Music Construction Set
Encyclopedia
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
. Harvey designed and programmed the original Apple II version of the game in assembly language
when he was 15 and in high school
.
Though it is entertainment software, strictly speaking it is not a game, though it is often lumped together with them. It is also considered edutainment
since users could learn a bit about music notation by using it.
Music Construction Set was a prototype
for much of today's scorewriting software.
, a novel concept for the era of its release. Users could drag and drop notes right onto the staff, play back their creations and print them out. The program came with a few popular songs as samples.
Most versions of this program required the users to use a joystick
to create their songs, note by note.
had very limited native sound production capabilities. However the Atari 400 and 800 computers
have 4 voice onboard sound generation via their custom-chip set which is fully supported by the Atari 8-bit version of the program.
However, the program took advantage of advanced equipment for those who had it. For example, the IBM PC
version allowed the user to output audio via the IBM PC Model 5150's cassette port, so they could send 4-voice music to their stereo. The same program also took advantage of the 3-voice sound chip built-in to the IBM PCjr
and Tandy 1000
. The Apple II version supported the expansion card
Mockingboard
for higher fidelity sound output. In addition, use of the Mockingboard allowed the musical staff to scroll along with the music as notes were played. Without it, the Apple II needed nearly every spare CPU cycle to produce audio, and as such couldn't update the display while playback was in progress.
and the Commodore 64
. In 1986 it was ported to the Apple IIGS
where it made use of its advanced built-in Ensoniq
wavetable synthesizer. The version of MCS for the Atari ST was not a port and shared no source code with the original versions. The Atari ST version was developed by Richard J. Plom for Intersect Software Corporation under the name "The Orchestrator", it was purchased from Intersect Software by Electronic Arts and renamed "Music Construction Set" in 1987.
The program was completely redesigned for the Amiga
, but under the name Deluxe Music Construction Set
. It was given the more glorified name because of the advanced music and sound producing capabilities of the computer. This version had more features and better graphics than the other versions of the program. This version also allowed users to type in lyrics for their compositions, though these were strictly for the user (the program didn't attempt to "sing" the lyrics, a feat which the Amiga computer is capable of with the speech synthesis
software the computer came with).
A port was written for the Apple IIGS by Randel B. Reiss; it was never released, but its music engine was used for producing the soundtrack for the Apple IIGS game titles Zany Golf
and The Immortal
, which to date is the only existing audio sample of the software for the Apple IIGS.
The title screens of all the versions included the prefix "Will Harvey's" (i.e. Will Harvey's Music Construction Set), but Harvey had little to do with any version but the original and the follow-up Apple IIGS release.
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 program
Computer program
A computer program is a sequence of instructions written to perform a specified task with a computer. A computer requires programs to function, typically executing the program's instructions in a central processor. The program has an executable form that the computer can use directly to execute...
. It was originally developed in 1984 for the Apple II, and quickly ported
Porting
In computer science, porting is the process of adapting software so that an executable program can be created for a computing environment that is different from the one for which it was originally designed...
to other systems of the era
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...
. It was designed and developed
Game programmer
A game programmer is a software engineer, programmer, or computer scientist who primarily develops codebase for video games or related software, such as game development tools. Game programming has many specialized disciplines all of which fall under the umbrella term of "game programmer"...
by Will Harvey
Will Harvey
Will Harvey is a Silicon Valley entrepreneur who, at the age of 15, achieved fame for writing Music Construction Set, the first commercial sheet music processor for home computers...
and published
Video game publisher
A video game publisher is a company that publishes video games that they have either developed internally or have had developed by a video game developer....
by Electronic Arts
Electronic 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...
. Harvey designed and programmed the original Apple II version of the game in assembly language
Assembly language
An assembly language is a low-level programming language for computers, microprocessors, microcontrollers, and other programmable devices. It implements a symbolic representation of the machine codes and other constants needed to program a given CPU architecture...
when he was 15 and in high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
.
Though it is entertainment software, strictly speaking it is not a game, though it is often lumped together with them. It is also considered edutainment
Edutainment
Edutainment is a form of entertainment designed to educate as well as to amuse.-Overview:...
since users could learn a bit about music notation by using it.
Music Construction Set was a prototype
Prototype
A prototype is an early sample or model built to test a concept or process or to act as a thing to be replicated or learned from.The word prototype derives from the Greek πρωτότυπον , "primitive form", neutral of πρωτότυπος , "original, primitive", from πρῶτος , "first" and τύπος ,...
for much of today's scorewriting software.
Description
With MCS, the user can create musical composition using a graphical user interfaceGui
Gui or guee is a generic term to refer to grilled dishes in Korean cuisine. These most commonly have meat or fish as their primary ingredient, but may in some cases also comprise grilled vegetables or other vegetarian ingredients. The term derives from the verb, "gupda" in Korean, which literally...
, a novel concept for the era of its release. Users could drag and drop notes right onto the staff, play back their creations and print them out. The program came with a few popular songs as samples.
Most versions of this program required the users to use a joystick
Joystick
A joystick is an input device consisting of a stick that pivots on a base and reports its angle or direction to the device it is controlling. Joysticks, also known as 'control columns', are the principal control in the cockpit of many civilian and military aircraft, either as a center stick or...
to create their songs, note by note.
Limitations
Though novel, the music creation process was cumbersome due to the fairly primitive input mechanisms of early home computers. Also, the Apple II and PCIBM PC compatible
IBM PC compatible computers are those generally similar to the original IBM PC, XT, and AT. Such computers used to be referred to as PC clones, or IBM clones since they almost exactly duplicated all the significant features of the PC architecture, facilitated by various manufacturers' ability to...
had very limited native sound production capabilities. However the Atari 400 and 800 computers
Atari 8-bit family
The Atari 8-bit family is a series of 8-bit home computers manufactured from 1979 to 1992. All are based on the MOS Technology 6502 CPU and were the first home computers designed with custom coprocessor chips...
have 4 voice onboard sound generation via their custom-chip set which is fully supported by the Atari 8-bit version of the program.
