This section is a focus for news about the workings of AMPLINEX, corrections to items in previous issues, and other small items of information which might otherwise be missed amongst the details of each issue.

Music 2000 files

We have received another couple of letters on the subject of music files written for use with the Music 2000 MIDI interface.

Ian Waugh

I think Chris Hanby (AMPLINEX 011) is on the right lines when he suggests that creators of Music 2000 music pieces give details of the instrument sounds the voices are intended to sound on. That way users can find the best and nearest sounds on their own equipment.

You can't load a Music 2000 piece into a system without the Music 2000. The presence of the MIDI words causes the system to try to load the M.M2 module and when it can't the program is rejected. If the author of the piece commented out the offending lines - using % - anyone would be able to load the piece. Music 2000 users could then un-comment the piece or create their own mixes. Would a (partial?) solution not be to supply two sets of mixes - one for MIDI and one for a standard system? If the creator gave a few hints as to sounds, recipients could do their own mixes.

On the subject of tapes, if people wish to supply recordings of their work, fine, but one of the most interesting aspects of AMPLE music - and AMPLINEX - is the ability to see exactly how that music was constructed. It would be sad to see a move away from that.

Ben Braithwaite

It seems to me if 20 percent of AMPLE users have MIDI hardware then 20 percent of music on AMPLINEX should be MIDI. Statistics aside, I don't have a Music 2000 - if and when I do it would be nice to have some ready made pieces to play and examine while learning the ropes.

Although Music 2000 music files would be usable by 20% of the membership, replacing them with standard Music 5000 files would make them usable by 100% of the membership. On this basis we prefer to publish Music 5000 files. We would, however, be happy to publish dual-purpose music files which could be played on both systems with and without the Music 2000 MIDI interface but the feasibility of this is uncertain.

We would therefore like to ask for the assistance of any member with a Music 2000 system who could explore the possibilities of dual-purpose Music 2000/5000 files as well as the question of playing Music 2000 music files on different MIDI instruments. As we said in the previous issue, it may well be possible to produce MIDI-, or even MIDI instrument-specific music discs. The difficulty is finding the resources to develop such publications. So here is an open invitation to MIDI users - if you think you could help to organise such a venture, please get in touch!

We always welcome suggestions for improvements in the workings or contents of AMPLINEX - most of the changes made to date have originated from members' suggestions. So, if you have an idea to improve AMPLINEX, let us know.

Also, please let us know if you spot an error or omission in the contents of AMPLINEX - you may be the first one who has noticed.