Rhythmix



Timothy Closs,

Shepperton,

Middlesex.



Rhythmix enables you to record digitally up to six separate

sounds which may then be replayed manually on the computer

keyboard. Alternatively, they can be programmed into a

fixed sequence to give rhythmic accompaniment while you

play another musical instrument. As a visual extra, the

screen border can be made to flash in time with the rhythm.

  When you run the program, a menu will be displayed:

(1)-Record

(2)-Play

(3)-Program

(4)-Run

(5)-Border Flash

  Record: Set up your cassette player as in figure 1 and

type in a number from 1 to 6. Generate your first sound

near the microphone - it will be stored by the computer,

to be recalled under Play or Run below. Now type in your

second numher, generate your second sound, and so on up to

a maximum of six. It is worth experimenting with a wide

variety of sounds - including the human voice - as the

results can be quite surprising, but the duration of each

should not exceed about 0.5 seconds.

  Play: By tapping the keys 1 to 6 you can now reproduce

sounds from your rhythm bank to accompany other musicians.

Amplification is achieved through the set-up in figure 2.

Pressing E at any stage will Escape to the menu.

  Program: First enter the number of beats you want in your

rhythm sequence - anything from 1 to about 60 might be

suitable. Then tap out the sounds using keys 1 to 6 as

above. The sounds will be heard as you program them in.

Typing R records a rest, i.e., a period of silence equal

in length to each of the sounds. An audible bleep confirms

that the rest has been entered.

  Run: The computer will ask you for the required speed.

Returning 1 gives the fastest rate of replay, while higher

numbers give successively slower and lower frequency

rhythms. Your programmed rhythm will now be repeated over

and over until the menu is called by pressing E.

  Border Flash: Using the normal border colour numbers -

for example 2 is red - enter first the colour for sound on

and then the colour for sound off.

___________________________________________________________



        +------------------------+

        |                        |

        |                        |

     Ear|   +------+             |Ear

        |   |Mic   |             |

   ####Tape#####   |       ############

   ##recorder###   |       #####ZX#####

   #############   |       ##Spectrum##

   #"Record" on#   |       ############

   #############   |

                   #  Microphone (or use

                   #  internal microphone

                   O   in tape recorder)

 Figure 1.

___________________________________________________________



        +---------------------------+

        |                           |

        |                           |

     Ear|   +-----------+           |

        |   |Mic        |Mic        |

   ####Tape#####   ############     |

   ##recorder###   #####ZX#####     |

   #############   ##Spectrum##     |

   #"Record" on#   ############     |

   #############                   [_]

                                  /   \

            Loudspeaker (or use  /_____\

            internal speaker in

               tape recorder)

 Figure 2.