However, the program took advantage of advanced equipment for those who had it. For example, the IBM PC
IBM PC
The IBM Personal Computer, commonly known as the IBM PC, is the original version and progenitor of the IBM PC compatible hardware platform. It is IBM model number 5150, and was introduced on August 12, 1981...
version allowed the user to output audio via the IBM PC Model 5150's cassette port, so they could send 4-voice music to their stereo. The same program also took advantage of the 3-voice sound chip built-in to the IBM PCjr
IBM PCjr
The IBM PCjr was IBM's first attempt to enter the home computer market. The PCjr, IBM model number 4860, retained the IBM PC's 8088 CPU and BIOS interface for compatibility, but various design and implementation decisions led the PCjr to be a commercial failure.- Features :Announced November 1,...
and Tandy 1000
Tandy 1000
The Tandy 1000 was the first in a line of more-or-less IBM PC compatible home computer systems produced by the Tandy Corporation for sale in its Radio Shack chain of stores.-Overview:...
. The Apple II version supported the expansion card
Expansion card
The expansion card in computing is a printed circuit board that can be inserted into an expansion slot of a computer motherboard or backplane to add functionality to a computer system via the expansion bus.One edge of the expansion card holds the contacts that fit exactly into the slot...
Mockingboard
Mockingboard
The Mockingboard is a sound card for the Apple II family of microcomputers built by Sweet Micro Systems. The standard Apple II machines never had particularly good sound, especially when compared to competitors like the SID chip-enabled Commodore 64...
for higher fidelity sound output. In addition, use of the Mockingboard allowed the musical staff to scroll along with the music as notes were played. Without it, the Apple II needed nearly every spare CPU cycle to produce audio, and as such couldn't update the display while playback was in progress.
Platforms
As a powerful and novel concept for entertainment software, MCS was lucrative for Harvey and Electronic Arts. As such, Electronic Arts quickly had it ported to other popular platforms of the era, including the PCIBM PC compatible
IBM PC compatible computers are those generally similar to the original IBM PC, XT, and AT. Such computers used to be referred to as PC clones, or IBM clones since they almost exactly duplicated all the significant features of the PC architecture, facilitated by various manufacturers' ability to...
and 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...
. In 1986 it was ported to the Apple IIGS
Apple IIGS
The Apple , the fifth and most powerful model in the Apple II series of personal computers produced by Apple Computer. The "GS" in the name stands for Graphics and Sound, referring to its enhanced graphics and sound capabilities, both of which greatly surpassed previous models of the line...
where it made use of its advanced built-in Ensoniq
Ensoniq
Ensoniq Corp. was an American electronics manufacturer, best known throughout the mid 1980s and 1990s for its musical instruments, principally samplers and synthesizers.- Company history :...
wavetable synthesizer. The version of MCS for the Atari ST was not a port and shared no source code with the original versions. The Atari ST version was developed by Richard J. Plom for Intersect Software Corporation under the name "The Orchestrator", it was purchased from Intersect Software by Electronic Arts and renamed "Music Construction Set" in 1987.
The program was completely redesigned 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...
, but under the name Deluxe Music Construction Set
Deluxe Music Construction Set
Deluxe Music Construction Set is a 1986 music composition, notation and playback program for the Amiga and Apple Macintosh home computers.-Summary:...
. It was given the more glorified name because of the advanced music and sound producing capabilities of the computer. This version had more features and better graphics than the other versions of the program. This version also allowed users to type in lyrics for their compositions, though these were strictly for the user (the program didn't attempt to "sing" the lyrics, a feat which the Amiga computer is capable of with the speech synthesis
Speech synthesis
Speech synthesis is the artificial production of human speech. A computer system used for this purpose is called a speech synthesizer, and can be implemented in software or hardware...
software the computer came with).
A port was written for the Apple IIGS by Randel B. Reiss; it was never released, but its music engine was used for producing the soundtrack for the Apple IIGS game titles Zany Golf
Zany Golf
Zany Golf, also known as Will Harvey's Zany Golf, is a video game with a fantasy take on miniature golf, developed by Sandcastle Productions and published by Electronic Arts. The game was originally developed in 1988 for the Apple IIGS and became the first Apple IIGS game to attract the mainstream...
and The Immortal
The Immortal (computer game)
The Immortal is an isometric adventure game originally created for the Apple IIGS, which was ported to the Amiga, Atari ST, MS DOS based PCs, NES, and Mega Drive/Genesis...
, which to date is the only existing audio sample of the software for the Apple IIGS.
The title screens of all the versions included the prefix "Will Harvey's" (i.e. Will Harvey's Music Construction Set), but Harvey had little to do with any version but the original and the follow-up Apple IIGS release.
See also
- Adventure Construction SetAdventure Construction SetAdventure Construction Set is a program written by Stuart Smith that is used to construct tile-based graphical adventure games. ACS was originally published by Electronic Arts in 1984 on the Commodore 64, and was later ported to the Apple II, Amiga and MS-DOS platforms...
- Pinball Construction SetPinball Construction SetPinball Construction Set is a computer game by Bill Budge published by Electronic Arts. It was released for the Apple II and Atari 800 in 1983 and was later ported to other platforms, such as the Commodore 64 and DOS .-Description:...
- Racing Destruction SetRacing Destruction SetRacing Destruction Set is a car racing and motocross computer game that was published in 1985 by Electronic Arts. It was developed for the Commodore 64 computer system, and was advertised as being Commodore 128 compatible...