Editors who we choose.
(C) Dr. Sampler (GALAXY)
________________________________
This article has been forced to be born at least, in my
opinion, a reason. Many times I've seen people who want to buy
a music editor,
but have no idea what
they want to buy. And it should
be clear. In fact can be that person - a potential
Computer composer, buying
improper editor and trying to
overcome all the difficulties of development, did not implement
their ideas in life.
Let's try to clarify the situation. To date, at
software market
Spectrum available for the following
software for creating and listening to music:
1. SOUND TRACKER (version)
2. ASM (Asc Sound Master)
3. PRO TRACKER
4. WHAM + AY 128K, 48K
5. SAMPLER
6. INSTRUMENT
7. DIGITAL STUDIO
8. DMM
____
Dictionary used
spetsnazvany and concepts
a) Pattern
All the space to create
music is divided into segments having a certain length. These
segments are called patterns. The length of each pattern
measured by the number consecutive musical symbols (notes,
rests, etc.). Usually, its length does not exceed 64
symbol. Segmenting melodies
facilitates the process of editing. The total number of patterns
almost always keep no more than 32.
b) Position
# List of position - a table containing a sequence
playable patterns. The maximum amount of table - 255 patterns.
a) Sample
Samples - is the actual instruments that are played track.
d) Ornament
# Ornaments are attribute
samples. Serve to create chords, trills and other
muzykaeffektov. In the music editors of digital music, they are
missing.
________________
Brief information
music editor.
The four programs described below - for music editors
a non-digital music. Compiled modules occupy
small memory footprint and
playing does not require the entire
CPU performance.
1. SOUND TRACKER
(Author unknown)
This is one of the earliest, but
and the most powerful music editor
for SPECCY. The lion's share of all
domestic as well as foreign music
it is written in it (SHOCK
MEGADEMO, LYRA II, SATISFACTION,
INSULT, etc.). Although the envelope
Editor at work is
some disadvantages (in particular, nekkorektnaya work with the
disk, the inability to listen ringtones for editing and
etc.), SOUND TRACKER still
remains one of the most popular editors on SPECCY. To date on
the software market, there are several versions of this editor,
although each has drawbacks. This is the only professional
music editor for the SPECTRUM 48K.
Specifications
Editor's "SOUND TRACKER".
Hardware Minimum:
SPECTRUM 48K with AY-3-8910/12, there are tape and disk
version. TR-DOS 5.01 and above.
Number patterns - 31
Number of positions - 255
Number of samples - 15
Number of ornaments - 15
Ability to change
volume of each note - there is no
Ability to change
the length of each pattern - no
Ability to change
speed track
while playing - no
The possibility of compiling of the
function composition
subsequent use
formation in different
programs - yes
2. ASC SOUND MASTER (ASM)
(Andrei Sendetsky,
Dnepropetrovsk)
This editor appeared in 1993
year and immediately drew the attention of
people seeking to become computer musicians. He had an
excellent design and good sound characteristics. In those days
alternative to it was only SOUND TRACKER. Although ASM and
exceed SOUND TRACKER for many parameters, editing melodies it
is difficult. Of course, the Tastes differ, but these two
editors, I would choose SOUND
TRACKER.
Specifications
editor of "ASM".
Hardware Minimum:
SPECTRUM 128K with AY-3-8910/12,
TR-DOS 5.03 and above.
Number patterns - 32
Number of positions - 100
Number of samples - 32
Number of ornaments - 32
Ability to change
volume of each note - yes
Ability to change
the length of each pattern - yes
Ability to change
speed track
when playing - yes
The possibility of compiling of the
function composition
subsequent use
formation in different
programs - yes
3. PRO-TRACKER
(GOLDEN DISK CORPORATION,
Voronezh, 1995).
In my opinion this music editor - the most powerful on
moment. It combines all
Best of the editors and the ASM
SOUND TRACKER. It is truly a masterpiece. User-friendly
interface, the correct work with the disk, the presence of
additional modes, built-in compiler and decompiler and much
more - all this greatly simplifies the process of creating
music. But in ointment is a fly in the ointment. Because of
mistakes of the author (and perhaps not) sometimes starts to
fail compiler. Bug manifests itself
using a special tone mezhstrokovyh teams
PORT and NOISE. In this distorted sound Mouzon. Attention!
