AMPLINEX 001

AMPLINEX issue 001 was published in September 1987. Each AMPLINEX magazine is stored as a 200K single-sided 80-track disk image file (.ssd file type). The image can be used to create disks for a BBC Micro or can be loaded into a BBC emulator. For the disks to run, the BBC (real or emulated) must have an AMPLE Nucleus ROM installed and be running the Hybrid Music System.

TOBIN Music System

Roy Follett

Members who have tried and failed to write a tune because they lack the basic knowledge of harmony, would be well advised to investigate a piece of software devised by Candida Tobin (Hon. FTCL, LTCL), and written by Chris Dell and Rodney Pettipher. This is available for the Beeb and uses its internal sound chip.

This program enables you to write a melody line, using the correct notes for the chords, insert passing notes, and repeat sections. The software will not allow you to use a wrong note. When played back, the program puts in a rudimentary bass line. I defy anyone to make a bad tune with this software. Using the same instructions you can then write a bass line yourself. Just follow the note instructions as before.

Having written both lines, transfer them manually (having first obtained a printout) into Ample by whatever method you normally use (STAFF or NOTEPAD), not forgetting to transpose the bass line down an octave. Then combine them as a two part piece and you will find that they will harmonise. After that embellish and arrange as you will. Altogether a very useful piece of software.

The TOBIN Music System costs £12.45 inclusive of postage and packing.

Further details can be obtained from:

Helicon Press
Knight Street
Sawbridgeworth
Hertfordshire
CM21 9AX

Published in AMPLINEX 001, September1987

COSMIX & Ample Bytes Back

Roy Follett

Having heard, about five weeks ago, that Hybrid Technology were about to publish a couple of discs, one containing a collection of tunes by Pilgrim Beart called Cosmix, and another called Ample Bytes Back by David Reed, I sent off for them. Now at long last I have received them.

There were no printed instructions on how to load the discs but entering *LIST !BOOT revealed all.

1) Start up from your Studio 5000 System Disc
2) Put this disc in the drive
3) Press f9

In other words, the "jukebox" method.

COSMIX by Pilgrim Beart

For your money you will get twelve tunes and approximately 24 minutes of first class entertainment. Starting with the Spacephone, with its random messages, right through to the piece 'Xpach', written 'for Mum and Dad', you will be presented with the most inventive music and programming yet heard in AMPLE. Even the copyright logo is a red pulsar.

Each tune has a message which can be seen by typing 'info'. Some went right over my head. I did not understand what he was trying to say.

The disc is full of effects and instruments that are worth further study. For instance 'drum' in the tune 'Furious'. Study that one in Notepad. Also the fade in 'Cry' - this is carried out by the use of a 'conductor' word.

Two small criticisms. Firstly, the warning to ‘STAND BACK Starting Time-Reversal Module’ became a trifle wearisome. It was only after listing the 'info' word in the Spacephone program that I discovered (rather too late) that pressing SHIFT after dialling the number avoided this.

Secondly, listening to the piece called 'Mixican', I was sure that I had heard the tune before. Eventually I tracked it down to an earlier piece of AMPLE music; I am not going to say what it is familiar to, but I wonder if anyone else has the same feeling about this tune?

AMPLE BYTES BACK by David Reed

This disc contains 16 tunes, of about 39 minutes duration, all of which will be familiar, starting with the Flight of the Bumble Bee, and including ' When I am cleaning windows' by Goerge Formby (yes GOerge).

'Flight' has a very active bee, flying about the stereo stage, and also seems to fly towards, and then away from you.

I liked the dynamics in Arabesque. Diminuendos and crescendos do not seem to be used as much as they ought, and this piece is a very good example of their use.

The two discs are completely different, and any comparison would be wrong. If I wanted a good selection of tunes, with good arrangements and instruments, I would pick Ample Bytes Back. But if I wanted original tunes with good arrangements and instruments, then it would be COSMIX. I bought both, and I am very glad I did.

In my opinion at £4.95 each, they represent good value for money and recommend you rush your cheque off immediately. I just hope that you don't have to wait as long as I did.

"In Concert" from the COSMIX album reviewed above is included in this issue in the Music section. This has been provided by Hybrid Technology as a promotional feature.

