We continue to get more and more questions about the status of Windows XP as an OS upon which to run MIDI and audio applications. Things are really starting to look up in this regard. Many of the major players already have their software and hardware working, while many more are only days or weeks away. Following is an official statement from Emagic outlining the status of their XP compatibility.

Subject: Official Emagic Windows XP statement

1. Is all of your software compatible with Windows XP?

The entire Logic series will run on Windows XP from version 5 upwards. SoundDiver for Windows XP is in beta test and will be available soon. There will be further optimizations, especially with regard to multiprocessor support, in future sub-releases of Logic 5.

XP-compatible drivers for the Emagic MIDI interface family - AMT8, Unitor 8MkII and MT4 - plus XP drivers for the EMI 2|6 multichannel audio interface are in beta-test and will be released shortly.

Windows XP drivers for the AudioWerk2 and AudioWerk8 soundcards are now available as a free download at the Emagic website.

2. Would you recommend Windows XP for audio applications?

In general, Emagic recommends the use of the latest operating system version on every platform. Windows XP is a modern, stable and forward-looking operating system. As is always the case when facing such a comprehensive operating system update, it may take a while for drivers and applications to be adapted. We recommend that our customers check the driver availability for all of their devices and also for the relevant program updates before they decide to switch to Windows XP.

3. What benefits will Windows XP bring for audio and music?

Windows XP unites the solid operating system kernel of Windows NT/2000 with the multimedia qualities of Windows 98/Millennium. As examples, DirectX is firmly integrated into Windows XP and several modern bus systems, such as IEEE 1394 ("Firewire") and USB are directly supported. The new audio driver model (WDM) is further extended in Windows XP, and simple CD recording facilities are directly integrated into the operating system.

The most important argument for switching to Windows XP - on stage or in the studio - is the stability of the operating system. The often criticized instability of Windows operating systems seems to have come to an end with Windows XP. In particular, users who plan to switch from Windows 98 to Windows XP will experience a number of innovations, such as: "System File Protection (SFP)" protects important system files from unintentional overwrites ("DLL-hell"), and "system restore" which recalls an earlier (stable) system state at any time, should a driver or program update be problematic.

The cleverly thought-out administration services protect the unique files of each user from unlicensed access or changes. This is very important and useful in situations where several users share a single computer - studios or schools, for example.

Windows 9x (Windows 95, 98, ME) and Windows NT (NT4, 2000) are completely different operating systems under the hood, despite the fact that they appear to be quite similar "on the surface". With the advent of Windows XP, the Windows 9x-family will die - and with them, all relics of the underlying 16 bit MS-DOS code. Windows XP is built on the technical foundations of Windows NT. This focus on a single operating system kernel provides a distinct advantage: up to this point, it was necessary to develop applications and drivers separately for the Windows 9x and Windows NT product families, whereas now, development is restricted to one system: Windows XP. This is not only advantageous for developers, but also for users who will experience improved product quality and shorter development cycles.