Music Studio is available in both cassette and disk versions although the basic operation is similar. In either form, the software arrives in a library case along with a pocket-sized manual (comprehensive despite its size) that even contains a brief tutorial on music theory.

Music Studio lets you use either a joystick or a touchpad (such as the Koalapad) to control the software functions. The music editor screen is dominated by the stave, with the lower third of the screen given over to the 'menu'. Each item on the menu is depicted by a picture or symbol and when the cursor rests over the picture of the function you wish to use, simply pressing the fire-button will set things in motion.

Writing music couldn't be simpler. Move the cursor over to the note symbol, press the fire button to select note entry and again to alter the note length (from semiquaver to semibreve) as you desire, and move the cursor up to the stave. As you reach the bottom of the stave, the cursor is replaced by the selected note and you simply position it at the desired place on the stave. Pressing the fire button fixes the note in place and you can then position another note.

When you've entered a few notes to hear what you have written, just point the cursor at the picture of an ear. Press the button and Music Studio obliges with a note-perfect rendition of your masterpiece. Various editing options include delete and insert a column (of notes), move a block of notes, copy a block of notes to another part of the stave, etc. Selecting the picture of a synthesizer panel will get you through to the sound editor screen.

The sound editor lets you select and edit any of the sixteen preset counds that are automatically loaded with the main program. To alter a sound to your own specification, simply select the instrument you wish to change (with the cursor), select the function to alter and modify to your heart's content.

The overall effect is not far distant from an actual synthesizer panel, thanks once again to Music Studio's stunning graphics. To exit this screen, simply take the cursor off the bottom of the page, press the button and you arrive back at the music editor screen again.

Paintbox mode is a kind of parallel to the music editor. You still get the stave and a menu, but this time the emphasis is on shape and colour rather than strict musical notation. The general idea is to 'paint' the sounds onto the stave using different coloured lines.

Overall, a beautiful piece of software, nicely packaged, well documented, and sensibly priced.

Stave notation: yes Record modes: step MIDI: no Edit rhythm: yes Load/save: yes Printer: yes Tempo: yes Transpose: yes Turning: yes Edit sounds: yes Graphics: 10 Easy use: 8