Hybrid Technology news
In AMPLINEX 013 we gave brief details of a new software
product from Hybrid Technology - the AMPLE Toolbox - which we expected to be
reviewing in this issue. Unfortunately, as our publication deadline approached,
we were told that the software was still not ready for release, but that it would
be ready within 'a few days'. We hope, therefore, to include a review of this
product in our next issue. In the meantime we have received a note from
AMPLINEX member Tony Walduck about the software:
Recent advertisements by Hybrid Technology in the November
issues of BBC Acorn User and The Micro User do not mention any restrictions in
the use of the new AMPLE Toolbox. In fact the advertisement actually has the wording
'Compatible with BBC Models B, B+, B+128K and Master 128 with 40/80 track disc
drive'.
But upon ordering the AMPLE Toolbox I received a letter from
Hybrid asking me 'to note that the Sideways RAM module store function is
available only for those with the Master 128'. However, I was assured that the
rest of the package can be used on the entire range of BBC microcomputers.
In AMPLINEX 011 we reviewed a beta-test version of the Music
3000 expander. Our reviews are usually conducted in a short time in order to meet
publication deadlines and we are always glad to receive the comments of members
who have had used the products 'for real'.
Music 3000 expander - a user review
Graham Firth
The Music 3000 expander is a modified Music 500 - the
circuit board is identical to the one I bought in May 1985 (when they were £199!)
except for a few modifications. Firstly, there are two capacitors connected
across two of the chips - I reckon that these are the modifications that were
done to improve the timing on a BBC Master when the Music 5000 was introduced.
Secondly, there is a resistor and three wires joining three
IC pins together and four cut PCB tracks. These I think, are to change the 1MHz
bus (FRED?) address.
Then there is the software. It comes as an issue disc
complete with a password as we all know and love. It needs a copy of a Music
5000 system disc and it modifies that disc by replacing the MIX and M5 modules
and the C.PREPARE file. Incidentally, this is the first disc I have had from Hybrid
that is copy protected, it took a few attempts before I managed to back it up.
The new modules - V3.2 for MIX and V3.4 for M5 are longer
than the old files - 280 and 220 bytes respectively. Oh dear, you say - even less
memory! But it is actually worse than that because my checks show that at the
main menu page I have gone from 15537 to 14513 bytes free, a whole 1K! And, in
the Mixing Desk, I have gone from 10382 to 9128 bytes free - 1254 bytes lost!
It is, of course, worse in the Staff editor where there are only a maximum of
2225 bytes free.
I have a Watford Shadow RAM board in my machine which has
served me well up to now, but although the Music 3000 Installation Guide says
it will work with Shadow RAM, my system seems not to (see Questions and Answers
section).
Having said all that, it seems to perform OK without the
Shadow RAM, albeit with reduced memory, although on my set up, a standard Model
B, I appear to have some new ROM clashes and I am going to have to investigate further.
The only things I have tried so far are to change 2-channel
instruments to 4 channels to get a fuller, richer sound (and many tunes sound
all the better for that) and to add more rhythm to tunes. The maximum number of
players remains at 9 although you can use 10 if you use the 10 P(...)P type of
structure.
There is another advantage to the Mixing Desk in that voices
with more than 2 channels now only take up a single position on the desk so an 8-voice
mix, all of 4 channels, only takes up one screen. Another refinement added is
that you can use the DELETE and COPY keys to subtract or add voices to a player
which makes setting up an initial mix easier - it saves typing in the 1 SHARE
etc. It also makes changing mixes easier.
The Music 3000 comes with a 5-page A5 Installation guide in
the usual format with all the information you need to know about it.
As this is another Music 500(0) type unit, there is of
course, another 5-pin DIN socket on the back for the audio output - great for
those members with a quadrophonic system or a proper mixer. I have neither of those
so I bought a couple of matching 5 pin DIN plugs and a matching free socket
from Maplins and wired it as follows using 1k resistors:
plug 1 socket plug 2
Music (for original Music
5000 amplifier lead) 3000
------ --------------- ------
Music (for original Music
5000 amplifier lead) 3000
------ --------------- ------
pin 2 -----------pin 2-----------pin 2
pin 5 ----1k-----pin 5-----1k----pin 5
pin 3 ----1k-----pin 3-----1k----pin 3
pin 5 ----1k-----pin 5-----1k----pin 5
pin 3 ----1k-----pin 3-----1k----pin 3
(The four 1k resistors can be fitted within the free socket
if they are 1/8th watt).
I think that channels 1 to 8 come out of the Music 5000 and
channels 9 to G came out of the Music 3000 but I was unable to confirm this.
It is noticeable that when the Mixing Desk is on the screen,
and you are playing a piece with all channels in use, then the 'stars' at the
top of the screen are almost stationary. I couldn't try any of my complicated pieces
that almost stop the stars normally as I couldn't get them into the available
memory without Shadow RAM. I wanted to see what would happen with all channels
in use as well!
Altogether, I am pleased with the new unit - and I am
looking forward to spending more time playing with the combination.
In AMPLINEX 012 we carried a review of the Hybrid Music 1000
amplifier by Tony Walduck. In his review he mentioned that he had received no technical
specification for the unit and that he was disappointed with the quality of the
headphone output. In AMPLINEX 013 we published the technical specification for
the unit which Hybrid Technology say is included with each one and, in the Hints
and Tips section, we had some advice from Neil Walker about improving the
quality of the headphone output. In an update to his review, Tony Walduck
re-addresses these two problems:
Music 1000 amplifier - review update
Tony Walduck
It was mentioned in AMPLINEX 013 that Hybrid Technology do
enclose a brief technical specification with each Music 1000.
Although I have subsequently requested and been supplied
with this information, it did not arrive with my amplifier, which came packed
in a large 'Jiffy' bag, and not the usual foam-polystyrene container. I can
only assume that there was a problem in their mail order department when my unit
was sent out.
The problem with noise and hum on the headphone outlets is
indeed resolved by inclusion of resistors in the headphone leads, as suggested
by Neil Walker. I find that values between 220R and 470R are most suitable.
However, I am still puzzled why Hybrid expect you to have to
modify other equipment to interface correctly with their products. Presumably,
headphones (as supplied) ought to be capable of working directly from the
headphone sockets on the front of the unit. Couldn't the necessary resistors
have been built into the amplifier?
Published in AMPLINEX 014, November
1989
