Music Construction Set (Apple II, 5 1/4" Disk) Electronic Arts - 1983 USA, Canada Release

Music Construction Set
Title	Music Construction Set
Product ID	14633-01013
Product UPC	014633010138
Platform(s)	Apple II
Packaging	Album Sleeve
Media	5 1/4" Disk
Publisher(s)	Electronic Arts
Developer(s)	Will Harvey
Category(s)	Music, Music Tools, Music Composition, Home Music Composition

Description from the packaging.

Imagine a Record Album you could actually enter, rewrite, and then play back - all in seconds. Imagine that, besides the music already on it, you could use it to write songs of your own. And what if - despite this thing's awesome power - it was still simple enough to be a toy? Imagine all that. Then imagine you were holding it in your hands at this very second. You're starting to get the idea.

You can't read music? You already read music? You don't play an instrument? You play them all be ear? You go to the symphony every Saturday? You go to the hardware store every Saturday? What? You're only ten years old? Not to worry. This is a great way to learn about music. And a great way to have fun with what you might already know.

If you're wondering just how much music you can really make with this thing the answers is: a lot. The Apple version by itself can play up to 32 notes per measure, two notes at a time. But if you add on a Mockingboard, you'll be able to construct chords of up to six notes each. In short, you're gonna get some noise.

The Music in the Machine ranges from rock and roll to ragtime, nursery rhymes to baroque. It's fun to punch one up and play it, but it's even more fun to change it. Throw in a few flats. Put it in a minor key. Reach across the centuries and tweak the nose of Mozart.

When you move the scales up and down, amazing things happen. The music speeds up. The music slows down. It gets louder. Softer. It changes in tone. In the screen shown here, you're looking at a version of Bach's "Two-Part Invention No. 8". Imagine what all those notes sound like at light speed.

This is your hand inside the machine, the way you make things happen. Pick out notes and point them into place. Grab some rests. Choose your key. Then tap the little piano and hear it all played back. When you've got it right, you know right away. And when you don't ...well, you know that right away, too.

If you don't happen to like one of the measures you wrote, you can use the scissors to make it history. Oops, changed your mind? Then use the glue pot to stick it back in there. You may even want to put in a nice, shiny new measure and start all over again. It feels like getting your windshield cleaned.

System Requirements

Apple II
Required RAM	48K
Supports Mouse	Yes
Supports Joystick	Yes
Misc Support	Koala Pad

Box Scans