Re: Release of DMS Drummer: A Percussion Sequencer for the Apple II

[bloomer_au <bloomer@iprimus.com.au>]

On Nov 30, 5:46 pm, Michael J. Mahon <mjma...@aol.com> wrote:
> "Michael J. Mahon" <mjma...@aol.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > With inspiration and musical mentoring provided by Seth Sternberger
> > of _8-Bit Weapon_, I've impemented a percussion sequencer/synthesizer
> > for the Apple II.
>
> > It allows a user to create sequences as long as 255 patterns, where
> > each pattern is one of a set of 16 musical measures. Within each of
> > these patterns, any one of 8 percussive voices can be played at any
> > 1/16th note boundary.  In addition, the "pitch" for playing back the
> > percussion sample can be specified, which is useful for pitched drums,
> > like tom-toms.
>
> > Like RT.SYNTH (which Seth also offers as DMS Synthesizer) DMS Drummer
> > uses the DAC522 5-bit 22kHz pulse-width-modulation wavetable synthesizer
> > engine, driven by a sequencer that runs in real time.  DAC522 represents
> > "silence" as pairs of 6 cycle pulses spaced 46 cycles apart, regardless
> > of whatever the code is doing--which subroutine it's calling or which
> > branch path it's taking.  Executing "branchy" code while maintaining
> > a constant stream of evenly spaced pulses is pretty tricky, but it must
> > be done if the sequencer is to keep silent except for the desired
> > sounds.
>
> > Seth is offering the full version on his website:
> >    http://www.8bitweapon.com/store.htm
> > for $15, but the demo version (downloadable both from my website
> > and his) is free for you to play with!  It is limited to 8 distinct
> > programmable patterns and the Save function is disabled.
>
> > Listen to the sample song, created by Seth, on either of our websites
> > to hear the realistic rhythm line that an 8-bit Apple II can produce!
> > The melody and bass lines are being played on RT.SYNTH, so the only
> > non-Apple II-produced sounds are the "explosions" (which could also
> > have been played by SOUND.EDITOR on an Apple II!).
>
> > -michael
>
> > DMS Drummer for more rhythmic Apple II computing!
> > Home page:  http://home.comcast.net/~mjmahon/
>
> > "The wastebasket is our most important design
> > tool--and it's seriously underused."
>
> I should mention that many emulators do a pretty bad emulation of Apple
> sound at 22kHz--I recommend a real Apple II, but with a good amplifier
> attached. The "treble" should be turned down, since any frequencies above
> 5kHz are just noise.
>
> Headphones are also good, unless you are one of the people who can hear
> 22kHz. ;-)

ActiveGS (ergo KEGs) does the best job. There's a crackling, but the
sounds are still clearly audible, vs Virtual II and Sweet16 in which
they are awash with noise.

Obviously I look forward to hearing it on my IIGS, but it's down atm.

When I listen to Seth's sample, the bass tone coincidentally sounds a
ton like the bass synth in IIGS Music Studio.

- Wade