OVER 2 YOU, 062 (08/01/02)

KNITTING PATTERNS

We are looking for knitting pattern software for jackets and jerseys where we could give measurements and produce written instructions rather than a graph or diagram, with the software doing all the calculations for the various sizes.

K Willig, via email

Art and science do not mix on this occasion! It is possible to extrapolate needle size, stitch count, row count etc. on a mathematical basis, and hence write the appropriate software for differing garment sizes. However, my wife runs a knitting and tapestry shop in Cheam, and she assures me that only experience can reliably  "see around the artistic corners", and modify a knitting pattern to get it right every time. Variables like "Tension", "Quality of yarn", and "Look", all play havoc with any mathematically based software.
Ross Macadam,

CINE TO PC

I'm seeking to input old black & white 8mm cine film directly into a PC (rather than the indirect method of projection and filming with a camcorder) for the purpose of editing etc. Some scanners can take 35mm film, but has anyone had any experience with 8mm movie film?

Bryan Bedwell, via email

Bryan could have his 8mm. films transferred to VHS or DVD and then, by installing WIN TV, play them back on his computer. The film can then be stopped at any point and individual frames printed as required. Details of WIN TV are to be found at www.hauppauge.co.uk

Brian Hemingway,

A BETTER DEAL

I have a set of card and board games by Hoyle.  When playing the card games it deals itself the most extraordinary hands.  In cribbage it will frequently deal itself maximum point hands and similarly high scores in its box.  It does similar tricks in bridge.  If a human dealt like this he would get his fingers amputated.  It can seldom be beaten and is most annoying.

Is there a truly random dealing and shuffling program one can download from the net?

J. Boxall, via email

I have an inexpensive CD by Hoyle for Bridge and Eucre and it sounds preferable than the one you describe. The Bridge game is interactive - you can play hands, re-deal, re-bid, score and replay so it is quite friendly.  The hands are reasonable and one can control play if you have the contract.  I like this part as one can replay if you go off so you can eventually learn to win. I got it from PC World and it was less than £20. 

Alan Brudney,

There is no such thing as a truly random card-dealing program, as mathematically it is impossible to generate a truly random number. However, computer algorithms have been developed which can generate numbers in a seemingly random manner to even the most observant of people.

Swiveller's Cribbage uses such an algorithm to deal the cards, and I as the developer have had no complaints that the cards can be predicted, and the deals are certainly not biased in favour of the computer. Of course extraordinary hands do occur but that is in the nature and pleasure of card games such as cribbage. The game can be downloaded from www.stanwardine.com/Cribbage.html
William Bridge,

PHOTO PRESENTATION

I have been gradually scanning some of my better photographs onto my hard disk and am now trying to locate some good photo presentation software that will enable me to include text, transitions and music. Any suggestions?
John Lightfoot, via email

I have recently bought Kai's Power Show through Serif, and find it the best photo display program I have tried, with plenty of variety in transmission and sound.

Bill Streeter,

The "Flip" site (http://www.flipalbum.com/) has a variety of programs available including one to put photos plus text plus sound on self executing CDs if needed.

W.Erlam,

ANALOGUE COMPUTERS

I would like to know if anyone has any information of knows where I could obtain plans for building an ‘analogue’ computer. I understand these were developed in the 1950s, long before the digital computers we use today. If possible or practical I would like to build one for a school science project.

D. Jackson, via email

During my national service in 1947/9 I served in REME, following training in electronics, as Electrician Control Equipment. I worked for a short time on the Western Electric Predictor. No 10. This was a system of optics, electronics, and mechanics, which by viewing and tracking a flying aircraft, in two planes, plus the slant distance given by Radar, calculated the settings for anti-aircraft guns, to fire a shell, that would explode, at the position that the aircraft would be in some 12 seconds time (the time taken for the shell to reach an aircraft at around 20,000 ft.).

The electronic part of the system was an analogue computer configured to solve the necessary trigonometric equations to calculate the new position from the old. It could cope with a curved aircraft course by differentiating over time the changing voltages developed by the optics following the aircraft changing position. Voltages from the optics were produced by the use of sine/cosine potentiometers coupled to the angular movements of the optics, and then fed as a data voltage into the computer.

From memory, the computer consisted of around 30 three valve amplifiers, most of which had very high levels of negative feedback and usually, unity gain, applied to maintain stability. These amplifiers were coupled via resistive, and resistive/capacitor networks to give the trigonometric solution.  The output from the predictor was in the form of three voltages representing Azimuth Angle, Elevation Angle and Shell Fuse Setting. These were applied to servo amplifiers driving the gun position control motors. I am not sure if this is of any use to you, but I would be interested in how your project develops.

E. O.,West Sussex.

I have a book on the subject dating from 1965, and a certain amount of knowledge after 40 years in the industry that may interest Mr Jackson. The book is entitled "Analogue Computing for Beginners" by K.A.Key and was published by Chapman & Hall, catalogue No. 04/0781/87.

