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A rather complex program for writing music. It acts as a four-channel sequencer, can define up to sixteen instruments and save and play pieces. It's menu-based, with a detailed editing function that permits notes to have different attack levels, durations and tonal qualities. A piece can be played right through or broken down into a verse structure. The display consists of a numerical layout that details the various facets of the music as it is being composed. There is an additional 'Auto-Composer' programme that generates tunes automatically with a minimum of user guidance.

Well, I've been on it half an hour and not written a note yet!

There seems to be lots of numbers on the screen, lists and lists... it doesn't look much like music. There's no stave anywhere, and it's pointless having a graphic capability if you're never going to do anything with it. The BBC has good sound channels which are difficult to program and something like that should make it a lot easier. The instructions are concise - in fact, they read like a program themselves, you can't skip through them. It's good that you can put the notes in without playing them in real time but then you can't *hear* them as you're putting them in. It gets to be like a counting exercise, and tracing back faults at the end would take time.

I think you'd have to know a bit about computers - typing in numbers - and a bit about music as well to get much out of it. I'd say on balance it's the best so far for someone who wanted a semi-professional aid to writing music.