Question: Keys of tuned instruments
I have a piece of music which is arranged for an orchestra.
It has eight parts, which is ideal for the Music 5000 system, but I have a problem.
Each part has a different key signature at the start of it. I suspect this is
because of the differently-tuned instruments - for instance, it has a B flat
trombone, and an E flat tenor horn.
How do I harmonize these parts together? I would really like
to transcribe this piece but at the moment I've hit a brick wall. Can somebody
help me, please!
Andrew Smith
Answer: Part-bars in Staff editor
In reply to the question from Vincent Fojut in AMPLINEX 010,
the technique that I use to enter notes in part-bars is to precede the notes in
the incomplete bar with sufficient back holds (\), enter the notes concerned, but
then not enter the next bar-line. The effect of this is to move back in music
time sufficiently for the pick-up notes of the incomplete bar to fit within the
time to be allocated to the next complete bar.
This technique is also explained, though not with reference
to bar-lines, in the AMPLE Nucleus Programmer Guide, page 115.
In the Staff editor the back hold, \, needs to be entered
above the staff, as explained on page 34 of the Music 5000 User Guide.
The following definition was made from a short piece entered
in the Staff editor:
"FromMeToYou" [%STAFF
SCORE K(-B)K 48, 4BAR \
0: 24, FGAgf/GG// | 48,d//^ | 0,^]
SCORE K(-B)K 48, 4BAR \
0: 24, FGAgf/GG// | 48,d//^ | 0,^]
Playing such a part word in isolation may not be entirely
successful (the system gets a bit confused if it has to start in negative
time), but in the context of a larger piece, or after an initial dummy rest
bar, or playing from the Staff editor, the effect is exactly as desired.
Tony Walduck
Question: Use of RAMROM board
Has any other AMPLINEX member got a RAMROM board and managed
to use it with AMPLE to get more memory? As the documentation that came with it
is so poor, I haven't got a clue on how to use it for Sideways RAM.
Diccon Maude
Answer: MIDI implementation charts
If Taj Letocha (AMPLINEX 010) is having problems with MIDI implementation
charts he may care to look at an article I wrote for the March 1988 issue of
Keyboard Player magazine on just that subject. I noticed that although there
are several good books on MIDI, none gave a beginner's guide to MIDI implementation
charts.
My article is not definitive (it doesn't cover some of the
Mode 3 implementations of modern expanders, for example) but it does give a
good introduction to the subject - if I say so myself!
Ian Waugh
Question: Linking two Hybrid systems
I was interested in the comment made in AMPLINEX 010
(F.SurvA88) about linking two Hybrid Music Systems. Can anyone give practical
advice about this? I presume it would involve using the MIDIRT command and the
MIDI IN socket.
Jim Redfarn
Your question might just have been answered by the Music
3000 released by Hybrid (see News and Reviews, this issue).
Question: Acoustic guitar instrument
I am having some trouble making an instrument which sounds
at least vaguely like an acoustic guitar, so I would be grateful if someone
knows of a suitable definition, or can point me in the right direction. I've
tried amending Elguit, Slapbass and harpsichord words, but I don't know how to
make the required changes.
Peter Miller
Please, has anyone got an acoustic guitar instrument? The
closest that I have got is a sort of banjo type sound.
Diccon Maude
Answer: Drum rhythm
In AMPLINEX 010 Neil Walker asked for help with drum rhythms
used in rock and jazz music. The paperback "Teach Yourself Rock Drums"
by Mike Finkelstein (Amsco Publications, Order No. 25180, UK ISBN 0.7119.0222.4
from Music Sales Ltd, 78 Newman Street, London. W1P 3LA) should prove at least partly
useful reading.
Covering most types of rock music and jazz funk, it gives
numerous examples in staff notation of the 'grooves' created by many famous
drummers up to 1979. Everything from a 'Paradiddle' to a 'Nine Stroke Roll' are
ready to be tried out in the Staff editor. No 'Flam'!
Jack Wrigley
Question: Registration slips
When I upgraded my Music 500 to a Music 5000, I had to
complete a registration slip. This, I was told, would keep me up-to-date on new
developments of the Hybrid Music System, new music discs, etc.
It is now several months since I sent off that slip, but I
have heard nothing. Is this something that other AMPLE users have found, or has
my registration gone astray?
Peter Wright
Answer: Aries B32 problems
In reply to the question by Jack Wrigley in AMPLINEX 010 -
with the Aries B32, typing *XON 20 A sets up 20K of Shadow RAM, but sets the
B32 workspace area to page A, i.e. at &A00-&AFF (see B32 manual, page
35).
However, the memory map of the AMPLE system (Music 5000 User
Guide, page 90) shows that the Staff editor buffer is at &900-&AFF.
This is obviously a recipe for disaster!
I use *XON 20 13, choosing to use page 13 for the workspace.
This means that I have to allow one page of user memory for the B32 workspace,
but at least this arrangement is safe. In addition, I have to change one byte
in the file C.PREPARE for the initial memory recovery technique to work.
In Studio 5000 (Release 6) byte &3E needs changing from
&13 to &14; in Studio 5000-4 (Release 2) byte &52 needs changing
from &13 to &14. The byte to change is possibly the same in other
releases. This aspect of the use of Shadow RAM in AMPLE has been mentioned in
earlier issues of AMPLINEX.
Tony Walduck
We understand that Hybrid Technology will be using a revised
version of the C.PREPARE file in future software releases. Therefore, members
following instructions which involve altering this file based on the addresses
of specific bytes should try to ensure that the instructions apply to their version.
I all cases you should work on a backup copy of your system disc, just in case.
Question: 40-track twin-disc users
For 40-track disc users, who receive AMPLINEX split over two
discs, is it not possible to have the menu for the music files on the same disc
or side of the disc as the music files themselves? This would save much disc swapping
or drive changing when all we want to do is listen to the music!
Jack Wrigley
Because we try to put as much as possible on each AMPLINEX
disc there is normally only just enough room for the AMPLINEX control program
to be stored once. In addition, there would be extra work involved in preparing
two versions of the program for the minority of 40-track disc users.
However, we are aware of the inconvenience of the split-disc
arrangement and if any member can suggest a simple means of allowing 40-track
disc users (single and dual drive) to select files from two discs more easily,
we would be only two willing to use it.
Editor's note:
The comments following some of the questions above are only
my opinions on the subject and should not be taken as definitive answers.
Your comments are most welcome on any of the questions
posed, whether they supplement, confirm or correct any I have expressed.
Published in AMPLINEX 011, May 1989
