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Sharp MZ-80K — the Melody MicroArticle from Electronics & Music Maker, March 1981 |
It is also possible to use the Sharp Basic 'Poke' commands to write machine code programs which can vary the pitch at high speed and over a very wide range. Examples are given of programs to reproduce various sound effects which can be used to greatly enhance games like Space Invaders and Startrek. The variety of sounds produced are limited only by the ingenuity of the programmer but the examples of police sirens, trim-phones, wolf whistles etc show what can be achieved using POKE, STEP and USR instructions.
Many schools are already using the Sharp MZ-80K in their physics and mathematics departments for a whole variety of microcomputer applications. Some of these schools are now beginning to realise the potential of the Sharp in assisting with the teaching of music. For music teaching the Sharp can display a keyboard, with notes played from the computer keys. It is also easy to program a stave with musical notation on the screen with appropriate notes lighting up as a tune is played.
Although the built-in VDU makes the Sharp compact, it is often useful to be able to display the information on your own television. The circuitry shown enables a standard TV to be used via its aerial input and is easy to construct and set up.
The UHF modulator add-on unit contains very few components and it can easily be constructed on a small piece of Vero board. The modulator itself is of the type commonly used in TV games and these are relatively inexpensive but reliable devices, the output is around Ch36 and can be tuned in on an ordinary UHF TV set. Although the Sharp MZ-80K is a 525 line unit with 60Hz vertical syncs this does not present any problem on a standard British 625 line TV set. The vertical hold will need to be reset and the height (frame amplitude) control adjusted - no further adjustments will be needed to the set. The levels of sync and video signals can be adjusted with the two potentiometers to give a good picture on the external TV set.
The four leads going to the MZ-80K main circuit board are simply connected to pins 2 (sync), 3 (video), 5 (ground) and 6 (+12v) on connector CN2. There are six pins to this connector and pin 1 is marked clearly nearest the centre of the board.
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Micro-Music - Learning morse by computer.
(EMM May 81)
Micro-Music - Music Composer Program
(EMM Jun 81)
Micro-Music - Music on the Screen
(EMM Aug 81)
Micromusic - Rhythm Sequencer for the MZ80K
(EMM Mar 83)
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Side B Tracklisting:
01:27 - Sharp MZ-80K music/sound effects. 02:30 - Sharp FX [2] 02:45 - Sharp FX [3] 02:51 - Sharp FX [4] 03:24 - Sharp FX [5]
E&MM Cassette #1 provided by Pete Shales, digitised by Mike Gorman.
Feature by Graham Knight
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