What is it?

MelIDI is a MIDI and audio sequencer for Acorn computers running RISC OS 3.1 or later and with at least 2Mb RAM. Features include:

Some quotes from current users:

"I do like the way that MelIDI detects the type of Controller command you are sending. MelIDI is a joy to use and is a lot more flexible and user friendly than any other MIDI sequencer that I have ever used. A great bit of software!"


"MelIDI's pattern handling is lovely - much nicer than a separate window like MIDIWorks uses, which forces you to be aware of the pattern nature, even if you don't want to be. MelIDI is very neat."


"I'm still finding my way through MelIDI but the combination with the [Yamaha] MU10 seems really amazing."


"Also, I love the drag'n'drop facilities of MelIDI. From rearranging the drum list to moving patterns, it's just so beautifully intuitive and elegant, and extremely impressive - I'm sure it must have taken a huge amount of work to implement."


"Very classy. Very good, clear manual"


"This is clearly the best and most comprehensive sequencing package available on the Archimedes. I was impressed by its clear and straightforward user interface, it is both intuitive and accurate. A pleasure to use. At last we have something on the Arc to rival Cubase and Cakewalk, it's about time!"


"Can I first of all say that MelIDI is a brilliant program far ahead of anything available on the Acorn! Keep up the good work!"


"I'm a user of MelIDI... and it's a cracking package. MelIDI has all the features you'd expect from a top quality professional sequencer (I use Notator, Cakewalk Pro and Logic Audio on a regular basis) with some nice little additions like incredibly quick MIDI file loading, three playback modes for those with less able computers as well as its incredible all-round speed - I don't think it's ever taken control for more than half a second on any operation; and I've got an A3010!"

"There are the windows which are some of the best around: I particularly like the map window in which you can have graphic displays of changes in tempo, velocity, controllers (picked by name or number) and control of plug-in extensions. For all these, you can simply draw in a controller change and use the powerful transform function to change it all sorts of ways. Then there's the controller sliders. Beautifully compact and go all the way up to track number 'infinity' :-) I'm more than pleased with MelIDI and completely overwhelmed by the support I'm getting - definitely unparalleled!"

"MelIDI allows patterns to be 'linked'... MIDIWorks has no such feature". "I much prefer the technique, used by MelIDI, of hiding the information unless it's needed". "MelIDI is very user-friendly when opening the [editor] window: it selects the most appropriate view (piano or drum) and makes sure that the window is positioned where the notes are". "A lot of what the logic editor [in MIDIWorks] can do, MelIDI does anyway in rather more user friendly ways (e.g. controller graphs can be transformed using a dialogue)".

"It is probably clear by now which sequencer I preferred. MelIDI has many good features which obviously didn't occur to the authors of MIDIWorks". "Finally, MIDIWorks will not let you do any editing at all while MIDI playback is operating; in MelIDI, the whole application works whether MIDI playback is on or not. This does make MIDIWorks a big pain to use on occasion". "[Compared to MIDIWorks], Melidi is almost equally powerful whilst being vastly easier to use... The complexity inherent in editing a MIDI file is well hidden ... and, as a result, the package is simpler to learn". "...is probably more suitable for professional work than MIDIWorks...". "In short, MelIDI is excellenty designed and I fully recommend it".

MelIDI is also used by several commercial companies. As an example, R-Comp Interactive have used it for:

"Abuse: Re-recorded all MIDI tracks in game (about 20), and reorchestrated with MelIDI. MelIDI was also used to crop the music to suitable repeat point, and to tweak tempo and stereo effects.

Syndicate: Completely re-orchestrated and revamped from the original which was designed for FM Synths. MelIDI allowed us to recreate the original soundtrack as it was envisaged using the full GM/XG instrument set. And it allowed us to get rid of the "interesting" use of the helicopter voice, which actually sounds like a "whoosh" in the FM set!

Heroes of Might and Magic 2: Minor reorchestration, and fine tuning on tempos and loop points."


What hardware do I need?

MelIDI can run on any 32-bit Acorn RISC OS computer from the A3x0 series up to the StrongARM Risc PC. It requires 2 megabytes of memory. It can be run from floppy, but a hard disc is preferred. Performance will be much improved on a computer with ARM3 or later. An Acorn compliant MIDI interface is required. Using MIDISupport from ESP is recommended (and is required for plugins). MelIDI has been tested on the following computers:

Where can I get MelIDI from?

MelIDI is now available either directly from Liquid Silicon, who are distributing it, or from your local dealer. Dealers and distributors please contact Liquid Silicon.

Is there a demo version?

Yes! Click here to get it. For sample screenshots click here.

How can I find out more details?

Please contact:
Liquid Silicon
FREEPOST EH2725
Kirkcaldy, Fife
KY2 5BR
United Kingdom.

Tel: 01592 592265, Fax: 01592 596102
Tel: +44 1592 592265, Fax: +44 1592 596102

If you have any comments about these pages or have problems displaying them, please email me.
The main Liquid Silicon pages are here and the MelIDI pages are here. For technical details you can also contact the author Stephen Borrill using the email address sborrill@iname.com
The name MelIDI, the suite of programs collectively known as MelIDI and the entire contents of these pages are © Stephen Borrill 1996-1998.
The MelIDI logo is © Rob Miller who also designed the manual cover.
Acorn, Archimedes and RISC PC are trademarks of Acorn Computers Ltd.
ARM is a trademark of Advanced RISC Machines Ltd.
All other trademarks acknowledged.

This page last modified 27th August 1998.