[Coco] The MultiSensory Sound Laboratory, Part 2

[Jim Brain (GCCC President)]

Best viewed on our web page:

https://www.glensideccc.com/the-multisensory-sound-laboratory-part-2/

Recently, I had the opportunity to chat with Norman Lederman, of Oval 
Window Audio <http://www.ovalwindowaudio.com/> 
(http://www.ovalwindowaudio.com/) about his company’s MultiSensory Sound 
Laboratory (MSSL). The solution, detailed in my previous note 
<https://www.glensideccc.com/the-multisensory-sound-laboratory-part-1/>, 
utilized a TANDY Color Computer, as well as an Audio Spectrum Analyzer 
cartridge, to help hearing impaired students “see” sound. I’d been added 
to the conversation after Norman initially contacted our past treasurer 
Eric Canales. As part of the discussion, Norman noted that his company 
was no longer offering the solution to schools and other educational 
facilities and he was interested in donating some excess stock to our club.

Glenside Color Computer Club is always interested in donations, and I 
told told Norman as much. Given that Norman (and the donations) were in 
Colorado, we arranged to have the items shipped. Norman described what 
would be arriving in the shipment, but I was not prepared for what I saw 
as I opened the 4 boxes.

Within the shipment was eleven (11!) brand new TANDY Color Computer 3 
units, in original plastic, mint in box. They do not look like they were 
ever touched. In addition, the shipment included 10 (one was shipped 
later and does not appear in the pictures) Ramsey Music Lights kits 
(used to to create the LumaSound light tower in the Multi-Sensory Sound 
Laboratory setup, and 9 Audio Spectrum Analyzer cartridges. Some have 
standard retail cartridge packaging, but a few sport a plain gray label 
with typewritten text.

After the shipment arrived, Norman called me and discussed the MSSL 
project/product in more detail, while I shared some background on GCCC 
and the Color Computer community in general. I told him the club was 
very grateful for the donation, and we would work to ensure these items 
are enjoyed by our membership. Except for 1 of the Ramsey light kits 
(which I hope to solder up in hopes of creating an MSSL setup for the 
2026 CoCoFEST!), the units will be stored in expectation of finding a 
new home during our 2026 show. And yes, if someone can point me to a 
cartridge reader program, I’ll cover the “CART” pin and see if the 
differently marked Audio Spectrum Analyzer cartridges contain different 
code than the regular version.

Jim

-- 
Jim Brain, President
Glenside Color Computer Club (GCCC)
president at glensideccc.com
www.glensideccc.com