Being out
of production doesn't stop TXG giving the
thumbs-up
This is an
audio sampler cartridge made by Mirage Ltd,
Poland, for the Atari 8-bit series. You
can sample audio and use the samples in
your own programs. The cartridge samples
the audio in mono 4-bit resolution. There
is a LED on the sampler to see the signal
level and the quality is good when using
high speed.
The cartridge
comes with a disk, with a sampling program
and a sample editor. You can change the
speed of the sample, play it in reverse...
Also you can select the start and end address
so that you can just select a part of a
sample. You can use Atari BASIC, Turbo BASIC,
Action! and assembler to play the samples.
It’s very easy to
use these samples in your own programs.
You can write programs for the sampler yourself
and use the samples in your own program
and play them back on the POKEY chip. For
very good quality you need to turn the ANTIC
chip (video processor) off because you will
have 30% more CPU time, secondly the less
interrupts you have the better the audio
will be.
The sampler
can't be bought at this time, only second-hand.
I am trying to get the schematic for the
original cartridge. On the Polish second-hand
market there are some for sale, I have heard.
I advise to ask around if you want a cartridge
like this. A good source would be comp.sys.atari.8bit
Here is a
summary of compatible software I have used:
Main screen of
the sampler disk
Studio Master
A sample editor program with
tracker functions that can use
up to 320KB
Studio Master
Pros:
Software
supports 320KB, easy to
use, graphical user interface
Cons:
Slow
operation
Score:
Digital Studio
II This is the original
software from Poland. It's very
good and has some great features
like changing playing speed,
play reverse and set memory
pointers.
Digital Studio
II
Pros:
Fast
sample speed, quick and
easy interface, input signal
level metering.
Cons:
No
extra memory support.
Score:
Sample Editor 1.0
This program is only for editing
samples, big advantage is that
you have more memory available
than in Digital Studio II.
Sample Editor
1.0
Pros:
Quick
and easy interface, uses
the same interface as
Digital Studio II.
Score:
T.M.L. Sampler
A nice program to sample and
edit your samples.
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Issue
12
It’s very easy to
use these samples in your own programs.
You can write programs for the sampler yourself
and use the samples in your own program
and play them back on the POKEY chip. For
very good quality you need to turn the ANTIC
chip (video processor) off because you will
have 30% more CPU time, secondly the less
interrupts you have the better the audio
will be.
