Making Music in the 80's
How ye olde school made music by only using bits of string and wood, especially since the mobile cell-phone was not invented yet.
But yet, it rocked...
Using a Drum-Machine in a band
Before the advent of the classic drum-machine, we had devices like the Sound Master SR-88 which was cheap, cheesy and easy to use. It didn't sound very convincing and it was only capable of creating very simple rhythms but it was a welcome addition for many budding musicians at the time.
The SR-88 could make 16-step rhythms patterns(for 4/4 time) or 12-step patterns (for 3/4 time). It had 6 memory locations for 16-step and 2 memories for 12-step. Each memory location could hold 2 separate patterns (bars) called A and B. The SR-88 had some useful playback modes: "A" played A only; "B" played B only; "AB" played A then B; while "Fill-In" played A several times and then B last, depending of if you selected 4, 8 or 16 bars.
Patterns are created in Write mode, where "Start" would play a note and "Stop" would insert a rest. There were only 4 sounds being BD = Bass-Drum, SD = Snare-Drum, HH = High-Hat (Closed), and CYM = Cymbal (Crash).
Example: | ' ' ' | ' ' ' | ' ' ' | ' ' ' |BassDrum BD - - - - - BD - BD - - - - - BD - |SnareDrum - - - - SD - - - - - - - SD - - - |HighHat HH - HH - HH - HH - HH - HH - HH - HH HH |For live concerts, we would use the SR-88 in it's simple "AB" mode as rhythm backing. For music recordings, we would be more adventurous and change pattern-memory during the song.
Using Trigger Clock : Roland TR-808 & SH-101
The Roland TR-808 was the first drum-machine which gave you a fair amount of control over its 16 drum-sounds. It had 16 pattern memories with A/B variants and it was incredibly easy to programme using its 16 buttons with LEDs.
The Roland SH-101 was a monophonic synthesizer using 1 oscillator but with a mixer section allowing tonal mix of pulse-wave, saw-wave and a sub-oscillator. Plus it had a built-in 100 note memory sequencer.
Together, you could create a synchronised Drums & Bass set-up simply by routing one of TR-808's trigger-outputs, like CowBell Trigger-Out, and plugging that into the SH-101's sequencer EXT CLK IN (External Clock Input).
TR-808 Trigger Output ------>------ SH-101 Ext Clock InputIn this set-up, you would programme the TR-808's Cow-Bell to trigger the SH-101's sequencer; where the TR-808 pattern tells the SH-101 "when" to play a note. The SH-101's internal sequencer contains the information as to "what" note to play. Together, they make music.
Example: | ' ' ' | ' ' ' | ' ' ' | ' ' ' |808 Trigger Out CB - CB CB CB - CB - CB - CB - CB - CB - |101 Notes Played A2 - A2 A2 A2 - A2 - G2 - G2 - F2 - G2 - |The TR-808 actually had 3 trigger outputs being CowBell, Clap and Accent so you could have a more elaborate set-up with more synthesizer sequencers.
This set-up was very ideal for music recordings as we could be more expressive by changing to numerous fill-patterns during a song. This set-up was impractical in a live-concert scenario because the SH-101 only had enough memory for 1 song. Our live-concert solution was to use this set-up to pre-record the backing music onto magnetic-tape reel; and then play-back the tape-reel during the (mostly) live concert.
Recording 4 tracks on cassette-tape
Popular 4-track cassette recorders included:
● Teac 144 - Cassette speed @ 2 x Std. / mixer with 2 fixed band equalisers / with Dolby B noise reduction
● Fostex 250 - Cassette speed @ 2 x Std. / mixer with 2 fixed band equalisers / with Dolby C noise reduction
● Tascam 244 - Cassette speed @ 2 x Std. / mixer with 2 band parametric equalisers / with dbx noise reduction
● Yamaha MT-44D - Cassette speed @ Std / no mixer section / with Dolby C noise reduction
Using MIDI and MIDI Sync : Yamaha CX5M computer
The Yamaha CX5M computer ran on the japanese MSX platform and the "CX5M II music computer" version had a Yamaha SFG-05 FM module attached underneath. The SFG-05 module was a 4-operator FM synthesis unit with 8-voice polyphony (same spec as Yamaha FB-01) and added MIDI capability.
To enter music notes, you would have to attach a music keyboard; either YK-01 mini-size keys or YK-10 std-size keys. All software came via ROM cartridges and the notable music cartridges were:
YRM-101 Music Composer with up to 8 parts;YRM-102 Voicing Program for the internal FM sound editing; andYRM-103 DX-7 Voicing Program.Your data could be saved to UDC-01 RAM Cartridge -or- to cassette tape (seriously).