Published in AMPLINEX 001, September1987

Staff Printout

Roy Follett

For new owners of Music 4000 keyboard there is an addition to the supplied software of a printout facility, within the STAFF module. As far as I am concerned this fills a long felt want; I never found a straightforward screen dump satisfactory. To use this new facility you must have an Epson compatible printer (in particular, one that supports bit-image graphic mode).

One STAFF screenful equals half the width of the paper, so entering a single PRINT command, prints two screenfuls. To print more, enter TAB, CTRL right arrow twice, TAB, PRINT <return>. This will do two more screenfuls. Continue in this manner until all is printed. Nothing could be simpler. Extremely easy to use and very fast to print out.

Existing owners of the Music 4000 can get an upgrade by sending their Studio 5000-4 Issue disc, in packaging suitable for its return, together with a self-addressed and a stamped label and a cheque for £5 to Hybrid Technology.

Their address is:

Hybrid Technology Ltd
Unit 3
Robert Davies Court
Nuffield Road
Cambridge CB4 1TP

Note for BBC Model B owners

The Studio 5000-4 system supplied with the Music 4000 keyboard reduces user memory by 1500 bytes compared with the Studio 5000 system. Therefore, use of the Staff Editor with the Studio 5000-4 system may leave insufficient memory to load many programs and make the Staff Printing utility (part of the Staff Editor module) unusable except with small programs. Printing of larger programs could only be achieved by splitting such programs into small parts.

Hybrid Technology have no plans to integrate the Staff printing utility into the Studio 5000 system.

Published in AMPLINEX 001, September1987

The Acorn User Show, Barbican, London 24th - 26th July 1987

Roy Follett

For users of the Music 500 and 5000 this was to be more of a showdown than a show. After several months of competitive and sometimes acrimonious advertising between newly divorced designers/manufacturers Hybrid and distributors Peartree Computers, this was to be the place where both were to stake their claim to the Music 500(0) market.

Peartree's campaign had something of a false start when Hybrid objected to their use of the name Music 7000 to promote their synthesiser and software package.

In the flurry of assertive press releases and advertising that followed neither side could bring itself to name the other - Hybrid referring to Peartree as 'the advertiser' and Peartree to Hybrid as 'other manufacturers'.

Both sides had chosen the Acorn User show to demonstrate the superiority of their product. Peartree promised to 'solve all the old problems' of the Music 5000 for almost half the price. Hybrid promised a host of new hardware and software to expand the system.

Over at the Peartree stand things looked a little awkward. Their somewhat defensive attitude was perhaps understandable in the light of their enforced change of product name (the advertised Music 7000 had now transformed into the Music 87) coupled with the fact that they hadn't actually got the software available as promised. They were reduced to blaming the software house writing the software for the delay, whilst trying to sound as if everything was really under control and that there was no reason not to buy the hardware.

A working demo of part of the new Peartree software was on display but perhaps the most interesting question - whether and how it could interface to AMPLE - could not be answered by the staff on the stand.

Over at the Hybrid stand things looked a lot more promising. Although, as usual, it was difficult to do more than peer over someone else's shoulders at Chris Jordan amidst a stack of hardware, the promised MIDI interface and amplifier were there - though there was little to learn by looking at them.

More details could be gleaned, however, from a glossy eight page hand-out which was distributed at the show and had details of all the new hardware.

The Music 2000 MIDI interface is housed in the standard Music 500(0) sized case with three LEDs on the front. These indicate activity on the three MIDI output channels which, along with a fourth pulse clock output, have sockets at the back of the unit. The Music 2000 connects to the back of the Music 5000 via a ribbon cable and draws its power from the computer.

The software driving the MIDI interface is loaded as a module into the Studio 5000 environment and allows up to 32 MIDI voices to be controlled via AMPLE. New AMPLE words allow the assignment of voices and parts to attached MIDI instruments and the control of the instrument's settings.

The Music 2000 on the stand was hooked up to a Roland CZ505 drum machine but there seemed to be a lack of music software to demonstrate its integration with the Music 5000.

