Previous Next

This super utility program actually contains a suite of two very helpful and easy-to-use facilities for the Electron. The loading program presents the user with the option to select Character or Soundlab. The first allows the user to define up to 128 different characters (if PAGE is reset as appropriate), while the second encourages constructive use of sound ENVELOPEs with various SOUND statements. Neither, of course, allows the user to do anything that cannot be done anyway with help from the User Guide, but these utilities are extremely user-friendly.

On selecting Character the user replies to various screen prompts in order to select Mode (all available), and foreground and background colours. Once this is selected the option to start from scratch, or whether to redefine an existing shape, is offered.

One way in which this may be of considerable use is animation. A figure may be defined as one ASCII character and then copied to a second. The second can then be edited to allow the slight changes necessary for smooth animation. Both versions of the shape thus remain available for recall.

Single key entry is provided, with the number keys controlling the various colours, editing and so on. Key 8 will even list on screen the VDU 23 lines, which can then be copied for future use.

A similar approach has been used in Soundlab, with a very fun approach to that bewildering world of envelopes. There are pre-set ENVELOPEs - up to seven can be programmed - and up to fifteen sound commands may also be accessed. They are easily tested, using single key again, or edited by use of the number keys and cursor control. The sound controls are shown on screen in the format &FC, A, P, D while the ENVELOPE is shown, although not those numbers which are merely there for BBC compatibility.

Any ENVELOPE may be paired with any SOUND statement to gain an insight into the possibilities. In addition the whole range of SOUND commands can be played one after the other, which in my case always sounded pretty ghastly. Again, no more is gained than can be learned from the User Guide, but the program does all the work for you and shows you your current pieces on screen. The listings of any good sounds produced may be obtained for future use.

I found this to be a fascinating program to work with, but I must warn you that it soon becomes almost as dynabyte as your favourite games.

Phil Tayler