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 OD-90228                         SUGGESTION                       "PRIDE"-IF
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 JUN 16, 1997                   RELEASE  1.2.0                        PAGE  1

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       *              MI-10068 REAL TIME MIDI SUB-SYSTEM              *
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 REQUIRED DATE- ASAP          USER PRIORITY WEIGHT-  21    RANKING-  0004
 DATE RECEIVED- JUN 13, 1997  REQUEST STANDING  - REVIEW   AS OF- JUN 16, 1997
                              TYPE- MAINT

 DESCRIPTION-

        Until the arrival of WARP 4, OS/2 had only minimal MIDI
        functionality.  The implementation of the real-time MIDI
        sub-system has done little to improve OS/2's usability as a
        record/playback vehicle for MIDI output and input.  Musicians
        like myself who are involved in writing/playing digital music
        would benefit enormously from an integrated, seamless and
        USER FRIENDLY real time MIDI sub-system.

        Ideally, this would be one which is highly configurable and
        where IO ports and IRQ's could be dedicated to the sound
        cards in the machine.  Perhaps this could be done by means of
        a GUI 'Control Panel'. The CONFIG.SYS file or hardware manager
        are inadequate for this purpose.

        At present, the term MIDI is synonymous with the Windows
        environment, and why not, it handles it well and it supports
        too many HIGH QUALITY MIDI devices to mention here.

        But what about the likes of us who prefer not to use Windows
        at all?  Should IBM ever implement a reliable and useable
        system as the one I am trying to describe, then OS/2 would be
        a viable alternative operating system to Windows as the
        multimedia professionals choice.  Until then OS/2 users and
        potential OS/2 users must migrate back to native Windows to
        get the job done.

        Also important here is the lack of native MIDI software for
        OS/2.  If software vendors believe that OS/2 has an efficient
        MIDI capability (one which supports multiple sound cards in
        the same machine etc.) then OS/2 may get it's first native
        INDUSTRY STANDARD MIDI sequencer along the lines of CUBASE
        AUDIO or CAKEWALK AUDIO PRO.  Without any doubt, this solution
        would improve the marketability of OS/2.  IBM would no longer
        have to sell OS/2 on the strengths of its networking ability,
        and its reliability alone but as the preferred OS for the
        multimedia professional.

        ATTRIBUTES:

        MEDIUM Value
        Desired NEXT full release

        Submitted by:

        Al Elias
        Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England
        Digital Media Design
        al.elias@onyxnet.co.uk

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