Mac OS 9 Lives

Classic Mac OS Hardware => DAW - Audio & MIDI Hardware => Topic started by: d97 on August 22, 2019, 04:35:59 PM

Title: Can anybody help me identify these AVID pci cards?
Post by: d97 on August 22, 2019, 04:35:59 PM
Hi there - a little while ago, I tore down a non-working 9600 (sad ... I was really hoping that I could resurrect it) and it turns out that it was something of a custom "Avid Model."  I genuinely don't know what this means other than when the system boots up, it has a huge AVID splash screen ... unfortunately, it never made it much further than that.  I still have the HD and pulled these cards and will try to insert them in another SCSI-Based PCI power mac when I stumble upon one.

Anyway - I don't really know much about digidesign / avid being a MOTU / Logic guy but I am curious to see if anybody can help me identify what these cards are and what they are supposed to do.  I've attached a few pics.  The second picture shows one card with a daughter card on it - I then took it apart for the third picture.

Thanks!

Title: Re: Can anybody help me identify these AVID pci cards?
Post by: Enabler on August 23, 2019, 03:26:37 AM
I don't know the actual names but that looks like all the parts to a Media Composer system.

The 1st picture:
The Digidesign Audio board was a custom AudioMedia like card that connected to an
888 I/O interface, 8 channels of course

Second Picture:
Is the Video Accelerator cards that handle the 2:1 MJPEG compression of the video

Third Picture:
VGA Boards to connect Displays to the system, 1 to view fullscreen video and 2 for a dual monitor setup for the Editing windows
3dfx Card Cube handle the realtime titles and effects
Title: Re: Can anybody help me identify these AVID pci cards?
Post by: d97 on August 23, 2019, 05:48:44 AM
Hey - thanks so much!  That sounds right - now that I think about it, I think the phrase "Media Composer System" did appear on the boot.  I've never had a Pro Tools system before - if I rustled up an 888 (and the cable) would it allow me to run a TDM version of Pro Tools?

Thanks again!

D.
Title: Re: Can anybody help me identify these AVID pci cards?
Post by: devils_advisor on August 23, 2019, 12:57:47 PM
Highly unlikely. Media Composer is a Video Editing System. Got 2 here. That Soundcard isnt really part of the Editing machine. You need other hardware for a tdm rig.
Title: Re: Can anybody help me identify these AVID pci cards?
Post by: Enabler on August 24, 2019, 06:05:02 AM
Sorry no, but the good news is you can buy a HD Core card for around $50-$80
and 96 i/o for $100-$200 on eBay. Just install Protools 5.3.1 OS9 and you are good to go

or if you like to dual boot like me
Protools HD 6 on Panther
Protools HD 7 on Tiger-Leopard
Protools HD 8 on Leopard
Logic Pro 6 TDM on OS9 & Panther
Logig Pro 7 TDM on Tiger
Logic Pro 8 TDM on Tiger & Leopard
Logic Pro 9.1 TDM on Leopard

Title: Re: Can anybody help me identify these AVID pci cards?
Post by: Philgood on August 24, 2019, 09:27:03 AM
Great summary Enabler. I guess Protools 6 on OS9 is only in combination with that HD card ?
So we are still stuck with 5.1.3 on "regular" Mix hardware.

Nevermind: I read that wrong  :-X
You mean Logic Pro 6...not Protools 6  ;D
Title: Re: Can anybody help me identify these AVID pci cards?
Post by: d97 on August 24, 2019, 11:17:09 AM
Thanks for the info ... I appreciate it.  It's given me something to think about ...

D