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[smilesdavis]

Converter IC: ! confirmed · ~ probable/inferred/conflicting · — no onboard converter / digital-only / host card · ? unresolved
Chronological index

Date	Manufacturer	Model	PCI	Converter IC	Classic Mac OS	Mac OS X (legacy requirements)
1996-05-11	Digidesign	Audiomedia III	S5933Q · PCI 2.1 · 32-bit/33 MHz · 5 V	18-bit AD/DA · ?	7.5.2+ → 9.2.2	10.2–10.3
1996-06	Digidesign	Pro Tools III PCI	32-bit PCI · 5 V*	— host · external I/O	9	—
1996-07	Digidesign	Pro Tools Project PCI	32-bit PCI · 5 V · rev ?	— host · external 882/888	7.5.2+	—
1996-09-01	Symbolic Sound	Kyma / Capybara PCI	Rev. 990707 sample: PCI 2.1 · 32-bit/33 MHz · dual-keyed · signaling ?	— host · Capybara I/O	9	—
1996-11-22	Digidesign	SampleCell II PCI / SampleCell II TDM PCI	32-bit PCI · 5 V*	? DAC	7.5+	—
1997-02-26	Sonorus	STUDI/O	PCI 2.1 · short card	— digital	7.5+	—
1997-04-25	Emagic	Audiowerk8	32-bit PCI Busmaster	!SAA7367 ADC · !TDA1305 DAC	7.5+	10.x
1997-06-12	Lucid	PCI24	PCI · Apple short / 7″	— digital	7.5+	?
1997-03	Korg	1212 I/O	PCI 2.1 · full-length	20-bit ΔΣ AD · 18-bit linear DA · ?	7.5.5+	—
1997-10	Digidesign	Pro Tools|24	d24 / DSP Farm · 5 V	— host · external I/O	7.5+	—
1998-01	Ensoniq	PARIS II / EDS-1000	PCI rev ? (2.0/2.1) · 32-bit · 5 V	— external I/O	7.5+	10.x
1998	MOTU	PCI-324 Audio System	PCI Busmaster · 5 V	— host · external I/O	7.5+	10.x
1998-09-21	Digidesign	Pro Tools|24 MIX	MIX Core/Farm · 3.3 V-compatible	— host · external I/O	7.5+	10.3.9
1998-11	Digidesign	Project II PCI	half-size PCI · 60-pin · 5 V · rev ?	— host · external I/O	?	—
1999-01	Lexicon	Studio / Core-32	PCI bus-master · full-size · PCI rev ? · signaling ?	— host · external LDI I/O	7.6.1+	?
1999-01-12	RME	DIGI32 family	32-bit PCI	model-dependent	7.6.1+	—
1999-02	Alesis	ADAT Edit	PCI · ?	— digital	7.6.1+	—
1999-03-06	RME	DIGI96 family	PCI · PCI-X compatibility varies†	model-dependent	8.5+	10.2.8+
1999-06	Echo	Gina 20	PCI · 5/3.3 V · PCI-X compatible‡	?	7.5+	10.2+
1999-06	Echo	Darla 20	PCI · 5/3.3 V · PCI-X compatible‡	?	7.5+	10.2+
1999-06	Echo	Layla 20	PCI · 5/3.3 V · PCI-X compatible‡	?	7.5+	10.2+
1999-07-07	Midiman / M-Audio	DMan 2044	PCI · ?	!2× CS4222 codec	7.5.5+	—
1999-09	Yamaha	DS2416 / DSP Factory	PCI 2.1 · 32-bit/33 MHz · 5 V	!CS5335 ADC · ? DAC	8.5+	—
1999-09	Yamaha	SW1000XG	PCI · 5 V	!PCM1800 ADC · !NEC 18-bit DAC	8.5+	—
1999-09-24	Digidesign	Digi 001	PCI · 5 V	~CS4223 codec	8.6+	10.2.3
1999-09-24	Gadget Labs	WavePRO family	PCI · ?	824: !CS5360 ADC · !CS4390 DAC · 424/496: ?	8/9	?
1999-11	Emagic	Audiowerk2	PCI 2.1 · 32-bit/33 MHz · 5 V keyed	!SAA7367 ADC · !TDA1305 DAC	8.5+	10.2+
1999-12	Korg	OASYS PCI	PCI 2.1 · 32-bit/33 MHz · 5 V keyed · full-length	!AKM · ?	8–9	—
1999-12-20	Frontier Design Group	WaveCenter/PCI	PCI · ?	— digital	8.6–9.2	?

? unresolved · PCI-X compatible ≠ native PCI-X.

PCI notes: * Audiomedia III, Project PCI, Project II, Disk I/O/d24, DSP Farm, Digi 001 and SampleCell II are 5 V-era Digidesign cards; early AMCC-based cards also have revision-specific Blue & White G3/G4 compatibility. MIX Core/Farm are 3.3 V-compatible. Digidesign G5 PCI compatibility. † RME states that both PCI-X-compatible and incompatible DIGI96 cards were shipped through the end of 2002; verify the physical card/revision. ‡ Echo stated that its PCI products support 5 V PCI, 3.3 V PCI and PCI-X hosts; physical keying can still differ by model. PCI compatibility overview.
Detailed chronology
1996Digidesign Audiomedia III  1996-05-11  ↑

• Release: AES Copenhagen 1996-05-11; available immediately.
• Audio: 2×2 analog · 18-bit AD/DA · 11.025–48 kHz · 24-bit coax S/PDIF · 7". Converter ICs ?; ~AK5330/~AK4331 removed.
• PCI: AMCC S5933Q · PCI 2.1 · 32-bit · ≤33 MHz · bus master · 5 V · QC+ required for B&W G3/G4; older = before 1997-03-18 / Rev E; Q→QC→QE.
• ICs: Motorola DSP56002FC66 · 24-bit/66 MHz · CS8402A-CS TX · CS8412-CS RX.

