Features

Original Price

JMS MIDI Interface

The JMS MIDI Interface, produced by Jellinghaus Music Systems, is a MIDI interface designed for use with the ZX Spectrum. The unit consists of two sections connected by a cable approximately 60cm long, with the larger section housing the input and output connections.

The interface provides a MIDI In, MIDI Thru and three MIDI Out sockets, together with an external clock connection. It was also developed for use with other home computers, including the Commodore 64. ¹

The accompanying Spectrum software includes several sequencing programs, offering both real-time and step-time operation. The Multitrack Composer provides eight channels for entering musical notes, with facilities for controlling note duration, articulation, dynamics and instrument changes. ¹

The JMS interface was also sold under the Siel name, with Rosetti distributing the JMS version in the UK. Contemporary prices were £74.00 for the Siel version and £94.95 for the Rosetti version. ²

£74.00 ² £94.95 ²

Micon MIDI Interface

The XRI Systems Micon is a MIDI interface designed for the 48K ZX Spectrum, providing a connection to MIDI-compatible musical instruments. The interface connects to the rear of the computer via a multiway expansion connector and provides MIDI In, MIDI Out and MIDI Thru sockets, together with DIN Sync In and Out. A trigger output is also documented in an earlier description of the unit. ^{3 4}

The accompanying software provides both Step Time and Real Time sequencing. The Step Time sequencer displays musical notation on a stave and allows notes to be entered, edited and arranged across multiple tracks. Other facilities include track mixing, copying and looping, tempo adjustment, MIDI channel selection and synchronisation with external equipment. Sequences can also be saved to cassette for later playback. ^{3 5}

The Micon was covered in *ZX Computing*'s article on the use of MIDI in the home, which included a description of the interface. ⁶ Published specifications for the sequencing software vary between sources. *Electronics & Music Maker* reported a capacity of approximately 8,000 notes for real-time sequencing and eight step-time tracks, each supporting 3,000 events. ⁴ A later review gave a typical capacity of around 5,000 notes per sequence, with up to ten sequences held in the Spectrum's memory. ³

The complete Micon package was advertised at £108. ⁴

£108.00 (VAT and p&p not stated) ⁴

Upstream MIDI Interface

Developed by Rupert Goodwins for the electronic music group Mensana, the Upstream MIDI Interface connects the ZX Spectrum to MIDI-compatible musical instruments, allowing the computer to be used for music sequencing and synthesiser control.

The accompanying software, written predominantly in machine code with a BASIC support program, provides a 3,500-note polyphonic sequencer, multitrack operation and the ability to transpose music into any key. It also supports synthesiser patch changing, with sounds capable of being saved and reloaded via MIDI. Musical sequences can be stored on cassette for subsequent playback.

The interface can also operate independently of the Spectrum as a 1-input/3-output MIDI converter. Additional facilities include MIDI Through and synchronisation pulse connections. Its modular design was intended to allow further capabilities to be added without making the original hardware obsolete.

The Upstream system was demonstrated by Mensana on BBC television's Tomorrow's World. The interface was advertised at £139 inclusive ^{7 8}.

£139.00 ⁸