¢SOFTWARE SCENE (PART 2)¢¢¢FAMPY V2.3¢By: Friday Software¢Supplier: DGS or Micro Discount¢Price: Shareware (reg. fee = DM10)¢¢Reviewd by Alan Hitchen¢¢¢ The latest type of program to hit the 8-Bit scene is the 'Sound Tracker', designed to play MD8 music files. These have been converted from MOD files originally created on the ST/Amiga/PC. The latest version to arrive from Germany is Fampy V2.3, created by Wolfgang Freitag of Friday Software. It is a Shareware program with a fee of 10DM, approx $6 or 4 pounds. It is available from DGS and Micro Discount.¢¢ On bootup you are given the choice of XF551 or 1050 mode, true double density operation is supported. Next to load and unpack is an impressive title screen in the Euro Demo style, complete with a scrolling message (in German) and a high quality percussive soundtrack. The next screen has a list of the program capabilities (in German) against a scolling rainbow background. It can handle a 56kb file on a 64k machine, 120kb on the 130XE. Files larger than this are rare, but the program will support another 64k of ram above the XE limit on expanded machines.¢¢ Moving to the Directory Menu, flip the disk to load one of the four MD8 files supplied. These total 1020 sectors of music. They will all run on a 64k machine. When loaded the screen changes to a rainbow background. Play speed can be adjusted to best suit the particular sample loaded. Select Play and a logo and a PMG representation of the music pattern is displayed.¢¢ The sound quality of these programs has been described as equalling that of tape or CD, is this the case? Well, no, but given the constraints of the 8-Bit machine it does pretty well. The quality of the samples provided most closely resemble MW radio reception, low in volume, with slight distortion and background hiss. However the quality of samples vary, and some are very good indeed. The musical content is a matter of personal taste and I didn't particularly like the tunes supplied. Other MD8 files are available from Friday Software, who will also convert your own MOD files, and other Public Domain sources. ¢¢
