How I use the Atari ST as a synthesizer (patches and multi-tracked demos)

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Back in the early 90’s I bought my Atari STE. The “E” in the name stands for an enhanced version of the original ST, which was released in 1985.At the time I was using the ST exclusively as a DAW with Cubase for MIDI arrangements, till I bought my first Windows PC around the late 90’s and put the ST into storage.

Fast forward to 2008: a random internet search revealed the existence of a variety of algorithmic and experimental MIDI programs for the ST. I must admit I had absolutely no idea something like that existed when I first bought the Atari and I got interested! So I bought a bootable external SD card device, 4MB of RAM and some VGA and USB mouse adapters.

During this search I’ve also found a handful of programs that were using the ST’s internal sound chip, the Yamaha YM2149F to generate waveforms, complete with MIDI communication. Some of them, for example maxYMiser can use clever techniques to generate all kinds of digital waveforms, previously unobtainable on the ST. MaxYMiser is still being developed in 2024!

The sound itself was of the typical lo-fi 8-bit chiptune variety: interesting and dirty though admittedly somewhat limited. So I then had the idea to use the ST as a characterful digital oscillator together with my recently bought Waldorf 4-pole module, that could also be triggered via MIDI and would add an analog ladder filter, a VCA and some extra modulation. The result is a very unique digital / analog hybrid synth that can be monophonic or 3 voice paraphonic.

In this video we’ll go through some of its sounds and I’ll add some external analog and digital effects to further spice up its sound. We'll hear some sound examples. Atari ST only, then together with the 4-Pole filter, with and without effects.

---Link to "Enter Space" Atari ST demo:
   • Mr Woofer - Enter Space (Atari ST & Spectr...  

---Link to Waldorf Miniworks 4 Pole video:
   • Waldorf Miniworks 4 Pole: used by Daft Pun...  

Chapters:
00:00 Multi-tracked demo (90's style)
02:25 Intro and a bit of history
04:41 Sound examples
09:00 Intro to the ambient demo
09:04 Mr Woofer style melodic ambient demo
10:51 Intro to the Wooferwave demo
10:55 Wooferwave demo
12:36 Outro and "Enter Space" demo excerpts