Guidance on music-making

[mloret]

Hey guys,

I am trying to relive some of my childhood fun fiddling with music software. When I was a kid, I was given an Adlib sound card as well as the software. It was great because it didn't require MIDI and the software (Visual Composter) didn't require any knowledge of music notation. You could literally compose straight out of the box.

I have been trying to replicate some of this magic on my old Apple machines with minimal luck. I started with my Apple IIgs and I decided it might be fun to try to find something for my more powerful (and modern) Macintosh Performa 6300. So far, I haven't had much luck.

So my question is this--can you recommend a software package that includes software instruments, doesn't require MIDI, or a deep knowledge of music composition? I WAS able to load Cubase 5/32 onto the hard drive but my computer doesn't currently have enough RAM to run it. Also tried in Sheepshaver but that was a bust. Any ideas on what software package to use (if any)?

Thank you.

 

[Chopsticks]

I was about to say cubase but you've already mentioned it. there's probably similar DAW software such as eMagic Logic etc but the thing is software instruments specially those used in DAW software will tax the cpu but more importantly they need a decent amount of RAM.
there's certainly lots of good software from the day for making music, but a lot of it is MIDI based as the audio production stuff was mostly left in the realm of the professions because the cost of the hardware required was just insane then. it wasn't really until the iMac came out that serious audio production DAWs because realistic for the average home computer and user.

the adlib used as OPL2 chip, its apretty unique sound for a FM-synthesis IC so I can understand the fondness you remember from you childhood. the software you mentioned appeared to just use the standard piano roll setup where you kinda paint and draw the notes you want.. this was and still is the most common way of working with MDI, in fact even software instruments today still use this exact same method for inputing the notes. you see even software instruments typically use midi on the backend to handle the controls and interface etc.

Hopefully someone else on here might know of something I'm not aware of. I grew up with cubase and a lot of other music software and hardware for the Macintosh as my Dad was an academic doing research in music and computers as well as teaching music, the 1990's were a crazy time for audio production, I had a lot of fun growing up that's for sure

 

[Phipli]

There was a built in midi synth in Quicktime. You can use it with early versions of Logic through OMS with a special extension... but the setup isn't trivial and it is 20 years since I've done it. If I get you started hopefully someone has a better memory of the settings.

 

[Phipli]

There was a built in midi synth in Quicktime. You can use it with early versions of Logic through OMS with a special extension... but the setup isn't trivial and it is 20 years since I've done it. If I get you started hopefully someone has a better memory of the settings.

QuickTime Music OMS Driver - Macintosh Garden

The QuickTime Music OMS Driver will allow users to integrate QuickTime Musical Instruments into Opcode's Open Music System (OMS). From the Read Me: QuickTime Music OMS Driver lets you send MIDI data to the "software synthesizer" component of QuickTime (version 2.0 and greater).

macintoshgarden.org

Not sure what version of Logic to recommend, I was a Cubase Kid (old Cubase didn't work with OMS frustratingly).

Logic Audio 1.0.1 & 2.6 - Macintosh Garden

See also: Logic Audio Platinum 4.0.4, Logic Audio Platinum 4.7.0, Logic Audio Platinum 5.0, SoundDiver 3, Logic Express 8, Logic Studio (Logic Pro 8)

macintoshgarden.org

OMS is probably included in the Logic installer.

Open Music System (OMS) - Macintosh Garden

Open Music System, or OMS, is a MIDI management software package originally developed by Opcode. By the end of the classic Mac era, OMS was one of the only software options available for connecting and configuring MIDI devices to a pre-OS X Macintosh.

macintoshgarden.org

You'll also need Quicktime Instruments installed, if it isn't already.

 

[Chopsticks]

a really good resource I've used over the years for classic Mac music production is actually the DAW subform on macos9lives.com
there are a huge number of people there who to this day continue to do music production on pre OS X Mac machines so they're probably a huge amount of information you can read up on there about the software available, how well it runs, and issues and fixes found etc...
might be worth a look

 

[ymk]

You might be interested in something like Scream Tracker or Impulse Tracker. Trackers were more popular with Amiga and PC than Mac though.

Music tracker - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Phipli]

Some stuff from my childhood...

6300 will run this fine :

ReBirth RB-338 2.0.1 CD - Macintosh Garden

ReBirth emulates two Roland TB-303 synthesizers, a Roland TR-808, and a Roland TR-909 drum machine all at once. Each of the emulated devices has its own pattern selector, a feature the original devices are lacking.

macintoshgarden.org

It will struggle with this :

Propellerhead Reason 1.0 + 1.0.1 update - Macintosh Garden

Reason is a computer program for creating and editing music developed by Swedish software developers Propellerhead Software. It emulates a rack of hardware synthesizers, samplers, signal processors, sequencers, and mixers, all of which can be freely interconnected in an arbitrary manner.

macintoshgarden.org

Happy to see this online at last :

GrooveMaker - Macintosh Garden

Music software for creating hypnotic, non-stop electronic dance tracks, in real-time, with professional results. DL #1 Hybrid Mac/Win disc image of the installer disc for v. 2.5, dated 2002. A serial number to install is GVM25-80AMTZIX-77902 DL #2 is a preinstalled v. 2.0, dated 2000 DL #3 is a...

macintoshgarden.org

Max 3 - Macintosh Garden

Max is an object-oriented audio and music programming environment. Max continues to be developed to this day by Cycling'74 in the form of Max/MSP. DL#1 is Max 3.5.1 (68k and PPC). DL#2 is a crack for Max 3.5.1. DL#3 is Max 3.5.1 FAT. DL#4 is a crack for Max 3.5.1 FAT.

macintoshgarden.org

Macromedia SoundEdit 16 Plus Deck II - Macintosh Garden

SoundEdit 16 version 2.0 plus Deck II version 2.5. SoundEdit 16 serial 30120-0255-4475-41877 Deck II serial 33025-0806-4581-85995

macintoshgarden.org

Cubase is another option, but generally works best with a sound module and/or recording live instruments on a PPC603, which wouldn't really have enough grunt to do Virtual Instruments justice.

 

[Phipli]

You might be interested in something like Scream Tracker or Impulse Tracker. Trackers were more popular with Amiga and PC than Mac though.

Music tracker - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

PlayerPRO 4 - Macintosh Garden

The incredibly awesome PlayerPRO by Antoine Rosset. Version 4.5. PlayerPRO is a complete music editing program (SoundTracker). PlayerPRO can load and play many music (and sound) formats. Version 4.5 contains the awesome 'Screensaver' and 'Full View' video modes.

macintoshgarden.org

I believe PlayerPro lets you compose too. Works on 68k and PPC

Playing demos on some of my Macs :