This section was done by me (John Nozum from Moundsville, WV). I have worked with MIDI since 1988 when I used a Commodore 128 computer, Passport MIDI interface, and a Casio CPS-101 keyboard. Later, I added a Casio CT-670 and a Yamaha PSR-500M to my MIDI "orchestra."  I also worked extensively with the Amiga platform.  I now work with the PC platform.  While I am very experienced in Windows 95 and 98, I did get some exposure to Windows 3.1 and NT.  However, I have not worked with any Unix operating system at all on the PC, such as Linux.  I have had brief exposures to the Macintosh platform as well as numerous high-end keyboards, digital pianos, and organs.  My current "orchestra" includes the following:

        - Custom-built PC with a 333 MHz Pentium-II processor, 10 GB hard-drive and 128 MB RAM
        - Sound Blaster Live Value sound card in PC
        - Casio CPS-85 digital piano (bottom keyboard)
        - Casio CT-670 (upper keyboard)
        - MIDIMAN Portman 4x4/S MIDI interface
        - Yamaha PSR-740 keyboard (now the middle keyboard)

Basically, the system is configured as a three-manual organ.  You can think of the Casio CPS-85 as the "choir manual."  You can think of the Yamaha PSR-740 as the "great manual."  Lastly, the Casio CT-670 can be thought of as the "swell manual."  Yes, with the Portman 4x4/S MIDI interface, the computer can see these keyboards as a three-manual organ.  My total hardware polyphony is now 164 notes at a time--across a total of 60 MIDI channels!

    When I worked with the Amiga computers, I used to have a Casio CPS-101 keyboard, along with a Yamaha PSR-500M keyboard.  The total polyphony at that time was 52-56 notes at a time.

    As for instruments that I play, they include the piano, organ, pipe organ, portable keyboard, accordion, guitar, harmonica, and the drums. My main thrust is into keyboard instruments, particularly the piano, organ, and portable keyboard. I like the sounds of pretty much any instrument, but I usually detest distorted electric guitars, particularly in their upper register; I find them VERY depressing.

    The types of music that I like include gospel, country, polka, ragtime, and classical. Much of the rock music turns me off, particularly hard-rock.  Rap is nothing to write home about, either.

    I finished up my bachelors degree in computer engineering at West Virginia University in May of 2003.  To learn more about my general background, please go back to the main menu (click on Back a couple times), and click on "About Me."