Digidesign Pro Tools III PCI  1996-06  ↑

• Mac: Digidesign announced PCI Pro Tools systems on 1996-05-11; shipping began in 1996-06.
• Connections:
  
  • Disk I/O PCI: VHDCI50 (“Miniature SCSI”) → CN50 drive connection.
  • Disk I/O PCI / DSP Farm PCI peripheral connection: proprietary LFH60 / 60-pin I/O cable → HPDB50 (“50-pin, SCSI-2 type”) on supported Digidesign interfaces.
  • 60-pin Digidesign peripheral bus ≠ SCSI storage.
• Timeline:
  
  • 1996-05-11 — PCI systems announced.
  • 1996-06 — stated start of shipping.
  • Compatibility documents list PCI-card, expansion-chassis and interface combinations.

Sources: 1996-05-11 — PCI Pro Tools systems announcement → 2000-09-01 — Digidesign compatibility documents → Disk I/O PCI product profile → DSP Farm PCI product profile → Pro Tools III compatibility
Digidesign Pro Tools Project PCI  Jul '96  ↑

• Identity: Project Audio Card · 8-track record/playback · 882/888 I/O · no DSP Farm/TDM · non-expandable.
• PCI: Project card is distinct from Disk I/O: handwritten assembly suffix “02” = Project; “01” = Disk I/O · 5 V; incompatible with G5 3.3 V-only slots · PCI revision ?.
• Mac: 1996 DATa 3.1 support: PCI Power Macintosh · System 7.5.2+ · DigiSystem INIT 3.01+.
• Software / I/O: Pro Tools 3.4 identifies “Project” separately from Audiomedia; supports 888 I/O, 882 I/O and 882 Studio. Pro Tools 4.0 documents Project PCI/NuBus as a separate 8-channel direct-to-disk system.

Symbolic Sound Kyma / Capybara PCI host interface  1996-09-01  ↑

• Mac: 1996-09-01 PCI interface announced for Capybara-66 → Macintosh/Wintel; PCI systems shipped from Sep.

Architecture:

Code: [Select]

Power Macintosh PCI
        ↓
Symbolic Sound PCI host-interface card
        ↓ interface cable
Capybara-66 / Capybara-LS / Capybara-320
        ↓
dedicated DSP synthesis + processing + audio I/O

• Host = GUI/structure/disk I/O; Capybara = real-time DSP/audio. PCI card = host interface, not analog converter card.
• Capybara-66 / PCI generation:
  
  • 1996-05-16 — Capybara-66: external rack; motherboard + 8 expansion slots.
  • Expansion: 1× 56002 @66 MHz + 3 MB RAM/card; max 8 DSPs.
  • 16-bit stereo AD/DA; optional AES/EBU + S/PDIF; 24-bit internal arithmetic.
  • 1996-09-01 — PCI card $225; new systems: ISA/NuBus/PCI.
  • 1996-11 — PCI shipping since Sep; ISA/NuBus/PCI confirmed.
• Kyma 4.5 / PCI:
  
  • 1997-08 shipping; Sep AES unveiling.
  • PCI / NuBus / ISA / PC Card host options.
  • Manual separates host work from Capybara DSP execution.
• Capybara-LS / 320A transition:
  
  • 1998 transitional LS/320A: upgraded Capybara-66 chassis; 320 cards; PCI/PC Card/ISA/NuBus.
  • 4 DSPs + 96 MB; stereo 16/48 I/O; +6 cards; optional digital I/O.
• Capybara-320 / PCI generation:  1998-09-26
  
  • Base: 4×56309 @80 MHz + 96 MB + 12 slots.
  • Expansion: 2×56309 + 48 MB; max 28 DSPs / 672 MB.
  • 4–8 ch · 24-bit · 32–96 kHz · balanced analog + AES/EBU.
  • Word Clock · House Sync · VITC/LTC I/O.
  • PCI · PC Card · ISA · NuBus; DSP expansion external.
  • 66→320 card exchange or full-system trade-in.
  • Base: 4-ch analog+digital I/O + sync + host interface; optional +4 I/O.
• PCI-board sample / PCB: SSC 41801BPCB · Rev. 990707 · PLX PCI9060ES at U2 · Microchip 27LV256-20/P at U1 · dual-keyed 32-bit PCI edge. PCI9060ES: PCI 2.1-compliant 32-bit bus-master interface; PCI clock up to 33 MHz; operating supply 5 V ±5%. 27LV256: 256 Kbit (32K × low-voltage CMOS EPROM. Sep 1996: PCI interface shipping; Rev. 990707 shown here, so original PCB/controller ?.
• Identity: PCI host-card line spans Capybara-66 → LS → 320; OS9 continuation in Part 2.

Digidesign SampleCell II PCI / SampleCell II TDM PCI  1996-11-22  ↑

• Mac: SampleCell II PCI was released 1996-11-22 with SampleCell Editor 2.1.
• Timeline:
  
  • 1996-11-22 — SampleCell II PCI release; 32 dynamically allocated voices; up to 32 MB 30-pin Mac-II-type RAM.
  • 1997-05-16 — Digidesign SampleCell II PCI product page.
  • 1997-05-20 manufacture cut-point for the older AMCC revision; Blue & White G3 / G4 PCI-2.1 compatibility requires the later “QC” or newer AMCC chip.
  • 1998-01-15 — SampleCell II Plus; 32 MB soldered RAM and newer interface silicon.

Sources: 1997-05-16 — SampleCell II PCI product page → Digidesign legacy SampleCell Mac downloads → SampleCell Mac 2.1.1 Read Me → Digidesign compatibility documents — PCI revision / AMCC notes
1997Sonorus STUDI/O  1997-02-26  ↑

• Mac: Macintosh support for Steinberg software was announced 1997-02-26; the initial Mac path used Steinberg ASIO.

Mac chronology:

• 1997-01-16 — STUDI/O announced.
• 1997-02-26 — Macintosh / Steinberg compatibility announced.
• 1997-12-21 — Mac requirements: PowerPC 604e 120 MHz, 64 MB RAM, Cubase VST 3.5, free PCI slot.
• ≤ 1998-05-25 — Mac driver v1.0.
• v1.0-era Macintosh driver architecture: Steinberg ASIO; install contents of ASIO.MAC into Cubase VST 3.5+ ASIO Drivers folder; no System-folder installer required.

