I started to work on SoundSmith while writing LaserForce. I needed high quality music and the Sound API simply did not work. I tried to contact Apple on several occasions on the subject but there was no response. Information on the Ensoniq sound chip was really sketchy but it was really the only way to go.

About the same time one of my friends who owned a Commodore Amiga computer invited me home to play some games and he showed me a tracker playing Cambodia (by Kim Wilde). I was stunned by the quality of the audio and when I left I was carrying a copy of the file in my pocket.

Music was not really something I was really interested in but I had to learn quickly in order to write the player. You have no idea how many times I had to listen to distorted versions of Cambodio before it finally played back correctly...

The music for LaserForce was written on an Amiga computer since there was no editor available for the Apple IIgs. However, as soon as I completed work on that game I started working on what would become SoundSmith.

The program became an instant success. Writing shareware may not be the best way to become rich but it is a great way to know people from all over the world and very gratifying.

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SoundSmith original documentation
SoundSmith file format documentation