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- ||| Bob Brodie & James Grunke: April 14th GEnie RTC
- ||| Courtesy: GEnie Atari ST RT
- / | \ -------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- =========================================================================
- (C) 1993 by Atari Corporation, GEnie, and the Atari Roundtables. May
- be reprinted only with this notice intact. The Atari Roundtables on
- GEnie are *official* information services of Atari Corporation. To sign
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- type HHH (RETURN after that). Wait for the U#= prompt.Type XTX99437,GENIE
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- ==========================================================================
-
- Dateline Atari! with Bob Brodie
- Special Guest - James Grunke
- Host - Lou Rocha
-
- Wed., April 14, 1993
-
-
- Ed. Note - Bob Brodie did all the online typing for
- this RTC. All music-related answers were provided by
- James Grunke. Non-music questions were answered by
- Bob Brodie.
-
-
- <[Host] ST.LOU> Welcome to the second half of this week's Double
- Dateline! Real Time Conferences. Tonight Music Expert James Grunke
- joins Bob Brodie to discuss the Falcon030's music capabilities.
- James has been here before so no need to be too gentle :-) You
- can ask him any technical questions you may have about the Falcon
- or the music software it will run. You are also welcomed to ask
- any questions regarding the Falcon in general. Without further
- ado, here are our guests. Bob, please introduce James and make the
- opening comments.
-
- <BOB-BRODIE> Thank you, Lou. I'm pleased to welcome our members
- to another edition of Dateline Atari! Thanks for all of the
- encouraging words that were sent when I had to cancel the last one
- due to illness, we appreciate your understanding.
-
- We had a wonderful time on GEnie on Monday night with Pradip to
- discuss Atari Works!!! It's great to be back online again so
- quickly for another GEnie Real Time Conference on our official
- online resource.
-
- James Grunke is alongside me tonight. This is his third year as
- the Director of Atari Musics. He is in charge of sales and
- marketing in the US for the music channel. He is also responsible
- for international music developer marketing support. James has
- recently brought on board over sixteen manufacturer rep firms
- specializing in Music and Pro Audio channel. This effectively
- provides James a staff of over 50 people on the street carrying
- the Atari flag, and supporting Atari dealers!! Simply put, these
- guys are the best in the business!!!
-
- James brings to Atari a business background in digital music sales
- with companies such as Mission Bay Investments, and Delian Music
- Systems. He's spent many hours on retail sales floors, and knows
- the mindset of the Atari Music customer.
-
- His music background includes time spent as a staff synthesist and
- digital sound engineer with the Beach Boys/Brother Records,
- specifically contributing to the Still Cruisin' album. He has
- also played keyboards for the Beach Boys while on tour. Other
- bands that James has contributed his musical and technical
- expertise to include Crosby, Stills & Nash, The Band, and Michael
- W. Smith, as well as a number of video soundtracks.
-
- James earned a Bachelor of Science in Keyboard Performance from
- the University of Wisconsin and also holds a degree in synthesizer
- programming from the Grove School in Los Angeles. He is a member
- of the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM). Recently,
- James was elected to the Executive Board of Directors of the MIDI
- manufacturers Association. (MMA)
-
- Tonight, we want to talk with you about Atari Music, and the Atari
- Falcon030 specifically. The Atari Falcon030 is more than a
- computer, it is a musical instrument. EQ Magazine recently awarded
- the Atari Falcon030 it's coveted "Blue Ribbon" Award - the only
- personal computer recognized by the award winning magazine as an
- important new contender in the pro music and recording industries.
- By blending CD quality audio, digital signal processing, video
- genlock, video overlay and MIDI, the Atari Falcon030 puts
- recording and video studio capabilities directly in the hands of
- pro and amateur musicians. You can't find these capabilities for
- this price anywhere else, proving that sometimes you have to spend
- a little less to get a lot more.
-
- Music is about self-expression. Music video and computer
- assistance are tools that allow for greater expressiveness, and
- the Atari Falcon030 is the one computer that can help today's
- musician master both these media to create revolutionary artistic
- statements.
-
- The Atari Falcon030 offers users "Quad Processing Power"!!! The
- Falcon030's exceptional performance comes from the smooth
- integration of four processors:
-
- Motorola 68030 microprocessor running at 16Mhz
- Motorola 56001 DSP chip running at 32 MHz
- SDMA sound coprocessor
- BLiTTER(tm) co-processor for extraordinary graphics capabilities
-
- These function in a Direct Memory Access (DMA) environment using a
- multi-tasking operating system, which results in hardware so
- powerful that even inexperienced users can mix audio, video,
- animation, text, and graphics right out of the box. Atari has a
- long-standing relationship with the music industry. In the mid-
- 80s, Atari was the first computer company to market to musicians
- at the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) convention
- and to distribute through music stores. Part of Atari's rapid
- acceptance was due the inclusion of MIDI ports (another Atari
- first), and part was Atari's "Power without the Price" philosophy.
