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HYBRID ARTS

Midi Applications for Atari

Hybrid Arts Inc. produced some of the finest Atari software made just for Midi.They actually started on the 8 Bit atari computers and continued support for the 32 bit machines. Many big names in the music industry (such as Jimmy Hozt, Pointer Sisters, BB King,Yes,and Fleetwood Mac just to name a few) used Hybrid Arts products. The Sequencer Standard was the SMPTE Track/ Edit Track series as well as excellent synthisizer editors (GenEdit, GenPatch, DX-Android, CX-Android) and also Scoring with EZ-Score. For Algorithmic Composing there is the wonderful program Ludwig.There was also the ADAP technology which was a 16 bit hard disc recorder. Ahead of it's time.Below you will find reviews as well as recently released Freeware by the original programmers

NEW for this page is the release of GenEdit ver2.02. See below for all the details on this wonderful package created by Joe Hlifka, an Atari-MIDI forum member.

Ludwig's main Screen
Ludwig

By Tom Bajoras
Hybrid Arts 1988
Released as Freeware May,2000

What is Ludwig?

OBSCURE FACT:Ludwig gets it's name not from the famous composer we all know and love, but was the name of the Hybrid Arts A&D directors dog! ARF!

Ludwig is an algorithmic application created by Tom Bajoras, formally of Hybrid Arts. It was produced in the late 1980's at the time "M" , Tunesmith, Music Mouse and many other algorithmic programs were the big thing of the day. It is different then those applications in that you have to choose "operations" (the actual algorithm) that will happen within a "cell"(a block of time) and what pattern (scale, melody) it will be applied to. You had different operations that apply to Pitch, Rhythm and Velocity. For operations of Pitch, these would include for example:

Reverse
warp harmony
Diatonic Up
Force Diatonic
invert chords
play highest/lowest
Randomize
play odd/even
Chromatic Up
reflect
echo
substitute rest
drop a chord

All of the above could be applied to a pattern that you create. You can have 96 patterns in memory at a time. You can also have preset rhythms that you can create and apply similear transformations. Facinating results can be obtained. The only condition however, is to build up a library of patterns and rhythms to work with initially so you have starting points, or "bones" as Ludwig calles it. You build a composition by inserting "instruction" or 'operations' within 'cells'. You can have a total of 1024 cells, which gives a tremendous amount of room to string your patterns and permutations of the patterns together.

You can also imagine it as an 8 track analog style sequencer. Each track can be assigned a midi channel as well as patch changes. It can also be muted even while it is playing. You can assign whatever patterns you have created and then permutate those patterns with the algorithms. You can do this for Pitch, Velocity and Rhythm. What a system!

Ludwig is now freeware thanks to Tom Bajoras giving permission for it's release as well as his other former Hybrid Arts programs.

Within the Zip are a few libraries or 'bones' to make use of the program right away.

What follows now is a tutorial I wrote to enable you to get started on using Ludwig.

Ludwig Tutorial
By Tim Conrardy

For this tutorial , you will need the LIB1.LWG (supplied in the ZIP) INITIAL BEGINNINGS

1. Double click on Ludwig.prg. The program loads.

2. Go to FILE on the menu and selct LOAD LUDWIG FILE. Find the LIB1.LWG file and select it.

3. A dialog appears: LOAD LUDWIG PARAMETERS FROM LIB1.LWG. You have a choice to select which pitch and rhythm patterns you want to use. For our tutorial, select OK. This will select all of them.The file loads into Ludwig's memory.

4.To get some initial output from Ludwig,hit the spacebar to play what is currently loaded.

5. You will see the screen devided up into 4 sections. Tracks 1 through 4 are shown. Track 1 is the only one "playing". This is indicated by the two 'arrows' you see alternating between two 'cells'as they are called in Ludwig.

6.In the far upper right corner of the screen you will see 8 arrows in a row.One arrow is in an 'upward' position. The others are down.These are Mutting and Unmutting switches for each of the 8 tracks in Ludwig. Select the second arrow. The arrow goes UP unmutting track 2. You will hear a flurry of notes playing at the same time as Track 1. Select the second arrow again, and the track is mutted, returning us to the original pattern on Track 1.At this point, hit RETURN and Ludwig stops.

THE EDITORS and RECORDING A PATTERN.