The Music 1000 amplifier (again in a Music 500(0) sized case) seems to have been designed with school users in mind, providing three headphone outputs in addition to its 8 watt outputs for speakers. At the show it was being used as a pre-amp for a larger amplifier via an output designed also to feed into tape recorders and mixing desks.

The only disappointment was the absence of the waveform/envelope designer which was not ready for the show and for which no release date or price was given.

Printout from the new Staff printing programme was to be seen, and was being offered to Keyboard 4000 owners as an upgrade for the 'nominal' fee of £5.00 (see review elsewhere in News & Reviews section).

The AMPLE Programmer's Guide was not available at the show, but was promised for September. Pilgrim Beart's COSMIX album of AMPLE music on disc was being used for most of the demonstrations with the man himself helping behind the stand.

The prices of the new Hybrid products (including VAT and P&P) are:

Music 1000 Amplifier             £161.00
Music 2000 MIDI interface        £161.00
AMPLE Nucleus Programmer's Guide £16.00
COSMIX disc                        £4.95
Ample Bytes Back disc              £4.95

More details can be obtained from:

Hybrid Technology Ltd
Unit 3
Robert Davies Court
Nuffield Road
Cambridge CB4 1TP
(0223) 316910

As we went 'to press' Peartree Computers were promising shipment of the first Music 87 software by Friday 18th September. If any member has a positive sighting (or better still a review) before the November issue of AMPLINEX please get in touch.

Published in AMPLINEX 001, September1987

Bystander

by Roy Follett

Source: AMPLINEX 001 disk, file $.BYSTAND

Published in AMPLINEX 001, September 1987

Toblin

by Roy Follett

Source: AMPLINEX 001 disk, file $.TOBLIN

Published in AMPLINEX 001, September 1987

Alien

by Kevin Doyle

Source: AMPLINEX 001 disk, file $.ALIEN

Published in AMPLINEX 001, September 1987

In Concert

by Pilgrim Beart

From the album 'COSMIX'

Courtesy of Hybrid Technology

Source: AMPLINEX 001 disk, file $.CONCERT

Published in AMPLINEX 001, September 1987

Supplementary index to Music 5000 Synthesiser User Guide

Roy Follett

A

a to g                           101,115
Above the staff                       34
A to G notes                     101,114
Accent '                             101
Accent level 'L                      117
Accents                               39
Accidentals                        49,28
Adding standard words                 79
Adjusting whilst playing              72
Adjust numbers                        63
Adjusting flags                       63
AMP                                   64
Amplitude envelopes                  129
AMPLE commands                        93
AMPLE notation                     45,52
AMPLE restart                         93
Amplitude                             64
Ascending pitch                      114
Autopan                              125

B

b                                    150
Back hold (\)                        111
Bad bar                              144
Bad context                          144
Bad element                          145
Bad hex                              145
Bad MODE                             145
Bad name                             145
Bad player number                    145
Bad program                          145
Bad ROM                              145
Bad string                           145
Bad structure                        145
BAR                          101,113,115
Bars                                  49
Basic music word                      46
Bend                                 132
Block editing                         29
Broken chords                        104
Borrowed instruments                  53
Brackets                              83
Brassy                               139
Break                                 10
Bright                               127
Broad                                127
Brush note                            23
Building pieces                       77
Burst                                129

C

c                                    150
Calling Notepad                       46
Cassette                              14
CHAIN                                  9
Change settings                       59
Changing mixer                        82
Chords                           36,50,1
Chords leading                       104
Chords overlap                       104
CLEAR                          23,93,127
Click                                129
Commands                              11
COMPACT                               94
Complete tunes                        30
Concurrency                           12
Conductor                            121
Continuation instruments              74
Contrasting channels                  66
Copy                              29,149
Create word                           93
CTRL left/right                      149
CTRL up/down                         149
Cycle                                132
Cymbal                               137

D

d                                    150
Decrease level                       119
Decrease tempo                       122
Deepvib                              132
Definition                            12
Defining own instruments              34
DELETE                         30,94,149
Delvib                               132
Descending pitch                     115
Designing panels                      73
DETUNE                                85
Dictionary of words                   20
Digisyn                              139
DISPLAY                         78,94,98
Division by zero                     145
Dotted notes                          31
Down                                 149
Drop                                 132
Drum                                 137
Drum instrument                       66
Duplet                               106
Duplicate name                       148
Dynamic level =L                     117
Dynamics                              39