- This same philosophy has culminated in the Atari Falcon030, which
- delivers exceptional audio and video as well as music performance.
-
- The Atari Falcon030 ships with stereo CD quality digital audio out
- of the box. The system is capable of eight independent sixteen
- bit audio tracks. At this point in development, there are four
- track systems available from third party developers, such as D2D
- Systems Ltd. 4T/FX. Innovative products are also on the way from
- Barefoot Software, EMAGIC, Steinberg, Dr. T's, and many other
- developers. If you would like to have a complete software listing
- of Atari Music developers, send James email here on GEnie at
- JAMES-GRUNKE.
-
- Although James hasn't been publically active on GEnie, he's been
- lurking for quite sometime now! <grin> He follows of course, the
- Atari RT Bulletin Board, and also keeps up with the MIDI RT.
- When James picks up a magazine, he reads the Letters to the Editor
- section first. When he logs on to GEnie, he goes to the MIDI RT
- and reads the messages in the OLD ATARI USERS LAUGHING AT FALCON
- (Cat 49, Topic 10/ MIDI RT). His acronym for this is OAULAF.
- We're told that in Swedish that means, "Thick men crashing through
- the woods". Appropriate, isn't it?? <GRIN>
-
- James really appreciates those folks who support the positive
- postings in that topic as well as the other areas on GEnie! And
- with that, we're ready to take any questions that are ready for us
- tonight, Lou! Let's rock 'n roll!!!
-
- <[Host] ST.LOU> Thanks for the great introduction. I feel like
- I've known James all my life! Our first question is from John
- Brenner.
-
- <[John B.] J.BRENNER1> Well, I had other questions in mind but
- since James is here for music.....I have heard the output of the
- Falcon is heavily bass boosted to use with headphones much like a
- Discman. Is this equalization a hard wired circuit or is it done
- with the DSP and therefore can be cancelled to get flat sound for
- pro use?
-
- <BOB-BRODIE> The bass boost section was killed at the request of
- the music developers so that audio would run flat. So it's no
- longer a concern, John.
-
- <[John B.] J.BRENNER1> That is great news Bob. Will there be a
- listing of Canadian pricing soon?
-
- <BOB-BRODIE> Yes, we will be doing a mailing to our Canadian
- dealers this week.
-
- <E.NIKOLAISE2> Bob, I'm the Pres. of Stun (A ST Users Club in
- Utah), our next meeting will be April 21. Will I be able to
- "demo" a Falcon 030 to the club by this date?
-
- <BOB-BRODIE> It's not out of the realm of possiblity, Erik. It
- depends on the relationship you have with the dealers in Utah. Be
- sure to check with them, as we have several new prospects as well
- as the existing ones, like J & J for example.
-
- <[Rob] R.ANISKO> I am curious as to how I would go about
- interfacing an electric guitar with the Falcon - would it be
- treated specially, or could it be used with a typical MIDI
- application transparently?
-
- <BOB-BRODIE> The audio input to Falcon is a stereo mini jack. You
- could for example using Barefoot SMPTE Track Audio, or D2D or soon
- to be released Cubase Audio, use MIDI tracks and combine them with
- your digital audio guitar tracks.
-
- <[Rob] R.ANISKO> Also, how would MIDI be affected by accelerators
- such as the 32mhz accelerator mentioned in one of the RTC's about
- Cebit...?
-
- <BOB-BRODIE> We haven't been able to test one yet specifically
- with MIDI.
-
- <[Matt] M.RIVMAN1> My local Sam Ash guru is pro Mac. Mark of the
- Unicorn stuff does more than Atari software. How do we get him
- back? Any port of M of U stuff in the works?
-
- <BOB-BRODIE> Although we are working with Mark of the Unicorn, we
- can't comment specifically on their software direction. However,
- it is convenient that their MIDI expansion hardware shares the
- same port connectors as on the Falcon. No promises, but we are
- looking into that relationship. As far as getting your local Sam
- Ash guru back with us, we're confident that when customers begin
- to come into their stores requesting Falcons, many Americans will
- re-think their perception of Atari Computers, and what they really
- can do. While Mark of the Unicorn software is excellent, I'd be
- hard pressed to find something that we cannot do on an Atari
- Falcon030.
