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NONE but the tone deaf and ownerS with additional hardware attached to their machines would be able to detect a high degree of musical quality in the high, piercing sounds emitted by the Spectrum. The proliferation of programs devoted to its musical functions is therefore puzzling.

Music Maker allows users to compose, play and edit tunes for the Spectrum but does so in very slow fashion. Key signature, speed, notes and their length all must be picked-out laboriously. Those who are not gifted musically could probably produce similar musical effects after spending an hour programming with the Spectrum manual to hand. Musical notation would not be produced in the latter case but programming techniques would be developed.

Although no knowledge of musical theory is necessary to use the program, the use of musical notation to show notes already chosen would probably deter those who cannot read music.

Music Maker is produced for the 48K Spectrum by Bellflower Software, 6 Rosewood Avenue, Greenford, Middlesex

Memory: 48K Price: £5.75