** 3 pages news / 2715 words **

** SYSTEM_S.GIF here **

** ROPOCOP.GIF here **

Fear not citizens, ROPO-COP is a harmless computer accessory from System Solutions. This ISA device plugs into your Hades and gives it no less than three Atari-compatible cartridge ports, ideal for music software dongles. Atari Cubase is compatible and runs at a speed you won't believe. Two ports are internal, the other protrudes from a back-plate aperture for convenient access and the active port is selected by software. System Solutions builds Hades computers to order, and new, lower pricing on the stunning Startrack Hades audio mastering suite (hardware and software) takes immediate effect, at œ559 including VAT for the latest 24-bit/96KHz version incorporating a powerful Motorola DSP56002-66 signal processing engine with Falcon-compatible DSP port, enhanced to support 16 I/O channels.

** HADES.GIF here **

Brand-new copies of Cubase 3.1 are now only œ199, it's time to ditch those inferior doctored pirate versions, which are prone to crashing. Add a SoundPool MO 4 at just œ100, for an extra 64 MIDI tracks on four ports.

** CAB27_L.GIF here **

An update of CAB brings it to version 2.7 - ST users should enjoy this release because it runs faster than ever, web page scrolling is highly responsive. Among the refinements (mainly requiring the MagiC multi-tasking OS and some enhanced desktop) are automatic connection for off-line cache mass recovery, saving of background images, Netscape cookie support and improved cache management. Here's an excerpt from the manual addendum, "CAB can now read web archives and cache files of Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 (Mac version)... (Don't be surprised if your CAB cache increases by only 5Mb when importing a 35Mb IE 4.0 cache file. This is correct - there just is no more useful data)." Cost remains at œ29.95 or œ15.00 for an upgrade from 2.5.

Want to replace an ageing ST high resolution monochrome monitor? System Solutions has a new model 14" paper-white display with exceptional value features. Digital geometry control allows precise setting of image shape and size, stretching to fill those black borders if necessary, and automatic de-gaussing keeps the image free from magnetically-induced distortion (as caused by external influences like close proximity to loudspeakers, or internal residual accumulation). It comes with a detachable tilt-and-swivel base and the cost is œ129 including VAT.

Line Audio's Falcon Jam OUT units (compatible with Startrack) are now shipping with 24-bit DACs, which allow extended precision digital filtering and improved S/N ratio. Best of all, the price remains the same.

Falcon speed fanatics will be pleased to know CENTEK's brilliant CENTurbo II has reached Revision B, supporting up to 128Mb fast RAM. The new custom RAM controller makes CENTurbo II even faster and the CPU heat-sink is now fixed with a much stronger glue.

** BC **
For mail order and upgrades contact the despatch centre:
System Solutions
119 Arthur Road, Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 1RU
Tel: +44 (0)1753 832212
Fax: +44 (0)1753 830433
Email: sales@system-solutions.co.uk
www.system-solutions.co.uk/cafe/
Other useful information contacts:
lineaudio@system-solutions.co.uk
hades@system-solutions.co.uk
** /BC **

---
Music Mouse

Laurie Spiegel originally coded Music Mouse for the Mac and ported it to the Atari platform back in 1988. Amazingly it remains available today.

Music Mouse turns the ST into a musical instrument in it's own with complete control in the hands of the performer. Basically mouse movements are transformed into four moving axes inside a grid that can be assiged different MIDI channels and sounds with keyboard keys for controller messages, tempo, transpose, and a host of other features. It's great fun for musicians and non-musicians and as Laurie says "Few things are more sad than homeless music rodents". For more information visit:

** BC **
http://www.dorsai.org/~spiegel
http://www.dorsai.org/~spiegel/ls_programs/mm_spec_sheet3.html"
Or send $29.00 (which includes shipping) along with your return address to: Aesthetic Engineering, 175 Duane St. NYC, NY 10013, USA
** /BC **

Thanks to Tim Conrardy for this item posted in the comp.sys.atari.st newsgroup. Check out Tim's pages at:

** BC **
Tim Conrardy
Tim's Atari Midi World
http://atlantis-bbs.com/dconrard/index.htm
** /BC **

---
** CGE_LOGO.GIF here **

If you're nostalgic about Atari, Intellivision, Apple II or Odyssey and appreciate the accomplishments of programmers, hardware engineers and executives that brought you many hours of enjoyment in front of the TV, monitor and at the arcades then you'd enjoy a trip to the Classic Gaming Expo '99 where you'll be able to play classic games, mingle with legendary pioneers and shop for bargain collectables.

