Seth

Use Old Mac As Midi Instrument?

I have two BitHeadz soft synths (Retro AS-1 and Unity DS-1) on my old OS8 G3. BitHeadz is sadly no longer in business and so I've gotten used to the idea of never using these synths again. Recently, however, I fired up the old Mac to check some old equipment out. While I had it on, I played with the AS-1 and realized how much I enjoyed this synth. So, it got me thinking - is there a way to wire the old Mac into my MIDI set up such that it could be addressed as just another MIDI instrument. The old Mac uses OMS of course. Any thoughts? Any other ideas about how to access these instruments?

I've considered sampling my favorite AS-1 sounds but that's just too much work. I could also record tracks into DP as audio, export the audio files and load into DP on my new Mac. Also seems like too much work. Or I give up and find something equivalent that's compatible - suggestions on that?

Thanks for any advice.

Os X And Midi Patch Lists (semi-rant)

With a certain amount of difficulty I am able to create CoreMIDI-aware XML instrument definitions and patch lists and access them in Digital Performer. So, for example, I created a middev file for my Yamaha S90 and midnam file for its patches. I start with a patch name text file and use Excel to wrap the XML doo-dads around the info and it works fine.

However, with OMS the patch lists were independent of the physical bank settings of the synthesizer. Each patch in a patch list had it's own bank/patch controller setting values (MSB/LSB). Thus, you could create a patch list of basses, of leads, of your favorite patches from a particular synth. In OS X, the patch lists are tied directly to the synthesizer's bank setting - the MSB/LSB values are provided in the header for each patch list so all the patches have to come from the same bank. On most of my synths, the patches are either randomly distributed across the various banks, or they appear in clumps (bunch of keyboards together) but multiple times. Someone suggested that I could fiddle with the banks, grouping patches together within each bank. But that seems like a lot of effort - and still would not allow a patch list to draw patches from multiple physical banks.

I have come to rely on the patch lists in DP and really regret the fact that the change to the XML format has reduced the flexibility available under OMS.

Midi Setup Puzzle

I use my synthesizer set-up in two different ways. First, I like to use my keyboard (Yamaha S90) to directly play the other synths (Wavestation SR, Triton Rack, Proteus 2000, Boss drums), manually changing patches/settings/etc. This makes it easy to audition patches, try out different layers and mixes. The other way I use the synthesizers is for writing music - I fire up the Mac and DP and control the assignment of instruments, and patches, through DP.

For the first set-up, I connect the keyboard MIDI out to the MIDI interface PortA-In and the first module MIDI in to PartA-Out. The other rack units connect for the first one using MIDI through. I hit the bypass switch on the MIDI interface (MOTU Fastlane). I use multi-zone setups on the S90 and fiddle with the "multi" setups on the modules to control which ones hear which MIDI channels. Or not, just let them all blast away. It's a lot of fun and really gets the creative juices flowing.

For the second set-up, the keyboard MIDI in/out are on the same port, ditto the first module (I use the Triton). The other units still connect using MIDI through, starting from the Triton. So, I have to switch the MIDI cables and hit the switch on the Fastlane. Not the end of the world, I guess, but there must be a better way. Any thoughts? By the say, I'm thinking of getting another MIDI interface which will provide in/out for all the devices so I can more easily use software patch editing/library functions. I'm thinking of getting MOTU's 5x5, can't remember what it's called. Any other suggestions?

Thanks,

SEth

Audio Units Vs Vst (mac Vs Pc?)

[Couldn't find existing recent posting on this topic - hope this isn't redundant]

As a long-term Mac user, I'm a little unsettled by the apparent drift towards a VST/PC-centric support model for virtual synths. I see several new players in the audio/midi sequencing market on the PC (e.g., FL Studio, Synapse/Orion) that support VST and some indications that newer virtual synths may be targeting VST/PC.

Somebody tell me that there's nothing to worry about - that audio units on the Mac will be around "for ever". I'm thinking about getting some more Native Instruments synths (have their Absynth plus Spectrasonics' Atmosphere) but beginning to wonder about direction over the long haul. Stick with DP now that I'm finally getting the hang of it? Or, horrors, consider switching the music stuff to my highly capable PC, now just serving time as a game player.

Seth