E

e                                    150
Echo                              53,125
Echocrash                            139
Echohit                              129
Editing a word                     25,44
Editing text                          41
Editor controls                      149
Editors                               13
Electom                              139
Elguit                               137
Elstring                             139
End line                           36,82
Entering notes                        22
Entering text                         42
Entering tune                         22
Epiano                               139
Errors                               143
ESCAPE                           146,149
EVEN CHAN                         75,134
EVERY CHAN                           134
EVERY (OR ON)                        109
Examine instrument                    57
Experiment with echo                  54
Extra number                         146
Extra string                         146

F

f                                    150
flag INVERT                          136
flag PHSET                           136
flag PSENS                           136
flag RM                              135
flag SYNC                            135
FIND                            24,34,94
Flag instruction                     134
Flageo                               140
Flat                                 132
Flatten (-)                          106
FM                                    70
FOR( )FOR                             82
Frembass                             140
Frequency modulation                  70
Fuzzfade                             140

G

G                                    150
Gate period                          126
GET                                   94
Gradual changes                       56
Groups                                19

H

Hard                                 127
Harps                                140
Harps4                               140
High                                 128
Hit (X)                              103
Hold                                  47
Hold note (/)                        107
Hollow                               128

I

I                                     83
In use                               146
Increase level                       118
Increase tempo                       120
Instantaneous changes                 56
Instruments                          137
Ironpipe                             137
Items                                 29

J

Jukebox 9,87

K

k                                    150
K( )K                                114
Keeping the mix                       17
Key signature                  28,49,116

L

Laserpan                             140
Leaving out players                   79
Legato                             35,51
Left                                 149
Length setting                        46
Live mix                              17
LOAD                                  95
Long                                 130
Len                               39,126

M

M5MIX                                 83
Main                                  95
Main menu                             10
MAKE                            17,25,95
Making a word                24,43,48,60
Making instruments                    57
Making menus                          87
Many-channel instruments              75
Mark end of bar                      113
Marking STAFF                         52
MEM                                   95
Memory map                            90
Memory usage                          89
MENU                                  95
MENUDISP                           87,96
Metal                                128
Metalphase                           141
Metclick                             141
Mistake                              146
Mix displays                          83
Mixing pieces                         15
Mixing desk                    11,15,150
Mixing desk screen                    16
Modifiers                             35
Modifying instruments                 61
Modifying panels                      73
Modulation                            67
Modules                               13
Moog                                 137
Moving about staff                    29
MPREFIX                               88
Multiple mixes                        19
Multipart piece                       21
Music on staff                        21
Music words                          101

N

NAME                               24,96
Naming a word                         43
Naturalise (=)                       109
Negative Len                      33,126
Negative number                      106
NEW                                   96
Newword                               43
No number                            146
No room                              146
No string                            147
No such item                         147
Noise                                141
Noise sounds                          69
Note style                            32
Note values                          105
Notepad                        11,41,149
Notes                                 46
Number                               144
Number instruction                   134
Numbers 1 to 8                       150
Number FM                            135
Number OFFSET                        135
Number PAIR CHAN                     134
Number PITCH                         136
Number PITCHF                        136
Number POS                           136
Number SHIFT                         135

O

Octave setting                        46
ODD CHAN                          75,134
OFF Slide                            125
OFFSET                                64
ON CHANS                             134
ON Slide                             125
ON/OFF                               130
Option lines                          87
Organ                                137

P

P                                     83
Panflute                             137
Painting a note                       23
PAUSE                                 81
Pause and fast                        18
Peaked                               130
Perc                              37,126
Percussion                            37
Percuss                              130
Percussion pattern                    38
Percussion scores                     55
Percussion voices                     38
Phase setting                         65
PHSET                                 68
Pipes                                128
Pitch                            105,123
Pitch envelopes                      132
PLAY                                  97
Play chord rest                      112
Play rest (^)                        112
Playing a tune                        24
Playing chords                        36
Playing instruments                   58
Playing on mixing desk                16
POS                                   72
Positive Len                          33
Pow                                  133
Preset instruments                   137
PREPARE                               89
Programs AND words                    12
Puff                                 130
Pure                                 128
Pwmbass                              141