The Classic Gaming Expo '99 was conceived by some of the people responsible for staging last year's successful WORLD OF ATARI '98 and will be is solely devoted to celebrating the history of video, arcade and computer games.

The Classic Gaming Expo '99 is scheduled to take place in Las Vegas at the Plaza Hotel on August 14th and 15th, 1999.

** BC **
http://www.cgexpo.com/
** /BC **

---

ICQ for Atari?

Simon Osborne recently reported in the comp.sys.atari.st newsgroup that a mysterious Frenchman is working on GEM-ICQ and a release should be ready soon - it's rumoured to run under STiK/STiNG.

---
Centek PHENIX 040/060 news

The elusive PHENIX computer still looks set to make a dramatic appearance any time now. CENTEK recently changed the hardware architecture of the motherboard and the Revison 1 version features include:

** UL **
* The DSP56301 is now connected on the PCI bus.
* A card with 3 other DSP could be plugged into a PCI slot, not into a dedicated slot.
* The ULTRA-SCSI and USB (2 ports) controllers have been replaced. The new ones are connected on the PCI bus.
* Two IDE (ATA-4) connectors are now officially provided thanks to a new component on the PCI bus. Four peripherals are so possible.
* The MIDI, SERIAL & PARALLEL ports are suppressed. They are possible with some USB interfaces, opening the way for the future.
* The QUICC chip is suppressed.
* The EDO RAM is replaced by the SDRAM which is currently 2 times cheaper and 2 times faster (on the 060).

One of the objectives of the modifications was to minimise production costs but happily these changes have also bought about performance improvements! The PHENIX is now comparable with the architecture of the current generation of PCs.

** BC **
Centek, Tour Blanche de Castille 4, avenue Saint Exupery, F-60180 Nogent sur Oise, France
Tel: +(33)-344-746-330
Fax: +(33)-344-746-340
Email: vxp@imaginet.fr
http://www.centek.fr
** /BC **

---

** E-COW logo here **

Electronic Cow have recently announced upgrades to Snippit Synth and MIDI Arpeggiator.

** MIDI_ARP.GIF here **

MIDI Arpeggiator v3.0 upgrade, new features include:

** UL **
* New interface with support for graphics card and replacement AES versions with colour icon support
* Better dial control (multi-speed), now utilising both mouse buttons.
* Improved duophonic algorithms and settings for duophonic part (full mixer channel strip)
* Editable sequencer entries; can also view note or velocity.
* New Scale, Fill, and improved pattern sequencer functions.
* New edit and play range markers
* Improved type 0 and 1 MIDI file export
* New mini-arpeggiator mode (replaces chord mode), with two different arpeggiator styles.
* Improved timing, greater accuracy with tempo control, and greatly improved MIDI clock support
* New copy, and paste pattern facility
** /UL **

MIDI Arpeggiator runs as both a desktop accessory or stand alone program still, so it can be used to complement your GEM sequencer. Of course, it still has all the same functions that makes it our best-selling program, including real-time editing, multiple playback modes, built-in MIDI mixer (with up to six user-programmable MIDI controllers), built-in keyboard for note input, and standard MIDI file export (type 0 and 1).


