PLATO IMS Screenshots

Although the hardware for the IMS is long gone, much of the software still exists on the NovaNET system. As a result, I was able to take some cool screen shots of the various functions...

An IMS 'Instrument File' consisted of sixteen oscillators that could be used simultaneously. In the 'Output' column, you would set the stereo panning of that oscillator (0-100), or set it to 'fm' in which case it would frequency-modulate the following oscillator.

Music could be entered via a text language called Opal or via the Lime notation editor which eventually became a standalone program.

Methods of Waveform Generation

ADDITIVE SYNTHESIS

Here the user could specify the raw waveform by entering the amplitudes of the Fourier harmonics with the arrow keys or touch screen.

MATH FUNCTION

Here the user could specify the raw waveform by entering a mathematical function. This screen shows a basic sine wave. An 'fm' in the Output column indicates that the oscillator will modulate the frequency the next oscillator in the list.

Here is another waveform specified by a math function. In this case the 'rand' is used to add noise.

DRAWN WAVEFORM

Here the user could specify the raw waveform by drawing it with the arrow keys or touch screen. If desired, the computer could draw curves through selected points.

Envelopes

ENVELOPES

Here the user could use the arrow keys or touch screen to design complex envelopes to control pitch, amplitude, and modulation depth.

Tunings

FULL KEYBOARD TABLE

Here the user could specify an altered tuning by entering the frequency of each note on the keyboard separately.

SINGLE-OCTAVE TABLE

Here the user could specify an altered tuning by entering the frequency of each note in one octave, which would then be transposed to all the other octaves.

MATHEMATICAL FUNCTION

Here the user could specify an altered tuning by entering a mathematical equation.

	PLATO IMS /\
	Check out my YouTube channel.