Isn't it just great to come first? Well, Musicom's won the music-Falcon-software race being the first sound processing software package to appear for the new machine.

It's really a "fun" program - you can create excellent quality recordings using the software and then play them abck using the special effects. The real-time effects are fun to use, especially the karaoke function but, apart from showing off the capabilities of the Falcon's Digital Signal Processing chip, it doesn't have much practical use.

The Falcon's got a DSP 56001 chip and lots of other sexy hardware which means that it effectively has a built-in sound sampler and recording system that can record at greater sampling rates than compact discs or digital audio tape. To you, this means low cost software and the likelihood of an abundance of programs.

You can get 16-bit sampling rates of up to 50KHz in full stereo using just the Musicom software and a line input from a CD player, microphone or tape deck. Of course, the higher the sample rate, the more memory and hard disk space the sample takes up. Because of this, samples can be recorded at a variety of rates ranging from 8.2KHz to 49.2KHz in 8-bit mono, 8-bit stereo or 16-bit stereo.

Musicom's main menu is divided into six areas controlling the sample resolution, the main options, the input level vu-meter, the sample rate, hard drive recording and input and output signal level controls. There is also a row of functions across the bottom of the screen controlling recording, saving and playing of samples along with a level monitor and effects control - everything is right in front of you just waiting to be used.

The program is so simple to use that you don't need a complex and detailed manual - and that's just as well since there isn't one. What you do get, however, is a 40 page CD size booklet that tells youo all you need to know about sampling, the DSP 56001 and how to use Musicom on your Falcon. It gives you good clear instructions about each function without swamping you with reams of technical jargon.

All on-screen controls are mouse-driven with keyboard short-cuts highlighted for each function. Plenty of thought has gone into creating the interface with sliders for input and output levels and simple point and click options for recording, playback and special effects.

The level input control is used to decrease the strength of the line input signal so you can prevent distortion - which is vital to ensure good quality recordings - after all, what's the use of being able to make studio quality samples if the original source signal is crap? Similarly, you can regulate the output level from the corresponding slider.

To get the most from your samples you need an editing program of some kind - the HiSoft/AVR merger is likely to result in the excellent sampling software designed being converted for use with the Falcon. It would be a good idea for an updated version of Musicom to include some editing facilities.

1. Simple to use, excellent quality sampling, brilliant special effects, great fun.

1. No editing facilities, requires lots of RAM and disk space; limited practical use.

1. Nothing else on a fun level.