Conference napalm::commusic_v1

2785.0. "MIDI SPY Sequencer For The Atari ST" by RGB::ROST (Felix Pappalardi in a previous life) Wed Dec 11 1991 15:40

    I found this press release in the STReport online news magazine. 
    Sounds like a cool program.
    
  For immediate release
  
  CodeHeadQuarters
  Friday, December 6, 1991
  ------------------------


         ...............................................
         :                                             :
         : CodeHead Software announces MIDI Spy!       :
         :                                             :
         :       A Unique MIDI Sequencer That Records  :
         :                                             :
         :             And Plays In The Background!    :
         :.............................................:



 With MIDI Spy installed, you'll never lose another valuable musical idea
 because your sequencer wasn't ready to record -- MIDI Spy is always
 listening.  You can call it background operation or you can call it MIDI
 multi-tasking, but what it gives you is freedom and power!

 Whether you're a professional musician or a music hobbyist, MIDI Spy is
 the recorder you've been waiting for.  As a musician, it's never easy to
 remember to push that button BEFORE you start recording.  Many times
 you'll just start playing without realizing you're about to create
 something you should capture.  Plus, there's always that stigma attached
 to the "red light" that tends to inhibit your talent. 

 With MIDI Spy, you can forget about these things.  You don't have to be
 a recording engineer.  You don't have to anticipate your moments of
 inspiration.  And you won't feel the pressure of the red light.  In
 fact, you'll even forget MIDI Spy is installed, until you're ready to
 replay your creations. 

 Even if you aren't in a creative mood, MIDI Spy can make your day.  You
 can tell it to play a list of MIDI files in the background while you
 continue to use your computer for other tasks like word processing,
 desktop publishing, telecommunications, or file maintenance.  Now you
 don't need to waste time while waiting for an upload or download through
 your modem...you can be working (playing) with your MIDI equipment!


  Feature List
  ------------

  o Runs as a program or a desk accessory in all resolutions on all Atari
    ST, STe, and TT machines.

  o MIDI data can be recorded or played back at any time -- from the
    desktop or from within GEM or TOS programs, whether the MIDI Spy
    dialog box is open or not. 

  o Up to 999 songs can be recorded, played back, loaded, or saved.

  o GEM dialog box provides control with the mouse or keyboard.

  o Load and save single songs or sets of songs in MIDI Spy format.

  o Load and save single songs, sets of songs, or multitrack recordings
    in ALL of the current MIDI standard formats, allowing you to exchange
    recordings with any other sequencer supporting MIDI standard files. 

  o Definable "record gap" automatically divides your recordings into
    individual songs for easy retrieval.

  o Recordings may be layered through overdubbing and merging of songs.

  o Timing resolution is equivalent to 96 ticks per quarter note at 120
    beats per minute and background operation is not affected by the
    current foreground task -- MIDI Spy is rock-solid!

  o Hot keys are always active, allowing control of MIDI Spy from
    your computer keyboard at any time. 

  o MIDI Spy functions can be assigned to MIDI commands to control
    operations directly from your MIDI keyboard -- without even touching
    your computer. 

  o Autoload a song or set of songs and even have MIDI Spy start playing
    automatically when you boot up.

  o Song information, including copyright notice, can be entered and
    saved with your songs.  Song and track names from MIDI files will
    appear in the song information box. 

  o Chain songs together for continuous "juke box" type of playback --
    unaffected by the current operation of your computer. 

  o Uses only about 30K of memory plus as much or as little memory as you
    wish to use for recording. 

  o Thermometer bar display of memory usage shows memory available and
    memory used, by the current song as well as the whole set of songs. 

  o Tempo can be adjusted from 10% to 300% of the original tempo.

  o Fine tuned for non-interference with your other programs.  Special
    hooks provide communication with the included program, Captain Hook,
    which helps eliminate MIDI overflow. 

  o Software selectable THRU option.

  o Customize your MIDI Spy configuration by saving it directly into MIDI
    Spy.

  o Special MIDIMAX mode allows you to actually record your MIDIMAX
    output.  (MIDIMAX is CodeHead's real-time MIDI performance tool
    featuring chord maps and MIDI macros). 

  o 100% assembly language, complete with all of the quality you've come
    to expect from CodeHead Software. 


    Try the free MIDI Spy demo for yourself to get a taste of this
    amazing new concept.  Don't let your computer tell YOU when to be
    creative...with MIDI Spy you're always ready. 



  Availability
  ------------

 Projected release date for MIDI Spy is December 16, 1991.  A demo
 version is available now on all the major on-line services as well as
 the CodeHead BBS.  Suggested retail price is $79.95.


 For more information, contact your local dealer, or:

                             CodeHead Software
                               PO Box 74090
                           Los Angeles, CA 90004
                            Tel (213) 386-5735
                            Fax (213) 386-5789
                            BBS (213) 461-2095

... sounds very interesting

Can somebody who has access to the demo version make it available on Easynet?

Hermann-Josef

Hi,

Yeh, I'll upload it tonight, and place a pointer in a reply to 
topic 9 in the ATARIST conference...  Is that OK?

_John_

P.S.  It's pretty cool, but messes up my windowing system, only because
      I replace all the MIDI interrupt code with my own...

      The demo will only last a little while after a bootup, and will not
	allow saving of the data...  It's still pretty cool though!