In search of KCS 128

sequencer
Windows User

Posts: 3

In search of KCS 128 Jul 6, 2018 3:37:34 GMT

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Post by sequencer on Jul 6, 2018 3:37:34 GMT

First of all, did this even exist? I know there was a KCS sequencer for the C64 (the one I heard about most), the Amiga, and Atari ST, but I've only run across faint and unconvincing evidence there was a C128 native version. If it exists, I'd really like to get a copy and see how it does in Vice.

That is, unless the copy here is real:
cbm8bit.com/8bit/commodore/server/Unrenamed%20Achives/browse/c128/d64

I've tried it in Vice. It reboots the virtual C128 into 64 mode, then just sits there and looks at you. It's possible it could work with different settings.

Does anyone here know if there was really a KCS 128? Is the linked file on cbm8bit.com really it? Can you run it (in Vice, or on a real C128) successfully? Post whatever you know. I'm really curious about this, because the C128 would have made a great sequencing computer, especially if there were any software that truly took advantage of it.

remark PET User Posts: 69	In search of KCS 128 Jul 8, 2018 12:23:11 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by remark on Jul 8, 2018 12:23:11 GMT Here is a review of the program (p. 38 and 127), so it does seem to exist: issuu.com/zetmoon/docs/commodore_magazine_vol-08-n11_1987_nov/40
	it's more fun to compute

sequencer
Windows User

Posts: 3

In search of KCS 128 Jul 8, 2018 22:55:59 GMT

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Post by sequencer on Jul 8, 2018 22:55:59 GMT

Thanks for the link! I found that issue downloadable on Archive.org (below). So, yep, KCS 128 is real:
ia800302.us.archive.org/35/items/11-commodore-magazine/Commodore_Magazine_Vol-08-N11_1987_Nov.pdf

I feel some regret that I was only sequencing on hardware (sequencers built into physical synthesizers, drum machines) in those days, so for some reason, I'm wanting to explore the C128 sequencer I should have been using to sequence on computer then (why now? who knows..). The article says KCS was in Basic, but I'm pretty sure it had to be at least partially Assembler to provide reliable Midi timekeeping and be fast enough to keep up. (An all Basic Midi sequencer would be pretty glitchy I'd think.) Probably had an ML wedge that provided the realtime services.

I now believe the disk image I found on cbm8bit.com is an actual copy of it, but probably is just doing something at the hardware level that's too much for Vice to handle. (They did warn that x128 wasn't as accurate an emulator as x64 is.)

Also, I later had an A3000T-040, which I sold after CBM went under (another terrible mistake), and I never did any Midi work on that machine either. Ugh. I could have been sequencing in Bars & Pipes Professional and recording on a Tocatta card. Didn't start doing Midi/recording on computer until around 2010, on Linux. Anybody have a TARDIS? I can still go back and fix this, just need a little transportation.

Post by sequencer on Jul 6, 2018 3:37:34 GMT

Post by remark on Jul 8, 2018 12:23:11 GMT

Post by sequencer on Jul 8, 2018 22:55:59 GMT

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