Any known artists still use an Atari St?

[Cannibal Gymnastics]

Just curious really, I was wondering if anyone knows of any famous artists still use Atari Sts and what their set ups include. Bit of a shallow question but I thought it'd be interesting to check out some examples and wondered if being signed would influence a decision to switch to a Mac or PC.
I know u-ziq used to use one (I've got the Tango and Zectif Ep's) but I heard he's switched to a Mac now(?).

[David Etheridge]

Hi CG,
we haven't heard of many folks recently still using Ataris. Norman Cook (Slim Boy Fat) was still using one a couple of years ago and said so in an interview. The most recent high profile Atari user is Joe Zawinul of Weather Report fame; there's an interview in SOS from a couple of years back (do a search on the site and you'll find it). He uses Hybrid Arts software for sequencing, which is mostly all available as freebies from Tim's Atari MIDIworld.
There was a long list of Atari users on the Atari Launchpad a few years ago, and some of the users might have surprised you.
Anyway, there are probably more folks to discover who are Atari fans, some of them may be on this forum, others on Tim's discussion site.
You never know!

Best wishes,

Dave

[Cannibal Gymnastics]

Cheers for the info.
Ah yes, Tim's Atari MIDIworld, wonderful place.

[Axe L]

I still own and use two Atari STes with 4MB RAM (with Notator Logic).

Granted, I am not a known artist, though I've produced and composed for known artists (and under my own name, scoring for independent film and TV).

Simply put, I still use my Ataris when I feel the groove isn't right with my other Prod PC (also Logic). A "stupid" groove played back on my PC immediately comes to life on my Atari. Two of my friends swear by Akai MPCs for that purpose, but I'm old fashioned in that sense that I like to see music notated on the screen, and for that plus groove, I find the Atari/Notator combo unbeatable.

Sorry if I hi-jacked this thread; I figured a ghost writer/producer might be allowed a say in this

[Havocman]

I think Sparks may well use one live although this is not definite and they may not be considered famous any more!

[Cannibal Gymnastics]

Cool, thanks, thats interesting. I'm going to do some work on my Atari at the weekend, I fancy doing a really stripped down tune. It was interesting what you said about the atari bringing life to recordings. I used to use the atari before I had a PC and used to do lots of fast snare rolls and drum patterns. When I tried doing it on the PC recently it just didn't sound as smooth, quite stiff. I was wondering if I'm just imagining it because I have a soft spot for the Atari or if its really the case that the timing is a bit groovier!

[Alphasun]

All I can say on the subject of Atari and timing is to quote my recent experience.
I have used Atari for a long time to input solos in MIDI.
I now have a PC/Cubase system set up, which is fine for certain things but doesn't yet do MIDI due to soundcard interface problems, so I tried inputting a solo in audio. Wotta delay on playback! To be fair, it's easily corrected, but it confirmed my view that MIDI can reduce processing time and hence latency in this sort of context.

[Cannibal Gymnastics]

Yeah, have to say I haven't had any problems with latency on my PC as I just got a good soundcard with midi interface, but it just seems to have lost some of the smoothness of the Atari. Also the Atari's groove quantize on Cubase is a lot quicker and simpler than the one on the PC which seems like you have to do it manually. For the Atari I just picked an option and blam! Sounded great straight away and no fiddling. If you wanted to you could edit the grooves but I preferred the quick option.

[A4 Footprint]

Just curious really, I was wondering if anyone knows of any famous artists still use Atari Sts and what their set ups include.

As far as I know, Richard H Kirk (Cabaret Voltaire, Sandoz etc) is still using Atari + Notator to drive a bunch of hardware samplers and synths via MIDI. [Does he count as famous?]

[Cannibal Gymnastics]

Really? Cool, yeah I've heard some of Cabaret Voltaires stuff and really like it.

[Mr Spanky]

Autechre have been known to use them.

