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Midi/sequencer for classic

gilles

Well-known member
Hello,

I recently saved some compact and desktop mac. I plan to use one classic to drive my old synths and expanders (D20, MT32, TR707).

I already found a working copy of cubase 2.5 (a bit tricky to run since it's a shrinkwrap image and need shrinkwrap + system7...). But the problem is that this cubase version does not run on my classic (an error occured). It runs ok on my G3 beige.

For the midi part I have an expander that can do midi in/out and is connected via a 'to host' cable to the mac (yamaha CBX-T3).

I have plenty of atari ST but I really find this classic nice and perfect for that task.

Does anyone use classics for music? do you have good sites addresses?

 

gilles

Well-known member
with lots of tries...

I found how to run cubase on the classic (I needed to upgrade to system >=7.0 and to use shrinkwrap 2.1 to mount the image). Cubase 2.5 runs ok on my classic... but not on my powermac G3. it seems to run but it crashes when I setup the modem port as a midi port.

I also installed performer 3 on the beige, that is probably the software I'll use. I now need to find a midi interface for my son (8years old), he will use the classic to drive his midi keyboard.

 

Bunsen

Admin-Witchfinder-General
You understand the difference between 68k and PowerPC (PPC) code, right? The beige G3 is built around a PowerPC CPU, and the Classics/Pluses etc are all 68k.

Programs will run on one or the other, but not both. Exceptions being:

  • 68k programs will run on PPC machines in a 68k emulator built into the Mac operating system. This doesn't always work smoothly, especially with very early programs.
  • Programs written around the time of the changeover (mid-90s) which might be distributed as "fat binaries", containing code for both platforms.


By the way, that's a really nice collection of older hardware you have there. I use a TR-707 myself, using the individual outs to trigger my Simmons SDS-8 analog drum synth, and a Roland PMA-5 for sampled voices and patterns. (Amongst other gear)

D20 = Roland keyboard? That, IIRC, should also have a "To host" or "Mac/PC" MiniDIN-8 connector. If that is the keyboard your son is using, he should be able to connect it directly to the Mac.

Mac serial MIDI adapters turn up in the Trading Post forum here from time to time. One just changed hands recently.

You might also be interested in the "Deep Synthesis" site, which hosts information on old synths, and patches for SoundDiver to unlock hidden or advanced programming methods:

Yamaha TG-100/CBX-T3

Roland D-10/D-110 series (inc. D-20)

Roland MT-32

 

gilles

Well-known member
I knew that cubase 2.5 was a bit too early for a G3 but since it was mostly working... Maybe I'll use my centris 650 as a fast 68k machine... still trying many software to choose what will be the best. It may be protools free since the macgarden's copy of Performer 3 is not very stable on my machine. Protools midi is a bit special... but I think I can use it...

For the D20 keyboard, unfortunatly it's too old to have a serial port, only classic midi in, out and thru. It's my own keyboard, my son has a yamaha Portasound (2 FM operators + pcm rythm).

My setup is now to use the cbx/t3 with its to-host cable, the D20 is plugged in cbx midi in and the other generators are behind midi out from cbx. Internal cbx sounds are correct but edition seems limited, so I'll probably use an MT32 that has plenty of good editors.

I've seen some cheap macman on ebay, I'll probably get one next month for my son.

Anyway it's just for fun, I do not really produce music, I just play with the hardware...

 
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