issue08

EMUSIC-L Digest                                      Volume 51, Issue 08

This issue's topics:
	
	Null Modem (7 messages)
	Outbound

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Date:         Fri, 23 Apr 1993 18:30:25 PDT
From:         Mike Friesen 
Subject:      Null Modem

May the net-gods (real or self-proclaimed) forgive me if this is a
misplaced posting...

I'm looking for a null-modem for my PB100. Here's why: in conversation with
assorted folk I have come to understand that the 100's printer port won't
handle full-bandwidth MIDI. The fix, I'm told, is to install a null-modem:
something that taps into the modem handling hardware but has, instead of a
phone jack, a serial port. This serial port IS, apparently, capable of
handling MIDI at full speed. The last bit of info which I can offer is that
this thing supposedly costs about $50.

New or used (but functional) doesn't matter, so if you're unloading or
upgrading, let me know!

Can anybody help me on this? Please reply via 'list or privately at:
        mifriese@cln.etc.bc.ca

Thanks muchly!!



********************************************************
Michael Friesen             North Peace Secondary School
        Fort St. John, British Columbia, Canada
I've got a piece of brain lodged in my head! - Mr. Gumby
********************************************************

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Date:         Sat, 24 Apr 1993 09:20:18 PDT
From:         metlay 
Subject:      Re: Null Modem

>I'm looking for a null-modem for my PB100. Here's why: in conversation with
>assorted folk I have come to understand that the 100's printer port won't
>handle full-bandwidth MIDI. The fix, I'm told, is to install a null-modem:
>something that taps into the modem handling hardware but has, instead of a
>phone jack, a serial port. This serial port IS, apparently, capable of
>handling MIDI at full speed. The last bit of info which I can offer is that
>this thing supposedly costs about $50.

They don't exist. You can't get them. Apple and Sony have made it illegal
for them to be built by withholding the chips one needs to do so. One
company announced that they were going to release such a beastie, which
was called the Second Serial Port Card for the PB100, and when I called
to ask for details their technician told me that Apple had submarined
the project and it would never ship. Sorry, but that's the breaks. And
according to my and Nick Rothwell's tests, the printer port CAN handle
full bandwidth MIDI, just fine; I am merely not convinced that it can
do so while maintaining external sync, and I don't think that changing
ports will make a bit of difference.

--
mike metlay * atomic city * box 81175 pgh pa 15217-0675 * metlay@netcom.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I bow to the obvious superiority of a culture that coins words like "snog."

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Date:         Sat, 24 Apr 1993 23:55:08 PDT
From:         Mike Friesen 
Subject:      Re: Null Modem

Thanks for the tip, Mike. Much appreciated.

By the by, I thought that the Clint Eastwood reference was, if somewhat
obscure, at least kinda cute. Speaking (at least marginally) four
languages, I can vouch for the problems involved in having to 'think' in a
given language.



Michael Friesen             North Peace Secondary School
        Fort St. John, British Columbia, Canada
It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury...
********************************************************

------------------------------
Date:         Sun, 25 Apr 1993 10:05:33 +0000
From:         Nick Rothwell 
Subject:      Re: Null Modem

>Here's why: in conversation with
>assorted folk I have come to understand that the 100's printer port won't
>handle full-bandwidth MIDI.

It will, as far as I can tell, but that's an aside...

>The fix, I'm told, is to install a null-modem:
>something that taps into the modem handling hardware but has, instead of a
>phone jack, a serial port.

AFAIK it's not a null-modem because it requires line drivers. Empire
Engineering were shipping a kit last summer but got stomped on by Sony. If
you DO find out about getting this kit or others, please let me know.

>This serial port IS, apparently, capable of
>handling MIDI at full speed.

I would presume this to be the case (if Doug Wyatt has implemented the fix
for the PB100 as well as the 140/170); but without fixed drivers I don't
see the printer and modem ports being any different. A second PB100 port
would certainly be useful, though.

                        Nick Rothwell   |   cassiel@cassiel.demon.co.uk
     CASSIEL Contemporary Music/Dance   |   cassiel@cix.compulink.co.uk

------------------------------
Date:         Sun, 25 Apr 1993 10:27:13 PDT
From:         metlay 
Subject:      Re: Null Modem

>Thanks for the tip, Mike. Much appreciated.

Believe me, I wish I were wrong about this.

>By the by, I thought that the Clint Eastwood reference was, if somewhat
>obscure, at least kinda cute. Speaking (at least marginally) four
>languages, I can vouch for the problems involved in having to 'think' in a
>given language.

But the movie was soooooooBAAAAAADD....!

--
mike metlay * atomic city * box 81175 pgh pa 15217-0675 * metlay@netcom.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I bow to the obvious superiority of a culture that coins words like "snog."

------------------------------
Date:         Mon, 26 Apr 1993 01:44:03 -0700
From:         Michael O'Hara 
Subject:      Re: Null Modem

Reagarding the PB100 and MIDI

The PB100 (and the Portable) can both (just barely) handle MIDI..

Only the 140 and 170 had problems, related to a (IMHO) badly designed
Power Manager Protocol.

For those who would be interested, I have a design (my own) that implements
a
self-powered MIDI adapter on even the portable..  This design is adaptable
to the internal modem port on the PB100 if anyone is interested.

------------------------------
Date:         Mon, 26 Apr 1993 15:46:35 +0200
From:         Hmeljak Dimitrij 
Subject:      Re: Null Modem

>I would presume this to be the case (if Doug Wyatt has implemented the fix
>for the PB100 as well as the 140/170); but without fixed drivers I don't
>see the printer and modem ports being any different. A second PB100 port
>would certainly be useful, though.

yes, and perhaps even more for musical applications:
the PB100 has only 1 serial port and NO sound input port!
So I can't use it because I use a MIDI interface and sound input
at the same time, and I would at least need 2 serial ports to connect
a MIDI interface and, for example, a MacRecorder with its driver for
the new sound manager. But so... the PB100 is OUT for me.
Or is there any other solution?

Dimitrij Hmeljak
hmeljakd@uts340.univ.trieste.it

------------------------------
Date:         Mon, 19 Apr 1993 10:44:54 CDT
From:         John Eichenseer 
Subject:      Re: Outbound

>>PS - anybody wanna buy an Outbound 2030E? (shaddup, metlay)
>
>What! Did I say ANYTHING?! It's a great little computer and we both know
>it; damn good for MIDI and cheap to upgrade, too. What? WHAT?!

Indeed - I like it a whole hell of a lot, actually... the only problem I have
 come across yet, though, may be a showstopper. I can't wedge a SMPTE sync on
 the little guy. PB170 works fine. I am going to make some attempt to get Opcode
 and Outbound together on this; Opcode has been suprised at the number of calls
 they get from Outbound users, and are therefoore interested in supporting it
 officially. We'll see... in the meantime, I have a 170 I can use.

My first impression of the used market for Outbounds is a little
 disheartening... :-) wish me luck.

-jhno

( () ))  (  ((( ))   ) ))))) ( )((()) (  ( ))   (  )    ) (    ((( )  (()((()
John Eichenseer                                                  Delicate Ear
eichen@trilogy.com                                             (512) 458-6474

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