Romantic Robot
{{Infobox company
| name = Romantic Robot
| logo = RRLogo2.jpg
| logo_size =
| foundation = London, UK
({{start date and age|1983}})
| key_people = Alexander Goldscheider, Ondřej Kořínek
| homepage = [http://www.romantic-robot.com Romantic Robot]
}}
Romantic Robot is a small independent British company that publishes classical music recordings. In the 1980s it designed and produced peripherals and software for home computers.
History
Romantic Robot was founded in London in 1983 by Czech-born Alexander Goldscheider and Ondřej Kořínek. The company sold hardware and software for the ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, and later Atari ST home computers. After Kořínek left the company in 1990, Romantic Robot specialised in music production and publishing.
Home computer peripherals
The company's primary hardware product was the Multiface series of interface devices which allowed dumping and retrieval of the computer's RAM contents to external storage devices such as disk drives, as well as utilities for viewing and disassembling that data. The first in the series was the Multiface One for the ZX Spectrum.{{cite web|url=http://www.worldofspectrum.org/hardware/feat25.html|title=Hardware Feature|website=www.worldofspectrum.org}} It was followed by the Multiface Two{{cite web|url=http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Multiface_II|title=Multiface II - CPCWiki|website=www.cpcwiki.eu}} for the Amstrad CPC, the Multiface 128 for the Spectrum 128,{{cite web|url=http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekid.cgi?id=1000273|title=Multiface 128 - World of Spectrum|website=www.worldofspectrum.org}} the Multiface 3 for the Spectrum +3{{cite web|url=http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekid.cgi?id=1000274|title=Multiface +3 - World of Spectrum|website=www.worldofspectrum.org}} and the Multiface ST for the Atari ST. Other peripherals developed and sold by Romantic Robot were the Multiprint printer interface{{cite web|url=http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekid.cgi?id=1000276|title=Multiprint - World of Spectrum|website=www.worldofspectrum.org}} and the Videoface{{cite web|url=http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekid.cgi?id=0012523|title=Romantic Robot Videoface - World of Spectrum|website=www.worldofspectrum.org}} video capture peripheral, both for the ZX Spectrum.
Home computer software
Software published by the company included utility programs and games:
- Trans-Express (ZX Spectrum) - a suite of utilities for copying data between media such as cassette tape, ZX Microdrive, Rotronics Wafadrive and Opus Discovery floppy disk
- Music Typewriter (ZX Spectrum) - a program for writing, editing and printing music notation
- Genie (ZX Spectrum) - disassembler for use with the Multiface 1
- Lifeguard (ZX Spectrum) - infinite lives finder program for use with the Multiface 1
- Insider (Amstrad CPC) - disassembler for the Multiface 2
- Rodos (Amstrad CPC) - alternative Disk Operating System
- Wriggler (ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC) - game{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/No-Artist-Alexander-Goldscheider-Wriggler/release/6247463|title=No Artist / Alexander Goldscheider - Wriggler|website=Discogs|date=1985 }}
- Steeplejack (ZX Spectrum) - game
Music
The company released a double CD Terezín: The Music 1941-44, followed by Aaron Copland: An American in Prague{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Aaron-Copland-Czech-Philharmonic-Orchestra-An-American-In-Prague/release/2009910|title=Aaron Copland Conducts The Czech Philharmonic Orchestra - An American In Prague|website=Discogs|date=1993 }} and Alexander Goldscheider's own productions such as Stabat Mater{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Alexander-Goldscheider-K%C3%BChn-Mixed-Choir-Stabat-Mater-Ave-Maria/release/2009466|title=Alexander Goldscheider, Kühn Mixed Choir - Stabat Mater (Ave Maria)|website=Discogs|date=2007 }} and The Song of Songs.{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Alexander-GoldscheiderJaroslava-Maxov%C3%A1Jaroslav-B%C5%99ezinaRomantic-Robot-Orchestra-The-Song-Of-Songs/release/2009220|title=Alexander Goldscheider, Romantic Robot Orchestra, Jaroslava Maxová, Jaroslav Březina - The Song Of Songs|website=Discogs|date=2006 }} It also designed the website of Czech conductor Jiří Bělohlávek.
References
External links
- [http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekpub.cgi?regexp=%5eRomantic+Robot+UK+Ltd$ Sinclair Infoseek]
- [https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.php?cat=999&label_id=12587 Spectrum Computing]
- [http://live.worldofspectrum.org/infoseek/magazines/crash/26#86 Multiface One review]
- [http://quasar.cpcscene.com/doku.php?id=dossier:mf2 Multiface Two description]
- [http://live.worldofspectrum.org/infoseek/magazines/your-sinclair/21#26 Romantic Robot UK Ltd advert]
- [https://archive.org/stream/your-sinclair-30/YourSinclair_30_Jun_1988#page/n55/mode/2up Romantic Robot UK Ltd advert]
Gallery
File:RR Trans-Express inlay.jpg|Trans-Express
File:Multiface 1.jpg|Multiface One
File:Multiface Two.jpg|Multiface Two
File:Multiface 128.jpg|Multiface 128
File:Videoface.jpg|Videoface
File:Multiface ST.jpg|Multiface ST
File:Wriggler200.jpg|Wriggler
File:Music Typewriter.jpg|Music Typewriter keyboard overlay
File:Terezin 1941-44.jpg|Terezín: The Music 1941–44
File:The Song of Songs.jpg|The Song of Songs
File:Stabat Mater Alexander Goldscheider.jpg|Stabat Mater