CX-5M MIDI Output ------>------ TR-707 MIDI InputBy routing the CX-5M's Midi Out to a Roland TR-707 drum-machine's Midi In, the two devices would be synchronised by setting the TR-707's Sync Mode to "MIDI Sync". In this set-up, the Roland TR-707 would play the drums while the CX-5M Composer would play the rest of the music.
In my set-up, I used the CX-5M internal sounds for Bass and Piano / Bell sounds (remember it's 8-voice poly) and then used MIDI to also connect a Casio CZ-101 for Strings/ Brass.
Synchronising using SMPTE : Atari ST & C-Lab Notator
Introduced in 1985, the Atari ST was a home-computer which featured MIDI. It had limited popularity with other functions like graphic design and desktop publications but it was rock-solid with MIDI timing.
Popular music software for the Atari included Steinberg Pro-24 (1986), Cubase (1989), C-Lab Creator (1987) and Notator (1989). C-Lab also released a Unitor dongle for the Atari giving SMPTE synchronisation.
Alesis ADAT came out in 1992 and was a cost-effective way of recording 8 tracks of digital audio using a S-VHS video-tape format. Adding the Alesis AI-2 allowed the ADAT to sychronise to SMPTE.
You could achieve seamless synchronisation with a "composer set-up" of Atari ST & C-Lab Notator & Unitor plus a "recording set-up" of Alesis ADAT & AI-2.
Yamaha ProMix-01 came out in 1995 and was the first affordable digital mixer (18 input). This combined with the above allowed for a fully digital audio environment which was within reach.
80's Chronology
Year of Release
1978 : Sequential Circuits Prophet-5
1979 : Oberheim OB-X; Teac Portastudio 144
1980 : Roland TR-808, SH-09
1981 : Roland Jupiter-8, Juno-6; Korg PolySix; Elka Synthex; Oberheim OB-Xa; Simmons SDS-5
1982 : Roland SH-101, Juno-60, TB-303, TR-606; Korg Poly-61; Sequential Circuits Prophet-600; Moog Memorymoog; Linn Drum
1983 : Roland Jupiter-6, JX-3P, MKS-30, TR-909, MC-202; Yamaha DX-7, DX-9; Korg Poly-800, KPR-77; OSC Oscar; Oberheim OB-8; Chroma Polaris; Simmons SDS-7, SDS-8
1984 : Roland MKS-80, TR-707, Juno-106; Yamaha DX-1, TX-7, TX-816, CX-5M; Korg EX-800; Casio CZ-101; Sequential Circutis Six-Trak; Crumar Bit-One; Oberheim Xpander; Akai AX-80
1985 : Roland JX-8P; Yamaha DX-5, DX-21, DX-27, DX-100; Korg DW-6000, DW-8000; Korg Poly-800 II; Casio CZ-1000; Crumar Bit-01, Bit-99; Oberheim Matrix-12; Simmons SDS-9
1986 : Roland Alpha Juno-1; Yamaha RX-5; Oberheim Matrix-6, Ensoniq ESQ-1; Sequential Circuits Prophet-VS, SCI Multi-Trak; Akai AX-60, AX-76
1987 : Roland TR-626; Yamaha DX-7 MkII, TX-802; Oberheim Matrix-1000,
1988 : Korg M-1; Ensoniq SQ-80; Cheetah MS-6
Using Old Equipment - Tips
● Making MF2-DD 3½" disks (on PC)
To format a 3½" Floppy Disk from "2HD" High Density -convert to- "2DD" Double DensityAt DOS Command Prompt C:>, type "FORMAT A: /F:720" - microsoft/KB/75131● PC doesn't read Atari floppy disks
Atari uses MF2-DD disks which have a hole in one corner for write-protect.Modern PC uses MF2-HD disks which have an additional hole to identify it.To make a PC read an Atari floppy disk, stick tape over the second hole.● Atari Mega STE - Booting from Hard Disk
By default, Atari STE looks to boot from Floppy DriveTo boot from Hard Disk : Switch on Atari, wait 15 seconds, then press [ESC] EscapeIt is also good to wiggle the mouse a bit to prevent boot crashes.● C-Lab Notator crashes at start-up (Atari)
C-Lab Notator needs its dongle to run, eg. Unitor hardware attached.Most likely, the contacts on the dongle need to be cleaned.● Using Roland MC-202 as a Sound Module
While holding [PLAY MODE], switch on [POWER], and wait about 2 seconds for lights to stop flashing.
