Answer: AMPLE BCE from disc

In AMPLINEX 002, Roger Sapolsky asks why he is not able to access AMPLE BCE from the version he transferred from cassette to disc.

Firstly, he should make sure that the file 'image' is on the disc, as this file contains the AMPLE BCE code.

Secondly, AMPLE BCE does not seem to like being called from within Nucleus. I find that it works most consistently after performing a CTRL Break, then typing

*/AMPLE

The '/' is used to direct the AMPLE call to the AMPLE file on disc, rather than the Nucleus resident AMPLE call. The file 'AMPLE' then loads 'image'.

Richard Nevill

Question: Shadow RAM on the BBC B

I have often wondered about expanding my BBC B in some way. However, my main use of it is for M5000.

1) Is the only way to get more memory for Nucleus work to use Shadow RAM?

2) If so, which ones are compatible? For example Solidisk seem to do expansion boards that offer more than just Shadow RAM but I seem to remember reading that Nucleus won't work with their products. Can anyone help?

B J Dawson

Because most of the Studio 5000 displays are in Mode 7, Shadow RAM would only gain you 1k of extra program memory. The exception is the Staff editor which uses Mode 6 giving a saving of 8k with Shadow RAM.

AMPLE is compatible with Shadow RAM which supports the official OSBYTE 111 call (see Music 5000 User Guide page 89). Solidisk does not support this.

Comments from members who have experience of using Shadow RAM boards with AMPLE would be welcome.

Question: Speed restrictions in AMPLE?

When using the Music 5000 with a longish piece in memory, and especially when the screen is always being updated as in the Mixing Desk, the piece seems to skip and then catch up with itself, playing at twice the speed. I have an ATPL board and Shadow RAM, which seem to have no effect as the problem is not solved when they are turned off. Can anyone throw any light on the problem?

A J Hunt

Question: ADFS and the Jukebox

Using the MENU and MENUDISP commands is very useful. The format of the Jukebox menu program is simple but under ADFS you soon run out of space in your 35 character line if you need to add in the ADFS path in the file specification. I would like to know how to add a path to the front of the filename in the word 'lr' - I have tried $+ to no avail but maybe, since it is not documented, I am using it incorrectly.

Andy Gillanders

The words placed after the second '%' in a menu line are interpreted as commands (as if from the keyboard). During all command interpretation a string containing the remainder of the command line is held on the string stack whilst each part of the command is processed. This means that the string containing your file name will be below the command line on the string stack and your attempt to add another string (with the ADFS path) using $+ will operate on the remainder of the command line not on your file name.

To get round this, you should reverse the top two strings on the stack first, add the ADFS path and reverse the strings again so that the remainder of the command line can be processed.

So your path specifying word 'lr' might be:

"lr" [ $12 "$.path1.path2" $+ $12]

and could be used as follows:

"mymenu" [ MENUDISP

% MY JUKEBOX

%–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

%This is tune 1

%"mytune1"lrLOADRUN

%This is tune 2

%"mytune2"lrLOADRUN

%–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

MENU ]

If you wanted to eliminate the LOAD and RUN commands in the menu you could change 'lr' to:

"lr" [ $12 "$.path1.path2" $+ $12 "LOAD RUN" $+ ]

which adds the ADFS path to the front of the filename then adds "LOAD RUN" to the remaining command line (now empty).

Question: 1770 DFS and AMPLE

I have a BBC Model B, which used to have an OPUS Double Density DFS. However, since I had compatibility problems between that and AMPLE Nucleus, I decided to invest in an ACORN DFS. I purchased the W1770 version so that I would be able to use the ADFS.

However, I still experience problems: the machine seems to "hang" if the ADFS is present, so I took it out, but it also hangs if I try things like *DR.1; nor is it possible to boot up the AMPLE system disks, which is very annoying as I have to ask for a special disk from Hybrid Technology every time.

Have you any ideas why and who's to blame?

Graeme Shaw

The mere presence of the ADFS should cause no problems, but on a BBC B or B+ use of the ADFS raises the OSHWM too high for AMPLE to run (&1E00 is the highest allowed).

The *command crashes are likely to result from ROMs which illegally 'borrow' zero-page language memory for command processing. ROMs which do this, can cause a system crash when *commands are issued from within AMPLE. Try taking out your other ROMs successively to isolate the cause of the problem.

