This unit is really an add-on to an add-on. First you must plug the Intellivision computer module into the master component. This unit adds an extra three sound channels, 12K of ROM and 2K of RAM to the system and the ability to run BASIC like a real computer, this feature is discussed next month.

The musical keyboard is plugged into the port that the computer keyboard is usually plugged into. Next to this port is a tuning knob to balance the sound generator in the computer adaptor with the one in the master component. If this is not done some notes when played will sound louder than others.

The keyboard itself is a full sized synthesizer type, usually the sort of thing that you find on much more expensive dedicated music machines, but the feel of the keys is odd. They have too much movement and are far too springy.

The sound is reasonable but you cannot change voices on the sound generator, this means that you can only get a beeping noise out of the machine and not have access to other types of sound that the Intellivision can produce. One big failing of this keyboard is the software. All that is provided is a straight hit-a-key-and-a-note-sounds kind of thing with six note polyphonic sound and echoing of the note in-musical notation to the screen.

There is a cartridge that plugs in which tries to teach you music by using the keys to shoot down notes, and points being scored for accuracy, but its only claim to fame is the ten pre-recorded tunes that come with it.

In all, this device has real potential but it is spoiled by having very inadequate software not realising the full capabilities of the Intellivision. It is interesting to note that the keyboard will actually plug into the Commodore 64 and can be read by using the joystick ports. Lets hope that someone writes some decent software support around this promising piece of hardware.