** SNPSYNTH.GIF here **

Snippit Synth v1.4 update, new features include:

** UL **
* New interface design with graphics card support
* Vastly improved synthesis engine, with faster rendering times, and greater accuracy
* New chorus and resonant filter effects
* New waveform de-clicker utility
* Improved auto-crop and optimise routines
* Now utilites the right mouse button to increment values in the numeric fields
* Digital audio playback on the STFM!
* Preset envelope shaper for user-waveform data for cleaner rendering of sounds
* Imported samples are also automatically optimised for use in the user wavetables
* User-definable sampling frequency added, with the added bonus of switching frequencies without re-rendering a sound! (The set frequency is stored in the *.SNP patch, and in the exported sample.)
* Improved MIDI sample dump drivers
* Improved cross-fade and ring-modulation algorithms for chunk mixing
** /UL **

Snippit Synth is still the Atari's only commercially-available granular synthesizer, and can create an enormous range of sounds for use in direct-to-disk applications or for your MIDI sampler. Other existing features include: MIDI sample dump (for MSDS-compatible samplers, and the Akai S900/S950/X7000/S700), AVR/AIFF/SPL sample export ( or 16-bits), and a flexible synthesis engine with many editable parameters, including:

** UL **
* Five different grain types (square, triangle, sine, sawtooth and custom)
* Load in any AVR/AIFF/SPL sample (or raw data) to use as a custom waveform grain
* Automatically optimises and shapes imported data into the user waveform
* Up to five hundred grains per chunk, with four chunks per sound, plus chunk copying facilities
* Choose to overlay, ring or amplitude modulate, or sequence chunks (using variable-length cross-fading!) in the sound
* Creates samples up to 400,000 sample points long (12 seconds!)
* 20Hz to 20KHz frequency response, with pitch sweeping
* 20Hz to 20KHz frequency settings with various polarity settings and shapes
* Five different amplitude envelope shapes, with relative gain setting
* On-screen waveform display with four different draw modes
* 12.5, 16, 25, 33, 50KHz, and user-definable sampling rates
* 8-bit playback on the STE and STFM, and 16-bit playback on the Falcon
* Auto-crop, De-clicker, and Optimise sample tools
* Built-in Chorus and Resonant filter effects
** /UL **

Registered users can upgrade free of charge by sending their original disks with a stamped-addressed envelope to Electronic Cow.

Prices:
Snippit Synth v1.4 œ16 plus œ2 postage and packing
MIDI Arpeggiator v3.0 œ15.00 plus œ2 postage and packing

** BC **
Electronic Cow, 350 Broadwater Crescent, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG2 8EZ, UK
Tel:	0411 544 133 or 01426 281 347
E-mail: electronic_cow@dial.pipex.com
http://ds.dial.pipex.com/electronic_cow/cownet.shtml
** /BC **

---
ASP News

Chris Crosskeys, Abingdon Synthesis Projects, has tested the STartIDE STFM interface on an ST system including an internal 60Mb hard drive (hosted on the STartIDE), a Link 2 with a SCSI CD-ROM and a SCSI 120Mb hard drive. AHDI 6.06 booted from the internal 60Mb drive, found the other hard-drive, allocated partitions correctly, and Metados v2.74 found the CD-ROM perfectly.

This is the first version of Metados which has worked properly on the ST (although it has always worked fine on the Falcon) and will now be included with with all SCSI CD-ROM's sold, complete with a very simple set-up routine to get you up and running.

By the time you're reading this the STe version of STartIDE should be available.

** BC **
Abingdon Synthesis Projects (ASP)
ASP, 40 Evelin Road, Abingdon, OX14 1JR, England
01235 534152 (after 6pm only)
Email: chrisc@zetnet.co.uk
** /BC **

---
Calamus News

MGI, the company which took over Calamus from DMC, decided in December 1998 to cancel all development and distribution of MGI Calamus Digital Publisher v2 (CP2) for Windows.

However the Atari version of Calamus SL has continued to be developed and expanded in Germany and they are proposing Windows users "crossgrade" to Calamus SL99 by running an Atari emulator.

MGI Calamus SL99 works with all relevant TOS systems (Atari, Medusa, Hades, Milan), on Apple computers (G3, PPC or Mac with MagiCMac), and with Windows95/98/NT. SL99 features:

** UL **
* Type 1 Fontloader: in addition to CFN fonts, you can finally use Type 1 PostScript fonts directly in Calamus. Both PC (suffix PFB) and Macintosh format are supported - TrueType fonts are not currently supported)
* SL99 documents can now be saved with the fonts embedded so no more wasted time searching for fonts when reloading documents!
* Define double clicks in document windows. For example double-clicking in a text frame could call the Eddie text editor).
* When moving text ruler tabs, a vertical help line is displayed.
* The module panels are placed in real windows.
* The Create Frame mode is no longer the default, so you do not have to click the right mouse button for mode changes that often as before.
* Preview available for fonts and some image formats with document and module preview still under development.
* Images can be decompressed when Fixing Document.
* Help Text color can now be defined.
* Calamus SL no longer has a general print resolution limit.
** /UL **

