EMUSIC-L Digest Volume 40, Issue 02 This issue's topics: Computers for live performance (7 messages) Your EMUSIC-L Digest moderator is Joe McMahon . You may subscribe to EMUSIC-L by sending mail to listserv@american.edu with the line "SUB EMUSIC-L your name" as the text. The EMUSIC-L archive is a service of SunSite (sunsite.unc.edu) at the University of North Carolina. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Fri, 8 May 1992 09:26:00 MDT From: Jim Logue Subject: Portable performance You could look into the Midiator MIDI interface - it doesn't need a slot. It uses a port, instead. I'm not familiar with the software issues, tho-, don't know what will work with it, but check it out. Jim Logue Univ of Utah ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 8 May 1992 09:11:29 CDT From: Joseph Fosco Subject: Computers for live performance A question for those of you who use computers in live performance situations - What type of computer do you use? I currently have a IBM desktop model that I transport, but this is a real pain (especially the monitor). I'd like to move to a laptop, but I'd want two expansion slots (1 for MIDI, 1 for a D to A board). Unfortunately, it seems that it is not really in fashion to include expansion slots in laptops. Any suggestions - does anyone use the serial MIDI ports available? How do these work. I'm not averse to looking at the Mac, but it seems the same problems exist and the prices are higher? I'd be very interested in knowing what people use and the problems/advantages they see. Thanks. Joseph Fosco Internet: b38669@anlvm.anl.ctd.gov Bitnet: b38669@anlvm ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 8 May 1992 10:29:38 EDT From: tjt@BLINK.ATT.COM Subject: re: Computers for live performance > I currently have a IBM desktop model that I transport, but this is > a real pain (especially the monitor). I'd like to move to a > laptop, but I'd want two expansion slots (1 for MIDI, > 1 for a D to A board). Unfortunately, it seems that > it is not really in fashion to include expansion slots in laptops. The Toshiba 3200SX is a portable (no batteries) that has 2 slots, 1 16-bit and 1 8-bit. The 8-bit slot only accepts half-size cards (which MIDI cards are). We've found one full-size card that is too tall to fit in the 16-bit slot. ...Tim... ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 8 May 1992 10:30:00 EDT From: RAY BROHINSKY Subject: Re: Computers for live performance Joseph Fosco asks about slots in laptops: If you're in big money, there are lunchbox machines that have lots of slots, screens from gas-plasma to color LCD, don't use batteries, and work well with their slots. The Dolch line of luggables are somehting I've had experience with: we ran a much more sensitive system than just E-music from one, consisting of a pipelined pixel processor (which interfaced through a board in the PC peripheral bus), two serial ports (mouse and rotater) a board with a D/A (to a phase modulator) and a WORM drive for archiving the metrological holograms the system produced. We dragged this thing all over the state and into the next, and everyone who used it (we'd set it up and leave it, and most of the users were holographers and NDT scientists, not computer users) loved it. OTOH, I just saw a Microsoft seminar which was run off a compaq Slt in its docking station. He used a TV projector, but not much else as peripherals. Still, and all, the whole shebang is briefcase size (for a slightly larger briefcase 8^) and worked flawlessly. He had lots of multimedia boards in it, but didn't show too much more than the CD ROM interface. Then again, and this is really into uncharted territories, Most notebooks of the 386 and up variety have some kind of docking station or expansion box. The box we got with the DataWorld NB386 hasn't been pressed into service yet, but it looks like it shouldn't have any inherent problems. One thing I can say: the expansion boxes for hanging off the back of the Compaq Portable 386 and it's sisters is not very good. I could never get a second serial port working in one, although it supported the register board for the pixel processor and the Metrabyte D/A board OK. I would still recommend against these for road use. raybro ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 8 May 1992 17:56:27 +0000 From: Nick Rothwell Subject: Re: Computers for live performance >I'm not averse to looking at the Mac, but it seems the same problems >exist and the prices are higher? Macs use the serial ports for MIDI so there's not the same problem - you can run multiplexing interfaces to get more cables and channels. I'm going to be going onstage with a Mac PowerBook driving a MIDI Time Piece (128 channels, 8 cables) and a Mac SE/30 running two Opcode MIDI Translators (16 channels each). Nick. