>>> MULTIMEDIA AmigaVision 1.70Z, $149.95; upgrade for $35 (with original disk), by Commodore, is an enhanced version of Commodore's already popular authoring system, this time superseding version 1.53G. This newest edition allows users to drive more peripherals from the serial port, provides 6 more functions for the Expressions editor, furnishes more video-device drivers (including the NEC PC VCR and various laser disc players) and permits the creation of 'program' in easily-managable modules. Commodore also improved the music file, with better support for chords, dynamics and tempo. And perhaps best of all, it gives users the power to chain applications together, and control them by icon! Foundation 3.0, $100, by Parallax Publishing, is the latest version of this powerful descendent of UltraCard. Issue 25 of NewsFlash describes an earlier version in this way: "Foundation: The Personal Software Authoring System ($250), by Impulse, is a hypertext, multimedia software authoring and expert system rumored to be fully compatible with "HyperCard" (if so, this would make available the enormous libraries of "HyperCard" materials for Amiga users). It includes two freely-distributable run-time players, so users can create applications that run on ANY Amiga, even when Foundation isn't present. Other niceties include full WorkBench 2.0, CDTV and ARexx compatibility, a variety of sam- ple stacks and objects, its own "FAST-talk" scripting language, and a built-in compiler and debugger. For those who want genuine "HyperCard" compatibility, together with many of the capabilities of "Thinker", "Hyper- Book", "CanDo", and "AmigaVision" rolled into one package, Foundation deserves a serious consideration." Now Parallax has taken over development and distributions, and has made Foundation a serious contender for the title "Best Multimedia Developing System". Version 3 includes the "MultiMedia Factory", a module for automated stack-building, "The Bottom Line", a personal- finance program, and support for CDTV and CD-ROM technology. Last, a hypertext help-function makes the program even easier to use. Lightworks Graphics Synthesizer, $599, by Euphonics, is a software/hardware combination for composing and presenting computer graphics like music. Operating much like a music synthesizer, the Graphics Synthesizer allows the user to create graphics compositions as purely visual pieces, or for use with music. These compositions may be determined beforehand, spontaneously interactive or a combination of both. To further the musical analogy, MIDI-compatible instruments may be used to control visual effects, while stereo sound may be added for audiovisual presentations. The mouse, keyboard, up to 8 internal timers, a script, or the Lightworks slider box may also be used to create and control visual compositions. The program includes 2 color palettes with 8 color ranges apiece, along with several graphics presets. Scripts may be written and edited easily with the use of pull- down menus and message prompts, while the synthesizer can be used used with video sources and outputs by way of a genlock. If this program lives up to its description, it will advance Amiga graphics, music and multi-media several years ahead of their current position. Presentation Master, $299.95, by Oxxi, is an extensive program for the creation, display and output of multimedia. Requiring a minimum of 2 MB of RAM, the program revolves around the metaphor of the "slide show" -- this time a slide show structured as a multi-level hierarchy. Users may import their 'slides' in the form of bit-mapped or EPS images, ASCII text, spreadsheet data, or the like. Or they may choose to create or edit slides using the program's built-in word processor, paint program or graphing module. Presentation Master's internal palette is one of 16.7 million colors, with a pop-up palette of more than 200 at a time; font support is equally generous, including Amiga outline fonts and scalable PolyFonts. Output can be in the form of PostScript (black-and- white or color) printing, a self-running slideshow, posterized slides, or video. The Amiga Multimedia Workbook, $34.95, by Push*Button Publishing, is a 200 page book by Jay Gross, author of "The Amiga Desktop Video Workbook". The workbook guides the reader through the intricacies of planning a multi-media production (THE most important part), producing and integrating the necessary text, sounds, animations, music; and importing non-Amiga resources. Even such topics as interactive kiosk applications and the creation of laser light shows are covered. >>> MUSIC Audio Control Module, $479, by The Russ Jones Marketing Group, is a line mixer supported by Dr. T's KCS 3.5 sequencer. The unit has 8 MIDI- controlled non-VCA gain elements with their own input/output. These enable the continuous MIDI controller data to adjust audio levels, producing a signal-to-noise ratio of better than 95 dB: 1. Bars&Pipes Professional, by Blue Ribbon Soundworks, has been upgraded to version 1.0e. Along with swatted bugs, the newest version of the state- of-the-art music program includes a more polished interface and full access to the Pro Studio and Creativity kits/modules (see NewsFlash #23). Owners may obtain the upgrade for $9.50; those without it may purchase the complete program for $379. Bars&Pipes Professional was first described in Issue 20 of NewsFlash. For those musicians who missed it, the program's features include: automated mixing; an unlimited