START VOL. 2 NO. 4 / SPECIAL ISSUE #2 / PAGE 96
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GENERAL FEATURES |
CZ PATCH |
CZ-ANDROID |
PERFECT
PATCH |
DX HEAVEN |
XSYN |
SYNTH-DROID |
| Version reviewed | 1.0 | 9/24/86 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | |
| Price | $99 | $99 | $59 | $99 | $99.95 | $79.95-$99.95 |
| Number of banks stored (SS disk) | 87 | 146 | 74 | 43 | ? | 25,000-30,000 patches |
| Sample patch banks supplied | 15 | 2 | 1 | 24 | no | 2000 patches |
| Copy protected | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | key |
| GEM utilization | some | full | full | some | full | some |
| Allow desk accessories | no | yes | yes | no | yes | yes |
| Keyboard equivalents to mouse | yes | yes | no | some | yes | some |
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SET-UP |
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| Assign MIDI channel | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Synths supported | CZ | CZ | DX-7/TX | DX-7TX | CZ, Yamaha
DX21/27/100, DX7/TX, Roland |
CZ,Korg DW8000 |
| Number of patch banks displayed | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | ? |
| MIDI thru/channelization | no | no | yes | yes | thru only | yes/yes |
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LIBRARY FUNCTIONS |
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| Display file name for bank | yes | no | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Store patch/envelope files | yes/yes | yes/no | yes/no | yes/no | no/no | yes/yes |
| Move single patch/bank | yes/yes | yes/yes | yes/yes | yes/no | yes/yes | yes |
| Patch name length | 8 | 16 | 10 | 10 | 10 | yes |
| Hardcopy bank patch names | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| File edit options | no | D,F,R | D,R | F | no | no |
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EDIT FUNCTIONS |
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| Smart editor | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Graphic envelope editing | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Number of simultanious graphs | 3 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Voice edit options | C,SW | C,SW | C | C | C,CP | C.SW |
| Envelope edit options | C,SW,ID | C,SW | C | C | C,CP | C,SW |
| Envelope scaling | yes | no | no | no | no | yes |
| Compare edit to original | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Unedit | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| AI patch generation | no | yes | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Test souind from keyboard | yes | no | yes | yes | no | yes |
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| GENERAL FEATURES | MUSIC BOX | MUSIC STUDIO | MIDIPLAY | MIDI VIEW |
| Version reciewed | 1.1 | - | v425 | - |
| Price | $49.95 | $59.95 | $49.95 | $49.95 |
| Nimber of tracks | 8 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Number of simul. voices | 8 | 15 | 16 | 16 |
| Copy protected | no | yes | yes | no |
| Input sources | CK | CK,MK | MK,PD | MK,PD |
| Monitor resolution | med/high | low | med/high | low |
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SET-UP |
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| MIDI/monitor output | yes/yes | yes/yes | yes/yes | yes/no |
| Assign MIDI voicings | yes | yes | no | no |
| Assign MIDI effects | some | no | no | no |
| Programable int synth | no | yes | yes | no |
| Free memory indicator | yes | yes | no | NA |
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DATA INPUT |
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| Real time data recorded | no | no | all | NA |
| Step time data recorded | N,PC,TM | N | no | NA |
| Number of time signatures | 4 | 8 | NA | NA |
| Smart measure entry | yes | no | NA | NA |
| MIDI note range | 24-83 | 0-120 | 0-127 | 0-127 |
| Note timing resolution | 1/32 | 1/32 | NA | NA |
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EDITING FUNCTIONS |
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| File edit options | no | F,D,R | no | no |
| Segment edit options | CP,I,D | CP,I,D | CP | NA |
| Transpose/octave range | yes/2 | yes/5 | yes/1 | no |
| Duration scaling | no | yes | no | NA |
| Add lyrics/song title | no/no | yes/yes | no | NA |
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PLAYBACK |
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| Vary tempo | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Set cue point | yes | yes | yes | no |
| Play selected tracks | yes | yes | NA | NA |
| Medly play | no | no | yes | yes |
| Music disk cost | NA | NA | $19.95 | $19.95 |
| BBS song files | few | many | NA | NA |
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SCORING |
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| Single voice score | yes | yes | no | no |
| Sheet music score | limited | yes | no | no |
