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The basic program generates ramps from a table of specifications
read. in from a floppy disk. The ramp table consists of a series of
three-word control statements containing a time in samples (inter
preted as the time since the last control statement), an amplitude,
and a type code. Each DAC channel is controlled independently by its
own series of such statements. The program interpolates linearly
between the points on the ramp, resetting the DAC's at a preset
sampling rate. We intend in the near future to extend the ramp
generation program so that the ramp specifications are read directly
from the link to the PCC--a sort of quasi-real-time use of the time
shared university computer. Available at the PCC is the SYNTAL pro
gram, with powerful macro, repetition, and "master envelope" features
(described at earlier conferences), which can be used to generate the
ramp table. But we expect nany composers will want to write their
own programs for that purpose.
Nicklas has been developing a series of programs that will cal
culate stored functions and control their output through the DAC's.
He is also working on some programs that will run experiments on
problem solving in simple compositional and analytic tasks.
On the agenda for future development are programs to make use of
the A/D converters and the 16 bit I/O interface. I expect that the
SYNTAL language and programs will be expanded as the composers in the
Pittsburgh area, as well as visiting composers, learn to use the facility
and make their individual needs known. We hope to report in more
detail about these developments in future meetings.
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