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Line 1: {{Infobox video game \| title = Will Harvey's Music Construction Set \|image = Music Construction Set cover.jpg \|~~designer~~developer = [[Will Harvey]]<ref name="giantlist"/><br/>Richard Plom (Atari ST)▼ ~~\|developer =~~ \|publisher = [[Electronic Arts]] \|designer = ▲\|designer = [[Will Harvey]]<ref name="giantlist"/><br>Richard Plom (Atari ST) \|programmer = ~~[[Will Harvey]] (Apple II)<br>Richard Plom (Atari ST)~~ \|engine = \|released = ~~1984~~1983 \|genre = [[Scorewriter\|Composition notation]] ~~\|genre =~~ \|modes = \|platforms = [[Apple II]], ~~(original)<br>~~[[~~Atari 8-bit family\|~~Atari 8-bit]], [[Atari ST]], [[Commodore 64~~\|C64~~]], [[IBM PC]], [[Apple IIGS]] }} '''''Will Harvey's Music Construction Set''''' ('''''MCS''''') is a [[music]] [[Scorewriter\|composition notation]] [[computer program\|program]] designed by [[Will Harvey]] for the [[Apple II]] and published by [[Electronic Arts]] in 1984.<ref name="giantlist"/> Harvey wrote the original Apple II version in [[assembly language]] when he was 15 and in [[high school]]. ''MCS'' was conceived as a tool to add music to his first and only published software, an abstract shooter called ''Lancaster'' for the Apple II.<ref name="giantlist"/><ref name="queue"/>▼ ▲'''''Will Harvey's Music Construction Set''''' ('''''MCS''''') is a [[music]] [[Scorewriter\|composition notation]] [[computer program\|program]] designed by [[Will Harvey]] for the [[Apple II]] and published by [[Electronic Arts]] in ~~1984~~1983.<ref name="~~giantlist~~computerchronicles"/> Harvey wrote the original Apple II version in [[assembly language]] when he was 15 and in [[high school]]. ''MCS'' was conceived as a tool to add music to his ~~first and only~~previously published ~~software~~game, an abstract shooter called ''Lancaster'' for the Apple II.<ref name="giantlist"/><ref name="queue"/> ''Music Construction Set'' was ported to the [[Atari 8-bit family]], [[Commodore 64]], [[IBM PC]] (as a [[PC booter\|booter]]), and the [[Atari ST]]. A redesigned version for the [[Amiga]] and [[Macintosh]] was released in 1986 as ''[[Deluxe Music Construction Set]]''.▼ ▲''Music Construction Set'' was [[porting\|ported]] to the [[Atari 8-bit ~~family~~computers]], [[Commodore 64]], [[IBM PC compatible]]s (as a [[PCself-booting ~~booter\|booter~~disk]]), and the [[Atari ST]]. ATwo years later, in 1986, Will Harvey released a port for the [[16-bit]] [[Apple IIGS]], utilizing its advanced sound. Also that year, a redesigned version for the [[Amiga]] and [[Macintosh]] was released ~~in 1986~~ as ''[[Deluxe Music Construction Set]]''. ==Overview== With ''MCS'', ~~the~~a user can create musical composition ~~using~~via a [[~~GUI\|~~graphical user interface]], a novel concept ~~for~~at the ~~era~~time of its release. Users can [[drag and drop]] notes right onto the staff, play back their creations through the computer's speakers, and print them out. The program comes with a few popular songs as samples. Most versions of this program require the users to use a [[joystick]] to create their songs, note by note. The original Apple II version supports the [[Mockingboard]] [[expansion card]] for higher fidelity sound output. In addition, use of the Mockingboard allows the musical staff to scroll along with the music as notes are played. Without it, the Apple II ~~needs~~can ~~nearly every spare CPU cycle to produce audio, and as such can't~~not update the display while playback is in progress.