Two separate Mac ASIO drivers:

Code: [Select]

StudIO-16Ch = ADAT A 8ch + ADAT B 8ch = 16 digital I/O
StudIO-10Ch = ADAT A 8ch + S/PDIF B 2ch = 10 digital I/O
↑ S/PDIF input sample-rate conversion

• STUDI/O manual — Macintosh ASIO installation/setup; separate 16Ch/10Ch drivers.
• 1998-09 → 1998-10 — contemporary Mac tests document supplied Mac ASIO software with Cubase VST 3.5x on Power Macintosh/G3 systems.
• 1998 — late — 96 kHz operation via S/MUX.
• 1999-05-07 Sonorus Cubase/Mac compatibility page.
• 1999 — Mac application support expands beyond the original Cubase path: Logic Audio 4 direct STUDI/O support; Digital Performer 2.5 and other Mac applications also document STUDI/O support.
• ≤ 2000-10-03 — Mac driver v1.4 — BinHex-wrapped self-extracting archive.
• Later Sonorus Mac-driver notes document: Blue & White G3 / G4 compatibility; G3 optimization; ASIO 2 features; 96 kHz support; general ASIO application compatibility; StuffIt 5.1 requirement.
• Mac driver v1.8 — StuffIt archive.

Mac driver progression:

Code: [Select]

1997 Mac/Steinberg support announced
↓
≤1998-05 v1.0 • ASIO • Cubase VST 3.5+
├─ StudIO-16Ch = 2× ADAT
└─ StudIO-10Ch = ADAT + S/PDIF/SRC
↓
1998 — late 96 kHz / S-MUX era
↓
1999 broader Mac host support • Logic direct support • ASIO 2 era
↓
≤2000-10 v1.4 • .sea.hqx
↓
v1.8 • .sitMac application / installation:

• Cubase Mac
• Logic 4 Mac
• Cubase VST 4.0 Mac
• Mac installation
• Mac two-board sync cable PDF
• DAW 96/24
• Two-board / dual-ADAT configuration

Driver binaries:

Code: [Select]

v1.0 STUDIO10.sea ≤ 1998-05-25 Wayback
v1.4 studio14.sea.hqx ≤ 2000-10-03 Wayback
v1.8 STUDIO18.sitSources: Sep '97 Sync Backplate → Apr '01 MacUser → Apr '01 Macworld
Emagic Audiowerk8  1997-04-25  ↑

• Mac: Audiowerk8 shipped 1997-04-25; contemporary 1997 reviews document Macintosh operation.
• Timeline:
  
  • 1997 — Winter NAMM / Musikmesse introduction.
  • 1997-04 — about 1,000 cards sent mainly to dealers worldwide.
  • Friday, 1997-04-25 — first consumer cards shipped; list price $795.
  • 1997-07 — contemporary Sound On Sound review documents the Audiowerk8 production environment of the period.

Sources: 1997-04-29 — Audiowerk8 FAQ → 1997-04-29 — Emagic product news / 1997-04-25 shipment → 1997-07 — contemporary Audiowerk8 review
Lucid PCI24  1997-06-12  ↑

• Mac: PCI24 V1 Macintosh installers in .sea, .sit and .sea.hqx formats are dated 1997-06-12.
• PCI: Conforms to the Apple short PCI card specification; requires an available 7″ PCI slot.
• Timeline:
  
  • 1997-01-15 — Winter NAMM announcement; 1997-03 shipment planned.
  • 1997 — spring — contemporary coverage describes the PCI24 in beta and the first driver as Macintosh, with PC support to follow.
  • 1997-06-12 — PCI24_V1 Mac installers: .sea / .sit / .sea.hqx.
  • 1997-08-30 — PCI24 product-page update.
  • 1999-10-08 — dedicated PCI Mac page.

Sources: Jan '97 NAMM → Apr '97 homepage → May '97 Mac-first coverage → Jun '97 .sea → Jun '97 .sit → Jun '97 .sea.hqx → Aug '97 product → Oct '99 Mac → manual · 7″ PCI
Korg 1212 I/O  1997-03  ↑

• PCI / analog: PCI Revision 2.1 · full-length · 20-bit Enhanced Dual Bit Delta-Sigma analog inputs · 18-bit linear analog outputs · +5/+12/-12 V PCI rails; ADC/DAC ICs ?.
• I/O: 2 analog I/O + stereo S/PDIF + 8-channel ADAT optical = 12 in / 12 out.
• Mac: Mar '97 — Cubase VST 3.02 adds 1212 I/O support on Power Mac; System 7.5.5 compatible → Jun '97 — dedicated Mac review → Aug '97 — Korg/Steinberg ASIO coverage.
• Card photo: board photo; converter markings remain ?.

Digidesign Pro Tools|24  1997-10  ↑

• Mac: Pro Tools|24 was introduced in 1997-10.
• Hardware:
  
  • d24 PCI card + DSP Farm PCI.
  • 888|24 introduced as the 24-bit interface.
  • d24 uses Motorola 56301 DSPs; the initial system offered 24 tracks of 24-bit audio, later raised to 32 by DAE software.
• Cards: Pro Tools|24/d24 and MIX Core are separate card families with separate compatibility tables.
• PCI: d24 and DSP Farm are 5 V-era PCI cards and are not compatible with the 3.3 V-only Power Mac G5 slots.

Sources: 1999-08-20 — Pro Tools|24 product page → Digidesign compatibility documents → Pro Tools|24 card compatibility
1998Ensoniq PARIS II / EDS-1000  1998-01  ↑

• Mac: PARIS is a cross-platform Macintosh/PC DAW. Contemporary material documents the PCI system for PowerPC Macintosh as well as PC.
• PCI: Conventional 32-bit, 5 V-keyed PCI is confirmed by surviving EDS-1000 hardware. Exact PCI specification revision is unresolved; retained in the database as PCI rev ? (2.0/2.1) to make the open question explicit.