Mike Robinson,

In my book archives I have a copy of the 5th Conference on Mechanisms dated Oct 1958. There are two papers relating to Analogue Computers: "Mechanical Analogue Computer Components" (with a useful bibliography and appendix), and "A Mechanical Squaring Device"

Please contact me if you feel these papers will help you in the design and manufacture of an analogue computer.

Martin Flint,

RELIGIOUS CLIP ART

I have been looking very hard (but perhaps not hard enough) for serious religious clipart. I'm looking for the standard that would give, for example, two hands holding a chalice, or two hands offering up a Sacred Host, plus of course any pictures of the inside of churches. Yahoo, Jeeves etc. only show me email addresses, which turn out to be standard 'comic' characters.  I'm not looking for freebies.

Gordon Hackwell, via email

The Church News Service at 37a New Cavendish Street London W1M 8RJ

should be able to help

Peter Caine,

We have also been seeking this and the best we have found to date is Christian Computer Art at http://www.cc-art.com/club.html. Free samples -- changed every month – can be found at:http://www.cc-art.com/samples/thumbs.htm
Roy Denney,

I have been using Christian clip art for years, and most of it comes from Sunrise Software International Ltd. PO Box 300, Kingstown Broadway, Carlisle, UK.  e-mail: sales@sunrise-software.com
Helena Rogers, Dorset

My friend who edits his Church Magazine uses www.reverendfun.com for
humorous non-profit use and for a wide range of serious clips he subscribes
to Church News Service, PO. Box 77, Gosport, PO12  2YT.
Dr Gordon Lodge,

A large collection of religious clipart (and photography and wallpaper and cartoons and more) can be found at http://www.crossdaily.com/.

Peter Leeson

I have a CD ROM of "Click Art" (5000 religious graphics). The firm’s web sit is http://www.learningco.com. If you want a British company you can go to www.sunrise-software.com. You may also get particular graphics by putting a search in Google e.g. there are a number of sites that have free downloads.

David Simpson,

A very comprehensive CD of religious clipart, is produced by
McCrimmon Publishing Co. Ltd., 10 High Street, Great Wakering, Southend, Essex SS3 0EQ. tel. 01702 218956
Ian Streeter, via E-mail

HEAD OF MUSIC

I sometimes hear in my head music that I have never heard, but I can't read and write music so my melodies go lost.  Is there any software that puts into written music, a tune I whistle or hum?

Franco Cavallini, via email                          

Perhaps the best-known program, which will achieve Franco Cavallini's aim is Sound2MIDI.  This converts audio from a microphone connected to the input of a sound card into MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) data. It will only work with monophonic sounds, such as those made by a clarinet or the human voice.

Sound2MIDI is designed to link to a PC musical sequencer, such as Cubase or Cakewalk.  A combination of Sound2MIDI and a sequencer would enable Mr Cavallini to hum into his microphone and see his notes appear on the stave in the sequencer.  The MIDI data thus 'captured' can then be manipulated (e.g. corrected or transposed) within the sequencer, saved and played back through the computer or a MIDI keyboard.  Sound2MIDI can also be used to build up arrangements and create rhythms.

I believe that Sound2MIDI has something of a reputation as not being straightforward to set up.  However, I recently downloaded a time-limited trial version from the developers' website (www.audioworks.com) and was able to get it working straightaway with my copy of Cakewalk Express.  I believe it works with Windows 95 and 98 but not 2000.  I do not know its compatibility with NT or XP.

Sound2MIDI costs about £60 for a fully licensed download or about £100 in a box.  However, when I tried to contact Audioworks to obtain a full licence, I found that their website is now defunct and I was unable to reach them on any of the telephone numbers given in the software.
Mike Wood,

CAN YOU HELP?

Is anyone aware of software that will enable an Audio CD to be played at slower than original speeds whilst retaining the correct musical pitch? 

Brian Yabsley via E-mail

I have a number of discs of personal letters on 5.25-inch disks created on a Commodore PET, with an 8250 double disc-drive.  The disks are dual-sided, quad density (96 tpi), soft sectored. I would like to transfer them as text to a PC. I still have an ancient Brother BCN 5000 with a 5.25 disc drive and would like to transfer them if possible, before it gives up the ghost.  Is there a PC program, which would help?

Alan Carcas, via email

Does anyone know of any software or hardware that can be used to turn a PC into an oscilloscope?

R. Kenny, Edinburgh

I would like to transfer some 8mm cine films to camcorder and would be obliged for any guidance, which readers might offer. How does one best position the camcorder relative to the cine projector? Should one have as large an image on the screen as possible or go for a smaller but perhaps sharper image? Reproduction was poor in trials I have carried out with the picture 'pulsing'. 

David Nicholson, via email