read atari st files on snowleopard

Hmm. You probably can't. The only solution I can think of would be to track down an Atari ST (or fire up the one you used to use if you still have it and it works), and see if you can export midi files from your old projects. If your floppy disks are quite old, you might find that they don't work anymore which will be the end of that. But if they do and you are able to export midifiles, then the only catch from that point would be to get them across from the Atari to your (much) newer computer. There may be utilities out there for this, if you do a google search for Atari utilities or software to exchange files from TOS. There's a chance that some nerd out there may have made some shareware that will help you make this link between an antique OS and a current one. Happy hunting.

As far as I know, you would have to open them on an Atari, copy them to a DOS disk (which the later Ataris would read) and then open them in an earlier version of Logic, something like 6 or 7 (I think) will still convert Notator files. Then you can open and convert the files from early Logic to the current version. I think if you save them as Logic 7 you can then open them in 8 or 9.

Someone please correct me if I am wrong about this I am working from memory.

Thomjinx

Hi


Yes, it may be possible but I have not checked this with Notator Alpha files, only Notator.


The steps required are more than a little convoluted:

1 The ST does not read HD disks, and mine was not happy using HD disks reformatted to 720k. Always use DD disks. BTW, a Mac seemed to get confused seeing an HD disk formatted to 720k unless the extra hole in the disk is covered over.

2 The Mac will only read Mac or IBM formats. I vaguely recall that an Atari STE does format DOS style disks, but none of the others do. Either buy preformatted DD IBM disks, format the disk to DOS 720k on the Mac or use one of the Atari utilities to write the DOS bootsector onto the Atari disk. I used a PD utility called IBM_Boot on the Atari.

3 Importing into Logic on the Mac works nicely, the A to D pattern chains coming up as separate folders in Logic. (Unpack to do more work). Sometimes (upbeat cuts etc.) overlapping tracks crop up, Logic gives you the option of creating extra tracks or to overlap things. I do not know if programmed track mutes port across, but I just checked and loops, ghosts and general track parameters all ported across fine.

4 Important Tempo changes do not transfer from Notator unless a SMPTE sync reference is created in Notator beforehand. This was in the old Logic manuals but easy to miss.

5 The problem of environments and changes in setup between the ST and the Logic studio configuration can cause a lot of work reassigning tracks and sounds !!! ( you did name all the Notator tracks didn't you 🙂 ).



I just checked the results using some Notator files I have floating around on the Mac... they opened fine straight into Logic 9.1


HTH



CCT

The main problem is getting at the files.

Firstly, you'l need a machine with a floppy drive. If you have access to a floppy-equipped PC, then you may be able to read the disks directly with that. If the disks are in ST format rather than PC format (albeit a 1-byte difference), then download Gemulator and install it on your PC, and use that to read the ST floppies - I think that works from memory.

Bee Jay ... That is awesome to know!