Architecture:

Code: [Select]

Mac PCI
  ↓
EDS-1000 DSP card
  ↓
PARIS external interface: Interface 2 / 442 / MEC
  +
Control 16

• EDS-1000 hardware:
  
  • Six Ensoniq ESP-2 proprietary 24-bit DSPs on the complete EDS-1000 configuration.
  • Bus-master DMA; contemporary review material specifies up to 24 simultaneous digital data streams.
  • 20 inputs + 20 outputs internally at 24-bit; any combination of 16 simultaneous record/playback tracks per card in the original system architecture.
  • Approx. 11.25 in / 286 mm card length.
  • Surviving photographed production hardware is labelled E-MU/ENSONIQ · Model PARIS EDS1000 · Part 3522; examples also carry an EDS-1000X sticker.
• EDS-500 / EDS-FX relationship:
  
  • Later PARIS Concept systems used the EDS-500 PCI card with four ESP-2 DSPs.
  • The optional EDS-FX daughterboard plugs onto the EDS-500 and upgrades it to the EDS-1000-class DSP configuration.
  • Sweetwater's period PARIS Concept documentation explicitly describes EDS-500 + EDS-FX as the path to the EDS-1000 configuration.
• Converters: — external I/O. The EDS PCI card itself is the DSP/host card; A/D and D/A conversion resides in the external Interface 2 / 442 / MEC hardware. Contemporary PARIS II specifications describe 20-bit A/D and D/A conversion at 44.1/48 kHz with a 24-bit internal audio path.
• Card expansion: PARIS supports multiple EDS cards. The reference manual documents internal card-to-card synchronization/interconnection and systems with up to eight EDS-1000 cards.
• EDS-1000 rear interfaces:
  
  • EDS Interface connector → Interface 442 / MEC.
  • IF2 connector → Interface 2.
  • CS connector → Control 16.
  • The external interface connector uses SCSI-style hardware but is a proprietary PARIS connection; it must not be treated as a computer SCSI bus.
• Timeline:
  
  • 1997-07-17 — archived PARIS interface material.
  • 1997-11 — Ensoniq advertising documents the EDS-1000 PCI card with six 24-bit DSPs and Mac/PC operation.
  • 1998-01 — detailed Sound On Sound PARIS II review; cross-platform PCI system.
  • 1998-05 — Mix field test: EDS-1000 with six ESP-2 DSPs, installed in a PowerMac.
  • 1998/1999 — PARIS Concept / Concept-FX introduces the four-DSP EDS-500 and EDS-FX daughterboard upgrade path.

Sources: Jul '97 interface → Nov '97 ad · 6 DSP · Mac/PC → Jan '98 SOS → May '98 Mix → '99 EDS-500 + FX → reference manual
MOTU PCI-324 Audio System  1998 — early summer  ↑

• Mac: MOTU's PCI-324 audio system supported Macintosh from the 1998 1224/PCI-324 generation.

Architecture:

Code: [Select]

Mac PCI → PCI-324 → AudioWire cable → 1224 / 2408 / later PCI-324-family rack I/O

• The host card itself is not an analog interface; channel capability depends on the attached MOTU rack interface(s).
• Timeline:
  
  • 1998 — 1224 / PCI-324 launch material.
  • PCI-324 Mac software includes AudioDesk / MAS / ASIO support.
  • PCI-324 and PCI-424 are separate host-card generations.

Sources: 1998 — MOTU 1224 / PCI-324 press release → MOTU PCI-324 indexed captures
Digidesign Pro Tools|24 MIX  1998-09-21  ↑

• Mac: Pro Tools|24 MIX was introduced 1998-09-21.

Hardware distinction:

Code: [Select]

MIX Core ≠ d24 ≠ DSP Farm PCI
MIX Farm = MIX-era DSP expansion
DSP Farm PCI = earlier DSP-family expansion; compatibility is system/version dependent

• Compatibility: Digidesign tables list Mac CPU / card / interface combinations.
• PCI: MIX Core and MIX Farm are 3.3 V-compatible/G5-compatible; d24, DSP Farm and MIX I/O remain 5 V-era cards and are separate compatibility cases.
• Rare production variant: Some rare green-PCB MIX Core production cards are marked “PowerCard” on the PCB.

Sources: Digidesign compatibility documents → 2002-12-22 — Pro Tools|24 MIX Mac compatibility page
Digidesign Project II PCI  Nov '98  ↑

• Identity: Project II ≠ Pro Tools Project PCI. later 24-bit cross-platform PCI interface for third-party sequencers via Direct I/O.
• Hardware: half-size PCI · single 60-pin port · Macintosh + Windows NT · Motorola 56301 · ~8 W / 1.5 A × 5 V · 888|24/888/882|20/882 · up to 24-bit path · no TDM. PCI revision ?.
• Software: Direct I/O + DigiSystem INIT 3.4+; two 8-channel interfaces = 16 I/O. Pro Tools itself does not run on Project II.
• Chronology: period material says “available in August”; first version Power Mac, Windows NT to follow → Nov '98 current-product Mac/Windows Direct I/O evidence. Minimum Classic Mac OS ?.

1999Lexicon Studio / Core-32  1999-01  ↑

• Hardware: Core-32 PCI host card + PC-90 daughterboard + external LDI I/O.
• PCI: full-size PCI · bus-master slot required · PCI rev ? · signaling ?
• Converters: — host · conversion/I/O in external LDI hardware
• Mac: 200 MHz PowerPC · 64 MB RAM · Mac OS 7.6.1+
• Chronology: Sep '98 — Mac ASIO drivers stated ~30 days away → Jan '99 — Studio shown on Mac running ASIO; earliest firm Mac evidence used here → Apr '99 — Mac ASIO/Core-32 system documented in detail.

RME DIGI32 family  1999-01-12  ↑

• Mac: RME released a new Macintosh driver for the DIGI32 series on 1999-01-12.
• Hardware / driver chronology:
  
  • 1997-03 — DIGI24 shown at Musikmesse Frankfurt.
  • 1997-05 — renamed DIGI32.
  • 1997-06 — AutoSync added.
  • 1997-11 — DIGI32/8 introduced for 8-channel ADAT digital I/O.
  • 1998-02 — DIGI32 PRO chip update adds 24/96 capability.
  • 1999-01-12 — new Macintosh driver.
  • 1999-03-06 — DIGI32/DIGI96 Mac driver update fixes Blue & White G3 compatibility.

