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EchoSoft/Currys Organ Master

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Document created by rstuart@ukonline.co.uk on 8th Feb 00 for

World of Spectrum: http://www.void.demon.nl/spectrum.html



For use with Sinclair 128 and Echo Keyboard

Advanced Software With Record & Playback Facility



Currys ECHO Music Systems

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Sinclair Spectrum 128K MUSIC SYNTHESIZER Software, Version 2.0 USERS GUIDE

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Contents

--------

Page 1           1.0 Introduction to the ECHO Music System

                 2.0 Getting started

                 3.0 Loading the Program



Page 2           4.0 Introduction to the Synthesizer Software

                 5.0 The Synthesizer Section



Pages 3, 4 & 5   6.0 The Voice Editor section



Page 6           7.0 Recording System



Pages 7 & 8      8.0 Explanation of Special Terms Used



Page 9           9.0 Key Summary

                10.0 The Default Voices

                11.0 Demonstration Tune



-----[Page 1]-----



1.0 Introduction to the ECHO Music System

-----------------------------------------

The ECHO music system consists of a range of software and hardware

peripherals for the production if sound and music for microcomputers. The

range has now been extended to cover the Sinclair Spectrum 128K machine and

consists of:-



  ECHO KEYBOARD - A 3 octave musical keyboard.

      ECHO SPEC - An interface to allow the ECHO Keyboard to be connected to

                  the Spectrum 128K.

      ECHOSOUND - A 6 watt boxed audio amplifier incorporating a 6 inch

                  speaker.



  The software which accompanies this manual enables the user to create and

edit different types of sound and then play them using the ECHO KEYBOARD. The

sound is produced by driving the machine's internal sound chips directly and

thus creates a better and broader sound range.



2.0 Getting started

-------------------

Before switching on the machine, the interface and keyboard must be

connected. This is done by pushing the interface onto the connector at the

back of the Spectrum (it will only fit on one way). The keyboard is connected

to the interface by a long piece of ribbon cable. The coloured edge of this

cable must be lined up with the arroe on the connector on the interface.



  The sound produced by the system is played through the speaker in the TV

connected to the spectrum, or if a better audio quality is required, a

separate audio amplifier is available in the ECHO product range.



3.0 Loading the Program

-----------------------

Two versions of the software are available, one to run on a cassette based

system and the other for a microdrive dased system.



  For a cassette system, insert the tape into the recorder, type LOAD "ECHO"

followed by return and then set the recorder to PLAY. The program will

automatically start running when it is loaded.



  For a microdrive system, insert the cartridge in microdrive 1, type LOAD

*"M";1; "ECHO" and then press return. As with the cassette system, the

program will automatically run when loaded.



-----[Page 2]-----



4.0 Introduction to the Synthesizer Software

--------------------------------------------

The software is split into two distinct modules:-



1. SYNTHESIZER



  This section allows the user to play the keyboard, select a new voice to

  play, and adjust the overall pitch to the sound produced. There are also

  facilities to allow a set of voices to be loaded or saved to tape or

  microdrive (depending on which version of the software is used).



2. VOICE EDITOR



  The EDITOR section allows the user to edit the currently selected voice to

  produce new sounds.



Each section will be described sepearately.



5.0 The Synthesizer Section

---------------------------

This section of the program is entered automatically when the program is run.

On the screen will appear eight voice names and their corresponding voice

numbers. On start-up, a default set of voices is present (see section 9.0 for

descriptions of these).



  To select a new voice to play simply hit the numbered key on the keyboard

(1-8). The new voice will be highlighted as the current voice and any sounds

produced using the ECHO KEYBOARD will use the parameters defined by this

voice.



  The name of the currently selected voice can be changed by simply typing

the new name on the computer keyboard. The name must start with any

alphabetic character and must not be more than 10 characters long. If more

than 10 characters are typed, the name input will end on the 10th and the

computer will beep to alert the user. If less than 10 characters are used,

the RETURN key must be pressed to terminate the name input. Again, the

computer will beep to alert the user he can now play the music keyboard

again. Note that whilst entering the voice name, the music keyboard is

de-activated.