This bug manifests itself only when playing songs compiled in
the editor melody sounds fine. But this
error is quite rare,
so that it is, I think not
impact on the popularity PRO
TRACKER. This editor is suitable
as well as for beginners as well as for
true professionals.
To the place will be told that the entire
music magazine ZX-Format, beginning with the third number,
written in PRO TRACKER. The first copies of the third issue of
the journal in some tunes experiencing this glyuchok.
Specifications
Editor's "PRO TRACKER".
Hardware Minimum:
SPECTRUM 128K with AY-3-8910/12,
TR-DOS 5.03 and above.
Number patterns - 32
Number of positions - 255
Number of samples - 32
Number of ornaments - 15
Ability to change
volume of each note - yes
Ability to change
the length of each pattern - yes
Ability to change
speed track
when playing - yes
The possibility of compiling of the
function composition
subsequent use
formation in different
programs - yes
4. WHAM + AY (WHAM FX)
(Mark time)
Apparently, the oldest and
very low-power music editor for SPECTRUM. He can not
compete with any of the above music editors. The concept of
pattern, position and ornament for him missing.
Melody is not divided into segments, making it uncomfortable
editing process. It is not necessary pay special attention to
him if you want to seriously dedicate himself to music.
Specifications
Editor "WHAM FX".
Hardware Minimum:
SPECTRUM 48K with AY-3-8910/12, there are tape and disk
version. TR-DOS 5.01 and above.
Number patterns -
Number of positions -
Number of samples - 7 (8)
Number of ornaments -
Ability to change
volume of each note - yes
Ability to change
the length of each pattern -
Ability to change
speed track
when playing -
The possibility of compiling of the
function composition
subsequent use
formation in different
programs - yes
____
We now consider the music editor of another type, namely the
editors digital music. These editors have their own
characteristics and differ from those described above. Their
sounds more like the sound of real musical instruments. And
this is their only Plus, a lot more drawbacks.
First, despite the similarity
sound at present, its quality
relatively low, many
noise. Secondly, the track is ready to tens of kilobytes.
And thirdly, play digital tunes eats up all CPU performance.
1. DIGITAL STUDIO
(UNDERGROUND SYSTEM)
One of the best programs in the
its kind. Its full description
was published in the second issue ZX-Format.
2. INSTRUMENT
(Eremeev Vadim
S-Petersburg)
In 1994 there was a program INSTRUMENT 2.01. It laid the
foundation for digital music editors, though she is essentially
an editor does not was. It was just a PLAYER
with the ability to "poke fingers into the buttons and remove
the sound."
A year later, a version
3.01, which is radically different from its predecessor. The
new version has increased the number of samples (7 instead of
5), appeared analyzers volume (voicemeters) and lost count of
notes, there was a possibility of correcting the samples were
removed glitches disk operations (in the absence of freezing
samples on the disc). Actually the editor is still not there,
but there was a remarkable the ability to convert music modules
editor ASM 1.11 (as is done, see
ZX-Format # 2). The program has
very user-friendly interface, is involved KEMPSTON MOUSE. The
compiler was not provided, but currently there is a compiler
for version 2.01, written by programmers Moscow.
3. SAMPLER.
(TECHNOMAX)
Music editor SAMPLER
was the first full-fledged digital
editor. With similar
sound characteristics, like
and INSTRUMENT, he has a full-fledged editor, similar to the
editor of ASM, but a little easier. Number of loadable samples
- 5. The program is clearly inferior to the editor DIGITAL
STUDIO on all characteristics. The compiler is missing.
________________
With this I completed a survey of music editors SPECCY.
If I had something left out, or you
anything is unclear, then please write in
Received ZX-Format labeled
inside message: Andrei Litvinov.
Music questions will be
considered in the future, so
that
WRITE LETTERS!
