolution enhancer, Videlity. Titan also announced that they will be staying with the Falcon platform for the foreseeable future, with forthcoming products including Apex Audio, an audio manipulation program with advanced DSP and audio editing and recording.
"Best Electronics are a good company to know, in spite of being based in the USA [telephone 001 408 243 6950, fax 001 408 243 8274]. They had on show every conceivable Atari spare part, and offer a quick and reliable service.
"The biggest stand was manned by System Solutions, and plenty of bargains were on offer, including new STs, packaged with Steinberg's Cubase Score and a monochrome monitor. Also on show were software updates for Zero X, which now includes hard disk recording, Audio Master, Audio Tracker and CD Recorder from SoundPool, all supporting new colour interfaces, bug fixes and new features. Incidentally, System Solutions' web site is undergoing a revamp; log on to the old address [www.ssolutions.com/], and you'll find a forwarding address when the new site is up and running.
"ST music software specialists Electronic Cow [1462 281347] showed off the latest versions of their MIDI Arpeggiator, Sound Chip Synth and Snippit Synth, and we at Sunrise Audio Systems [01379 853845 — note new number] showed our new audio workstation, and provided the music for most of the weekend. We can also now supply the whole of the SoundPool range.
"Last, but not least, The Upgrade Shop [01925 503448], who also had a presence at the show, have designed a new internal IDE adaptor for the ST, which provides a cost‑effective way for ST users to access low‑cost IDE drives (the difference in price between SCSI and IDE hard drives and CD‑ROM drives can be quite staggering) and install them inside the STE. Sharing The Upgrade Shop stand were Keychange Music [01925 266120], and apart from touting their service and repair service, they were showing off a very sturdy 19‑inch rackmounting case for ST computers. The options are vast here, but the case can accommodate an ST or Falcon motherboard (or two), two 5.25‑inch bays (for CD‑ROM or extra floppy drives), an IDE interface and a hard drive — the dongle port can even be sited internally. All that's required is to plug in a Mega keyboard."