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Conference napalm::commusic_v1

Title:* * Computer Music, MIDI, and Related Topics * *
Notice:Conference has been write-locked. Use new version.
Moderator:DYPSS1::SCHAFER
Created:Thu Feb 20 1986
Last Modified:Mon Aug 29 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2852
Total number of notes:33157

1072.0. "Mark of the Unicorn Performer v2.0 Available" by LEDS::ORIN (Raucous Roland Renegades) Wed Dec 16 1987 18:36

Macintosh Performer V2.0 now available from Mark of the Unicorn, Inc.

New features:

TEMPO:

tempo changes at any tick location in a measure
multiple tempo changes within a sequence
instantaneous or smooth tempo changes over a defined region of time
calculate constant and smooth tempos based on time between two points

EDIT COMMANDS:

Snip - cuts data from the selected region and shifts music to fill gap
Splice - Works like paste + inserts
Shift - Slides the selected region forward or backward in time
Repeat - makes specified number of copies of selected region

LOOPING:

Each track can be looped independently of other tracks
Each track can contain several independent and/or nested loops
Record while looping

METER CHANGES:

Multiple meters within the same sequence

MULTI-RECORD:

Record up to 32 tracks simultaneously

REGION EDITING:

Partially quantize notes
Thin out continuous data such as aftertouch or pitch bend
Change velocity

CONTROLS WINDOW:

Auto-stop at specified point in sequence
Auto-rewind to specified location when playback stopped
Memory-shuttle plays continuously between two points
Auto-stop / Auto-rewind allows consecutive recording passes

SMPTE REAL TIME DISPLAY:

Counter window can display any combination of SMPTE frames
SMPTE time lock
markers window

Numerous bug fixes and performance enhancements

Cost of upgrade kit for registered Performer users:

$95.00 includes the complete $395.00 software and documentation package

Retail price: $395.00 for first time purchasers

Mark of the Unicorn, Inc.
222 Third Street
Cambridge, MA 02142
(617) 576-2760

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1072.1SALSA::MOELLERgood credibility.. really !Thu Dec 17 1987 13:176
    I use Performer 1.0.. the new track looping and multiple tempos
    and time signatures make the upgrade well worth it !
    
    saving mah pennies,
    
    karl
1072.2add sales taxLEDS::ORINRaucous Roland RenegadesThu Dec 17 1987 14:588
Cost of upgrade kit for registered Performer users:

$95.00 includes the complete $395.00 software and documentation package

>> I forgot to mention the 5% sales tax for Mass. residents, so it is $99.75
>> for the upgrade. I'm not sure if the $395.00 retail includes the sales tax.
>> Best bet would be to contact Mark of the Unicorn (see note .0)

1072.3Version 1.2?FGVAXZ::LAINGPipe Dreamer * Jim Laing * 261-2194Wed Dec 30 1987 13:326
    Is Performer 1.2 the 'current version', that is, before 2.0 came
    out?
     
    Is 1.2 'buggy' or just missing some important features?
    
    
1072.41.2 ok, 2.1 next?LEDS::ORINRaucous Roland RenegadesTue Jan 05 1988 10:4815
>< Note 1072.3 by FGVAXZ::LAING "Pipe Dreamer * Jim Laing * 261-2194" >
>                               -< Version 1.2? >-
>
>    Is Performer 1.2 the 'current version', that is, before 2.0 came
>    out?
>     
>    Is 1.2 'buggy' or just missing some important features?
    
1.2 is the latest that I know about. I just sent off my $95.00 for the latest
update. 1.2 seems to work fine, but was missing things like tempo and meter
changes. Mark of the Unicorn seems to be stalling, so they may not ship 2.0
and may ship 2.1 instead. I think I remember reading that somewhere in the
flyer they sent me. I'll keep you posted.    

Dave
1072.5V2.2 receivedLEDS::ORINEnsoniq, is EPS a Mirage?Fri Jan 15 1988 12:1211
I just received Performer 2.2 in the mail. It came with a new manual that
is twice as thick as the previous one. I haven't had a chance to use it
yet, except to install it on my hard disk, call it up, load a saved
sequence, and play it. The recorder controls are much smaller. There is a
new window for tempo and meter.
 There is a very disconcerting looking logo screen. It looks like something
went wrong with the program load or graphics routine. I'm going to call them
about it.  More review info in about a week.

Dave

1072.6Performer V3KOBAL::DICKSONSun Sep 10 1989 21:052
    Anybody got version 3 yet?  I've got a brochure, but they say they
    don't have a demo version.  :(   ("Vision" has a demo, as does MTP)
1072.7More info on v34GL::DICKSONWed Sep 20 1989 17:4066
Here is what the Performer Version 3 brochure says.  I don't know which of
these things are not in earlier versions.

