Description

'Music-BOX' is an MSX-AUDIO firmware provided with the intermediate MSX-AUDIO cartridge, the Philips NMS 1205 (Music Module), including however some exclusive features.

It is conceived to be used optionally with a specific MSX-AUDIO music keyboard, the Philips NMS 1160.

It boots up automatically, but can be skipped by holding the ESC key. From MSX-BASIC, it can be launched by entering CALL MUSICBOX or _MUSICBOX.

Notes:

• On the Philips NMS 8220 pressing ESC on startup to skip the integrated Designer firmware will also prevent the Music-BOX software from starting at the same time. In this case, start it from MSX-BASIC with CALL MUSICBOX.
• Upgraded versions made by the MSX scene inverse the procedure as you need then to press the ESC key while booting to launch the firmware.

This firmware allows users to create their own songs, play along with the preset rhythms and play with echo and pitch effects using the microphone in real time.

Screens

This firmware has support for keyboard, mouse in port 1 and joystick in port 2. It means that the main actions (moves of the cursor or pointer, changes in settings parameters or selection of a specific operation) can be made in three different ways.

Besides, the 8 screens of the application can be reached by clicking the appropriate icon or by pressing a function key.

Melody menu (F1)

Music-BOX - Melody (F1)

This menu is automatically displayed after launching of the firmware and you can hear a randomly selected riff that can serve as starting point to compose a song. You can change the tempo and the volume of the melody even while listening to the riff or the song.

For each provided riff, you can check the Riff Data Table below to know the default tempo.

When you input a melody (see below) wIthout being in PRO MODE, the program only allows you to play notes which harmonize with the selected riff. The PRO MODE allows to play a wider range of notes, and requires therefore to use your own musical skill to decide which notes sound right with the accompaniment.

How to input a melody

GLING input

First press simultaneously on the SHIFT and CLS/HOME keys to clear any existing melody in the computer RAM. You can then select a riff before selecting the START GLING option in the Melody menu. You can now hear the riff and 'gling' along with it by pressing the keys on the second from top row of your computer keyboard.

If the riff stops playing while you are inputting in GLING mode, it means that you have entered the maximum number of notes and that the computer RAM is full.

The GLING input allows you not only to add a melody to the selected riff but also to record your melody in the computer RAM exactly as you play it, for subsequent playback. When you select the PLAYBACK option in the Melody menu, the melody will be playing while the notes will be displayed on the music stave.

STEP TIME input

First press simultaneously on the SHIFT and CLS/HOME keys to clear any existing melody in the computer RAM. Select a note or a rest in the green area, then position the pointer between the two markers above and below the music stave and click. It's the step time input mode, that is available on all screens of the application.

Each time you add a note, it will move to the left, allowing you to input the next note. If you are not in PRO MODE, some notes can be automatically moved to another place on the music stave, this to get harmony between the riff and the melody.

You can scroll through the music with the little arrows above the green zone and replace a note by another one. Deleting a note can be made with the DEL key, inserting a note is possible by activating the insert mode with the INS key.

To listen to your song, you can press the SELECT key or go to the Melody menu to choose the PLAYBACK option.

Sounds menu (F2)

Music-BOX - Sounds Menu (F2)

This menu is related to the sounds (or voices) you want to use for the melody, the four accompaniment channels and the bass channel.

They can be modified even while listening to your song - see the Voice Data Table below. Note that only 1 (long or short) sample can be used as voice in your song.

For each provided riff, you can check the Riff Data Table below to know the default sounds (or voices).

Drums menu (F3)

Music-BOX - Drums (F3)

This menu is related to the drums set you want to use. The selection can also be done while listening to your song.

You can also separately listen to the selected drums set. Choose for that the MANUAL PLAY option and use the following keys of the keyboard: TAB - Q - W - E - R

For each provided riff, you can check the Riff Data Table below to know the default drums set.

Volume control menu (F4)

Music-BOX - Volume Control (F4)

This menu allows to change the volume of each sound (or voice) used in your song, with exception for the melody. It can be done also when you listen to your song.

Sound sampler menu (F6)

Music-BOX - Sound Sampler (F6)

This menu allows to sample any sound captured by the built-in microphone or the line input (left side of the Music Module).

Define the settings first then an action (RECORD in the Sample RAM or PLAYBACK). The settings can be modified even when you listen to your song.

(*) the bottom of the screen allows to set the TRIGGER LEVEL used in AUTO mode (only sound above the choosen level, indicated by a T, will activate the recording) - it replaces the SPACEBAR used in MANUAL mode to start the recording

The sensitivity of the built-in microphone can be adjusted by the slider on the left side of the Music Module. After a first playback, the sound can be played on the two top rows of the computer keyboard. Sample fine tune is possible with the GRAPH+X keys (lower pitch) or the GRAPH+C keys (higher pitch).

Special effects menu (F7)

Music-BOX - Special Effects (F7)

This menu is related to the special effects you can apply to your voice or any other sound that is captured by the built-in microphone or an external microphone connected to the Music Module (on the left side).

Choose first a setting then the corresponding action (START CONVERTER or START ECHO). The settings can be modified even when you listen to your song.

• = only if the computer has at least 32kB RAM

External menu (F8)

Music-BOX - External (F8)

This menu is related to the connexion of external music keyboard (on left side of the Music Module) and synthesizers with MIDI capacities (on right side of the Music Module). Note that the keyboard connector is conceived to be used only with the Philips NMS 1160 music keyboard.

All these parameters can be modified even when you listen to your song.

Disk/Tape operations menu (F9)

Music-BOX - Tape Operations (F9)

Music-BOX - Disk Operations (F9)

This screen allows to load/save data from/to cassette or disk. The name of the file can be entered in a specific place.

The utility detects if a disk drive if connected to present only the disk operations, otherwise it presents only the tape operations.

Choose first the mode (MELODY - SAMPLE - DUAL) then an operation. The mode selection can be done even when you listen to your song.

Here are the different possibilities:

Riff Data Table

This utility includes 20 riffs or pre-programmed musical accompaniment arrangements in different styles. The below table includes the default values for the tempo and the different sounds (or voices).

Note: The riffs are actually not numbered.

Voice Data Table

This utility has its own system of voices (or sounds), regrouped by instrument type and using abbreviations. There are obviously user voices created for this firmware, but accurate infos are missing to compare with default MSX-AUDIO voices (see CALL VOICE). The below table tries to make this comparison, but it includes probably many errors and inacurracies.

Note: The sounds are actually not numbered, and the 5 last positions are reserved for 4 shorts samples (1.15 seconds) and 1 long sample (4.6 seconds).

Useful keys

Audio Sample Tape

The Sound Effects cassette was provided with the Philips Music Module. It contains additional voices (or sounds) in the sample format. They can be loaded in the application and used to compose new songs.

Side A of the tape contains non-musical sounds while side B contains musical sounds.

Links

• Philips NMS 1205 User's Guide