Sources: RME historical news archive — 1999 Mac driver dates → DIGI24 / DIGI32 history → DIGI32/8 history → DIGI32 PRO history
Alesis ADAT Edit  1999-02  ↑

• Mac: ADAT Edit Owner's Manual v1.0 is dated 1999-02 and includes Macintosh setup and operation.
• Timeline:
  
  • 1999-02 — Owner's Manual Version 1.0.
  • Manual contents explicitly include “2.2 Macintosh”.
  • 1999-09 contemporary review confirms Mac/Windows song interchange and Macintosh QuickTime handling.

Sources: 1999-02 — ADAT Edit Owner's Manual v1.0 → 1999-09 — Studio Sound ADAT Edit review → 1999-08 — Sound On Sound review
RME DIGI96 family  1999-03-06  ↑

• Mac: RME explicitly documents new Macintosh drivers for the DIGI32 and DIGI96 series on 1999-03-06, fixing Blue & White G3 compatibility. The 1999-01-04 24-bit/96 kHz ASIO milestone in RME's archive was Windows, not Mac.
• Timeline:
  
  • 1998-10 — RME describes DIGI96 as its fully 24-bit/96 kHz-capable digital-card family.
  • 1999-01-04 — 24-bit/96 kHz ASIO milestone in RME's archive = Windows driver, not the Mac milestone.
  • 1999-03-06 — explicit new Mac drivers for DIGI32 + DIGI96; Blue & White G3 playback fix.
  • 1999-06-02 — further Mac-driver update.
  • 1999-06 — ASIO 2.0 / ZLM era for DIGI96.

Sources: RME DIGI96 family history → RME historical news archive → RME DIGI96 Macintosh information archive
Echo Gina 20 Macintosh driver v2.11  1999-06  ↑

• Mac: Event/Echo Macintosh driver v2.11 for Gina, Darla and Layla was available by 1999-06.
• Hardware: Gina shipped 1997-08-19.
• PCI: Echo later documented its PCI products as compatible with 5 V PCI, 3.3 V PCI and PCI-X hosts.
• Mac driver v2.11:
  
  • Sound Manager + ASIO support for Gina / Darla / Layla.
  • Layla also receives OMS support for its MIDI ports.

Sources: product page → Jun '98 no Mac driver → Jun '99 Mac v2.11 → Nov '99 downloads
Echo Darla 20 Macintosh driver v2.11  1999-06  ↑

• Mac: Event/Echo Macintosh driver v2.11 for Gina, Darla and Layla was available by 1999-06.
• Hardware: Darla shipped 1997-10-13.
• PCI: Echo later documented its PCI products as compatible with 5 V PCI, 3.3 V PCI and PCI-X hosts.
• Mac driver v2.11:
  
  • Sound Manager + ASIO support for Gina / Darla / Layla.
  • Layla also receives OMS support for its MIDI ports.

Sources: Darla product → shared driver evidence above
Echo Layla 20 Macintosh driver v2.11  1999-06  ↑

• Mac: Event/Echo Macintosh driver v2.11 for Gina, Darla and Layla was available by 1999-06.
• Hardware: Layla shipped 1998-06-03.
• PCI: Echo later documented its PCI products as compatible with 5 V PCI, 3.3 V PCI and PCI-X hosts.
• Mac driver v2.11:
  
  • Sound Manager + ASIO support for Gina / Darla / Layla.
  • Layla also receives OMS support for its MIDI ports.

Sources: Layla product → shared driver evidence above
Midiman / M-Audio DMan 2044  1999-07-07  ↑

• Mac: Manual v2044-070799 documents Sound Manager + ASIO installation on Macintosh.
• Mac driver architecture:
  
  • System 7.5.5+, PCI, 120 MHz+.
  • Sound Manager extension required.
  • Separate ASIO 2044 v3 and ASIO 2044 v4 drivers for Cubase 3.x / 4.x.
  • Four outputs available under Cubase ASIO; only one stereo input pair active at a time on Macintosh.
• Chronology:
  
  • 1998-12 — Mac drivers still advertised as “available soon”.
  • 1999-07-07 — manual version date; complete Macintosh driver installation documented.
  • Later packaging: “MAC DRIVERS NOW INCLUDED”.

Sources: 1998-12 — Midiman ad: Mac Drivers Available Soon → 1999-07-07 — DMan 2044 manual v2044-070799 → Mac installation / requirements → Sound Manager + ASIO driver installation
Yamaha DS2416 / DSP Factory  1999-09  ↑

• Mac: Yamaha's 1999-09 DS2416 brochure lists Macintosh support.
• PCI: PCI 2.1; 32-bit / 33 MHz maximum; single 5 V PCI slot required; 3.3 V PCI slots are not supported; short/half-length card.
• Timeline:
  
  • 1998-03-03 — Yamaha DSP Factory announcement.
  • 1998-10 — detailed contemporary review.
  • 1999-09 — brochure explicitly includes Macintosh support.
  • Later classic-Mac software used ASIO and host-specific control/mixer software; the card's on-board DSP/mixer architecture remains distinct from a simple multichannel I/O card.

Sources: 1998-03-03 — Yamaha DSP Factory announcement → 1998-10 — Sound On Sound review → 1999-09 — Yamaha DS2416 brochure / Macintosh support → DS2416 Owner’s Manual — PCI 2.1 / 5 V / ≤33 MHz
Yamaha SW1000XG Macintosh ASIO / OMS  1999-09  ↑

• Mac: The Yamaha Advanced Guidebook is dated 1999-09 and documents the Macintosh ASIO + OMS + XGEditor path; it states that the first Mac support appeared in mid-1999.
• PCI: 5 V PCI card.
• Chronology:
  
  • 1998-Q2 FAQ — explicitly “not as yet” Macintosh-compatible; Mac support planned.
  • 1999 — mid-year: Macintosh ASIO + OMS drivers + XGEditor.
  • Units shipped after 1999-05 were documented as including the Mac support software on CD.