-
- <[Matt] M.RIVMAN1> He specifically mentioned the many different
- sync-ups allowed, SMPTE,etc. I hope the available software for
- Atari is VERY flexible! He was impressed with the specs I showed
- him, but still was hesitant! I'll keep trying! Thanks
-
- <[Andy] O-ZONE> I am especially interested in the capabilities
- of the D2D software. The opportunity to do real time sequencing
- and direct to disk digital audio has me enthralled. How soon can
- we expect availible software to offer us the use of 8 channels of
- digital audio?
-
- <BOB-BRODIE> Currently the shrink wrapped D2D software uses four
- tracks. They are working directly with Barefoot Software to
- integrate MIDI into Digital Audio. We expect that it will take
- some time to get 8 independent channels, however we understand
- that four stereo channels is on the way. This is really an issue
- for the individual music developer companies to make their own
- delivery date announcements.
-
- <[STimpy] J.TORRES17> I keep defending Atari at work (Staples)
- They don't think Atari exists! Are there any plans for some
- mainstream ads for Atari and Atari Music (like Time, Newsweek,
- etc.?
-
- <BOB-BRODIE> Over the past year, we did six ads with Digital F/X,
- 6 with EMAGIC, formerly C-Lab, and over a dozen ads with the
- Fostex campaign. These were all placed in publications like Mix,
- EM, Keyboard. You can look for aggressive vertical marketing into
- the music channel in the very near future.
-
- <[Pat] P.FORISTER> I've heard that the sound level on the Falcon
- is maxxed out when the computer is first turned on. Is this
- something that can be configured in NV-RAM? Or has the sound
- level been turned down?
-
- <BOB-BRODIE> The sound system at boot up reacts just like the TT
- and Mega STE there is a program you can run from your auto folder
- that will configure the audio level called SNDXX that will be
- available.
-
- <[Jason] J.BRUNKEN> I am interested in the video and genlock
- capabilities mentioned in the introduction. What low cost
- genlocks are under development and how soon do you think that they
- will be available? Also, I hear that some high powered NeXT apps
- are being converted to the falcon, any truth to this?
-
- <BOB-BRODIE> Bill Rehbock tells us that there are no less than
- three under development, including the John Russell Innovations
- one from here in the US, OverScan which will be distributed by
- Compo, as well as the unnamed one from France, all of which cost
- less than $500. One of them should come in around $249. They
- will be available before June, according to the representatives
- from the respective companies. They all run in True Color modes.
- Re the NeXT apps, there are a number of different ones. They are
- excited about the availability of the DSP Chip...for example
- Singular Solutions, and DOA. Some of the other NeXT developers
- are still in the TOS learning curve.
-
- <[James] J.BRENNER1> Bob, have any Montreal dealers signed the new
- Atari Dealer Agreement and if you can tell me who, I'll be the
- first Montrealer to buy a Falcon. Will Atari Works ship with the
- first shipment?
-
- <BOB-BRODIE> We are just sending out the dealer agreements to
- Canada this week, James. I'll be sure to put a note on all the
- ones for Montreal all and tell those dealers to call you. <grin>
- We just got back the manual for Atari Works... maybe it will make
- the first shipment, but I'm not 100% sure yet.
-
- <[Guitar Cente] C.FLUEGEL> OK, so I buy a Falcon. What recording
- software will be available that day? I know of many in the works,
- but are any finished and shipping in the USA? Also, I here that
- D2D is quite crippled and unusable in any serious work (no
- editing!?) Is this true?
-
- <BOB-BRODIE> The D2D software that is bundled with the machine is
- designed for consumer use. It has very limited editing.
- Available shrink wrapped products from D2D include 2 and 4 track
- systems with the four track system having DSP audio effects. I
- believe the release date for Cubase Audio is sometime this spring,
- early summer. Please contact Steinberg/Jones for confirmation.
- At CeBIT, there was a program from a company called TradeiT,
- reportedly using SIX tracks. We will look into obtaining a US
- distributor for this product in order to ensure it's availability.
-
- <[Jeff] J.WHITE99> James, of particular interest to dealers seems
- to be the broadbase marketing plan. How will we attract new users.
- Can that be addressed here?
-
- <BOB-BRODIE> Certainly, Jeff. The machine has natural appeal to
- musicians and we feel that one of the firmest ways to get
- footholds in this market is by reaching out to the music
- educators. Not only is the hardware exactly what musicians want,
- the price point makes it reachable for educators. We know how the
- recession has affected education budgets in general. Look for us
- to support music educators as a base for our music launch.
-
- <S.EAKINS> Hi Bob, just got here, so I hope that I am not reasking
- a question. Will modems become obsolete with the new DSP chip?
