Atari was born thinking of musicians, his native MIDI proves it. Of course it has also been great in all other specialties (DTP, games, programming, databases, CAD, business applications, etc.) and has a reputation (perhaps deserved) of not caring for its internal and external developers. But at certain times in its history, Atari saw that the symbiosis between external developers of software and hardware was necessary for the survival of his magnificent computers; So began to announce their professional stations DTP composed of Mega ST, big monitor and laser printer next to names like Calamus, and in music enough years after appearing Cubase began to advertise it next to its computers.
What should be obvious and used from the beginning, I think it was used late and with deadly wounds in the war of computers, but I will not recreate the wrong decisions of a company that has been futuristic and innovative at the same time that finally took the worst decisions in history; It is easy to place bets when the match is over.
Anyway, Atari was born accompanied by the musicians and Atari closed its doors accompanied of the musicians until the last moment; When everyone left the ship looking for better graphic modes and playing Doom, musicians for more years were still using Atari for their compositions, home studio (pioneers in this) and professional studio, we have defended the flag and even some still do it today.
Atari Explorer, "The Official Atari Journal", in the year 90 and 91 began (late) to give the deserved recognition to the sector of users that showed more fidelity to their machines, the musicians, and it began to advertise directly external companies as Steinberg, C-Lab, Dr.T's and many others, increasing in their magazines the number of pages of musical theme, and even designing a supplement in the publication of the magazine that is called "Atari Artist", of musical specialization.
For all the musicians who have used Atari and especially for those who continue to use it, I dedicate this small tribute with all my affection and admiration.
Atari forever.