7. Lets take a look at what makes Ludwig tick, that is by viewing the patterns in the Library we just loaded. Go to the Menu and select PATTERN, then PITCH.You are taken to a dialog which lists all the patterns in memory.They are numbered starting at 00 and going to 29. By clicking into the arrows at the bottom of the screen, you can scroll to the next screen of patterns.Clicking into one of the names, you can edit the name if so desired.However, for our purposes, CONTROL-CLICK into a pattern name.This will bring up the pattern creation screen. You will see the notes used in the pattern highlighted in the first row.Selecting PLAY will play the notes.

8. To record a new pattern, select RECORD and play your MIDI keyboard 'slowly' so Ludwig can 'hear' the notes you are entering into it. Remember you are only recording the notes, not the rythym. Rythym is dealt seperatly in Ludwig as well as velocity. When you are done, hit the space bar.You will see the notes you played in the highlighted area.Select PLAY to hear them back. (You can also select notes with the mouse instead of using a MIDI keyboard). Now you can select OK to keep the new pattern or CANCEL to go back to the original pattern. You are brought back to the Pitch Pattern screen. Now select EXIT.

NOTE: if you want to ADD to the library, go to the next screen as described above and CONTROL-CLICK into an empty pattern feild and create a new pattern as above. Give it a new name as well. Remember to save the file when you have completed your session under FILE/SAVE LUDWIG FILE.

9. You are now back at Ludwigs main screen. Go to PATTERNS again on the menu and select RHYTHM. The list of rhythms are presented.CONTROL-CLICKING into a pattern field will bring up the rhythm editor where you can create your own rhythms. For now, select CANCEL and you are broght back to the main Ludwig screen.

CREATING VARIATIONS

10. Looking at Track 1, you will see in the first cell a [U] with a [00] below it.[U] stands for USER PATTERN while [00] stands for pattern number 00 in the pitch pattern list we just veiwed. Click into the U/00 cell so it is highlighed.Right-Click on[00] and the number increases. Left-clicking will decrease it.Change it to [01] This means we have changed our user pattern to number 01 in the pitch patterns list. Get it? Now click anywhere outside the field in the screen and it un-highlights.

11. Press the space bar. You will hear a different pattern playing then when we first started .Now the FUN begins ! Click into the second cell ON the letters EC. A dialog appears at the bottom of the screen for PITCH SERIES OPERATIONS. These are the actual algorithms that you can create variations to the initial seed pattern. For our purposes, click into RF (Reflect) RF goes into the cell, but it is still highlighted.You can now put in a value for how much 'reflection' you want by right clicking into the number cell under RF. Change it to [05]. Now click outside the feild to enter the parameter, and the cell un-highlights. You will now hear a change in the pattern as the algorithm RF permutates it. Now you can start having more FUN as you click into the next adjoining cells, select different pitch series operations and values and hearing what it does to the initial 'bone'. Facinating variations can be created from one initial seed pattern or BONE.

12.Now click into the P (for Pitch) on the TRK 1 field.It changes to a V and the VELOCITY dialog appears for track 1.Try selecting different velocites and changing the different values to see what it does to the music. Remember the music is still playing as we do this!

13. Click into the V, it changes to R for RHYTHM. Clicking into the second empty cell will bring up the RHYTHM SERIES OPERATION dialog. Here, as in the pitch series, you can select the different algorithms and values to change and alter the RHYTHMS of the initial seed pattern or Bone.EXPERIMENT ! Clicking into R again and you are brought back to the P(itch) screen for track 1.

Ludwig's Random Screen

RANDOM VARIATIONS

14. Now for something completly different.On the right side of the track dialog is a section that says MIX WITH [00]. Right-Clicking into <00>will allow you to enter a value. Change it to [05]. This means that Pattern 01(the initial seed pattern) will be mixed with pattern 05. Below this is a dialog for +/- [00]. Clicking into this will allow you to put in a 'percentage' of how much pattern 05 will be mixed with pattern 01. For our purposes, change it to +/- [30].

15.Now left-click into an empty slot below the percentage dialog and another impressive dialog presents itself: the PITCH RANDOMIZER FUNCTIONS. There are many options for random permutation. For our purposes, select R :[select notes randomly]. The R goes into the slot. You can select more slots to put in more random functions.However we don't hear the permutations yet.(remember...the music is still playing!) How come? We have to tell a Ludwig where we want the random permuations. We do this by selecting another empty cell in track 1 and selecting [?] RANDOMIZED. Now the features we just programmed will take place when Ludwig arrows to the [?] cell.