	Graphic event editing windows
	Drawing and reshaping of continuous data and tempo curves
	Event list editing windows
	MIDI playback from both editing windows
	Editing commands snip, splice, shift, merge, retrograde,
		repeat, reverse, scale time.
	Region editing: transpose, quantize, change velocity/duration,
		split notes.
	Input, edit, and view filters.
	Editing by event, region, and sequence.
	Editable conductor track.
	Programmable tempo changes.
	Multiple meters within a sequence.
	Real-time tempo control.  (Includes "tap-tempo" input)
	Counter window displays current location in SMPTE frames, real
		time, and measures.
	Cue sheet style features for film/video production.  (they
		are referring to the marker list.)
	Unlimited notes, tracks, and sequences within available memory.
	Independant track looping.
	Multiple and nested loops within a track.
	Quantize has sensitivity, strength, and offset parameters.
	SYSEX recording, playback, and editing (in hex)
	Reads and writes MIDI files
	Compatibility with MotUs Professional Composer notation program.
	Metronome click through internal speaker or MIDI
	Customizable 'new' files.
	Multiple and custom key signatures
	MIDI Monitor window indicates incoming MIDI data
	32 MIDI channels
	Real-time and step-time recording
	Accurate to 1/480th of a quarter note
	Full SMPTE sync capability

System requirements are 1 meg memory with 2 800KB floppy drives, or a
hard disk.  System 6.0.2 or later.

The window style is a little strange looking.  MTP is very Mac-standard
looking.  Vision uses multiple fonts in its dialog boxes instead of just
'chicago', and its big square icon buttons.  But Performer goes wild, with
mini-pulldown menus on many of the window title bars, and triangular
window-close icons.  (Unless these pictures in the brochure are just
artist conceptions.  I notice that exactly the same screens appear in
the magazine ads.)

Some little things that I think are neat:

   1)	The time ruler across the top of the pianoroll display can show
	any combination of real time, measures/beats/ticks, or SMPTE time.

   2)	The continuous data graphic display can show up to 12 kinds of
	data at once.  Vision shows only one at a time.

   3)	The pitch and time coordinates of the pianoroll can zoom
	independently from each other.

   4)	The "tap-tempo" input lets you "conduct" the conductor track
	using any key, controller pedal, or drum pad.

Vision has some more powerful manipulation functions, like taking note
pitches from one track, note-on times from a second track, and note
durations from either one of the two, and generating a new track from the
results.
1072.8Atari tooNORGE::CHADIch glaube Ich t�te Ich h�tteThu Sep 21 1989 08:315
One of mt latest magazines says:

available for Macintosh and *Atari ST*

Chad
1072.9Performer anywhere else??WEFXEM::COTELight, sweet, crude...Tue Oct 16 1990 12:569
            <<< DNEAST::SYS$TOOLS:[NOTES$LIBRARY]COMMUSIC.NOTE;2 >>>
             -< * * Computer Music, MIDI, and Related Topics * * >-
================================================================================
Note 2475.0                 Performer anywhere else??                 No replies
CERN::EJM "Rick N. Backer"                            3 lines  16-OCT-1990 11:52
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Does Performer run on anything but a Mac???

John
1072.10some questions !SALSA::MOELLERThe Prompt are also the LonelyTue Oct 22 1991 20:2837
    Some issues and questions on Performer.. running 3.5, ready to upgrade
    to 3.61....
    
o	Sliders - I know how to generate them and they work real time.
	I can use the mouse but also know how to set up incoming data
	from the KX88, which has 4 s/w assignable physical sliders, 
	and how to remap those to Performer's sliders, CC7, for 
        multiple 'instruments'.  Fun !

	But while *recording* one or more sliders, the data is merged into 
	the original track, making it hard to replace, rerecord or edit 
	the volume info generated.  Do I have to create an empty track
	(assigned to the same cable/MIDI channel as the instrument it's
	meant to control), and assign the slider output to THAT one, for
	each 'instrument' ?

o	Chunks. 

	I know, when synced to tape, how to assign a SMPTE chunk start 
	time.  I have a large, single track sequence, a long piano solo 
	actually, that I want to break up in chunks to work with, and 
	then pull it all together using Chunks in the Song Window.  Any 
	wisdom here ?  Probably no sync-to-SMPTE required for this one.

o	Instrument names and patch changes.  There was a 1000PX template
	included, I understand how to 'load' the templates in.  Think I
	edited one once.  But the patch changes in the template are off
	by one.  For example, if I press a patch change '1' on the KX88,
	it's seen by Performer as '0'.  That's fine as long as I keep it 
	straight in my head, but it renders use of the instrument templates
	useless, as the existing ones naively assume '1' means '1', not '0'.  
	Also I'd like to set up a Proteus 2 template and use that, but the 
	Proteus actually has a patch, some string sample, assigned to '0' 
	already!  Hard to see how I'll access that one remotely without 
        reassigning it to another patch# inside the Proteus...

thanks. karl