number of tracks and notes; automatic transposition; timeline scoring; algorithmic composition; graphical song construction; graphical tempo mapping; merge and overwrite recording; notation editing and printing of transposed score, concert score and individual parts; real-time non-destructive editing; loop-mode recording; system exclusive recording and editing; notation, hybrid, event list and piano roll editing; rhythmic generation; macrotool design and implementation; open-ended architecture and expandable design; AmigaDOS 1.3 and 2.0 compatibility; and PAL and NTSC compatibility. Beat Videos, $20.50 each, by Bluesand Video, is a set of two videotapes that use continuously changing Amiga-generated graphics to enhance music, be it at home, in a nightclub or for musical videos. "Pop Video" combines colorful abstract images with a wildness reflective of pop music; "Industrial Video Graphics", on the other hand, evokes the modern metropolis, using images that are angular, stark, mechanical and mute. BoomBox, $59, By Dr. T, transforms an Amiga into a boombox the envy of anyone into hip-hop or rap music. It gives the user an interactive remix screen for adding echo and other sound effects to one's own music, or to tunes on disc -- making your Amiga very nearly the ultimate beat box. S/he may trigger samples by mouse or joystick or decide to loop. echo, or repeat sections of music. Or they might simply want to jam, keying a variety of scratches, screams, heavy metal samples and sound effects right from the keyboard. Boombox is 1.3/2.0 compatible and requires 1 MB of RAM. Miracle Tools, $25 ($19.95 if ordered directly from Blue Ribbon), by Blue Ribbon Soundworks, is a set of three utilities for folks who own both Bars&Pipes and the Miracle keyboard (see NewsFlash #23). One of these utilities replaces the Bars&Pipes MIDI-in tool with the Miracle-in tool, providing the user with the ability to enter Miracle notes into the sequencer, as well as control it from the Miracle keyboard. The Miracle Instrument Tool allows the musician to name which instruments will be used in each track of a composition, and the Miracle Accessory both imports Miracle scores into Bars&Pipes, and reads/writes Miracle keyboard data files. PatchMeister, $99, by Blue Ribbon Soundworks, is a MIDI patch librarian that can be used either by itself, or integrated with Bars&Pipes Professional (one can watch windows from both programs on the same screen). The program provides unlimited banks and libraries; point-and- click bank editing; MIDI snapshots, SysEx attachments and set-up files; automatic MIDI driver creation; audition and playback; context-sensitive online help; and search or comment options. The generic librarian program works with over 20 different drives, can be adapted to any synthesizer, is NTSC and PAL compatible; and works with either WorkBench 1.3 or 2.0. SAM, $299, by Black Knight, is "an integrated SMPTE and MIDI time-code converter" that synchronizes the Amiga and any attached peripherals to a MIDI, SMPTE, audiotape or videotape signal. The unit has one MIDI input, 4 MIDI outputs, and a serial pass-through. Crystal-locked time- code is generated by a built-in CPU for not system overhead, and SAM is able to read/write SMPTE in PAL, NTSC or film format, in both forward and reverse directions, at a wide range of speeds. With its MIDI conversion capabilities, SAM is compatible with all Amiga music software that supports MIDI timecode. Included with the software is a Timecode Tool for noting and saving timecode signals; the hardware display's the operational status of SAM on a front panel display. SuperJam!, $149, by Blue Ribbon Soundworks, is a renamed and improved version of the automatic music writing program described in Issue 25 of NewsFlash as "Jam". The program allows non-musicians to make music, with the automatic creation of such factors as rhythms, chord progressions, and accompaniments. With its exclusive "TurboSound Technology", which allows it to play MORE than 4 samples at once (6-7 on a 68000-machine; up to 15 on a 68030-Amiga), the program can be used as a stand-alone music maker -- or integrated into the Bars&Pipes Professional environment -- to create music in a variety of styles (rock, funk, swing, samba, etc.). Also supplied is a utility for editing other IFF sound samples for use in SuperJam! SyncPro, $199, by Blue Ribbon Soundworks, is a universal synchronization box for synchronizing MIDI with multimedia. The unit supports all major sync formats including Song Pointer, MIDI and SMPTE, and works with any software that uses MIDI time code. It can read, generate, or duplicate all SMPTE frame formats, recover from tape dropout, and convert SMPTE to MIDI timecode. Also included is an accessory for remote starting of SuperJam! or Bars&Pipes Professional. Triple Play Plus MIDI Interface, $179, by Blue Ribbon Soundworks, is a MIDI interface with three, separately-addressable MIDI-outs, enabling musicians to play 48 MIDI channels simultaneously. The unit also includes a MIDI-through port (for even more output), and includes the necessaries for integrating it into the Bars&Pipes Professional environment, as well as using it in stand-alone fashion. Using MED: The Amiga Music Editor, $10, by Douglas Nakakihara, is a tutorial book and reference on using MED 3.2, a well-known European music sequencing program. The book tries to overcome the difficulties of the MED documentation, by breaking up the subject-matter into 23 