Whether you see it as sleeping with the enemy or simple self‑preservation, Atari users are increasingly defecting to Mac and PC emulation packages. Ofir Gal considers some of the available options.
It's been a quiet month for developments on the Atari computing front. Various updates of existing software have been released, including a new version of CAB, the Atari Web Browser, although it is still lagging far behind Netscape for the PC and Mac. It seems like a good time to look at the options Atari owners have to upgrade. It is worth noting that the days when the Falcon was the only computer capable of direct‑to‑disk recording without additional hardware are gone. The new Cubase v3.0 for the Mac, for example, is capable of recording up to 32 tracks of digital audio on Power Macs without extra hardware, and has a price tag of only £329 (compared with £699 for the Falcon version). Additional hardware is expected in the near future to provide multiple Mac audio outputs and inputs (like the Falcon's FA8), and an S/PDIF interface similar to the Falcon FDI is also on the cards, though neither of these is available yet. Meanwhile, development of PC software and hardware is moving forward at a staggering rate. Development for the Falcon is almost at a standstill.
One way of escaping this trap is to get a Mac or a PC and run it alongside your Atari computer. That way, you can use each for what it does best. Many have done this, but in most cases the new computer gradually takes over, and the Atari is left unused. Another possible route is to buy a Mac or PC and an Atari emulator that lets you run Atari programs on the new computer.
Emulation
Emulation is a complex issue, with many pitfalls from both the programmer's, and the user's point of view. In simple terms, an emulator works like a translator, converting Atari computer instruction code to PC or Mac‑speak. It is generally simpler to emulate an Atari on an Apple Mac or a Commodore Amiga because these computers use the same main processor. However, if you have ever looked inside a computer, you will know that there is more than one processor in it. So, even though the main processor is the same, other chips, such as the ones responsible for the graphics, MIDI and mouse control, are very different. On PCs, the task of emulation is even more difficult, because the main processor is a completely different beast. The job of the ultimate emulator would be to perfectly mimic both the Atari hardware and the operating system (TOS). This is practically impossible, so a compromise has to be found.
Magic Mac
Most Atari users will find the Mac natural, and in many ways similar to the ST — after all, the ST was inspired by the Mac. MagiC is an alternative operating system for Atari computers. It is almost identical to TOS but provides several enhancements, including the ability to multitask several programs. MagiC Mac is simply an implementation of the operating system that runs on the Mac. It does not emulate an Atari in the strict sense, but merely provides a way for Atari programs to run on the Mac. This works well as long as the program in question does not try to access Atari‑specific hardware such as the cartridge or MIDI ports. Unfortunately, all MIDI sequencers do just that, and are therefore incompatible with MagiC Mac. The practical approach to MagiC Mac is to use a native Mac MIDI sequencer and use MagiC Mac to run word processors and graphics applications.
MagiC Mac runs best on the older range of Macintosh computers based on the 030 or 040 processor. A fast Quadra, for example, can be up to 10 times faster than a basic ST when running Atari programs. The newer Power Macintosh computers can also run MagiC Mac, but are not as fast. They do have the advantage of 16‑bit stereo sound hardware, capable of direct‑to‑disk recording.
The minimum requirement for MagiC Mac is an 030‑based Macintosh computer with at least 8Mb of RAM. Note that MagiC Mac is incompatible with any form of virtual memory on the Mac, but it can utilise as much memory as you throw at it. MagiC Mac can run in any screen resolution, supporting up to 256 colours, and even allows printing and the use of a modem. Its sound emulation is limited to beeps, but it will happily read and write to Atari‑formatted floppy disks, CD‑ROMs and hard drives, as well as Mac formatted ones. Since MagiC Mac is completely disk‑based, no hardware installation is required. When MagiC is running it takes over the whole screen, but you can switch between Mac and Atari mode at any time using a keyboard shortcut.
MagiC Mac costs £149.95 and is available from System Solutions (tel: 0181 693 3355).
Gemulator
PCs have the advantages of being a little cheaper than Macs, and of enjoying the status of an industry standard, although not necessarily the music industry standard. There are plenty of high‑quality PC sequencing and music‑related applications on the market, though PC hard disk recording requires additional hardware such as a soundcard. Many soundcards are limited to a maximum of four tracks, and cannot play and record at the same time, making overdubbing nearly impossible. The more expensive cards and top‑end external units are normally used for production‑quality material.
The GEMulator is a combined hardware and software Atari emulator for the PC. The hardware includes an optional set of TOS 2.06 ROMs (same as on the MegaSTE) and comes on an ISA card, which is easy to fit into any desktop or tower system. A smaller version of the card is expected later this year, to support portable models as well. Using the Atari's original operating system ensures better compatibility with Atari programs, but means that the GEMulator can only run one program at a time. Emulating a Motorola 68000 on an Intel CPU is a complex affair and as would be expected, the GEMulator is not as fast as MagiC Mac. Even so, a low‑end Pentium based PC is faster than a Falcon.
Currently at version 4.15, GEMulator requires a 486 or Pentium PC with at least 8Mb of memory. It runs best under Windows 95, but also works under the older Windows 3.1, or even under DOS and OS/2. The system supports up to 14Mb of RAM, CD‑ROMs and extended SVGA screen resolutions, but is limited to 16 colours. Unlike MagiC Mac, GEMulator does not occupy the complete PC screen, so you can have an Atari program running alongside Windows programs. It supports both modem and printer ports, and even the MIDI port, although this is of limited use as most MIDI programs require a protection dongle — and the GEMulator has no cartridge port.
GEMulator (including TOS 2.06 ROMs) costs £149.95, and is available from FaST Club (tel: 0115 945 5250)
Reality Check
Dedicated Atari owners will no doubt be disappointed to see that I am recommending PCs and Macs to Atari users. But it really depends on your requirements. If the Falcon or ST meet your musical needs, then stay with them. But if you find that you need proper Internet access, or want to use programs like Photoshop you don't have much choice but to desert your Atari. The new audio versions of Cubase are just the beginning. Before you know it, the Falcon will no longer be unique in its ability to deliver digital audio straight out of the box. Me? I'm still using that old MegaST, and waiting impatiently for the C‑Lab Mk X to finally arrive... When it does, I promise to tell you all about it.