Advice sought on Computer-Generating Music

[Mike Lowy <lowy...>]

Hello, all.

I'm confused by all the newsgroups, lists etc. on music. Can anyone please
tell me where the most likely place to post this inquiry in order to get
reliable responses? - And if someone can answer  the question itself, A
Greysser Yasher Koach to you....

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I'm trying to create some music files to incorporate into
educational software being developed by a friend.

Is there a source on the internet where I could find a MIDI-
compatible sequencing / sampling program capable of running
reasonably properly - even if slowly - on my PC (a  DOS-based 286
AT, with 1MB of memory, a mouse, and small (40 MB) hard disk)?

The program should have on its main working screen a simulated
keyboard as its main interface (rather that a page of staves on
which to place notation, although to have notation as an
alternative  interface wouldn't be bad).

Note that for the time being I have no Windows, no sound card,
no MIDI keyboard and no amplification (amp + speakers). I will
be completely reliant on the native capabilities of the naked PC.

I'd therefore have to play the computer [101-key enhanced]
keyboard, or use a mouse.

So far I've tried the following free- or shareware:

     1. Pianoman - which is a bit primitive, doesn't have any
sound selection or sampling capability, and worst of all produces
.muz files, which my friend cannot interpret.

     2. Kingmod - which does not have a keyboard interface, and
for some reason doesn't run properly on my AT ...

If anyone reading this can somehow help me in my search, I'd be
greatly, HUGELY appreciative. Please email me directly at:

                <lowy (at) jerusalem1(dot)datasrv(dot)co(dot)il>

A zillion thanks,

Mike Lowy,

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