__ __ __ ____ _____ ____ __ ____ /\ |\ /| < | | > /\ | \ /__\ | \/ | \ | |-< /__\ | | / \ _|_ _|_ ____> _|_ _| \ / \ _|__/ ____ ____ _ _ __ __ __ _ ___ _____ | \ | > | | |\ /| | / | | | | |-< | | | \/ | |< | | _|__/ _| \ \___/ _|_ _|_ _| \_ _|_ _|_ This month's collection of your programs includes a superb drum-kit synthesizer plus several mini-listings you can enter in just a few minutes. They're all compatible with the 464, 664 and 6128. We're extremely impressed by this type-in from Devonian JOHN KENEALLY which turns your machine into a surprisingly sophisticated rhythm unit. It's a doddle to use, allowing you to create three-part rhythms using a wide range of simulated percussion sounds: bass drum, wood block, cowbell, guiro, cymbal, snare-drum, high-hat and four tom-toms. On screen you can switch between three large grids, each representing one of the Amstrad's three sound channels. Each of the 48 vertical lines in the grid marks a different 'beat' in the 48-beat sequence the program produces. You simply use the arrowed cursor keys to select which sound (if any) is to be played on each beat - the up/down cursor keys select different sounds, while the left/right keys move you onto different beats. All three channels play simultaneously all the time the program is running, so you can instantly hear the effect of any changes you make. A good idea is to use one channel to establish a solid background rhythm, say by playing the bass drum every other beat. Then the other two channels can be used to add the frills. To show you what can be done, a sophisticated rhythm track starts playing as soon as the program is run. Pressing other keys allows you to make the rhythm play faster or slower (F or S). And, most importantly, you can also save your completed masterpieces onto tape or disk or load in rhythms saved earlier. So you could build up a library of rhythms ranging from rock and roll to the cha cha. So get tap-tap-typing... __________________________ / \ | [Listing - DRUMKIT.BAS] | \__________________________/ +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ |PSYCHEDELIC PLOT | |Also from John Keneally comes an admirably short, yet pleasing graphics prog,| |which shows what certain 3D mathematical functions look like when they're | |plotted in 2D, using colour to represent the third dimension. | | After running the program as it is (and then pressing Esc to break out of| |it) you could try changing line 30 to one of the following: | |z = sin(x)*sin(y) | |z = sin(y)/y*sin(x) | |z = sin(x*x + y*y) | | Or, if you know how to, you can try any other such function. Not bad for | |a ten line program. | | | |[Listing - 2DPLOT.BAS] | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ |DISK MENU | |This little program for disk-drive owners allows you to set up a master menu | |for each disk which displays all the programs on it. Any individual program | |can then be run by simply typing its number (from 1 to 9). | | To customise the listing for one of your disks, you must change line 20 | |to include the descriptions and file names of your disk programs. Then alter | |the '6' in line 30 to match the number of programs on the disk. | | After you've saved the finished program using SAVE"DISK", you can use it | |each time you use the disk by typing RUN"DISK" . Could make life a lot| |easier for non-computer literate members of the family. | | Thanks to Mike Singleton from Preston. | | | |[Listing - DISKMENU.BAS] | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ |GRAPHIC PATTERNS | |Here's another pleasing mini-listing to demonstrate Arnold's graphic | |capability. It produces a series of graphic patterns which gradually increase| |in complexity. Different patterns every time you run it! When you want to see| |a new pattern, just press any key. | | Our thanks, and a tenner, to 14-year-old Martin Scarland from East | |Grinstead, Sussex. | | | |[Listing - PATTERNS.BAS] | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ [The letter below was published in the "Re-Action" column in the May 1986 issue (#8). Graphic Patterns is a slightly modified version of a listing that was originally published in the CPC464 User Instructions.] Type-Ins Challenge Right then class. Today's lesson is how to make a tenner in six easy steps: 1. Open your Amstrad Manual at Chapter 5, page 4. 2. Locate the listing. 3. Delete all the REM statements and also lines 15, 16, 17. Change all the b's, c's and a's in lines 30, 40, 60 and 90 to s, t and r - or any other three letters of the alphabet, 'cos it won't make any difference to the running of the program. 4. Change line 60 from PI/30 to PI/25. 5. In your best handwriting, copy out the 'new' program and post it to Amstrad Action. 6. Start praying that the manual in AA's office is gummed up with scrumpy and the type-ins editor has a hangover. Then sit back and wait for the postman to bring you that tenner. A bit far-fetched? Well just look at Page 90 in Issue 6. That's just what Martin Scarland has done! Come on AA - you didn't recognise it. I did, two seconds after it started to run, and I bet milions of other Amstrad owners did too. So how about a 'Type-Ins Challenge', like the High-Score Challenge, to deter any more would-be crooks from nicking other people's programs and getting the credit for them. Not to mention ten quid! Please print this letter as a warning to anyone else thinking to try the above trick. All AA readers are watching out for you!! Steve Jones Paignton, Devon With readers like you who needs the KGB? Well-spotted, though. And you're right - lots of other readers noticed as well. And you're right again - we didn't notice. So an apology is owed to Amstrad for having - albeit inadvertently - printed their program. And in case anyone else is thinking of trying a similar scam to Scarland's - be warned! Our readers are vigilant, and their revenge can be terrible!