M. Ted: Re the Forbin Project:

Lots of the better midi programs I've seen use up to 5 channels for each "simple" instrument, since they "write" attack, sustain, and decay in separate voices and "blend" instruments for tonal color. So 128 midi channels, if it's from a "sophisticated" midi writer, is only a 20 piece band - allowing for the 13 channels of canned percussion sometimes used. Of course .wav sound might blend midi channels to fewer "sound channels" but then you'd need the new 10TB storage decks to get more than a few seconds of playback.

And newer computers are equipped for 7-stereo-channel "surround sound" (5 channel is considered "wimpy" by some now).

John