Q

q 150
QUIT 97

R

Ramp                                 133
Ready                                 97
Reedy                                128
Relative change                       56
RENAME                                98
Rest                                  47
Rests                                 26
RETGATE                               68
RETURN                               150
Reverse                              130
Right                                149
Ring modulation                       67
Ringsyn                              138
Rise                                 133
RM                                    68
Robovox                              141
Rom compatibility                     90
Round                                128
RUN                                77,98

S

SPACE                                150
Spaces                                29
SAVE                                  98
SCORE                    101,115,119,120
SCORE (1;)                           104
Score word                            24
Sections                              80
Separate files                        88
Set length (,)                       105
Set music voice                      108
Set octave                           108
Set tempo                            120
Set up new mix                        78
Shadow ram                            89
SHARE                                 99
Sharp                                129
Sharp (+)                            105
SHIFT                                 64
Shift copy                           149
Shift up/down                        150
Short                                130
SHOW                                  99
Simple pieces                         77
SIMPLEACT                            119
Simpleins                            138
Singsaw                              141
Skipping                              80
Slapbass                             138
Slide                                125
Slowvib                              133
Slur next note                       113
Slurs                              35,51
Snare                                141
Soft                                 130
Sound instruction                    127
Space                                 47
Spaces                                29
Special effects                      125
Spike                                131
Staff editor                   11,21,149
Staff notation                        52
Standard words                        79
Stereo instruments                    71
Stopping                              80
Strike                               131
Sub mixes                             82
Sub-sections                          81
Sub-unmix                             84
Summary of modifiers                  35
Sweep                                133
Swell                                131
Swellah                              142
Symbol mode                          150
SYNC                                  71
Syncer                            70,128
Synchronisation                       69
Syndecay                             142

T

t                                    150
Tailed                               131
Tarimba                              142
Tempo and tune                        18
Ties                                  30
Time signatures                       49
Time signatures and bar lines      26,27
Titling                               77
Too many chars                       148
Too many strings                     148
Too many words                       148
Too big                              147
Too many CHANS                       148
Too many VOICES                      148
Too many LEVELS                      148
Trans                                 85
Transposition                         40
Transposition @                      110
Treble/bass clef                     108
Tremelo                              131
Trill                                133
Triplet                              106
Triplets/duplets                      31
TRY                                   68
Trying envelope                       60
Trying notes                          61
Trying out music                      47
Trying other pieces                   20
Trying out mixing desk                15
Trying waveforms                      60
Two channel instrument                62
TYPE                               34,99
Type in instruments                  138

U

UMAKE                                 84
Unmixes                               84
Up                                   149
Upright                              138
User words                            12
Using Echo                            55

V

V                                     83
Verylong                             129
Vibglock                             138
Vibrato                              133
VOICE                                 99
VOICES                               100

W

Warble                               132
Warmsus                              142
Watery                               129
Waveforms                            127
Wha                                  138
Woodchime                            142
WORD                                  12
Wow                                  134
WRITE                                100

X

X Play hit 122

Y

Yakbell 138

Z

Zap 134

Others

!                                 101,11
!BOOT FILE                            88
'                                    101
(                                    102
+                                    150
+L                                   118
+T                                   120
-                                    150
-L                                   119
-T                                   122
.                                    150
/                                    150
/(//)                                103
1 CHAN                               134
1 CHANS                              134
2                                    150
2 CHAN                               134
2 CHANS                              134
3                                    150
=                                    150
=T                                   120
@                             36,110,150
^                                    150
^(^^)                                103

Published in AMPLINEX 001, September 1987

Notes on Index

Roy Follett

'Index' is a text file containing an extensive index for the Music 5000 Synthesiser User Guide.

The index provided in the guide is rather limited (only 160 entries for as many pages) and this is an attempt to make reference easier.

In the file the entries are arranged alphabetically, one on each line, showing the subject followed by its page reference(s). There is a three line gap between each letter section. The middle line of the three gives the heading for the next section.

There are no control codes contained in the file and it can be reformatted using a word processor if required.

Published in AMPLINEX 001, September 1987