Glad you want to make Music on Atari. Due to the on-board MIDI ports, the timing is excellent. For basics all you need is a MIDI keyboard preferably that is multi-timbral. For beginners I like to suggest the Yamaha PSR series: cheap yet excellent sounds. However if you want to CREATE sounds (synthesis) then you need a real sythesizer. There are a lot of fancy unites out there you can spend a lot of money on.

The Yamaha FM synths such as the DX7, DX7II as well as modules such as the TX81Z are down in price and would make excellent choices for a synth. You could get a combo with a PSR series for GM (General Midi) and a module for synthesis. Roland MT32's are down in price as well and with an Editor on the Atari (such as the Caged Artist series) you can create the most excellent analog sounds I have heard.

However, a 520ST which has not been upgraded may present a problem with memory. A 520ST usually has only half a meg. For most MIDI applications you need at least a meg. However, there may be some of the "left hand" apps such as algorithmic generators and sound editors which may work fine. For info on upgrading go here:

The Atari Quick Faq: http://pp.fishpool.fi/~q-funk/ST/

It will also answer a LOT of newbie type questions. I am not a hardware person myself, so I always refer people to this excellent FAQ. For software, all you need do is go to my site, (*see sig*) read the DOWNLOAD FAQ page and start downloading!

All the best Atari-MIDI software is there including some that many have not heard before and are now coming out into the open. This is due to my contacting the original programmers/companies and they are now releasing them as freeware/shareware. More to come as well (it NEVER STOPS!).

There are more programs on the Atari-Midi file sections and archives as well. Then the next best thing is to join a USER group such as the Atari-Midi mailing list. All are musicians who use Atari. You can't go wrong! Hope this helps! have Fun with your Atari and the world of MIDI!

Tim Conrardy
Tim's Atari Midi World:
http://tamw.atari-users.net
http://sites.netscape.net/timconrardy/index.htm
Atari-Midi Mailing List:
http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/atari-midi