Midi interface and performer for Mac Classic

[juanjavier]

Hi everyone, this is my first post in this forum.

I am planning to buy a Macintosh Classic for MIDI purposes in a few days :b&w:. But I need someone to tell me how could I get a Midi to serial box (the one those computers use) as well as buying a copy of MOTU performer, which, afaik should be 2.31.

Where should I lead my steps? :-/

Any help would be appreciated. [] ]'>

 

[Mac128]

Any MIDI interface box with a serial connection will work it is just hardware any Mac compatible sequencer will use. Check eBay, or your local music shop which may still have a few. As for Performer, I need to see if my copy can be duplicated in order to make an image as it seems to be extremely difficult to find these old copies. I got mine on eBay to go with a a vintage copy of Composer I've had since college. Set up a custom search on eBay for a year and just sit back and wait for it to alert you to a copy for sale.

 

[juanjavier]

..., or your local music shop which may still have a few.

---I doubt it. Shops tend to sell stuff of nowadays, and it is difficult to find one that sells 20-year-ago-stuff, although who knows.... [?]

As for Performer, I need to see if my copy can be duplicated in order to make an image as it seems to be extremely difficult to find these old copies. I got mine on eBay to go with a a vintage copy of Composer I've had since college.

---Kindly keep me informed on this.

Set up a custom search on eBay for a year and just sit back and wait for it to alert you to a copy for sale.

---No idea of how is that done. Will investigate it though perhaps you could help. [] ]'>

Last but not least: is this "2× mini-DIN-8 RS-422 serial ports (printer, modem, AppleTalk)" connection what is supposed to be used for MIDI? I copy-pasted from the "connections" section in the Wikipedia page for the Classic.

I supposed that these mini-DIN8 are suitable for MIDI. Any of them?

Kind regards.

 

[paws]

No, you get or build a small box called a MIDI interface which has MIDI ports and plugs into one of those ports. It doesn't do MIDI directly.

 

[beachycove]

I may have one of those boxes, newly arrived in a box of stuff. I'll check on it. Have anything to trade?

 

[porter]

Where should I lead my steps? :-/

I've got a little MIDI adapter for an old macintosh, it simply plugs into one of the serial port and provides one input and a couple of outputs.

It works with "MIDI Manager", which is system software from Apple and provides an application called "PatchBay" which lets you plug and play with physical and logical midi connections.

The idea is that "MIDI Manager" aware applications publish some inputs and outputs, then the patch bay can be used to wire them up, just like the mess of wires between keyboards, synths, drumboxes and expanders.

I used to use it with a Yamaha QY10.

Make me an offer, I'm in New Zealand.

 

[Bunsen]

The slightly more modern and stable alternative to Apple Midi Manager is called OMS. It may require System 7, I can't recall.

The QY10 was my first piece of music hardware If it, like some 80s-90s gear, actually has a mini-DIN serial port as well as MIDI, you can in fact plug it straight into a Mac without a MIDI converter. If you like the sound of that, keep an eye out for a Roland Sound Canvas or Roland PMA-5. You can also find some older Roland keyboard/synths with the Mac serial plug.

There are schematics floating around for building your own Mac MIDI converters - they're pretty simple, and you could probably bodge one up in half an hour once you have the parts.

 

[Mac128]

..., or your local music shop which may still have a few.

---I doubt it. Shops tend to sell stuff of nowadays, and it is difficult to find one that sells 20-year-ago-stuff, although who knows.... [?]

The interface is not that old. The mini-din 8 was the standard serial port on the Macintosh until 1999. So it's barely 9 year old technology. Here's an example of a retailer who still sells them because a lot of this old gear is still in use in studios. If your local shop doesn't have one, they can likely get it, but you will pay a premium over buying a used one.

Set up a custom search on eBay for a year and just sit back and wait for it to alert you to a copy for sale.

---No idea of how is that done. Will investigate it though perhaps you could help. [] ]'>

You set up an eBay account then do a search for MIDI and then save the search in your account.

Last but not least: is this "2× mini-DIN-8 RS-422 serial ports (printer, modem, AppleTalk)" connection what is supposed to be used for MIDI?
I supposed that these mini-DIN8 are suitable for MIDI. Any of them?

The serial ports are what you plug the MIDI interface into. Either of them will work, however, if you want to use AppleTalk at the same time, or print, you should not use the printer port.

 

[juanjavier]

There are schematics floating around for building your own Mac MIDI converters - they're pretty simple, and you could probably bodge one up in half an hour once you have the parts.

Hi, Bunsen. The trouble is that I am not proficient in electronics, but perhaps may find someone that is. Could you point me any schematics? I saw one there in the internet and felt completely unable; it overflows me.

http://home.concepts-ict.nl/~nctnico/midi/macbasic.gif

...and the like.

The serial ports are what you plug the MIDI interface into. Either of them will work, however, if you want to use AppleTalk at the same time, or print, you should not use the printer port.

----Crystal clear. Thanks.

t works with "MIDI Manager", which is system software from Apple and provides an application called "PatchBay" which lets you plug and play with physical and logical midi connections.

 

[juanjavier]

The slightly more modern and stable alternative to Apple Midi Manager is called OMS. It may require System 7, I can't recall.

---That would be perfect. I have got System 7 on a Mac Classic. Chances are that OMS would be a far better option.

I would be using the Mac with Cubase and a pair of rhythm units. I know I began stating I would use Performer, but I find Cubase a much better option for my specific needs.

Where could I get/buy OMS? Do I strictly need it to work with Cubase and Midiman MacMan adapter?

Here's the MacMan, from Midiman:

http://personales.ya.com/juanjavier_xxx/1e3a_1.JPG

Regards...

 

[juanjavier]

I am planning to buy a Macintosh Classic for MIDI purposes in a few days :b&w:. But I need someone to tell me how could I get a copy of MOTU performer, which, afaik should be 2.31.

Where should I lead my steps? :-/

Any help would be appreciated. [] ]'>

--Ok, I managed to get the Classic and install 7.0.1 on it.

Does anybody know how could I get/buy/purchase a copy of the old Performer for ancient 68k mac or any other midi sequencing program that were in vogue those days?

Note: Old Cubase 2.5. is known not to work within system 7.0.1.

Which software then?

Thanks for a quick reply....

 

[juanjavier]

Note: Old Cubase 2.5. is known not to work within system 7.0.1.
Which software then?

Thanks for a quick reply....

---Just...Cubase.

Problem solved.

Thanks to everyone who helped, especially Leosadvs, Luddite and Porter.

Simply downloading dtools75.zip from here, which creates a bootdisk with a minimal system 7.5 with no full-install required, did the thing. Cubase2.5.1r3.img expanded itself onto the desktop and inside its icon was the Cubase executable with no protection, just straight ahead into the program.

For the romantic professional musicians out there....

Enjoy Cubase on the Macintosh Classic!!! ;D ;D

 

[Buickguy]

Hi everyone, sorry to chime in so late on this subject but I just joined the board.

I too have been looking for Performer. I particularly need a copy of Performer 4.2, the resource disk for Performer 4.1 or a copy of Performer 5.02.

I do have a working copy of Performer 2.2 which runs in System 6 and fits on a 400k floppy