Mac driver architecture:

Code: [Select]

SWXGDriver system extension + OMS driver + ASIO driver(s) + XGEditor

• SW1000XG and DS2416 use separate Macintosh driver paths.

Sources: 1999-09 SW1000XG Advanced Guidebook — Macintosh chapter / mid-1999 driver history → Text mirror — same Macintosh chronology → historical XGFactory SW1000XG material
Digidesign Digi 001 / Pro Tools LE announced for Mac  1999-09-24  ↑

• Mac: Digi 001 and Pro Tools LE were introduced in 1999-09 for Power Macintosh; Windows support followed in 2000.

Architecture:

Code: [Select]

Mac PCI → Digi 001 PCI card → proprietary cable → Digi 001 I/O box

• Host-based Pro Tools LE system; no MIX/TDM DSP processing.
• PCI: 5 V PCI; incompatible with the 3.3 V-only PCI slots used by Power Mac G5 systems.
• Chronology:
  
  • 1999-09-24 — Digi 001 / Pro Tools LE announcement for Mac OS.
  • 1999 — late — Mac package documented; Windows software planned for the following quarter.
  • 1999-12 — contemporary Sound On Sound review.

Sources: 1999-09 — Pro Tools 5 / Digi 001 introduction context → 1999-12 — Sound On Sound Digi 001 review → Digidesign classic-Mac compatibility documents
Gadget Labs WavePRO family  1999-09-24  ↑

• Mac: WavePRO was introduced 1999-09-24 for Windows and Macintosh desktop audio recording. Macintosh drivers were separate for each card and included ASIO audio + OMS/MIDI.
• Cards:
  
  • Wave/824 — 8×8 analog I/O, 24-bit/48 kHz, external rack box, MIDI; Mac driver v2.10 dated 1999-12-29.
  • Wave/424 — 4×4 analog I/O, 24-bit/96 kHz, TRS I/O on PCI card, MIDI; Mac driver v2.10 dated 1999-12-16.
  • Wave/496 — 4×4 analog I/O, 24-bit/96 kHz, active half-rack breakout box, MIDI; worldwide shipment 2000-06-01.
• Mac driver chronology:
  
  • 1999-12-16 — Wave/424 v2.10 · w424mac210.hqx.
  • 1999-12-29 — Wave/824 v2.10 · w824mac210.hqx.
  • 2000-04-06 — Wave/824 / Wave/424 / Wave/496 v2.2.5 · w824mac225.hqx / w424mac225.hqx / w496mac225.hqx.

Driver branches:

Code: [Select]

Wave/824: v1.0 → v1.01b → v1.02 → v1.05b → v2.0b → v2.10 → v2.2.5
Wave/424: v1.0 → v2.10 → v2.20 → v2.2.5
Wave/496: v2.2.5

• Classic Mac compatibility:
  
  • Current WavePRO Mac packages: ASIO audio + OMS/MIDI; OMS client application required for MIDI.
  • Wave/824: Mac ASIO + OMS/MIDI; G3/G4.
  • Wave/424: beige G3; blue & white G3 / G4 cabinets block the card-edge inputs.
  • Wave/496: Mac OS 8/9; G3/G4; ASIO + OMS/MIDI.
  • ADAT and S/PDIF WavePRO option cards are not supported on Macintosh.
• 1999-10-23 — Mac OS 9 released

Sources: Sep '99 announcement · 824/496 dates → Dec '99 Mac v2.10 → Apr '00 Mac v2.2.5 → older Mac drivers → 424/496 Mac hardware → OS9/G3/G4/digital I/O → MOS9L timeline
Emagic Audiowerk2  1999-11  ↑

• Hardware: Audiowerk2 board photos show Philips SAA7146A, SAA7367 and TDA1305; SAA7146A specifies PCI interface release 2.1 at 33 MHz.
• Mac OS 9: ≤Nov '99 Logic Audio 4 lists Audiowerk2 → Jul '00 Production Kit includes Mac Sound Manager + ASIO software.
• Mac OS X: 23 Dec '02 — CoreAudio driver for Audiowerk2/8 under Mac OS X 10.2 → v1.0.1 supports Audiowerk2 and Audiowerk8 revision V2+.

Korg OASYS PCI  1999-12  ↑

• Mac: OASYS PCI was released in 1999-12 for Mac OS 8–9; Windows 95/98/Me followed in 2000-08.
• PCI: PCI revision 2.1 compliant · conventional 32-bit/33 MHz PCI · 5 V keyed · full-length card. Korg specifies installation in a full-length PCI slot.
• Hardware / PCB: KLM-2185 · KORG ©1999 · 1 × Motorola DSP56301 @ 80 MHz for I/O/routing/PCI duties + 4 × Motorola DSP56303 @ 100 MHz for synthesis/effects · 480 MIPS total · Altera FLEX FPGA · onboard DRAM.
• Converters: AKM converter family confirmed. Korg specifies 24-bit, 128× oversampling sigma-delta conversion; 98 dB typical A/D dynamic range and 108 dB typical D/A dynamic range at 44.1/48 kHz. AKM ADC/DAC part numbers ? from the current PCB photographs.
• Digital I/O: 24-bit ADAT optical I/O · 24-bit coaxial S/PDIF I/O · BNC word clock I/O · ADAT 9-pin timecode input/thru.
• Mac software chronology:
  
  • 1999-12 — initial Mac OS 8–9 release.
  • Version 1.04 — Mac updater.
  • 2001-05 — free OASYS PCI Version 2 update for Mac + Windows.
  • Versions 2.01 / 2.02 — Mac .sit updaters.
  • No Mac OS X driver was released; Korg continued support for Mac OS 8/9.