▼ The program takes advantage of optional advanced equipment. For example, the [[IBM PC]] version allows users to output audio via the IBM PC Model 5150's cassette port, so they can send 4-voice music to their [[Hifi\|stereo system]]. The same program also takes advantage of the 3-voice sound chip built into the [[IBM PCjr]] and [[Tandy 1000]].▼ ==Ports== ▲The Apple II version supports the [[Mockingboard]] [[expansion card]] for higher fidelity sound output. In addition, use of the Mockingboard allows the musical staff to scroll along with the music as notes are played. Without it, the Apple II needs nearly every spare CPU cycle to produce audio, and as such can't update the display while playback is in progress. Electronic Arts ported ''MCS'' from the original Apple II version to the [[Atari 8-bit ~~family~~computers]], [[IBM PC compatible]]s, and ~~the~~ [[Commodore 64]]. The Atari 8-bit and C64 versions use the multi-channel audio hardware of those systems.▼ ▲The ~~program takes advantage of optional advanced equipment. For example, the~~ [[IBM PC]] version allows ~~users to~~ output audio via the IBM PC Model 5150's cassette port, so ~~they can send~~ 4-voice music can be sent to ~~their~~a [[~~Hifi~~High fidelity\|stereo system]]. ~~The same program~~It also takes advantage of the 3-voice sound chip built into the [[IBM PCjr]] and [[Tandy 1000]]. ~~The application supports the 4-voice sound hardware of the [[Atari 8-bit family]].~~ The Apple IIGS version was done by the original programmer, Will Harvey, in 1986. This port takes advantage of the built-in [[Ensoniq]] [[wavetable synthesis\|wavetable]] [[sample-based synthesis\|sample-based synthesizer]], offering over thirty instruments to choose from (sixteen are [[digital sample\|digitized]] and thus realistic sounding), but only two instruments can be selected per song. It supports up to 15 simultaneous voices, stereo audio and [[MIDI]]-output. A port of Deluxe Music Construction was also written, scheduled to be in stores by late 1987, but never released. ~~==History==~~ ▲Electronic Arts ported ''MCS'' from the original Apple II version to the [[Atari 8-bit family]], [[IBM PC]], and the [[Commodore 64]]. The version of ''Music Construction Set'' for the Atari ST is not a port and shares no [[source code]] with the original versions. It was written by Richard J. Plom for Intersect Software Corporation under the name ''The Orchestrator''. It was acquired from Intersect Software by Electronic Arts and rebranded ''Music Construction Set'' in 1987.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.computerhistory.org/collections/catalog/102715665\|title=Music construction set - 102715665 - Computer History Museum\|date=1987\|publisher=}}</ref> The Atari ST version is the first version to have supported the new MIDI standard, with this computer's built-in MIDI hardware. The program was completely redesigned for the [[Amiga]] and [[Macintosh]], ~~but under the~~and ~~name~~renamed ''[[Deluxe Music Construction Set]]''. This version has more features ~~and better graphics~~, including lyrics and support for IFF SMUS files.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.bl3nder.com/music/\|title=~~HugeDomains.com -~~ Bl3nder.com ~~is for sale (Bl 3nder)~~\|publisher=}}</ref> In 1986, it was ported by Randel B. Reiss<ref>{{webarchive \|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050206004021/http://randelreiss.com \|date=February 6, 2005 \|title=Randel Reiss, Producer }}</ref> to the [[Apple IIGS]], where it makes use of its built-in [[Ensoniq]] [[Table-lookup synthesis\|wavetable]] [[sample-based synthesis\|sample-based synthesizer]]. The port was never released, but its music engine was used for producing the soundtrack for the Apple IIGS game titles ''[[Zany Golf]]'' and ''[[The Immortal (computer game)\|The Immortal]]'', both of which were written by Will Harvey.