| Add enhancements | text,pic | no | NA | NA |
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GENERAL FEATURES |
SYS/EX |
DATA
DUMPSTER |
TR707
DUMPSTER |
PRO
CREATOR |
| Version reviewed | 2.0 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| Price | $150 | $89.95 | $64.95 | $240 |
| Need TOS in ROM | no | no | no | yes |
| Copy protected | yes | yes | yes | chip |
| GEM utilization | no | full | full | full |
| Allow desk accessories | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Mouse based | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Desk accessory version | no | yes | yes | no |
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SET-UP |
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| Instruments supported | MIDI 1.0 | MISI 1.0 | TR707/727 | DX-7/TX |
| Hard drive supported | yes | yes | no | no |
| Free memory indicator | yes | yes | NA | NA |
| MIDI slow option | built-in | yes | NA | no |
| Support folders | no | yes | yes | no |
| # MIDI data files displayed | 1 | 20 | 20 | 2 |
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REQUEST/MIDI FILE FUNCTIONS |
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| Request files on disk | no | yes | NA | yes |
| MIDI data buffer size | 350K | 310K | NA | NA |
| Smart "buffer full" recovery | yes | no | no | NA |
| Create composie MIDI files | yes | yes | NA | NA |
| Request looping option | yes | yes | NA | NA |
| File edit options | C,D | D,F | D,F | D |
| Name individual tracks | NA | NA | yes | NA |
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GENERAL FEATURES |
EZ-TRACK |
MIDIPLAY |
MIDI REC
STUDIO |
MIDISOFT
STUDIO |
SUPER
CONDUCTOR |
| Version reviewed | 1.0 | 425 | 1.0 | 2.10 | 1.3 |
| Price | $65 | $49.95 | $39 | $99 | $69 |
| # Tracks | 20 | 1 | 8 | 32 | 16 |
| Event capacity (520ST) | 27,000 | 250,000 | ? | 30,000 | ? |
| Copy protected | no | yes | yes | no | no |
| GEM utilization | full | no | some | full | full |
| Allow desk accessories | yes | no | no | yes | yes |
| Keyboard mouse equiv. | P | all | P | P | some |
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SET-UP |
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| MIDI system commands | no | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Set instrument modes | yes | no | no | yes | no |
| MIDI slow option | no | no | yes | yes | no |
| Sync to external device | no | no | yes | yes | no |
| Song pointer | no | no | no | yes | yes |
| Beats/measure range | NA | NA | 1-999 | 1-16 | 1-99 |
| Tempo (beats/min) | 1-480 | ? | 10-999 | 12-480 | 40-213 |
| Metronome | a/v | no | a/v | a | a/v |
| Free memory indicator | yes | yes | no | yes | yes |
| Format data disk | yes | no | no | no | no |
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DATA ENTRY |
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| Count-in | no | no | yes | yes | yes |
| MIDI channels/track | 1 | 1-16 | 1-16 | 1 | 1 |
| Set cue point | no | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Punch in/out | no | no | no | yes | no |
| Step-time recording | all | no | all | N,V,PC | all |
| Filtering | no | no | CC,AT | AT | all |
| MIDI thru | yes | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Step-time playback | yes | no | yes | yes | no |
| Track name length | 16 | 8 | 8 | 24 | NA |
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EDITING |
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| Edit modes | T,S | no | T,S,E | T,S,E | S,E |
| Track manipulations | C,M | no | C,M,D,R | C,M,D,R | no |
| Transpose octave range | 4 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 8 |
| Parameter scaling | no | no | all | no | no |
| Event manipulations | no | no | all | N,PC | all |
| Time correct location | yes | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Time correct duration | no | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Event hardcopy | no | no | yes | no | yes |
KEY TO CHARTS
AT = aftertouch
C = copy
CC = MIDI controller
CD = change drive
CK = ST keyboard
CP = cut and paste
CZ = CZ-101/1000/5000/CZ-1/CZ-230S
D = delete file
E = event
F = format disk
FF = fast forward
ID = insert/delete
M = merge tracks
ME = measure counter
MK = MIDI keyboard
N = note
PC = program change
P = performance features only
R = rename file
RW = rewind
S = segment
SW = swap
T = track
TM = tempo
V = velocity
The ST has become electronic music's favorite computer, thanks to its low price, high power and built-in MID! ports. These charts compare the features of MIDI programs for the ST; they're compiled from reviews and charts that have appeared in previous issues of START. For ongoing coverage of MID! software and hardware for the ST. turn to every issue of START, the ST Quarterly-the #1 Guide to MIDI for the Atari ST!
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