Sources: Mac 1.04/2.00/2.01/2.02 → tutorial · converters/PCI/480 MIPS → install · I/O → AKM quote → Apr '00 SOS
Frontier Design Group WaveCenter/PCI  1999-12-20  ↑

• Mac: WaveCenter/PCI was delivered 1999-12-20 as a Windows/Macintosh card tested on Macintosh systems.
• Mac driver model:
  
  • ASIO driver for digital audio.
  • OMS driver for MIDI.
  • 8-channel ADAT optical + stereo S/PDIF + 2×2 MIDI; digital-only card.

Sources: 1999-12-20 — first batch delivered; Macintosh tested → Mac OS support = ASIO audio + OMS MIDI → Frontier WaveCenter/PCI indexed captures

[smilesdavis]

Professional PCI Audio, DSP and Interface Cards for the Classic Macintosh — 2000+

Classic Mac OS PCI audio hardware and driver timeline — 2000+

Converter IC: ! confirmed · ~ probable/inferred/conflicting · — no onboard converter / digital-only / host card · ? unresolved
Evidence: facts link directly to sources; ? unresolved · ~ probable/inferred · ! confirmed. Core-32 ≠ Core2.
Chronological index

2000+
Date	Manufacturer	Model	PCI	Converter IC	Mac OS 9	Mac OS X (legacy requirements)
2000-02-03	CreamWare	Pulsar	PCI · ?	?	8.6+	—
2000-06	RME	Hammerfall DIGI9636 / DIGI9652	PCI 2.1 Busmaster · PCI-X varies†	— digital	9	10.2.8+
2000-07-17	Symbolic Sound	Kyma / Capybara PCI continuation	Rev. 990707 sample: PCI 2.1 · 32-bit/33 MHz · dual-keyed · signaling ?	— host · Capybara I/O	9	—
2000-07-23	TASCAM	PCI-822	PCI rev/signaling ?	— digital · TDIF/S/PDIF	8.6+	?
2000-08-11	Lexicon	Core2	33 MHz/32-bit PCI Master/Slave · +5 V	!AK5383 ADC · !CS4390 DAC	Mac ASIO v1.20 · OS minimum ?	?
2000-09	Midiman / M-Audio	Delta 1010	PCI 2.1 · 32-bit Busmaster	~AK5383VS ADC · ~AK4393VF DAC	8.6+	10.x
2000-09-14	Lynx Studio Technology	LynxONE	PCI 2.1 · 32-bit/33 MHz · 5 V	!CS5360 ADC · !CS4390 DAC	9	—
2000-10	M-Audio	Audiophile 2496	PCI 2.1	!AK4528VF codec	8.6+	10.x
2001-02-15	Roland	RPC-1	PCI · 5 V only	— digital	8.6+	10.x
2001-03-21	Creative	Sound Blaster Live! for Macintosh (CT4875)	PCI · ?	?	8.6–9.x	—
2001-10	Edirol	DA-2496 / DA-PCI	PCI · 5 V only	!AK4524VF codec	8.6+	10.x
2002-10-23	MOTU	PCI-424	standard PCI · 5 V	— host · external I/O	9	10.x
2002	Lynx Studio Technology	LynxTWO A/B/C	PCI 2.2 · 32-bit/33 MHz · PCI-X compatible	!AK5394 ADC · !CS4396 DAC	9	10.x
2003-01-01	Lynx Studio Technology	L22 / L22-G	PCI 2.2 · 32-bit/33 MHz · PCI-X compatible	!AK5394 ADC · !CS4396 DAC	9	10.x
2003	Frontier Design Group	Dakota / Montana	Dakota: bus-master PCI · scatter-gather DMA · rev/signaling ?	— digital	8.6–9.2	?
2003-08	MOTU	PCIX-424	PCI-X + standard PCI · 3.3/5 V	— host · external I/O	9	10.x
2004-08-05	Lynx Studio Technology	AES16 / AES16-SRC	PCI 2.2* · 32-bit/33 MHz · PCI-X compatible	— digital	9	10.x

Date = earliest documented Classic-Mac support/availability used by this timeline. ISO precision is preserved: YYYY-MM-DD when the day is known, YYYY-MM when only the month is established, YYYY when only the year is established.
PCI = card-side PCI revision / bus width-speed / signaling compatibility where documented; host-only requirements are stated as such. ? = unresolved. PCI-X compatible ≠ native PCI-X.
? = native Mac OS X status not yet established from the current source set.

PCI notes: † RME states that both PCI-X-compatible and incompatible Hammerfall cards were shipped through the end of 2002; verify revision before use in 3.3 V/PCI-X hardware. MOTU’s original PCI-424 is standard 5 V PCI; the PCIX-424 began shipping with new systems around 2003-08 and is both standard 5 V PCI and 3.3 V PCI-X compliant. * AES16 manual = PCI 2.2; an older Lynx PCI-X FAQ has also described the interface as PCI 2.1. The manual specification is used in the table.
Detailed chronology

2000
CreamWare Pulsar for Mac  2000-02-03  ↑

• Mac: 3 Feb '00 — CreamWare releases Pulsar for Macintosh.
• Hardware: 4 × Analog Devices SHARC DSP · card just over 9 in · 2× ADAT optical I/O + stereo S/PDIF + stereo analog I/O.
• Photos: Reverb · WorthPoint. Exact PCI revision/signaling and converter ICs remain ?.

RME Hammerfall DIGI9636 / DIGI9652 Macintosh support  2000-06  ↑

• Mac: Mac OS 9 ASIO 2.0 driver v1.0 was released in 2000-05. Hammerfall rev 1.5/1.6 shipped from 2000-06 with Mac compatibility; rev 1.1 is not Mac-compatible.
• Hardware / Mac chronology:
  
  • 1999-03 — Project Hammerfall shown at Musikmesse; 0% CPU Load + SyncCheck concept.
  • 1999 — rev 1.1 cards.
  • 2000-05 — Mac OS 9 ASIO 2.0 driver v1.0 initial release.
  • 2000-06 — Mac-compatible rev 1.5/1.6 production begins; driver v1.1.
  • 2000-07 — v1.3.
  • 2000-08 — v1.4 adds ASIO Direct Monitoring.
  • 2000-11 — v1.5 / 1.51.
  • 2000-12 — v1.52.
  • 2001-07 — v1.6.
  • 2003-01 — v1.61.