The Additional modules/drivers in the SL99 package are: Text Editor EDDIE light, Control Curve Editor FrankLIN light, Histogram module, GDPS module, Gridplay module, HKS Palette module, Toolbox PLUS preview modules, invers Barcode Generator module, Imposition module light (Output limited to 720 dpi), Raster CacheGenerator, very enhanced features and handling Pling module (optional bell signal after printing), GIF 89a, Megapaint BLD, JPEG, Photoshop EPS and Kodak PhotoCD import drivers, General Two User Licence (for 1 SL Serial Number in a single location).

All modules and drivers which are a part of the Calamus SL standard
package are now shipped with the current version. All additional modules and drivers from MGI (DMC), Adequate Systems, FRS and invers registered in Germany for your Calamus version will be added to actual versions if neccessary. Your old CFN fonts can still be used. Anyone owning additional modules for the Windows version of Calamus will be offered SL equivalents, where possible.

** BC **
** Contact details needed!
** /BC **

---
SAMS '99

Just in case you missed the amazingly successful ACC'98 we're going to do it all over again at the SAMS '99 Show.

Come along and meet the Atari dealers, user groups and programmers and help us show to the wider computing audience the Atari platform remains a viable alternative to mainstream computing.

Inside AC#12 and also inside this issue UK readers should find a copy of Sharward Promotions loose leaf promotional flyer for SAMS '99 which entitles you to reduced entry rates on the door along with travel details by road, rail and bus.

Apart from the dozens of general electronics, telecoms and computing stands Atarians can look forward to meeting the specialist Atari dealers which make the event the place to catch up on what's new on the Atari scene. Here's the current line up (which is still changing daily):

** UL **
* Atari Computing
Our stand will carry all available back issues, Reader Disks and Special Show Offers and we'll be on hand to chat and offer advice.

* System Solutions
Will be showing professional audio and MIDI products. Come and meet the team for advice and bring along your software to upgrade to the latest English releases of your favourite products.
There will also be special Show Prices on hardware upgrades, modems, scanners,	graphics cards, large screen monitors and more!

* Abingdon Synthesis Projects
Chris Crosskeys will be demonstrating how you can re-case your Atari motherboard into a standard PC case using their SCSI-Burster, IDE-burster and other cabling solutions. You'll also be able to see the Plug&Play serial mouse interface along with Mario Becroft's other products.

* Electronic Cow
The Squash it! sample processor had its worldwide launch at ACC'98 and Danny will also have brand new releases of their other popular products so bring along your manuals and master disks for upgrades.

* Titan Designs
A chance to meet David Encill, the man behind our DA's Layout pages, and check out latest DA's Layout v6.2 release. Hopefully Eclipse will also available for demonstration along with Titan's other product lines.

* 16/32
The latest release of SpeedoGDOS, PixArt and other serious applications not available anywhere else. Also offering their usual selection of Atari gaming and console action.

* The Upgrade Shop (TUS)
Will be offering their usual range of hardware upgrades.

* Falke Verlag/Milan Computer
Falke Verlag have a huge product line so you'll just have to attend to see that they bring - or to put it another way - we don't know!

* CyberSTrider
CyberStrider will be promoting its commercial internet services and range of supported shareware products.

* Atari Portfolio Club
There's an astounding range of software and extras available for the Atari Portfolio computer, Paul Finch will be on hand to answer your questions.

* The Console Centre
Specialists in Atari Lynx, Jaguar and console action.

* Cadenza Software
Matthew Bacon will be promoting Enchant, Web.Wizard and his other projects.

* Paul Jones
HiSoft BASIC maestro.

* Maggie
The diskmag duo will be there promoting their alternative view of all things Atari.

* User groups
Stands to chat, meet old friends, make new ones and be wowed by some of the sexiest Atari setups you'll see anywhere.
** UL **