  The overall pitch of the sounds being generated may be adjusted by the

use of two other facilities. These are PITCH FINE and OCTAVE SHIFT.



  PITCH FINE allows the pitch to be fine-tuned to a resolution of one quater

of a semi-tome, the range being -96 to +96. To increase the pitch, use the

UP ARROW key and to decrease use the DOWN ARROW key.



-----[Page 3]-----



  OCTAVE SHIFT allows the 3 octave keyboard to be transported up or down

the 7 octave sound range of the computer. The value of the screen displays

the offset from the default position and ranges from -2 to 2. The shift is

altered by using the RIGHT ARROW key to move up an octave and the LEFT ARROW

key to move down.



  The current set of 8 voices may be saved at any time by pressing the ";"

key and entering a filename when prompted.



  To Load a set of 8 voices, press the '"' key and enter a filename. Note

that the current set of voices will be overwritten.



  A music recording and saving/loading system has also been provided and this

will be explained in more detail in section 7.0.



  The last facility available to the SYNTHESIZER is to enter the VOICE

EDITOR. To do this, simply press the SPACE BAR. The currently selected voice

may then be edited as described in the next section. On completion of the

edit, the SYNTHESIZER section will be re-entered, with the modified voice

being the currently selected voice.



6.0 The Voice Editor section

----------------------------

The Voice Editor section is entered by pressing the SPACE BAR whilst in the

SYNTHESIZER section. Exit back to the SYNTHESIZER is made by pressing the

SPACE BAR again.



  A voice is made up of two distinct parts, the AMPLITUDE ENVELOPE and the

PITCH ENVELOPE. These envelopes consist of a number of parameters, each of

which may be modified by the user.



  On entering the EDITOR, the AMPLITUDE envelope parameters are displayed

and may be modified by simply using the UP ARROW and DOWN ARROW keys to

select a parameter and then using the LEFT ARROW and RIGHT ARROW keys to

adjust its value. To switch to the PITCH envelope, press the "," key. Its

parameters can then be changed in a similar manner. The "," key will switch

between the two envelope screens at any time without changing any modified

parameter values.



-----[Page 4]-----



Parameters for AMPLITUDE envelope.



^                  AA

|  |              /.\

   |            /  .  \

V  |          /    .    \

O  |        /      .      \

L  |      /        .        +-----------------------------+ SA

U  |    /          .        .                             . \

M  |  /     A      .    D   .             S               . R \

E  |/              .        .                             .     \

   +------------------------------------------------------------------> TIME

    <      AT     > <  DT  >                              |<  RT  >

                                                          |

                                                          ^

                                               key released at this point



(a) ATTACK AMPLITUDE (AA)

    This is the maximum volume which the sound will reach during the attack

    phase A. It has a range of 0 to 15, there being 16 levels of volume

    available from the sound chip in the computer.



(b) ATTACK TIME (AT)

    This is the time taken to reach the maximum volume (AA). It is measured

    in 50th second periods and has a range of 1 to 255.



(c) DECAY TIME (DT)

    This is the time taken to decay from the maximum volume to the volume

    defined by the SUSTAIN AMPLITUDE parameter. It is also measured in 50th

    second periods and has a range 1 to 255.



(d) SUSTAIN AMPLITUDE (SA)

    This is the volume reached after the decay phase D of the envelope. It

    has a range of 0 to 15, but is limited to a maximum of AA.



(e) RELEASE TIME (RT)

    This is the time taken to reach a zero volume level after the key has

    been released. It is measured in 50th second periods and has a range of

    1 to 255.



-----[Page 5]-----



Parameters for PITCH envelope.



  |                  + PD                          |         +

  |                / . \                           |       /   \

  |              /   .   \                         |     /       \

P |            /     .     \                       |   /           \

I |          /       .       \                     | /

T +--------+-------------------\-------------------/------------------> TIME

C |<  DT  > <   T1  > <        T2\      >.<   T3 />|

H |                                \     .     /   |  Cycle repeats while

  |                                  \   .   /     |  key remains pressed.

  |                                    \ . /       |

  |                                      + -PD     |



(a) DELAY TIME (DT)

    This is the delay between pressing a note on the keboard and the start

    of the pitch envelope cycle. It is measured in 50th second periods.



