gibson@unc.UUCP (Bill Gibson) (08/02/84)
A few weeks ago, there was a request for information about various languages and compilers for the C64. This request was spurred by the lack of worthwhile reviews for many of the products listed and by the lack of "test drive" policies at software dealers ( a lack which is probably based on practical economics, admittedly ). I've had the same problem in looking for all the music software which I see advertised in magazines by mail-order houses. Some programs have gotten cursory reviews in various mags, which is just as bad as no review to someone interested mostly in the juicy details. I got my C64 mostly to use the SID (Sound Interface Device) chip, but that chip is useful only from machine language - BASIC is far too slow to fully use the chip. I can, of course, use a compiler or assembler to design my own music software ( and in the end I'll probably have to if I want to really use the SID ), but I'd like to buy a program so I can get on with some music in the meantime. Thus cometh another software review quest : Anyone who's had a close working relationship, especially hands-on experience, with C64 music software, please relate your experiences. If you have no such experience, but have pertinent information about any such programs, send me me whatever you know. Following is a list of the programs I have heard of; information on these or any other is appreciated : 1 ) CodePro 64 - Systems Management Assoc. 2 ) Kawasaki Synthesizer - Sight & Sound International 3 ) MusiCalc - Waveform 4 ) Music Construction Set -Electronic Arts 5 ) Musicomp - Computer Alliance 6 ) MusicWriter 64 -M'Soft 7 ) NotePro II - Electronic Lab Industries 8 ) Studio 64 - EnTech 9 ) Synthesound - Human Engineered Software (HES) 10 ) Synthy-64 - Abacus 11 ) The Staff - Professional Micro Service 12 ) Voice Box - Alien Group What I'm looking for is a program which accepts statements in some "music language" (e.g. PLAY C6,A5,G6) and interprets ( or compiles) the language so that musical events are timed accurately. Editors which allow graphic entry of notes on a staff are also interesting, but are less likely to allow one to modify SID parameters during playback. Specifics of a "good" music system would include the ability to "software patch" the outputs of Oscillator and Envelope Generator 3 to various points, including filter and frequency registers; changing of voices at specific points in playback; realtime input (via paddles/ joysticks) during playback to control filters, etc.;