MORE FUNCTIONS

16.Now you can try unmutting some tracks with the top arrow keys, selecting different patterns , pitch and rhythm series operations in the same way we did for track 1. Try to pick patterns and operations that go well together. Some nice polyrhythmic variations can be created.

17. Press RETURN to stop Ludwig. Click into TRACKS on the menu and select SUMMARY. A dialog appears where you can assign track names, Midi channel,legato percentage,patch number and Pitch/Rhythm Mesh (Yes or No)Experiment with these settings to see what sounds best.Exit when completed.

RECORDING A LUDWIG SONG

18. To do a recording in ludwig, set up your patterns and algorithms. Then press the Space bar to start Ludwig. Then Mute, unmute tracks, and let ludwig play through the permuations. When completed, press RETURN. Ludwig stops. Now go to FILE on the menu and select SAVE SONG. The file selector appears, give your song a file name and hit OK, and it is saved. The song is actually saved in Hybrid Arts Edit-Track SNG format. To create a midi file, you need to download Edit Track (which is freeware now) and load the .SNG in and convert it to a standard MIDI file. From there you can export it to your favorite sequencer, that is unless Edit Track is your favorite sequencer!

Another method is to record Ludwigs' output directly into another external sequencer either from amother computer or hardware sequencer, synth workstation.

CONCLUSION

There is obvously more to this software then meets the DOG...er...BONE. Experimentation is the key to this program. I have found that Ludwigs output is not static, but keeps changing providing you input many variations, but even then surprizes me as I am rediscovering this software.

Tom Bajoras, along with two other ex-Hybrid Arts programmers, went on to found "Art & Logic".

Main GenEdit screen with Cool Studio

GenEdit ST v2.02 NEW VERSION !

By Tom Bajoras
Hybrid Arts
Released ver1.1 as Freeware May,2000
Ver 2.2 released Nov.2003 I am now happy to announce the availablity of a new version of GenEdit. Thanks is due to the long persuance of Joe Hlifka (of Albuquerque, New Mexico) and his team. (see below)

What is GenEdit?
GenEdit St is a "Universal Midi Organizer-Editor-Controller". Instead of using a seperate editor for each synth, GenEdit allowed many synths to be edited in one enviornment.Also, if there was no editor available for your particular synth, you can create a 'template' for it .GenEdit runs on Atari ST, Mega ST, STe, Mega STe, TT and Falcon computers in ST Med and ST High resolutions (GenEdit does not run on the ST 520 because of memory limitations)

The GenEdit v2.02 Freeware archive consists of three files:

The GenEdit Program Disk: GENEDIT2.ZIP
The Examples Disk: EXAMPLES.ZIP
The Sample Studio Disk: COOL_STU.ZIP

The PROGRAM Disk includes:
The GenEdit v2.02 program, resource files and all other files that were included with the original commercial program, and this read me file.

The EXAMPLES disk includes:
The misc configuration files and templates provided in the original v2.0 release plus some of the data files required for "Cool Studio", this read me file, a "Tutorial" for using GenEdit.

The COOL_STU disk includes:
Numerous configuation files, templates, data files and a "Quick Start Tutorial" on setting up "Cool Studio", a contemporary plug 'n play GenEdit Studio Setup, this read me file, text for using the GENSYSEX.GEN file and an updated 2003 GenEdit "Support" doc listing all current instrument support.

Kawai XD5 editor

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Upgrades from GenEdit v2.0 and v2.01

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The following program and other file upgrades from previous versions include:

- The GenEdit program is no longer copy protected
- GENEDIT .PI2 color file (GenEdit has new screen colors for ST Med)
- Little Green Item Selector (v1.8D)
- SysXpress Desk Accessory v1.10 runs in all ST, TT amd Falcon resolutions.
- SUPPORT.TXT - lists all previous instrument support plus the addition of several newer instruments, available for the first time with the GenEdit v2.02 release.

The DEGAS PI2 file has been edited to display blue-green and dark-green for GenEdit's main screen and editor in St Medium resolution. The original GENEDIT.PI2 file displaying primary blue and red colors is also included and can be found in the folder named COLOR PI2.

