Apple PowerBook 1xx series computers and MIDI | |||||
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This document contains the sum of Atomic City's current knowledge of MIDI with respect to the Apple Powerbook computers, containing the findings of recent tests of the 100, 140, and 170, combined with late-breaking new results. We hope you find it useful. [Why maintain a document on such old computers? Because they're cheap and they work! - JM] The PowerBook 100 The 100 works fine if you keep in mind that it's only a 16MHz 68000; Finale can make it choke. Old versions of Alchemy won't boot, but that's not a PB problem. The "big name" software we were able to try (Performer, Vision, Cubase, UpBeat, Galaxy, and MAX) runs fine. It's a good idea to disable Appletalk, and have software up and running under MIDI Manager. (Actually, on the 100, you MUST disable AppleTalk, as it will grab and munge the only available port for MIDI, the printer port.) If you use Opcode stuff, OMS goes a long way toward deglitching your work. We weren't able to test everything in the universe (the test occurred as part of a recording session, not as an end in itself, but that fact got trimmed from the article in EM), but here are some highlights....
The PowerBook 140, 145, and 170 [and 180 - JM] Nick Rothwell owns a PB140, which he only considered reliable for output (it lost a LOT of data on input, not just long sysex dumps. Apple was wrong on that point, as on many other points) until a recent Tech Note suggestion by Apple was augmented and implemented by Opcode in a new version of OMS, 1.2beta. Under 1.2b, the input problem is solved, but incoming data loses its timestamping. We're still testing just how bad a problem these 6 msec hiccups can be. NOTE that this fix only works for interfaces attached to the Modem port! The printer port is and always will be unreliable, apparently, for input. In his own words, Nick says: "I haven't hammered my machine heavily yet (and won't be doing until the next live project I have to prepare, in which case I'll be using both PowerBooks), but the tests I did (including SMPTE lockup) suggested the PB140 is OK. 6msec isn't too bad, but you can hear/feel that length of time." The 170 should have no differences in performance than the 140 or 145. [The same applies for the 180 - JM]
Future designs
According to the latest technical data, the 160 and 180 will suffer
from the same problems as the 140, 145, and 170 [This has been confirmed
since this document was last updated - JM]. There is not enough
data available to render a judgement on the Duos [Later experience has found them not particularly good at MIDI - JM]. We are not authorized
beta testers of these machines [which helps date the original version of
this document, doesn't it? 1992 or thereabouts - JM], and cannot promise any early results
at this time. If we do learn something of use, we will see to it that
the Editor of EM, who has been very kind and helpful in his efforts
to relay our findings to a larger audience, will hear of it and pass
it along.
Summary
We hope this helps possible Powerbook buyers with any decision they
make. Our findings neither carry nor imply any guarantees from
ourselves or any of the manufacturers involved (especially Apple!).
We would, in closing, like to compliment Opcode on the excellent
reliability of OMS on the Powerbooks, and to thank Doug Wyatt for the
1.2beta patch that renders the costlier Powerbooks at least partially
reliable.( We would also LIKE to express our opinion of Apple's
handling of the whole MIDI question, Powerbook and MIDI Manager
support included, but we'll refrain for legal reasons.)
Please feel free to write or email me with any comments; we do not plan
any addenda to this study at this time, but circumstances may change.
Michael Metlay
Atomic City
P. O. Box 17083
Boulder, CO 80308-0083 USA
Many thanks to Nick Rothwell of CASSIEL for his technical expertise,
and to Eirikur Hallgrimsson of DEC for his input and encouragement.
[These notes compiled by me as a follow-on to the original version of
this document, which is about ten years old at this point - JM]
The Unofficial Information Alley site notes that the MIDI Mangler control panel helps a good bit with MIDI on the PB 100 series, freeing up the ports from the Chooser. See the PowerBook MIDI Problems and Workarounds page for more information; mostly this page says what this one does, adding a little technical information on the exact cause of the problems (related to power management).
Support software
The Open Music System (OMS) is the standard for MIDI management. OMS provides detailed descriptions that define your studio setups. Display and edit your MIDI setup on-screen with colorful icons that illustrate connections to MIDI interfaces, sound cards and instruments. OMS allows access your studio by instrument and patch name.
This is Apple's MIDI Manager utility that is required for certain
MIDI software. This is now free, as it has become rather osolete.
Eliminate conflicts between the MIDI manager and the Chooser.
Also, you can reset the status of either serial port.
View MIDI data activity via Apple's MIDI Manager software.
MIDI Manager Activity is great for those times when you are trying to debug
your
MIDI setup and can't seem to tell who is sending what to whom and when.
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