The MUMAKER program is a simple QBasic program for encoding music
into a computer file.  Entry is via the computer keyboard.  The
output file is in *.REH format, a simple format accessible with a
word processing program for modification.  The program plays the
music with the BASIC play command, so you hear it from the
computer's own speaker.  No midi equipment is needed.  These files
are also played by another program of mine, REHEARSE.

   I wrote this program based on a BASICA program I found on a
bulletin board.  It has been jazzed up since then and has been
converted to QBasic.  It is freely offered here for non-commercial
use.  If you have comments or would like to see the source code,
email me, George Silvis, at gsilvis@user1.channel1.com.

There are a number of features which are not documented in the
program itself but which are very useful.  The most important one is
that the numeric keypad can be used for the most common commands:

      [NumLock]      [/]      Natural        Flat

      Whole note     Up       Eighth note    Sharp
      
      Half note               16th note   
      
      Quarter note   Down     Tie            Enter
      
      Rest                    Dot

I've found that the hand quickly learns this pattern and you can
enter a voice part of a score almost fast enough so that you can
hear the music, and any errors as they happen.

Dynamics can be set with the "[" and "]" keys.  You start at mf and
can adjust this up and down within the score.

Warnings:

There are also a number of bugs to be aware of.  F4 allows you to
erase the last note or event that you put in.  But don't backup till
you bump into the left margin!  You'll error out and loose all your
work. (I've been there and done it) 




The REH files can be tidied up with a word processor (eg, correct
title lines and minor note errors.) Users can work with the files
with the REHEARSE program.  I also have programs which can convert
the REH file to a single track midi file: (REH2MID1) and utilities
that combine these in to multitrack midi files (ADDMIDF).  This
sounds like a hard way to build up choral mid files, but it works
well for me.