Deluxe Music Construction Set
Encyclopedia
Deluxe Music Construction Set is a 1986 music
composition, notation
and playback program for the Amiga
and Apple Macintosh home computer
s.
(EA). Ariolasoft
published the program in Europe under license from EA.
DMCS was the first of a line of music programs for the Amiga to make use of its four voice 8-bit sample playback and MIDI synthesis. Some compared the Amiga's sample playback, at the time, to the first Ensoniq Mirage
Sampler which was selling for more than USD
$1000 in the mid-1980s. This program required 256 KB
of RAM. However, it could be used for sample playback and complex music composition with 512KB of RAM.
DMCS included Bach's Fugue in G minor "Little".
DMCS was more complex and capable than the first music application that EA made for the Commodore 64
, Apple II, Atari and Atari ST
computers, Music Construction Set
. For example, it allowed users to enter lyrics
in with the musical score, though the lyrics were strictly for the user's benefit, as the program did not attempt to "sing" the words.
DMCS was also released for the Macintosh, though it was hampered by its copy protection, which used a low-level code encryption that skirted the Macintosh toolbox, resulting in it becoming incompatible with Macintosh System software when upgraded to System 6.
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
composition, notation
Musical notation
Music notation or musical notation is any system that represents aurally perceived music, through the use of written symbols.-History:...
and playback program for the Amiga
Amiga
The Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
and Apple Macintosh home computer
Home computer
Home computers were a class of microcomputers entering the market in 1977, and becoming increasingly common during the 1980s. They were marketed to consumers as affordable and accessible computers that, for the first time, were intended for the use of a single nontechnical user...
s.
Summary
It was the first music program for the Amiga system and was created by Geoff Brown and published by Electronic ArtsElectronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
(EA). Ariolasoft
Ariolasoft
Ariolasoft GmbH, later known as United Software, was a German computer game developer, publisher and distributor. It started as the software subsidiary of Ariola Records...
published the program in Europe under license from EA.
DMCS was the first of a line of music programs for the Amiga to make use of its four voice 8-bit sample playback and MIDI synthesis. Some compared the Amiga's sample playback, at the time, to the first Ensoniq Mirage
Ensoniq Mirage
The Ensoniq Corporation's Mirage was an 8-bit sampler introduced in 1984. Priced below $2000 with features previously only found on more expensive samplers like the Fairlight CMI, it became a best seller....
Sampler which was selling for more than USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
$1000 in the mid-1980s. This program required 256 KB
Kilobyte
The kilobyte is a multiple of the unit byte for digital information. Although the prefix kilo- means 1000, the term kilobyte and symbol KB have historically been used to refer to either 1024 bytes or 1000 bytes, dependent upon context, in the fields of computer science and information...
of RAM. However, it could be used for sample playback and complex music composition with 512KB of RAM.
DMCS included Bach's Fugue in G minor "Little".
DMCS was more complex and capable than the first music application that EA made for the Commodore 64
Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
, Apple II, Atari and Atari ST
Atari ST
The Atari ST is a home/personal computer that was released by Atari Corporation in 1985 and commercially available from that summer into the early 1990s. The "ST" officially stands for "Sixteen/Thirty-two", which referred to the Motorola 68000's 16-bit external bus and 32-bit internals...
computers, Music Construction Set
Music Construction Set
Music Construction Set is a music composition notation program. It was originally developed in 1984 for the Apple II, and quickly ported to other systems of the era. It was designed and developed by Will Harvey and published by Electronic Arts...
. For example, it allowed users to enter lyrics
Lyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
in with the musical score, though the lyrics were strictly for the user's benefit, as the program did not attempt to "sing" the words.
DMCS was also released for the Macintosh, though it was hampered by its copy protection, which used a low-level code encryption that skirted the Macintosh toolbox, resulting in it becoming incompatible with Macintosh System software when upgraded to System 6.