MIDI Software List for Compact Macs?

[Admiral Ackbar]

Kind of related to https://68kmla.org/bb/index.php?threads/audio-player-for-early-macs.21332/#post-231885 and https://68kmla.org/bb/index.php?threads/mod-and-midi-play-in-2023.45061/ , I'm now looking for a list (or set of attributes so I can build my own list) of 68k Sys 6 releases that use MIDI. I am looking to buy an external MIDI device that is supported by the biggest Sys 6 software library to go with my Mac Plus 4mb. I think software would support the Roland SC devices (General MDI) or MT-32 (predate General MIDI but popular) but maybe not both depending on the year the programs were released? I think. All clues appreciated.

Thanks.

(also referencing some non-Mac knowledge at https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=48101)

 

[Phipli]

I think this list is bigger than you think. Possibly impractically big.

What sort of thing are you planning on doing?

Do you mean music composition? Music playing? Or games that support MIDI?

Which compacts do you mean? Just 68000, or including the SE/30?

 

[Nixontheknight]

I know Cubase can use MIDI

 

[Admiral Ackbar]

I was thinking of games that use MIDI for background music so the main CPU isn't taxed. Or playing MIDI "jukebox style".

 

[motosega]

In that case you are pretty much on the right track with the Roland sound canvas synths.

Basically you want to find something with the general midi logo on it. There are a ton of synthesisers around, but most professional grade ones do not support general midi and thus would not be much use for in game midi. The emu Proteus family for example, or the Yamaha FM synths, or the Roland JV series .

Apart from the general midi standard, there are Yamaha XG and Roland GS. They are both basically just improvements on general midi. They add extra controls that can be used to modulate sounds in realtime, effects like reverb and chorus, and extra sounds.

Both XG and GS synths will play GM midi perfectly.

You probably want to choose something from the Yamaha MU series, the Roland SoundCanvas series or one of the Korg NS series.

Many of the better ones are in 19" rack format, which can be annoying unless you have other rack equipment.
But some are half rack units which take up a lot less space.
Several are even Mac colored...

 

[Skate323k137]

You may find this book useful, it's strongly designed to help someone build a MIDI rig around a Mac at the time.

A Guide To Computer Music, Apple 2, GS, Macintosh, Amiga, IBM/Compatibles : Doland Kozek : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Guide to Computer Music: An Electronic Music Resource Paperback – September 1, 1992by Donald Kozek (Author)

archive.org

 

[Phipli]

Basically you want to find something with the general midi logo on it. There are a ton of synthesisers around, but most professional grade ones do not support general midi and thus would not be much use for in game midi. The emu Proteus family for example, or the Yamaha FM synths, or the Roland JV series .

Support for GM is mostly an age thing. Modules / keyboards from the 90s mostly support GM, including Yamaha FM capable gear like the TG100, and Roland JVs like my JV1010.

The Yamaha MU10 might be nice, it looks like it was designed to match a snow white design language Mac.

 

[motosega]

Support for GM is mostly an age thing. Modules / keyboards from the 90s mostly support GM, including Yamaha FM capable gear like the TG100, and Roland JVs like my JV1010.

The Yamaha MU10 might be nice, it looks like it was designed to match a snow white design language Mac.

I Didn't know there were Yamaha FM synths that had general midi sound sets, none of the ones I own do, dx7, dx9, tx802 fb01.


It's definitely a 90s thing though.

 

[François]

You may find this book useful, it's strongly designed to help someone build a MIDI rig around a Mac at the time.

A Guide To Computer Music, Apple 2, GS, Macintosh, Amiga, IBM/Compatibles : Doland Kozek : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Guide to Computer Music: An Electronic Music Resource Paperback – September 1, 1992by Donald Kozek (Author)

archive.org

On page 27 of this book, about the Atari ST it says "Some software requires a doggel"…

A doggel? What is a doggel, some sort of doggo?

 

[Skate323k137]

A doggel? What is a doggel, some sort of doggo?

I can only hope so, I imagine it would be cute!