- Are there any special adapters needed to connect up to the Falcon,
- I won't simply plug in my phone line, right?
-
- <BOB-BRODIE> Scott, no problem. Glad you could make it here
- tonight to join us in the Dateline Atari! Session. There is no
- problem in using existing modems with the Atari Falcon030. The
- serial port works just fine. I've used STalker 3 at speeds of up
- to 19.2K baud, and the Supra FAX Modem as well. There is a DSP
- modem that is under development. It will be about the size of a
- pack of cards, and you will plug your phone line in there. This
- product is projected to be available late this summer.
-
- <[Pat] P.FORISTER> Bob, can you give us any _firm_ dates on
- availability of Falcons, and in what quantity? Hopefully the
- initial quantities will be enough to supply all of the starving
- Atarians out there. When will your warehouse be restocked?
-
- <BOB-BRODIE> Pat, as I indicated on Monday night, the Falcons are
- here. We have them in the warehouse (I personally went over to
- check.... I didn't want to take anyone's word on this!!!) They
- will be going thru a Quality Assurance process that will take a
- couple of days (one of which is elapsed already), so I think we
- will be sending them out the door on Friday. These are the demo
- units for our dealers, and the next shipment will be in about 2-3
- weeks These dates are VERY firm, Pat. I'm very pleased that the
- units are in stock FINALLY, and the dealer agreements have been
- just POURING in since we made a little announcement in AEO, got
- the reps on the phone, and of course, used GEnie on Monday night
- to tell the world that the Falcons are truly here!!!
-
- <[(Brad)] B.SUSLOVIC> Hi Bob. I understand that the new dealer
- agreement has put some mail order limitations on dealers. Under
- what circumstances will consumers be able to purchase Falcons via
- mail order?
-
- <BOB-BRODIE> Brad, we're trying to build a dealer network up
- again. In order to do that, we need to have storefront locations
- selling our product. We recognize that in some rural, or remote
- areas there is a likelihood that there will not be a local dealer.
- In these cases, we will make arrangements with the closest dealer
- to you to handle the customer.
-
- <[Host] ST.LOU> Let's pause for a minute. Our door prize tonight
- is a subscription to Atari Explorer. What is the ID number for the
- DSP chip? 30 seconds to talk-mode. First two correct answers will
- win.
-
- <[david k.] D.KAUFMAN> Motorola 56001
- <[Matt] M.RIVMAN1> 56001
- <[max denebian] P.HULSE2> 7
- <[Rob] R.ANISKO> 56001?
- <[Pat] P.FORISTER> Motorola DSP56001
- <[Guitar Cente] C.FLUEGEL> 56001
- <[Ringo] LEXICOR2> 56001
- <[Tim @ AEO] AEO.8> Motorola 56000
- <[Connor] CAN-ASST> 56001
- <[Dr. Bob] W.PARKS3> 007
- <[STimpy] J.TORRES17> motorola 56001?
- <[Jason] J.BRUNKEN> motorola 56001
- <V.HUTZ> 08
- <[Jason] J.BRUNKEN>
- <[Dr. Bob] W.PARKS3> Agent 86
- <[Andy] O-ZONE> 56000
- <[John B.] J.BRENNER1> 1
- <[Network 23] R.MARTIN22> 56001
- <[Fred] FB> 99
- <[STEVEN CHAPM] S.CHAPMAN> 56001
- <R.NEALE2> DSP56001
- <[Jonesy] M.JONES52> ID? We don't need no...
- <[Ringo] LEXICOR2> Dr bob, hahaha
- <[Die/!\Hard] D.VICHA> car 54
- <[James] J.VOGH> 56001
- <[> GLENDALE <] JOHN.KING.T> Chip, we don't need no stinken chips.
- <F.CUCCI> three
- <J.ALLEN27> Actually NOT, it is a special version with maskrom
- code burnt in it, but 56001 will do.
- <[STimpy] J.TORRES17> Yak Shaving Day!
- <[Ron] Z-NET> I won already! :-) Monday!
- <[Fred] FB> The BIG one?
-
- <[Host] ST.LOU> Bunch of comics :-) David Kaufman and Matt Rivman
- are our winners! Please send your addresses in email to BOB-BRODIE
- to get your subscriptions. The answer was 56001
-
- <[John B.] J.BRENNER1> This is not a technical question. On a
- personal note. Bob, what is the first thing that came to mind when
- you received the phone call confirming the arrival of Falcons ar
- customs?
-
- <BOB-BRODIE> It was not a phone call, I was told personally by
- Garry Tramiel. And I told him "You better not be kidding around
- with me!"
