AMCS - the Advanced Music Construction System

By downloading, extracting and/or installing any of the AMCS archives and content you agree to the End-User Licence Agreement, which is also available in the archive as the EULA file.
Save any work and close all software before proceeding.

VIA Wondermedia & Raspberry Pi


Extract the ZIP format archive to a FAT32 pre-formatted SD or SDHC card. There is a multitude of software which can achieve this, our preference is 7-zip but most newer operating systems have the built-in ability to handle ZIP format archives. To extract using nearly any archiving software, open the archive you have downloaded and drag the contents to the appropriate removable drive icon (located in "My Computer" on Windows).

Once the system files have been transferred, insert the card into the host device and power it up, you should see an AMCS splash screen for a second and then the system will start.


Acorn Archimedes A30x0 with RISC OS 3.11


Format a 3.5" floppy disc with FAT12. This can either be done using RISC OS or Windows. It may also be possible to use a Unix derivative operating system but all implementations of FAT are kludged and it is at your discretion, please refer to the Jurassic Park Security System on how to do this. The floppy disc must be double density, modern systems can be fooled into using a high density disc by covering the non-toggle notch with insulation tape, but be careful to leave clearance in the drive slot otherwise the floppy disc may get stuck, in which case you will need a pair of pin nose pliers.

To format using RISC OS. Ensure a floppy disc is in the floppy drive before proceeding with either of the following steps.

  • Use the GUI to open the menu on the floppy drive icon and select "Format", then "Other formats", then "DOS 720K" and press "Format" to proceed.
  • Press the F12 key to access the command prompt, enter *ADFS, then enter *FORMAT 0 DOS/M AMCS Y Press the return key to leave the command prompt when done.

To format using Windows. You will at least require a USB FDD, although the floppy drive may not be known as drive A:, in this case it would be recommended using the GUI method. Should your version of Windows not have a "My Computer" icon on the desktop, you may find it in the "Start" button menu, otherwise please refer to Microsoft for instructions on how to format a floppy disc, although you may end up with loss of hair and in tears of frustration. Ensure a floppy disc is in the floppy drive before proceeding with any of the following steps.

  • Use the GUI to open the "My Computer" icon, then open the menu on the floppy drive icon and select format.
  • For Windows 9x/NT4 press the "Start" button, open Run, enter FORMAT A: /F:720/U/V:AMCS
  • For Windows NT5 press the "Start" button, open Run, enter FORMAT A: /U/V:AMCS
  • (hopefully) For Windows NT6-onward, press the "Start" button, in the quick search bar enter FORMAT A: /U/V:AMCS


To install the AMCS archive. Transfer the floppy disc to any computer capable of extracting the ZIP format archive to a floppy disc. There are a multitude of software which can achieve this, our preference is 7-zip but most newer operating systems have the built in ability to handle ZIP format archives. To extract using nearly any archiving software, open the archive you have downloaded and drag the contents to the floppy drive icon (located in "My Computer" on Windows).

Running AMCS, the easiest way. Transfer the floppy disc back to the Acorn A3000 and switch the machine on with the floppy disc in the floppy drive. Whilst RISC OS starts to boot up, hold the asterisk key on the keypad and when you are presented with the command prompt, enter the following commands;

*ADFS
*SETTYPE AMCS ABSOLUTE
*AMCS

And from now on you can omit the *SETTYPE command, and the *ADFS command if FileSystem is set as ADFS in the RISC OS configuration. Or alternatively you can now run AMCS on the desktop from the floppy drive.

Running AMCS, the convenient way. Transfer the floppy disc back to the Acorn A3000 and boot the computer normally. Press F12 to access the command prompt and enter the following commands;

*BASIC
SYS"OS_ChangeDynamicArea",5,819200
QUIT
*ADFS
*COPY $.* RAM:$.* ~C
*FORMAT 0 E AMCS Y
*COPY RAM:$.* $.* ~C
*RENAME AMCS !BOOT
*SETTYPE !BOOT ABSOLUTE
*OPT 4,2
*CONFIGURE FILESYSTEM ADFS
*CONFIGURE BOOT

Press Shift and Break keys together to reboot into AMCS, and from now on AMCS will boot automatically when the AMCS floppy disc is in the floppy drive.


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