CARROLL%usc-isib@sri-unix.UUCP (12/27/83)
REVIEW: "Music Construction Set" for C64 from Electronic Arts
-------------------------------------------------------------
I got this for Christmas, and as soon as I tried it out, I had a
problem. Five of the available thirteen voices wouldn't play! I went
to the dealer where the program was bought, and tried it. All OK. The
problem was in the old-model C64 I had. It had the 5-pin monitor con-
nection, and apparently also had some defect or bug inside, and wouldn't
play all voices on the SID chip. This dealer was the same one I had got
the computer from last February, so guess what he did? I got a brand new,
up-to-date, bug-free (I hope) C64! No hassle at all. He also exchanged my
5-pin cable for an 8-pin cable for the monitor connection. Now that's the
way to build a loyal customer base.
On to the review......
"Music Construction Set", written by a high-schooler named Will Harvey
who has one year ML experience, is, in a word, terrific. The program boots
from disk in about 3 minutes and starts running. It shows about 2 1/2
measures worth of a musical staff at the top, with icons along the bottom
of the screen. Control is by keyboard, joystick, or Koalapad. A "hand"
icon can be moved around to place notes, flats, rests, etc. on the staves
where desired. Scissor and glue icons can be used to copy and move staves
around. Created pieces can be saved to disk. One thing I found out is that
TWO files are actually saved, one for the treble staff, and one for the bass.
There are 8 instruments and 5 special effect sounds that the pieces can be
played in. You can have a different instrument for each staff. You can also
play the piece at different speeds, from dead slow to superfast. You can
watch the notes scroll past a "play head" icon as the piece plays, so slow
speed is good for really observing what happens. The notes can be pretty
sloppy-looking on the staff, and not spaced properly, but the computer still
plays them right. There is also a choice of four time signatures, volume
control, and ability to transpose to another key.
The disk comes with about twenty songs, mainly classical type (hooray),
which demonstrate many musical concepts. It's quite fun to load one and vary
the instruments used and the speed of play. The manual says that a song can
be saved up to about 700 "symbols" in length, or about 70 measures with 10
notes per measure. That could be a song several minutes long.
The manual contains general instructions and basic music info. There is
also a computer-specific reference card.
This program is very good. If you are interested in music, have either
a tin ear or perfect pitch, you might like this. It lets you record your
musical ideas, and probably everyone, like me, has thought of a neat tune
but couldn't do anything about it. Now you can. "Music Construction Set"
is also available for the Apple. The C64 version costs $35 where my sweet
wife got it for me.
If anyone has questions, ask me, and I'll try to answer.
Steve (carroll@isib)
-------porter@inuxd.UUCP (J Porter) (01/05/84)
Beware of all the Electronic Arts programs, including the "Music Construction Set", if your are using an IEEE 488 disk drive with your 64. The protection scheme used does something unique to the 1541 disk drive, and my 4040 dual disk and INTERPOD are not compatable with this software. The dealer did refund my money, but it just bugs me that some of these protection schemes don't take into account all hardware configurations. Most programs work fine: Easyscript, LOGO, CP/M, Jumpman, BC's Quest for Tires, and of course any non-protected file. The disadvantage to the Music Construction Set is that you don't have control over the ADSR and filter variables. A slightly more sophisticated program, but lacking the icons and musical staff is Musicalc. (about $60) This is an extremely flexable package, but it is not as easy to operate. I'm waiting for the Commodore synthesizer keyboard with three extra SID chips and software for $99. (count 'em: 12 voices!) The only other piece of software that wouldn't load on my dual disk was the Koalapainter program. There may be others, but I hope not too many. Has anyone any suggestions (short of buying a 1541 disk drive)? Jeff Porter (inuxd!porter) AT&T Consumer Products Indianapolis