Question: Maths in AMPLE

Has anyone used mathematical functions in AMPLE programs, such as square-roots and logarithms?

Tim Sketchley

Question: Locking Symphony keyboard

Occasionally, when playing my Symphony keyboard (with BBC B, Music 500, Nucleus ROM and software upgrades) the notes 'lock' and continue playing after the keys have been released.

This doesn't appear to be a mechanical problem with the return springs of the keys, nor can I recognise any sequence of events that repeats the problem. The only way to silence the keyboard is to reload the system disc.

Is this a hardware or software problem? (Or is it the B's way of saying it has heard enough?)

Jack Wrigley

Question: The ACT commands

Like many AMPLE users, I suppose, I've had no training in computers or programming (I'm a professional musician) so I've had to find out how to do it the hard way, self-taught, wading through the 500 and 5000 User Guides.

It's so exciting, then, to read articles like Andy Thomas' (AMPLINEX 002) on the ACT command. Even the partial understanding I've gained has helped a lot as you can see in the program "Newchor" (see Music section).

Andy's article, however, raised as many questions as it answered, for example:

- What is the significance of the ON prefix?

- Why so many references to VOICE?

- Must I rewrite the whole ACT, as I found I had to in "Newchor", or can I rewrite just part of it?

- Is FVAR available outside of ACT(...)ACT?

Roger Cawkwell

Has the arrival of the AMPLE Nucleus Programmer Guide clarified these questions for anyone?

Question: More memory for programs

Is there any way to use Sideways RAM, either to store data that can be accessed from within AMPLE, or to load the various modules in, so that larger programs can be written on an otherwise standard BBC Model B?

I am attempting to transcribe Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No.3 and I do not want to break in the middle of the first movement, if possible.

Tim Holgate

Sideways RAM could only be used to store a module as an alternative to disc. This would enabling faster loading into main RAM but would not affect user program space once loaded.

Use of Shadow RAM would gain 1k of memory (see answer to B J Dawson above) except when using Staff.

You can, of course, gain more space by not using any of the temporary modules such as Notepad, Staff or the Mixing Desk, but you could also try to do without other modules being present - perhaps MENU or even INS1? Check the modules used by your program by typing

MCAT

and note which modules are not marked with the letters 'W' or 'M' (which indicate their use in user Words or other Modules). Ignore the INT module.

If any modules are not being used you can either amend your !BOOT file to stop them being automatically installed or re-start your installation (*AMPLE), reset the module filename prefix (normally ":0.M." MPREFIX), install the INT module ("INT"INSTALL) which must be present, and then load your program. This will load any other modules required itself.

Question: Trumpet sounds

Has anyone has devised a jazz trumpet sound - I'm looking for a hot, throaty sounding trumpet i.e. more like Roy Eldridge than Miles Davis.

Jim Redfarn

Perhaps the following muted trumpet definition from A J Hunt will serve as a starting point.

"mutetrump" [2 CHANS

1 CHAN

Metal Puff

ON SYNC ON RM

2 CHAN

Syncer Click

OFF SYNC

EVERY CHAN

Delvib 128 AMP

% Although simple, this gives quite a

% realistic muted trumpet sound.

% Try changing 'Syncher' in 2 CHAN to

% Round for a normal brassy sound.

%

% A J Hunt

]

Question: AMPLE on the Archimedes

I am excited by the prospects offered by the new Acorn Archimedes series of computers but I am loath to upgrade to a new machine and lose my favourite peripheral, the Music 5000 system.

What plans do Hybrid Technology have to offer the system for the Archimedes, and, more important to existing owners, what facilities will be offered to transfer their existing hardware and software to the new computer?

R K Atkins

At present there are no plans to produce an Archimedes version of the Hybrid Music System.

Development of the system seems likely to continue on the BBC B/Master computers: their power is not yet a constraint on the system's potential (except perhaps with memory on the earlier machines) and the Archimedes cannot yet match the BBC's user base.

Answer: Music queries

We have received an offer from composer and music teacher Roger Cawkwell to answer AMPLINEX members' musical queries (as opposed to programming ones). So, if you need help with progressions, voicings, rhythms etc., please send your questions to him via AMPLINEX.

Editor's note:

The comments following some of the questions above are only my opinions on the subject and should not be taken as definitive answers!

Your comments are most welcome on any of the questions posed, whether they supplement, confirm or correct any I have expressed.