There are lots and lots of reasons why we're looking at software for the Commodore 64 this month. Firstly, because I've got one, so it makes a hell of a lot more sense than trying to stuff the thing full of BBC software and getting back smart-ass messages like 'FATAL ERROR or 'YOU'VE GOT TO BE JOKING, MATE'. Secondly, because Uncle Clive Sinclair is in severe difficulties, Atari have spectacularly failed to make an impression in the UK this year again, and the Commodore 64 continues to be the world's top-selling home micro (with the compatible Commodore 128 on the horizon). Thirdly, because there are stacks of new packages for the 64, and it's even rumoured that a Commodore disk drive will be used for the new Emulator SP-12 Sampling Percussion drum machine.

There was a fourth reason, but I've forgotten it now, and anyway, this is a computer music column, not a session of Exegesis. The Music System. That was it... thanks.

TMS (as it's known to its chums) is the brainchild of Island Logic, the software branch of a well-known record label who shall remain anonymous. Last year they launched TMS for the BBC Micro, but the C64 version is much more powerful, and even includes MIDI functions so you can combine the facilities of a synth with the computer's own sounds.

Like the Beeb version, the TMS64 uses pop-up icons (graphics) rather than a lot of complex screen verbiage. The individual parts of the program — for sound synthesis, disk operations, composition, print-out and so on — are all selected from colourful graphics, and each page relies heavily on moving graphics for intelligibility.

The synthesis page makes full use of the 64's SID sound chip, which can play three voices simultaneously and can produce a variety of recognisable (if rather thin) synth sounds. There's a keyboard page compatible with Commodore's Music Maker, a clip-on keyboard which fits over the top row of letters of the computer's typewriter keyboard, and The Linker allows you to create lengthy compositions out of individual shorter pieces recorded from the keyboard.

The MIDI page needs an interface to operate — Island plan to market one at a mere £10 although there are several on the market closer to £80 — and allows you to make up to six overdubs with a capacity of 4000 notes. The ideal synth to exploit this facility would perhaps be Casio's CZ-101, which can play four different sounds monophonically on different MIDI channels at the same time for around £400; there are two versions of The Music System, the Advanced at around £30 and the simplified Concise at around £15.

The package has already been independently described as "cheaper than MusiCalc, offering more facilities than Ultisynth... perhaps the only piece of music software for the 64 worth serious consideration", so it looks like a good bet.

On the other hand, if you're not into the sounds of the 64 itself but do have a penchant (technical term) for MIDI synths, the Joreth Music Composer system may be for you. Independently described as "perhaps the only piece of music software for the Commodore 64 worth consideration" (shurely shome mishtake here?) the Joreth consists of an interface and a software package which combine to form an eight-track step-time or realtime MIDI recorder with a 6000 note capacity which can be expanded using repeats of shorter patterns.

Step time Note length, Tempo, Sync Facilities (DIN or MIDI) and Note Resolution are all selectable, and overdubbing tracks is dead easy. A screen display shows time and number of notes remaining in real time, while the step time composition method is actually a modified version of the BASIC language which allows you to enter notes in the form "E4", "G6", "F#4" and so on.

There's a screen display in conventional music notation which can be printed out, and the system is left open for customisation by the more experienced computer buff. Price is around £250, so it's a pity the system hasn't been designed to run on other interfaces, but the Joreth interface does have the advantage of a big red button marked "PANIC" for emergencies (we kid you not).

Staying on the hardware side, the DUCAS+ from TEK is handy if you're producing music on a 64 and want to record on cassette without all the buzz and hiss inherent in taping from a TV set.

The "+" (as it's known etc... ) is an innocuous little black box with three trailing DIN leads which go to the audio and DIN ports on the back of the Commodore and a cassette recorder's DIN socket (adaptors available for those without... ), and otherwise features just two small switches. One is marked Reset, adding this handy facility to the 64, and the other is marked Audio/Digital.

In the Audio position you can record sounds from the computer direct onto cassette, and in the Digital position the unit makes it possible for you to produce back-up copies of your programs while you're loading from a Commodore tape machine. Cost of the unit is £15.95.

Just a reminder that if you are more interested in making noises with your 64 than in using it to control MIDI synths, there are lots of keyboard packages on the market right now. Sequential's Music Mate system is accompanied by several software packages including Music Mate itself, Sound Maker, Song Builder, Song Editor and Song Printer. These allow you to use preset sounds or to create your own, to play monophonically or three-note polyphonically and to record and overdub tunes, to edit and print out music and to compose complex tracks.

LVL's Echo 1 system, like the Music Mate, uses a small keyboard with full-size keys, but doesn't include any compositional software. There's just-one supporting package. Organ Master, which offers a lot of preset soundsand a synth page. Keyboard and software are £99, and there's an optional but useful speaker/amp system too.

SIEL's CMK49 system is constantly being expanded, but at the moment offers MIDI compatibility at around £90 over and above the unit's £125 asking price. Again, no compositional software — that's to come — but a powerful monophonic and polyphonic synth page with some good effects sounds and imaginative use of modulation in the monophonic mode. You can define a keyboard split point on the CMK49's keyboard and then play two MIDI synths or expanders from it, and although the CMK ain't the world's most attractive Mother Keyboard, you have to keep in mind that it's part of an expanding system which will eventually include sequencing, sampling and much more.

Next month — the Musical Micro meets Black Emmanuelle the 14th on Mars (weather permitting).

Addresses

TEKServices, (Contact Details)
Sequential, (Contact Details).
SIEL, (Contact Details).
LVL, (Contact Details).