What it runs on
Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000, XP, Vista.
CD drive required for installation.
Processor power and memory capacity conforming to Microsoft’s recommendation for the Windows version.
10MB of free disk space.
What it does
Abel lets you practise method ringing and call changes on your PC. You can practise anything from call-changes on three, through plain hunt and bob doubles, to Surprise Maximus, and up to 100-Spliced 24-in. You can ring any bell, or two (or four!) if you’re a handbell ringer. At home, you use the PC keyboard to ring your chosen bell(s) and Abel rings the rest, letting you practise the blue line of any method or touch, or practise call changes, and get used to ringing in perfect rhythm. You can ring a touch or changes from a library (including random touches, different each time you ring them), or call them yourself. When you go wrong in the middle of something, Abel lets you go back a bit and try again. You can also connect dummy handbells, or dumbells, for more realistic home practice. You can print out (and preview) plain courses of methods, or touches, in similar style to the RW Diary or Diagrams, or various other styles.
Abel has real tower or handbell sound, and shows sally/tail or handbells at back/hand, scrolling blue line, calls and method changes (spoken too), etc. You can use recordings of your own bells, or change the bell/sally/backstroke graphics. There are many options, including speed of the ringing, pitch and scale of the bells, cartwheeling, tenors behind, call changes up or down, half muffled, MIDI sound, etc.
Even people new to ringing and/or PCs say they find Abel extremely easy to use. More than 3500 ringers have bought Abel, and it is used in hundreds of towers.
Libraries used
microSIRIL and private library supplied with software.
What it costs
Abel costs £20. All profits go to charity, including Bell Restoration. Updates are free (download from website).
Where to get it and/or more information
Buy as a download from http://www.abelsim.co.uk, or, for a CD also containing extra software which may be needed for Windows 95 or an early version of Windows 98, send a cheque for £22 made out to AbelSim to: Chris Hughes, 8 Daisy Bank Crescent, Audlem, Crewe, CW3 OHD, UK
Further information, including the Ringing World review of Abel, is on the website at http://www.abelsim.co.uk
