Mac OS 9 Lives

Digital Audio Workstation & MIDI => Audio & MIDI Hardware => Topic started by: ametts on December 26, 2016, 06:01:59 PM

Title: Connecting MIDI Software without USB awareness
Post by: ametts on December 26, 2016, 06:01:59 PM

Hi folks,

I have some software for editing a very specialized piece of MIDI gear, and the software only runs on MacOS 9.  I've kept around a behemoth PowerPC CPU solely for this purpose, but I recently purchased a svelte iBook G3 instead.

The tricky part is the iBook doesn't let me connect my serial MIDI interface.  It only has USB ports.

This ancient software was written before USB, and I'm not sure it understands frameworks like FreeMIDI or OMS.  You simply choose a numeric MIDI port number, and I have a hunch it's trying to find MIDI by looking on an old-school serial port.

Any recommendations on how to trick this software into using a USB-based MIDI interface?

Thanks in advance,
Allan

Title: Re: Connecting MIDI Software without USB awareness
Post by: mrhappy on December 27, 2016, 06:27:19 AM

maybe one of those serial to usb adapter rigs would work?

Title: Re: Connecting MIDI Software without USB awareness
Post by: mrhappy on December 27, 2016, 06:43:38 AM

Might be something in this thread.

http://macos9lives.com/smforum/index.php/topic,2446.0.html

Title: Re: Connecting MIDI Software without USB awareness
Post by: IIO on December 27, 2016, 02:25:17 PM

yes, if it about an interface, the stealth serial to usb adapter should do it. (or cheap usb interface if that comes into question)

Title: Re: Connecting MIDI Software without USB awareness
Post by: GaryN on December 27, 2016, 03:01:11 PM

On a laptop especially, the small size and form of the usa-28 can't be beat. They pop up on ebay often. If you can't find one, PM me - I have an extra one I can sell you.

Title: Re: Connecting MIDI Software without USB awareness
Post by: ametts on December 28, 2016, 06:49:40 AM

Thanks, everyone.  I found a usa-28x on eBay, and it looks like the drivers are posted in the link above.  Fingers are crossed -- I'll let you all know how it goes....

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