🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <10067@steinmetz.steinmetz.ge.com>, hallett@hamlet.steinmetz (Jeff A. Hallett) writes:  [questions on ConcertWare]
> 
>   1.  I am primarily interested in being able to enter music and have the
> program play it back.  Does it do this?

	Yes; entering is a bit kludgy (in several variant modes) but entirely
	doable (if you can read a line of music -- i.e., you don't need to
	be able to handle scoring/transposition yourself)
> 
>   2.  Is there someway I can have it play a specific line?  Suppose I have
> some SATB piece entered.  Is there someway I could have it play tenor only?
> (even if I have to enter it a certain way...)

	Yes; in the non-MIDI version it plays any combination of up to 4 lines;
	the MIDI version allows 8 (which may or may not sound depending on your
	MIDI output device).  You set tempo, volume and voices from the main
	window.  They have an "instrument library" purporting to mimic various
	standard instruments -- and you can modify their attempts (that's fun).
> 
>   3.  If I got the plain version, no MIDI, what would be involved in
> upgrading to the MIDI version?  What hardware do you need to take
> advantage of the MIDI capabilities?
> 
	I'm not sure what the upgrade possibilities are [anyone else?]; it
makes sense to get the full +MIDI package to begin with (try one of the mail
order houses).  Even an el cheapo ($200 mail order) CZ-101 has MUCH better
sound quality than you can get out of your MAC (& I'm talking MAC II, here).
Besides a synthesizer, you need a MIDI interface.  It plugs into one of your
serial ports and is then cabled to the synthesizer.  There are several MIDI
interface boxes on the market, including a new one from Apple which runs
about $95, I think.  Several mail order houses carry the Passport interface
for about this same amount (& it comes with MIDI cables, which you'll need;
I don't know if Apple's includes cabling.)  With the MIDI version of Concert-
Ware you can enter stuff direct from a synthesizer keyboard -- at least if
you are better at playing to a metronome than I am; else you are reduced to
step-time entry; i.e. note-by-note -- it's still somewhat faster than from
the mouse/keyboard.

	Main complaint about ConcertWare: it only haphazardly follows the
Mac interface (e.g., no command-Q to exit!) and is Multifinder hostile.
A good cheap way to get reasonable play/record/print music capabilities,
without paying the arm+leg the better systems require.  Also, not copy
protected. 


Michael Siemon
contracted to AT&T Bell Laboratories
ihnp4!mhuxu!mls
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