GenEdit 2.02 can be run from a floppy disk (but a second floppy drive will improve its performance). It is highly recommended that GenEdit be installed on a hard drive in order to realize optimum performance of the program. An elaborate studio setup like "Cool Studio" requires a hard drive due to the size of the configuations, templates and number of data files used to support a complex MIDI studio.

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SysXpress v1.10 - Desk Accessory

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This upgrade was developed from the v1.06 source code supplied by the author. SysXpress v1.09 (the last commercial vesion ) runs in ST Med and ST High only and has a time-out problem on the TT030 when running in and using TT Fast RAM. These problems have now been fixed. Version 1.10 is also resolution independent and will run in all TT and Falcon resolutions.

EditTrack Platinum v7.10 users will find that SysXpress now works correctly with the "Auto-Inject" feature when running in the 640x480 VGA resolution. SysXpress even runs in TT-High so you can send files to your MIDI gear on the fly if your using a sequencer in that resolution.

The Fast RAM program bits have been set on GenEdit and SysXpress to "Use" TT RAM and "Run-in" TT RAM. This may also improve performance on Falcons with Fast RAM installed. GenEdit is compatible with Code Head's Warp 9, and if you have a copy of NVDI v2.10 or higher, you will realise a 50% increase in screen draws when using GenEdit's editors.

Ensoniq ESQ editor

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The GenEdit Tutorial and Manual

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A tutorial in ASCII text format is included with GenEdit v2.02. It represents about 35-40% of the GenEdit Version 2 manual. Hopefully it provides enough on the basics to get you started, if you are new to the program. A complete version 2 manual will be available some time in 2004. The manual will include Chapters 8 and 9 and Appendix C containing GenEdit's native CNX language needed to write your own custom configurations. The manual will also include all screen shots from the original v2 manual. The GenEdit v2.02 Freeware Version manual will be made available in PDF format on a GEnEdit v2.02 CD ROM (still in development).

MSB editor

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"Cool Studio" - A Sample GenEdit Studio Setup

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If you are new to GenEdit or have only used GenEdit v1.0, you may find it helpful to download the archive COOL_STU.ZIP. This archive and the EXAMPLES archive, contain all the necesary files for a fully functional demo "Studio Setup" for GenEdit. "Cool Studio" is a Plug 'n Play multi-instrument MIDI studio under the control of GenEdit.

"Cool Studio" includes support for the following gear:

EMU ...... Proteus Fx / Classic Keys - editor
Kawai .... XD5 - editor
Ensoniq .. SQ-80 & ESQ-M - editors
JLC ...... MSB+ Rev2 - dump utility and editor
Korg ..... NS5R / NX5R - dump utilities
Gensysex . Universal (MIDI-EX) dump utility used with SysXpress
Peavey ... PC1600x MIDI controller - dump utilities
Roland ... SC880 - dump utilties
Yamaha ... DX7 - editor
Yamaha ... TG100 - dump utility
Yamaha ... TG300 - dump utilities
Yamaha ... MU100R / MU90R - dump utilities
Yamaha ... PSR-410. 510, 1700 and 2700 keyboards - dump utilities

(Note: see the download section for a text file on all the supported instruments for GenEdit)

EMU Proteus editor

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GenEdit v2.02 CD ROM

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The GenEdit CD will be available some time in 2004. This CD contains approximately 32 MB of files including:

- The GENEDIT Program Disk
- The EXAMPLES Disk
- The COOL_STU Disk
- A complete GenEdit Manual with screen shots and chapters on how to create your own templates and configuations.
- Approximately 8 MB of GenEdit Configurations and Templates
- Hundreds of Peavey PC1600x MIDI controller presets in GenEdit format
- EditTrack freeware v7.10 and MidiTrack ST v7.1a and v7.1b
- Ludwig freeware v1.0
- EZ-Score Plus freeware v1.1
- More than 5 MB of MIDI utilities, programs and TOS enhancements
- Dozens of non-commercial sequences in EditTrack native format and standard MIDI file format
- Custom patch-banks for instruments supported by "Cool Studio"

There will be a nominal charge (yet to be determined) for compiling the contents and producing the CD. For more information on the GenEdit v2.02 CD contact Joe Hlifka by e-mail at: jhlifka@yahoo.com

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- New GenEdit ST Templates, XG utilities + new ST Med colors --

April 2006 Release ( see Templates disc 6 download below)

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Strummer Heaven 3.14a Update

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Includes bug-fixes and several enhancements to the Strummer Editor/Librarian package, including:


