Programmers - music editors, which we choose.

<b>Programmers</b> - music editors, which we choose.

 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!