(b) TIME 1 (T1)

    This is the time taken to reach the upper value of the pitch defined by

    the pitch depth (PD). It is measured in 50th second periods.



(c) TIME 2 (T2)

    This is the time taken for the pitch to drop below its starting value by

    a value defined by the pitch depth (PD). Note that the total pitch change

    from the end of T1 will be twice the pitch offset.



(d) TIME 3 (T3)

    This is the time taken for the pitch to rise up to the original value,

    i.e. the value has before time T1 started.



(e) PITCH DEPTH

    This is the distance in quater semitones that the pitch will vary above

    and below the origional pitch of the note.



-----[Page 6]-----



7.0 Recording System

--------------------

To Record/Playback a piece of music you should press the ' ' key on the

Spectrum - this will take you into the Record/Playback menu and you will be

greeted with the following options:- RECORD MUSIC, PLAYBACK MUSIC, REPEAT

MUSIC, ADD TO MUSIC, SAVE MUSIC, LOAD MUSIC, RETURN TO SYNTHESIZER. Also

displayed will be RECORD LIMIT - This tells you how much time you have to

RECORD and ADD Music.



  To choose one of these options, use the UP + DOWN Cursor Key's to highlight

your choice, then press the 'RETURN' Key to make your selection.



RECORD MUSIC

When you are ready to start recording select this option: Recording starts

immediately. The Computer will register the precise length of each note and

each pause including any pause before starting to play and any pause at the

and before pressing 'STOP'. You will see that you are back in the Synthesizer

again, but this time a flashing 'Record Now' will have appeared on the

screen - you may change any of the options, select a new voice, change the

pitch, alter the sound parameters etc. To finish Recording, press STOP and

you will find yourself back at the Record/Playback menu, (if you go over the

Record Limit during Recording, the same thing will happen).



PLAYBACK MUSIC

To play back the notes previously recorded in the computer's memory select

the playback option - the Computer will Play back all that you have recorded

up till the time you pressed STOP (or ran out of Recording time). Everything

that you have entered will be Played, including Pauses and all Voice changes.

To stop Playback before the end of the MUSIC press STOP.



REPEAT MUSIC

To allow Playback to be continuously repeated this option should be selected.

The music you have previously recorded will be Played back and then repeated

again and again, until you press STOP. This facility allows ECHO to be used

as an accompaniment, either to someone playing a musical instrument, or

even to music on another ECHO system.



ADD TO MUSIC

Whenever you select the 'RECORD' Option, whatever you recorded previously

will be lost as the new music takes its place. With this option you may add

to the music in memory (if there is enough space left). This option is ideal

if you wish to change a Voice, but do not want the delay involved while you

do so, or to record complicated pieces of music in short lengths. 'Adding to

Music' will appear flashing on the screen, and recording will start from

where you last left off - use STOP to finish adding music and return to the

Record/Playback menu.



-----[Page 7]-----



SAVE MUSIC

Select the option to save the music (which must first be Recorded in the

Computer's Memory) to tape or microdrive. At this stage you will be requested

to give a filename under which to save the music - a maximum of 9 alpha-

numeric characters are allowed. Type your file name then press 'ENTER'. Just

press 'ENTER' if you wish to skip this option. The code that goes to make up

the music will now be saved to tape or microdrive in a number of blocks.



LOAD MUSIC

Select the option to load a previously 'SAVED' block of music from tape or

microdrive. The filename under which it was SAVED will be requested and you

should enter this - up to a maximum of 9 letters - and press ENTER. If you

cannot remember the filename then pressing 'ENTER' with no filename will

make the computer load the next block of music regardless of what its

filename is. All blocks previously recorded will be loaded into memory.



NOTE: For more information on Loading and saving to tape or microdrive

consult your Spectrum User Guide.