Bonus Section
Alesis AI-2 Synchroniser v2.00 Local Play
This is a bit tricky so read it carefully and don't mess up!#---Terms UsedW/C = WordClock // Rdr = Reader // TC = TimeCode which is usually expressed as "hh:mm:ss:ff" (hours: minutes: seconds: frames)#---Normal AI-2 useAI-2 was specifically designed to "slave" ADATs to a Video "master" source. The master input could be a Lynx or a Video Editor or another timecode source {Reader Input}. These can (but don't have to) be used in conjunction with the W/C inputs for reference.#---Using AI-2 ver.2.00 Local PlayIn my case, I want the ADAT to be the master and get the AI-2 to send out slave information to the sequencer. To do this, set menu= Reference\Input\ [Int Fix], set menu= Control\Mode\ [Auto] and set menu= Control\Emul\ [AI-2]. #---ConnectionsAI-2 SyncOut -------- ADAT SyncInAI-2 GenOut(LTC) ---- Sequencer SMPTE-In
#---About CuesPressing DISPLAY scrolls between INFO, OFFSET, READER INPUT and POSITION ERROR. If CUE Menu "Use Times" is ON, then the display also adds CUE START TIME and TAPE START TIME. ADAT tape-headers can store 20 CUEs. In CUE Menu at "Name", "Start" or "Tape", press UP and DOWN to select a CUE#.
#---About Offset TimeCodeOffset = AdatTime - AI2Time. You may want the AI-2 (which synchronises your sequencer) to start at 00:00:05:00 but your ADAT tape to start at 00:05:00:00 in which case you need an OFFSET of 00:04:55:00 to be synchronised.
#---Using OffSet with CuesClear Header - Clear the AI-2 internal header info by menu= Commands\Data\[Clr Hdr]). You need to Clear Header for each new tape you use, otherwise Cues from previous tapes get used.Cue# - Select a Cue# before creating offset (menu= Cue\Name\ [#]). The StartCueTime and TapeCueTime will overwrite whatever CUE# is selected. Capture - Press STORE & SET/HOLD together. The AI-2 will calculate the difference between the Reader Input and the ADAT. Manual Edit/Trim - Press DISPLAY until you get OFFSET. Press SET/HOLD to move the cursor between hh:mm:ss:ff.xx and use DOWN and UP to enter the Offset. Press STORE when finished. It helps to define a simple offset like 00:26:30:00.00.Save Cues - Press SAVE and then STORE to save the CUEs to tape header. Alternatively set menu= Commands\Data\ [TapeSave].IMPORTANT - Always write down the OFFSET Value for each song. Just do it, OK?
#---My SetUp InfoMENU-------NEXT/LAST-----UP/DOWN~~~INFO ONLYSYSTEM Contrast 80% [10%~100%] Version {AI2-2.00} STATUS Connected {1~16} # of connected ADATs Ext W/C {sample rate} at W/C In Rdr In Code {25} code at Rdr In~~~INPUT OUTPUT SET-UPCONTROL Mode Auto [Auto, Rdr Chase, Sony, Lynx] Emulation AI-2 [AI-2, PCM-7030, BVU-950] Flywheel 10 [0~254 frames, Continuous] Phase Mode Off [Off, On] Auto EE Off [Off, On] Rec Field 1 [1, 2, Auto]REFERENCE Input Int Fix [Int Fix, Int Var, Reader] [Ext Vid, Lynx, W/C Int, W/C Vid] Code 25Hz [24Hz, 25Hz, 29.97Hz/DF, 29.97Hz/30, 30Hz] S Rate 48kHz sample rate [44.1kHz/-1%/+1%, 48kHz/-1%/+1%] Var 0.00% [-300~+100] Generator Play [Off, Play, Play/Wind] Linear Time Code Gen Still Off [Off, On] if still, send TC for 2 secs VSG Off [Off, On] enable Video Sync Gen option cardMIDI MTC Off [Off, On] enable Midi TimeCode Data [All Cues, SetUp, Cue1-20, Global] SysEx Dump~~~ADAT ASSIGNMENTADAT All Input Off [Off, On] Auto Input [Off, 1, 2] 1=switch trks to Input except during Play 2=switch trks to Input during Record only Cross Fade 10.67ms [10.67ms, 21.33ms, 32.00ms, 42.67ms] Digital In Off [Off, On] enable fibre optic input Track Delay Off [Off, On]TRACKS All Safe Off [Off, On] Selection Local [Local, Editor Map, Lynx/MMC] Mapping [Single, A1-A2, A1-A4, Da1-Da8] Map To [Single, Pairs, Grp-4, Grp-8] Rec Src [Any, AudOnly, A1, A2, A3, A4, Vid]~~~ADAT CUE HEADERSCUE Use Times [On, Off] ADAT stores 20 cue points on tape header Name {Cue Name} Offset = TapeTC - StartTC Start {Cue Start TC} StartTC = TapeTC - Offset Tape {Tape Start TC} TapeTC = Offset + StartTCCOMMANDS Data [Abort, ClrHdr, Tape(Read/Save),SysEx(Read/Save)] Read Tape [Auto, Off] prompt to read header off tape Read SysEx [Off, Auto] SysEx at MIDI In overwrites data header
BTW - I'm using 25 frames/sec and have set the 1st DIP switch ON.