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ZX Spectrum tape signals in music

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>>>>> zoguestuff  <zoguestuff@gmail.com> writes:

 > Hello I wrote a song the other night which uses the Spectrum loading
 > sounds.  I thought you might like it.  I have made a video for it on
 > YouTube which shows a fictional 80's home computing setup (I know the
 > Spectrum doesn't properly load a SCREEN$ like that) -
 > http://youtu.be/PLWEy59lUhc

 > If you just want to hear it, it's also on Soundcloud at
 > https://soundcloud.com/zoguesounds/load

 > Anyway, I figured this would be a good group to inform of this.  The
 > release name for this song is Deep Grass.  Hope you enjoy it!

	Well, irrespective of the other qualities of this one, I'm a
	little bit disappointed that the Spectrum tape signal is mostly
	used for the background.  (Reminding me of how the Fenster's
	adaptation [1] of the Free Software Song [2] uses a modem
	handshake sample near its end.)

[1] http://audio-video.gnu.org/audio/Fenster-Free-Software-Song.ogg
[2] https://www.gnu.org/music/free-software-song.html

	However, it makes me wonder, if it's possible to put ZX Spectrum
	tape signals into more prominent positions within the
	composition?  FWIW, we can extract a few more intervals off such
	a signal (apart from, obviously, almost an exact octave between
	the lower and the higher frequencies used.)

	Indeed, a short investigation shows that, assuming "A above
	middle C" at 430 Hz (which is different to the "A440" standard,
	but still known to the music world), and taking some liberty
	regarding the exact frequencies Spectrum tape signals use (and
	considering acceptable some 10 cent variation of the prescribed
	frequency), we can easily produce the following notes of the
	musical scale, as, hopefully, shown in [3].  (And, at the very
	least, audio2tape(1) recognizes such a signal as valid.)

1921.875000	B 6
1289.062500	E 6
1218.750000	D#6
1148.437500	D 6
1078.125000	C#6
1031.250000	C 6
 960.937500	B 5

	There's still gap of seven semitones between E6 and B6, which,
	I'd hope, a talented composer may obviate by creatively
	emphasizing (and deemphasizing) the signal and the other samples
	used in the composition.

[3] http://efye.am-1.org/~ivan/doc-files/zx-spectrum-2013/pitches-demo-data-1359307897.ogg

-- 
FSF associate member #7257

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LOAD "" Song zoguestuff@gmail.com - 2013-01-24 13:11 -0800
  ZX Spectrum tape signals in music Ivan Shmakov <oneingray@gmail.com> - 2013-01-27 17:55 +0000
    Re: ZX Spectrum tape signals in music Mr Zogue <zoguestuff@gmail.com> - 2013-01-29 16:33 -0800
      Re: ZX Spectrum tape signals in music Ivan Shmakov <oneingray@gmail.com> - 2013-02-01 19:16 +0000
        Re: ZX Spectrum tape signals in music SamTek <rogerjowett@gmail.com> - 2013-03-29 06:39 -0700
    Re: ZX Spectrum tape signals in music Andrew Owen <aowen10@mail.bbk.ac.uk> - 2013-01-31 11:54 +0000
      Re: ZX Spectrum tape signals in music Mr Zogue <zoguestuff@gmail.com> - 2013-01-31 13:58 -0800

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