STOP

Press the '0' key to STOP Recording, Playback, Repeating and Add to Music.



8.0 Explanation of Special Terms Used

-------------------------------------

ORGAN MASTER is advanced software on disc or tape for the Sinclair Spectrum

Microcomputer Model and the ECHO keyboard, and provides the following

facilities:



Synthesizer:    Play music on the ECHO keyboard, change octave, adjust

                tuning, select different musical sounds e.g. piano, Organ,

                Hawaian guitar.



                Record music in the computer's memory and play back.



                Save music from memory to disc or tape storage.



Voice Editor:   Create other sounds by defining the note's variation in

                volume and pitch.



                Save these sounds in the computer's memory or on disc or

                tape.



ECHO is a computer LANGUAGE - this means this its capabilities are not

limited by using the 128 standard source commands - ECHO itself controls

the sound generator in the computer.



-----[Page 8]-----



  Moreover, the software is 'interrupt' or event-driven, which in effect,

allows you to do what you like at any given time, for example, adjust the

pitch or change the volume whilst playing.



  ORGAN MASTER is part of the Currys Musical Package, the current range of

associated products consists of:



ECHO KEYBOARD   including ECHOSOFT Organmaster (cassette or disc) software.



ECHO SPEC       to provide an interface socket for the Sinclair 128 Micro

                computer, for use with ECHO keyboard.



ECHOSOUND       a 6 watt amplifier and 6 inches speaker.



The range has been designed to take full advantage of the computer's sound

generation facilities and is undergoing continual development, with new

products and software becoming available from time to time. The concept of

its design ensures, as far as possible, that all future products will be

compatible with the product range now available.



ECHO SPEC

1. ECHO SPEC interface provides the means by which the Sinclair 128 'talks'

   to the ECHO keyboard. It contains TTL logic specifically designed for

   this purpose. It is a fundamental part of the Currys musical package.



IN YOUR TV

The small speaker while suitable for practice purposes, is not ideal for the

production of 'real' music. For this the addition of ECHOKIT and an amplifier

and speaker such as ECHOSOUND is recommended.



  In this manual the terms 'voice' and 'envelope' will be used with

specialised meanings: a 'voice' is a particular sound with its own individual

characteristics, which may imitate the sound of a musical instrument or

other sound; for example a voice can be generated by the computer which

reproduces the sound of a piano. The ECHO system already has 8 voices

available, which you can use in the Synthesizer section, and you may create

many more of your own.



  In order to create a particular voice, the computer must be able to vary

the volume and the pitch of the note while it is playing. The method it uses

to do this is called an 'envelope'. To create a new voice the computer must

create an Amplitude (volume) Envelope (to determine how the volume of the

note will vary) and Pitch Envelope (to determine how the pitch of the note

will vary). This is what you are doing when you use the Voice Editor section

of the ECHO system.



-----[Page 9]-----



9.0 Key Summary

---------------

Synthesizer Section

"""             Load voices

";"             Save voices

SPACE BAR       Enter voice editor

DOWN ARROW      Pitch fine down

UP ARROW        Pitch fine up

LEFT ARROW      Octave shift down

RIGHT ARROW     Octave shift up



Voice Editor Section

SPACE BAR       Return to Synthesizer

DOWN ARROW      Select next parameter downwards

UP ARROW        Select next parameter upwards

LEFT ARROW      Reduce current parameter by 1 unit

RIGHT ARROW     Increase current parameter by 1 unit



10.0 The Default Voices

-----------------------

Selection Number        Name

        1               PIANO

        2               STRINGS

        3               ORGAN

        4               POPCORN

        5               EVOLUTION

        6               SIREN

        7               SYNTH

        8               HAWAIIAN



11.0 Demonstration Tune

-----------------------

A demonstration tune is included on the end of your Master tape titled DEMO.

To load, enter the Record/Playback menu and select the LOAD MUSIC option.

When asked for a filename, enter DEMO and load the Demonstration Tune,

selecting the PLAYBACK MUSIC option to play.