[David Etheridge]

Hi again CG,
just hunting around the net for other things, I came across the fact that film composer David Arnold used an Atari/Notator/logic setup for the soundtracks to some rather well known films:
Stargate, Independence Day, Tomorrow never dies, Last of the Dogmen and Godzilla.


He went to Logic and a big Mac for The World is Not Enough.

So if it's good enough for those films.........


Best wishes,
Dave.

[David Etheridge]

Hi again gang,
I just found this morning that Rockfield Studios near Monmouth list an Atari ST running Pro 24 and Cubase with a timelock for sync purposes. Classic gear in a classic studio!


Dave.

[David Etheridge]

Hi again gang,
here are some of the more well known ST users of the past:
Mike Pinder, who in the 80s was very involved with Atari in the USA; he used a mega 4 STE running Notator, and his Mellotron sounds were all on Roland S760 samplers.
Dave Grusin(legendary film composer, used Hybrid Arts SMPTE track (he may still do?).
Yes and AWBH used Notator in the early 90s around the time of the Union album, and Tony Banks of Genesis used Pro 24 at the same time.
There's a list of SOS interviewees on the Notator site which includes:
Klaus Schulze: Feb 93, Feb 96 and Feb 99.
Michael Brook July 95.
Barry Adamson May 94.
Cabaret Voltaire Mar 94.
Orbital April 94.
Front Line Assembly Jan 95.

Here's some of the listings from Tim's atari MIDIworld and the Notator discussion site:

Notator was used on the Santana album 'Supernatural'.
Mike and the Mechanics.
A Take that video (does that count )
Madonna's producer (Flood?) used Cubase on one of her albums.
Paula Abdul's keyboard player on the 'Cold Hearted' Video.
The Pointer Sisters used 5 or 6 on the road .
Donny Osmond used a portable STacy on the road.
Torvill and Dean used Notator for their backing music.
Oscar Peterson was a great fan.
Depeche Mode used 2 STs running Notator on 'Ultra'
William Orbit on Madonna's 'Ray of Light'
Future Sound of London.
Bomb the Bass.
Jamiroquai.
Gary Numan.

Artist Group/Title Main Midi Application
----------------------------------------------------------------
Chester Thompson Genesis SMPTE Track, Cubase
Ronnie Foster Producer Various
Greg Giuffria House of Lords Various
Lee Ritenour Guitarist SMPTE Track
Jimmy Holz Producer SMPTE Track/Holz Translator
Mick Fleetwood Fleetwood Mac SMPTE Track/Holz Translator
Jon Anderson Yes SMPTE Track/Holz Translator
Greg Whelchel Pointer Sisters SMPTE Track
Marc Rittor Pointer Sisters SMPTE Track
Terry Riley Artist Notator
Mike Pindar Moody Blues Various
Edgar Froese Tangerine Dream Steinberg Pro24
BB King Blues Artist SMPTE Track
Jay Ferguson Spirit, Film SMPTE Track
Jim Purcell Film Artist Dr T KCS
Dave Mason Artist SMPTE Track
Charles Faris Film Artist Forth
Leon Russel Artist SMPTE Track
Paul Carrack Mike & the Mechanics Notator
Adrian Lee Mike & the Mechanics Notator
Howard Massey Programmer Various
Craig Anderton Midi Writter MT Pro/Cubase
Chris Many Film Artist SMPTE Track
Randy Roos Artist Dr T KCS
Billy Curry Artist Steinberg Pro24
Queen Group MT Pro/Notator SL
Gary Neuman Artist Notator
Patrick Leonard Producer ?
Debbie Gibson Artist Notator

And Coldcut.

And that's the complete list so far!!!!

Best wishes,
Dave.

[Steve Marshall]

I still use an Atari 1040 ST - running hybrid Arts SMPTETrack software. All my DX7/TX7 library sounds are part of it too.
It works a treat after almost 20 years!