1. Improvements made to several Editor Controls.
2. "On-line Help" for all Strummer parameters by Shift-Clicking on parameter name while in the Editor.
3. XG and GS "Strummer Demos" in SMF format. (a spoof) You must have an XG instrument, or a Sound Canvas in order to play these correctly and view the "Letter Displays" that are embedded in the sequence.
4. Strummer Heaven now comes with 64 new User Presets found in the "HEAVEN" and "TEMPOS" Libraries.
5. A re-write of the tutorial.
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Letter Display Editor/Librarian

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This Template enables you to create text messages that can be converted to a Standard MIDI File. Text will display on the front panel of MIDI sound modules that implement the "Letter Display" protocol. Instruments currently supported include:

1. Yamaha XG sound modules.
2. Yamaha TG300.
3. Roland Sound Canvas models that supports the Letter Display protocol.
4. Korg NS5R and NX5R sound modules.

A special thanks goes to Atari MIDI Forum member Martin Tarenskeen for allowing me to include his "MEX2MID" program as part of the Letter Display package. Thanks Martin!

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SEQ-MIX (Sequence Mixer)

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This Template enables you to automate your sequences by creating a mix-list for GM/XG/GS formats. (Template may be modified for use with other formats). Seventeen parameters for all 16 MIDI channels can be viewed on-screen at once. The SEQ-MIX file can be saved or exported as a "RAW" binary file and converted to a SMF using the MEX2MID program.

SEQ-MIX v1.9.3 features include:

1. A PDF file that can be printed to create hard copy of your mix before programming the SEQ-MIX file in GenEdit.
2. "On-line Help" in the Editor.
3. The "Patch Name" in the Window is saved as an XG "Letter Display" along with all Program and controller parameters.
4. The XG Letter Display can be set to any device number, or disabled.
5. SEQ-MIX files can be saved as normal GenEdit Patches.

SEQ-MIX v1.9.5 is currently in development and will work as a GenEdit "Controller Template" as well as an Editor with Patches that can be saved, or exported as a "RAW" binary file.


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XG Dump Utilites

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These dump utilities can be installed as a "Device" in the center column of the main GenEdit screen as part of a GenEdit "Studio Setup".

1. XG Multi-Part Dump: Allows user to select any one of the 16 XG "Multi-Parts" and dump all parameters to GenEdit.
2. XG Custom Voice: This utility dumps all "Part 1" parameters, plus all parameters for 5 effects processors.
3. XG Multi-EQ: Saves custom Multi-EQ settings.

Note: All XG files can be sent to your instruments on-the-fly using the SysXpress Desk Accessory, or converted to a SMF using the MEX2MID program.

When using EditTrack, files can be sent to your instrument using the "Auto Inject" function.

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New Colors for GenEdit

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There are now 9 color-combinations available for GenEdit when running in ST Med resolution. These can be found in the folder named GE_COLOR.NEW. If you own a copy of Degas Elite, you can experiment with additional colors as well.

DX7 editor

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Acknowledgements

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The GenEdit v2.02 release would not have been possible without the generosity and contributions of the following people.

Tom Bajoras - Tom is the author of GenEdit and SysXpress. He released GenEdit as freeware and the v2.0 source code in May 2000. In 2002, he released the SysXpress source code into the public domain so it could be upgraded.

Andy Pederson - Andy, was a beta tester for GenEdit, provided chapters 8 and 9 and Appendix C of the GenEdit manual when it was no where else to be found. He has also contributed several Templates and Configurations to the GenEdit library.

Roger Burrows - Roger is an Atari developer and programmer, aka: Anodyne Software located in Ontario Canada. He is responsible for updating the SysXpress Desk Accessory and removing copy protection from the GenEdit v2.0 and v2.01 programs. Roger offers CD ROM and other software for Atari computers and can be found on the Internet at the following address. Anodyne Software website: http://www.anodynesoftware.com

Tim Conrardy - Tim maintains "Tim's Atari MIDI World" on the internet. He makes available for download, a vast library of freeware and public domain MIDI software for the Atari platform. (this web site)

Joe Hlifka - A die-hard Atarian, MIDI hobbiest and amateur musician who compiled the files for GenEdit 2.02 and facilitated getting the project done. Though it took years to complete, GenEdit v2.02 is finally available to anyone who would like to own and use this great program.

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