Regarding the new Csound based language that will be a part of the new MPEG
4 standard:

I applaud this move loudly.  I have already been corresponding with one of
the programmers who is doing Csound updates about the despirate need for a
Csound standard.  I enumerated the reasons why it was so badly needed
privately, and there are more than a few correspondances between my list
and Mr. Scheirer's list.  Still I wonder, will it soon be possible to
implement a fast MIDI or DLS renderer, with multiple layers for both pitch
and volume, with crossfading between them, and pans and volume calculations
for both controllers and samples handled correctly?  Time will tell ...

In the meantime, I urge all to find out about this new standard, and get
behind it if it doeth not suck, and provide feedback concerning the points
in which it doeth suck.  Look forward to reading the draft myself, as soon
as I can.

Things are starting to happen fast in the home digital audio field.  The
next Cakewalk PA  6.0 ships with Active-X plugin realtime effects, which
will be useable from any DA app written for them.  What a great time to be
alive!

Jackee Criswell
TheSilverSurfer@themall.net

Check out my new computer music website at:
http://www.themall.net/~slvrsrfr

The MIDI Rendering Page is finally complete ... for the time being!