<ref name="giantlist"/> ==Reception== ''II Computing'' listed ''Music Construction Set'' third on the magazine's list of top Apple II education software as of late 1985, based on sales and market-share data.<ref name="ciraolo198510_11">{{cite news \| url=https://archive.org/stream/II_Computing_Vol_1_No_1_Oct_Nov_85_Premiere#page/n51/mode/2up \| title=Top Software / A List of Favorites \| work=II Computing \| date=Oct–Nov 1985 \| accessdate=28 January 2015 \| author=Ciraolo, Michael \| pages=51}}</ref> ~~''[[Ahoy!]]'' stated that despite some limitations,~~ ''Music Construction Set'' ~~for~~sold ~~the Commodore 64 "will aid both experienced songwriters and dedicated novices alike. It's~~over a ~~powerful~~million ~~music processor and a joy to use"~~units.<ref ~~name="davies198405"~~>{{cite ~~news~~interview \|last=Hawkins ~~url~~\|first=~~https://archive.org/stream/Ahoy_Issue_05_1984~~Trip \|subject-~~05_Ion_International_US#page/n47/mode/2up~~link=Trip Hawkins \|interviewer=Robert McCallum \|title=~~Music~~Episode ~~Construction~~5 ~~Set~~(timestamp: 15:44) \| work=~~Ahoy!~~Video \|Game ~~date=May~~Box ~~1984~~Art: \|The ~~accessdate=27~~Stories ~~June~~Behind ~~2014~~the Covers \| ~~author~~publisher=~~Davies,~~Pyre ~~Lloyd~~Productions \|location= ~~pages~~\|date=49July 30, 2019}}</ref> ''[[Ahoy!]]'' stated that despite some limitations, ''Music Construction Set'' for the Commodore 64 "will aid both experienced songwriters and dedicated novices alike. It's a powerful music processor and a joy to use".<ref name="davies198405">{{cite news \| url=https://archive.org/stream/Ahoy_Issue_05_1984-05_Ion_International_US#page/n47/mode/2up \| title=Music Construction Set \| work=Ahoy! \| date=May 1984 \| accessdate=27 June 2014 \| author=Davies, Lloyd \| pages=49}}</ref> ''[[InfoWorld]]'s Essential Guide to Atari Computers'' recommended the game among educational software for the Atari 8-bit.<ref name="mace1984">{{Cite book \|last=Mace \|first=Scott \|url=https://archive.org/details/InfoWorlds_Essential_Guide_to_Atari/page/n55/mode/2up?view=theater \|title=InfoWorld's Essential Guide to Atari Computers \|date=1984 \|publisher=Harper & Row \|year=1984 \|isbn=978-0-06-669006-3 \|pages=46-53}}</ref> ==See also== * ''[[Pinball Construction Set]]'' -, EA's first program with "Construction Set" in the title from 1983. * ''[[Bank Street Music Writer]]'' ~~- a 1985 music composition program~~ ==References== {{reflist\|refs= <ref name="giantlist">{{cite web\|title=The Giant List of Classic Game Programmers\|url=~~http~~https://dadgum.com/giantlist/ \|~~website~~last1=~~dadgum.com~~Hague \|first1=James}}</ref> <ref name="queue">{{cite web\|title=A Conversation with Will Harvey\|url=http://queue.acm.org/detail.cfm?id=971586\|website=ACM Queue\|date=February 24, 2004}}</ref> <ref name="computerchronicles">{{cite web\|title=The Computer Chronicles - Computer Music (1983)\|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LEn94TF1tg \|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/1LEn94TF1tg \|archive-date=2021-12-13 \|url-status=live\|website=Youtube\|date=November 8, 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref> }} {{Electronic Arts}} [[Category:1984 software]]▼ [[Category:Apple II software]] [[Category:Atari 8-bit ~~family~~computer software]] [[Category:Atari ST software]] [[Category:Commodore 64 software]] [[Category:Electronic Arts]] [[Category:Scorewriters]] [[Category:~~Software~~Assembly ~~written~~language ~~primarily in assembly language~~software]] ▲[[Category:1984 software]]