6.17) What MIDI enhancements are there for the Atari?

Subject: 6.17) What MIDI enhancements are there for the Atari?

This section by Andreas Magenheimer and Mathy van Nisselroy.

Midi is standard on the Atari ST computers, because it is built-in into
these computers. Nevertheless, Midi was long before the arrival of the
ST computers on the market and thus, it is no surprise that there are
even midi-interfaces and enhancements for the classic 8Bit Ataris. The
following "types" do exist:

- "Midi-Mate" and "Midi-Track" by Hybrid Arts (USA), comes with hardware
+ software, see reviews & tests in Antic, Analog and other magazines.
MidiTrack requires 48k RAM, MidiTrack II 64k RAM and MidiTrack III
128k RAM (XE compatible, not Axlon compatible). MidiMate features
MIDI IN+OUT and SYNC IN+OUT ports, but lacks a second SIO plug.
MMS (MIDI Music System) is a MIDI version of AMS, also sold by Hybrid
Arts and comes with AMS to MMS converter software...

- "MIDI Master" by 2-Bit Software (UK), comes with hardware+software.
Features MIDI IN+OUT ports, an extra SIO plug, but no SYNC ports.
See also reviews and ads in (New) Atari User...

- "MIDI interface" by DIGICOMM (UK), comes with hardware + 'example
programs'. Features MIDI IN, THRU and OUT ports. There`s no word
about a second SIO plug or any SYNC ports. See also reviews and ads
in (New) Atari User...

- "MIDIMAX" by Wizztronics (UK), comes with hardware and software.
Features MIDI IN+OUT ports and a second SIO plug. The MMS software
that comes with MidiMax requires 48k RAM and is fully compatible to
the Hybrid Arts hardware+software. This means, one can use the
software with both Midi-interfaces or use the interfaces with the
software of both vendors...

- "Atari-Midi-Interface" by Karlheinz Metscher (appeared in the german
magazine Computer Kontakt June/July 1986, pages 69-75, complete with
documentation, schematics and its first program "Midi-Receiver";
in Computer Kontakt October/November 1986 appeared the second program,
called "Midi-Disk" - a Midi Recorder and Player program);

- "Midi-Interface for Atari XL/XE" by Ireneusz Kuczek (appeared in the
german ABBUC magazine, issue 65, pages 3-6); the paper-mag. includes
a schematic for the midi-interface and some translated descriptions for
the software (translated from polish to german language), whereas the
disk-magazine contains the midi-programs "Midiplay Version 1.3" by I.
Kuczek, "Midi-Recorder Version 1.2" by I.Kuczek, "Rec to Mid" by I.
Kuczek (a converter program for the IBM-PC!), "Midi-Sequencer V.1.15"
by Maciej Sygit and "Midi-Pattern-Editor MPE V.2.3" by Radek Sterba.
These programs and many additional demo sounds are also available in
the ABBUC PD library (PD numbers 625-632).

- guess there are several other (selfmade) midi-interfaces for the Atari
8Bit available, alas they also require a keyboard or synthesizer and
self-created (or downloaded) midi-sounds can only be played back via
such a midi-interface and the affore mentioned keyboard/synthesizer.
As of yet, it seems there exists no midi-player program, that can
playback any midi-sound via the Atari Pokey chip, nor any converter
program, which can convert *.MID sounds into other Atari sound formats
(that could be played back on the Atari then)...