home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- u
- S O N G S M I T H
- Program by Joe Garrett
- Text by Dave Moorman
-
-
- Here I prattled about how LOADSTAR
- [always] has documentation for it's
- programs. Alas, I could not find any
- for SONGSMITH! In fact, as far as I
- can tell, SONGSMITH never appeared on
- a regular issue of LOADSTAR. If I am
- not mistaken, this was a stand-alone
- music package Softdisk sold on the
- side -- with the docs in a booklet.
-
- Enough! Fender explains the limit-
- tations of SONGSMITH in the SMITHSID
- and SIDSMITH docs. The power of SONG-
- SMITH is the ease and speed of input,
- once you get used to the interface.
-
- When you boot SONGSMITH, it is
- loaded with a song, a rollicking
- piece of bluegrass which will give you
- an idea how effective SS is. Press <P>
- to play the song. But you wanted to
- key in your own song, right?
-
- The Main Menu gives you all the
- key presses you normally will need.
- Start with <K> for Key Signature, then
- <T> for Time Signature, and <S> for
- Speed (Tempo). Then <N> for New.
-
- <A>dd will open up the first new
- measure. Remember the <\>! This key is
- the key to moving between screens.
-
- <Number Keys 1, 2, 3> Chooses SID
- voice to write.
-
- <W>, <H>, <Q>, <E>, <S> Note
- duration. The note appears on the
- staff. <D> dots the note. <R> creates
- a rest of the same duration as the
- note. <Cursor> to the place where the
- note should go and press <RETURN>.
-
- SONGSMITH keeps track of the beats
- of each SID voice and will not let you
- put too many notes in a measure. When
- finished with the measure, press <\>
- to return to the Main Menu. <A> will
- Add to the next measure.
-
- Everything is menued, so I won't
- belabor the obvious. As with most
- programs, the best way to learn it is
- to play with it. Try everything!
-
- Lee Novak came up with a way to
- get a voice to simulate a tie across
- barlines:
-
- Create a voice with a very long
- Release rate -- 14 or 15. To get the
- effect of a tie, put a rest at the
- beginning of the second measure. The
- voice will continue until it is used
- by the next note.
-
- Once you get used to the key
- presses, SONGSMITH is easy to use.
- Enjoy!
-
- DMM
-
-
-