logical chapters with illustrations. Including a step-by-step tutorial, a full index and an optional companion disk full of MED samples and songs (but NOT the MED program), the book is intended to serve as a comprehensive reference to MED and to teach the novice what is needed to master the program (the user is on his/her own in mastering musical composition). Video Music Box, $109, by Digital Expressions, is a music composition program for creating musical backgrounds to accompany multi-media presentations. The unit assists multi-media professionals by providing a variety of common musical styles, patterns and chord professionals. The user is then able to add to it specific melodies, chord arpeggios, or fills using the specially-designed editing tool. The result is fast and easy 'original' multi-media music. The program can be used to preview music over MIDI or the Amiga's audio, and save tracks in MIDI and/or SMUS format. The package is sophisticated enough to produce music tracks of a specific time-length, with different segments having different volumes or tempos, yet friendly enough that the user will not lose vital production time learning its idiosyncrasies. >>> SOUNDS AD1012 Digital Audio Card, $595, by SunRize, is a digital audio card for A2000's and A3000's that allows the user to record hours of sound directly onto a hard disk. Bundled with SunRize's Studio 16 software, the AD1012 can record 12 bits of resolution at up to 100,000 samples per second. It has an Analog Device 2105 digital signal processor and two 8th order linear phase anti-aliasing filters; the AD1012 can record, edit and playback up to 4 tracks. A built-in SMPTE timecode reader permits easy synchronization of audio with video tape, while the Studio 16 software allows cutting, copying, pasting and the creation of an SMPTE cue list -- along with other manipulations. AMAS 2, £99.95, by Microdeal, is a combination sound sampler and MIDI interface that plugs into the parallel and serial ports of the Amiga. with it, the user is able to tape sounds from live or recorded sources, alter them with the included editor, and then play them back from a MIDI keyboard, using the MIDI playback controls included with AMAS 2. The editor also enables him/her to mix sample areas with full or half volume; filter the samples; fade in and out; cut-and-paste or delete selected sample portions; edit each channel differently; and add ghost markers to tracks for real-time recording or playback. AudioMaster IV, $99, by Oxxi/Aegis, is a digital sampling/editing program able to sample and play sounds at 56,000 samples per second in stereo. It can load up to 180 sound files at one time, and is compatible with every sound digitizer that operates through the Amiga's parallel port -- even those with higher sampling rates than its own! AudioMaster IV includes special audio effects, digital filtering, loop sequencing, 2-4 times oversampling and sound file storage in compressed format. AudioLab, $69.95, by TTR, is the next generation of Amiga audio software, able to work with true 16-bit sound or music samples. Built into the program are such features as: a sampling interface, a true harmonic graphic equalizer, full stereo mixing, MIDI -in and -out, an envelope generator, a waveform generator, and Fourier analysis for examining mixes. The program is also able to display or edit up to 16 samples at once. It works with most MIDI and sound boards, and TTR promises support for newer audio boards as they are released. Bose RoomMate Computer Monitor, $339 a pair, by Bose, is a set of platinum-colored stereo speakers for amplifying and playing sounds from the Amiga. Each speaker can accept any input from headphone or audio- out jack, and a variety of adapters is included (for more esoteric systems). Also available is a set of mounting hardware, for affixing the speakers to wall, bookshelf, ceiling or the like. MultimediaFX, $29.95, by Pacific Digital, is a program able to synchronized sound effects with video images. Additionally, it is able to compress the images of video sequences, create new sounds and tempos, and -- of course -- edit sound sequences. SpectrumFX, $29.95, by Pacific Digital, is a program for analyzing and displaying sound spectrums. With SpectrumFX, the user is able to analyze and display harmonics spectrums from any source -- instantly! -- and to graph any viewpoint in 3-D graphics, to see spectral dynamics over time. The Sound Enhancer, $89.95, by Moonlighter Development, is the North American release of Omega Projects "Sound Enhancer". The user simply connects the Sound Enhancer between his/her Amiga and a stereo system (it connects to the Amiga's audio out jacks and serial port) -- and the result is Amiga sound with the lost harmonics restored. The unit works this magic by utilizing an equalizer circuit that is the inverse of that in the Amiga, thereby bringing back the harmonics filtered out by the Amiga. It sounds like mumbo-jumbo... but apparently, it isn't! The Sound Enhancer includes level controls and for turning the unit on and off; the serial port connection, it should be noted, has a pass-through, so modem users need not fear for their communications. VocoderFX, $29.95, by Pacific Digital, is a program for processing and exploring sounds from two sources. With VocoderFX, the user is able to take sound samples and combine them in unique ways, for new tones, tempos and timbres -- ideal for creating new sounds for that game you're writing!