[Banksy76]

Many artists from the Hip-Hop and dance scene still prefer the Akai MPC series for the sequencing of their drums and samples over a computer based platform. As an alternative to the MPC there are artists/producers that still use an Atari STE, especially many underground UK Hip-hop artists such as Jehst (one of the most highly respected UK Hip-Hop MC'c/producers. Check this link for more details:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/1xmusic/features/jehst347p01.shtm

In my home studio that houses a PC running Cubase SX I often use an Atari STE when sequencing my drum samples, loops and break-beats. When layering a number of kick drums, for example a couple of sampled acoustic kicks and a sub 808, I find that on the Atari it really thumps and sounds tighter that the PC runnning the same sequence. I have used a number of different spec PC's over the years and even those of the highest spec, in my opinion, still can't compete with an Atari or MPC. Not being a Mac user I cant really comment on how they compare but with all these big shots in the industry with Macs at their disposal, why are so many still insisting on using their MPC's for sequencing duties?
Most people will think that using an Atari ST for sequencing in this day and age is utter madness but at the end of the day its often a case of horses for courses and their are many of todays highly respected artists and producers that are proof of this.

[David Etheridge]

Here's some more info from wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_ST#Music_.2F_Sound

"The ST's low cost, built-in MIDI ports, and fast, low-latency response times made it a favorite with musicians:

* The Fatboy Slim album "You've Come A Long Way, Baby" has an Atari ST in the large foldout picture of Fatboy Slim's studio.
* Highly acclaimed IDM artists Mike Paradinas and Luke Vibert started out writing music on Atari STs.
* Mike Oldfield's album "Earth Moving" stated in its sleeve that it was recorded using an Atari ST and C-Lab MIDI software.
* In the Paris performance of Jean Michel Jarre's album "Waiting for Cousteau", musicians have attached Atari ST machines with unidentified MIDI software to their keyboards, as could be seen in the TV live show and video recordings.
* White Town's "Your Woman", which reached #1 in the UK singles charts, was created using an Atari ST.
* All the drums MIDI files for The Berzerker's self-titled debut album were written on an Atari."

More news as it comes in!

Dave.

[David Etheridge]

You can see the Jean Michel Jarre footage here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNIjDUSIOzY

Spot the Ataris!

Dave.

[Parker Fly]

Paul Carrack Mike & the Mechanics Notator

Paul has used ProTools for many, many years, and the same for Mike too.

[ill]

They use Mac's now, but Basement Jaxx's first album "Remedy" was made on the ol' Atari ST and Adat combo.

[Neo-Classical Guitar Man]

Queen Group MT Pro/Notator SL

Yes I seem to recall that on their 1991 album Innuendo, they mentioned using C-Lab Notator in the sleeve notes. On their 1986 album A Kind Of Magic they mention the UMI Music Sequencer and BBC Micro B. On the 1989 album The Miracle they mention Passport Master Tracks Pro.

NCGM

[mat_adnk]

i know about this french jungle duo "interlope" use atari computer, a least till 2003 i don't know if they still do ...
it was really fun to see them playing live with thei atari setup,actually they used to play on 2 1024st with many analog stuff.
hope they still do... long live st's !!
http://www.myspace.com/interlope

[mal7921]

Paul Carrack Mike & the Mechanics Notator

Paul has used ProTools for many, many years, and the same for Mike too.

That is indeed true, but only recently has protools got anything like decent MIDI support, so back in the day, protools would simply be a glorified recording/post production suite while something else would do the music.

[systm_bypass]

Mr Oizo was last time I checked (back during his debut releases, when my audiophile curiously simply had to find out what he was using for his sound). Dont know if he stil does.

I still have mine sitting in my parents attic, no doubt sheltering various familys of rodents. I pulled it out a few years ago thinking I was gonna get all oldskool up in the place, but after it took a million years to load the cubase disk, I soon gave up that idea as complete fantasy....

[Neo-Classical Guitar Man]

You need a hard drive / CF or SD card drive and then you will find it blows the pants of your PC! Trust me it is FAST!

NCGM