-
- <MIKE-ALLEN> Most of the talk about the dsp chip has been music
- related. I wonder if there are other apps that have been explored?
- I have particular interest in Ham Radio apps and also in using the
- technology to clean up some vintage recordings. My dad was in
- radio and tv since 1937 and I have some very interesting
- recordings that really need help. One in particular of my dad with
- Bob Hope, Jerry Colona and Frances Langford on Guadalcanal in
- 1944.
-
- <BOB-BRODIE> There certainly are, Mike. Modems, Data compression,
- decompression, voice mail, fractal generation, and other things
- are very possible. Regarding using the DSP to clean up the
- recordings, you can use the DSP as a audio equalizer to
- "surgically" clean up recordings using digital audio recording to
- transfer these recordings into the computer and do the editing on
- screen there.
-
- <[Pat] P.FORISTER> San Antonio has lost both of its Atari dealers.
- Do you know if we will be left in the dark for long? How can I
- find my closest dealer? Also, any news in IBM processor direct
- cards? Have any benchmarks?
-
- <BOB-BRODIE> Pat, I am personally working with one of the
- prospects for San Antonio. He has assured me that he is very
- interested in signing on. We also have a new rep firm for the
- area, called Highway Marketing. They are charged with signing up
- new dealers in that area. I believe they are actually based in
- Dallas, and are primarily aimed at Music and Pro Audio dealers.
- Re the PC benchmarks, I believe that Bill Rehbock reported a
- Norton SI rating of 12.1 in his CeBIT Report CO that was held here
- last week. Be sure to get the transcript out of the library here
- to get the exact numbers. Bill also described the other emualtors
- that are under development for the Atari Falcon030 for the PC side
- of things...there is a 486SX version coming out as well!
-
- <[Jason] J.BRUNKEN> Bob, How many commercial software packages for
- the Falcon do you estimate will be available by Christmas 93? And
- is that 2-3 weeks on the 4/65's a 'worst case' estimate? I've
- already paid for mine!
-
- <BOB-BRODIE> Jason, 2-3 weeks is worst case to get the units in
- here to us from the factory. I'd add another week for it to get to
- your dealer in order to be safe...the boat probably doesn't dock
- near him! :) Re the Falcon apps, that's hard for me to say. I'd
- prefer again to refer you to the transcript from Bill's CO. I've
- been swamped and really haven't had much of a chance to speak to
- him about this yet, and I know that he is really, really excited
- about a number of applications that he saw at CeBIT. I will say
- that I envision two issues for the US: 1) How many apps, and 2)
- Who will sell them? We must take steps to ensure that the
- products have distribution in North America.
-
- <[Host] ST.LOU> Bob, can you tell us WHO is working on a DSP modem
- at this time? And what baud could be expected?
-
- <BOB-BRODIE> Non-disclosure prevents me from naming the developer,
- Lou. Sorry.
-
- <[Tim @ AEO] AEO.8> Whats the latest on the Jaguar and the Lynx?
- I'd also like to know what the RISC chip in the Jaguar *does*?
- Graphics or the main brain?
-
- <BOB-BRODIE> Hi Tim, on the LYNX side of things, we're running a
- full color eight page insert in the gaming magazines (like Game
- Pro) which is hitting the stores now... it really looks terrific!
- We have added an 800 number for people to call and order products
- for the LYNX directly from Atari... it's 1-800-221-EDGE We're
- really excited, as not only do the ads look great, but they have
- an offer to buy two games, and get one for free. Be sure to look
- in your favorite game magazines for the ad! Re the Jaguar, I'm
- afraid that I can't tell you anything about the technical end of
- the Jaguar at this time, Tim. Sorry. We're very pleased with the
- number of developers that we've signed up, and the machine is
- coming along VERY nicely. We have added about the staff in all of
- the appropriate areas, like a new VP to head up the Entertainment
- Software, Gabriel Baum, and a host of new artists, programmers,
- testers, etc have been hired to help with Jaguar.
-
- <[Host] ST.LOU> Bob and James, thank you for spending the evening
- with us. We are all really excited about the imminent availability
- of the Falcon and sincerely wish it provides great successes for
- Atari and its loyal users!
-
- <BOB-BRODIE> Thank you Lou, it is always a great pleasure to be
- online on our offical on-line resource: GEnie. It's easy to see
- why GEnie is the number one online network for Atarians around the
- world. Thank you all for attending, and good night.
-
- <[Host] ST.LOU> Everyone is invited to hang around and chat for a
- few minutes. Don't forget to drop in on April 19 and you could win
- a free copy of Outline Art 3.0 from DMC Publishing. Our guest will
- be Nathan Potechin!
-
-
- --==--==--==--==--