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 9 May 1992 16:49:00 CDT From: Z3CBN@TTACS.BITNET Subject: RE: Computers for live performance Joseph, I am a devout MAC user ( apple has been good to me ) I really don't know much ab out IBM and their MIDI abilities but I'll tell you what I know about MAC. The top of the line portable mac was the SE/30 it has great speed and processing ability. I have used it live (still do ) wiht performer many times and never had a problem yet.(keep fingers crossed ) I even assisted composer Sally Reid of Abilene Christian University ( Reid@acuvax.bitnet ) w/ a Symphony She composed for orch. and synthesizers. The modules were slaved in real time to the orch. w/ many tracks and sounds. This went beautifully with only one SE/30 in control. This may be of some interest also. Apple has a new line of "lap tops" that seem to be very good. I do not have one but here are the specs on the most powerful one. well, here are two sets of specs. MAC powerbook 140 retail 2999.00 68030 processor ( same as SE/30 ) 4 mb ram expan. to 8 mb 40 MB internal hard disk 10 in. LCD display 2 expansion slots, one for modem, one for RAM 2 serial ports SCSI port ADB port nicad baterry w/ charger and AC power adapt. ave batt. life 2.5 - 3 hrs. wgt. 6.8 lbs. ( this is # M1227LL/A ) also M1268LL/A Powerbook 140 retail $3299.00 same as above except 80 MB internal disk M1174LL/A Powerbook 170 same as 140 except has 10 in. Active Matrix display retail ( hold on ) 4299.00 is an active display worht $1000.00 ? M1057LL/A powerbook 170 same as above w/ data/fax modem added rtl. 4599.00 M1267LL/A powerbook 170 same as above W/ 80 MB hard disk ( no modem) rtl. 4599.00 I really think that the powerbook # M1227LL/A "140" is a good buy. I know it's expensive,but I like it's features and performer has just come out w/ a new upgrade specifically for this machine. Also, Apple wins my praises for their support of their products. My SE/30 recently hyad a motherboard melt down that affected the hard and floppy drives. (1175.00 parts only ) the warranty in the manual said 90 days I was informed that on the SE/30, I had one year, my year had lapsed by 4 days. 6 by the time I could get it to a service center. They not only warranted the repairs but, they replaced my hard drive w/ a newer faster drive, up graded my floppy to a 1.44 MB drive and had it all done in less than 24 hrs. all for free, I didn't even have to pay labor. 3 cheers for Apple. ( also, they retrieved my entire volume from the bad hard disk) try that w/ any IBM or clone and I bet you will have to pay big for repairs or a new system. anyway, just some thoughts for you Cliff ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 11 May 1992 12:47:03 +0000 From: Nick Rothwell Subject: RE: Computers for live performance >Joseph, >I am a devout MAC user Me too. I'll be going onstage in a few weeks with a Mac SE/30 running Opcode's MAX and a PowerBook 140 running Performer. They'll be networked together using the MIDI Time Piece on one of the machines and a pair of Opcode MIDI Translators on the other. (Because I'm using OMS I can quickly reconfigure either machine to drive the MTP in its high-speed multi-cable mode or a couple of conventional interfaces.) I've been rehearsing with this setup for a few weeks and it seems fine. And, yes, the PowerBooks are beautiful machines (certainly the 140 and 170 are). Quite apart from technical use on stage, it's extremely useful to be able to carry a powerful Mac (40meg HD, 8 megs RAM) around when trying to get a live show organised - I'm forever noting phone numbers and rehearsal bookings, taking notes of technical and stage management problems, faxing press releases to the local papers, and so on... Nick. ------------------------------ End of the EMUSIC-L Digest ******************************