Hardware revisions:

Code: [Select]

Hammerfall rev 1.1 (1999–2001-04 production) ≠ Mac compatible
rev 1.5 / 1.6 (shipping from 2000-06) = Mac-capable hardware generationSources: RME Hammerfall Mac driver release notes → RME hardware-revision / Mac compatibility note → RME Hammerfall Macintosh page → RME Mac information / driver notes → 1999-09 — hardware-era review
Symbolic Sound Kyma / Capybara PCI continuation under Mac OS 9  2000-07-17 → 2004-01-15  ↑

• Known PCI-board sample: SSC 41801BPCB · Rev. 990707 · PLX PCI9060ES at U2 · Microchip 27LV256-20/P at U1 · dual-keyed 32-bit PCI edge. PCI9060ES: PCI 2.1-compliant 32-bit bus-master interface; PCI clock up to 33 MHz; operating supply 5 V ±5%. Exact board signaling remains ?; dual keying alone is not being promoted here to confirmed 5 V/3.3 V electrical operation.
• Mac OS 9 PCI continuity: The original Kyma PCI host-interface architecture continued with the Capybara-320 through Kyma.5 and into Kyma X. PCI remained a native-boot classic-Mac path after Symbolic Sound added FireWire.

Architecture:

Code: [Select]

Mac OS 9 Power Mac
      ↓
Kyma PCI host-interface card
      ↓
Capybara-320 DSP/audio mainframe

≠ PCI audio converters on host card
≠ Mac OS X PCI driver path

• Chronology:
  
  • 2000-07-17 — Kyma.5 shipping; Symbolic Sound still documents Capybara connection by PCI / NuBus / ISA / PC Card.
  • 2001-11-25 — Flame IEEE-1394a/400 interface added; the launch material still lists PCI as an alternative Capybara host connection rather than replacing it.
  • 2002 — Symbolic Sound's Europe material describes Capybara-320 connection to Mac/PC via “Firewire, or PCI card”.
  • 2003-09 → 2003-10 — registered Kyma.5 owners begin receiving Kyma X upgrade offers.
  • 2004-01-15 — Kyma X formally ships: Mac OS X / Windows XP / 2000 added while Mac OS 8/9 compatibility is retained.
  • Kyma X under Mac OS 9: FireWire, PCI or PCMCIA interface supported.
  • Kyma X under Mac OS X: Flame FireWire only; PCI and PCMCIA remain OS 9 paths.
  • Mac OS X Classic mode cannot access the external PCI hardware; Symbolic Sound requires booting OS 9 to use the PCI card.
  • Symbolic Sound's FAQ states the PCI card is physically/electrically compatible with the then-new G5 PCI slots, but this does not create an OS X PCI path: Kyma X/OS X uses Flame only.

Documented platform split:

Code: [Select]

FireWire → Macintosh OS X + OS 9
PCI      → Macintosh OS 9 desktop
PCMCIA   → retained under OS 9
OS X Classic → no PCI hardware accessSymbolic Sound system-requirement table:

Code: [Select]

Kyma.5 + PCI/PCMCIA → Mac OS >8 and <10 · 64 MB RAM · 200 MB disk
Kyma X + PCI/PCMCIA  → Mac OS >9 and <10 · 192 MB RAM · 600 MB disk

• Later Capybara-320 specification: 4 processors / 96 MB base · 12 expansion slots · up to 28 processors / 672 MB · 4–8 channels · 24-bit · later specification 32–100 kHz · balanced analog + AES/EBU · Word Clock / House Sync / VITC/LTC.

Sources: 2000-07-17 — Kyma.5 shipping / PCI host connection → 2001-11-25 — Flame FireWire added; PCI remains an interface option → 2002 — Capybara host connection = FireWire or PCI → 2004-01-15 — Kyma X ships / Mac OS 8–9 compatibility retained → Kyma X interface FAQ — OS 9 PCI/PCMCIA; OS X Flame-only; no PCI through Classic → Capybara-320 later hardware specification / OS mapping
Tascam PCI-822  2000-07-23  ↑

• Digital I/O: PCI soundcard · TDIF-1 8-in/8-out + stereo S/PDIF + word clock out + 2×2 MIDI · no onboard analog converter stage. PCI revision/signaling ?.
• Mac: 2000 User's Guide includes Macintosh installation from p.10 · Mac Installer v1.06.
• Photo: PCI-822 board / breakout cable.

Lexicon Core2  2000-08-11  ↑

• Identity: Core2 is documented as a distinct Core2 Desktop Audio System by Aug '99; the earlier Lexicon Studio is separately documented around Core-32 + PC-90 + external LDI hardware.
• Mac: 11 Aug '00 — officially Mac compatible · Core2 Mac v1.20 (07/00) = ASIO only, not Sound Manager; exact classic-Mac OS minimum ?.
• PCI: 33 MHz/32-bit PCI Master/Slave · +5 V ±5%; the manual's PCI 2.1 mention is a host-BIOS troubleshooting requirement, not a card-spec statement. Exact card PCI revision ?.
• Converters: !AK5383 (U17) ADC · !CS4390 DAC.
• I/O / MP-100: 4 analog in · 8 analog out · 8-channel ADAT · stereo S/PDIF; optional MP-100 explicitly marked NOT MAC COMPATIBLE.
• Photo: Core2 card/system photo.

Midiman / M-Audio Delta 1010  2000-09  ↑

• Mac: 2000-09 Delta 1010 documentation includes Macintosh installation and ASIO driver setup.
• Mac software:
  
  • “Delta 1010 Driver” system extension.
  • DeltaControl PPC.
  • ASIO2 Delta1010 for Cubase 4.x.
  • ASIO Delta1010v3 for Metro / earlier Cubase.
  • ASIO Delta 1010 for non-ASIO2 hosts.
• Hardware: 8 analog I/O + S/PDIF I/O + MIDI I/O + BNC word clock; 24-bit/96 kHz; external converter rack.
• PCI: PCI 2.1; 32-bit bus-mastering card.

Sources: 2000-01 — hardware review → 2000-09 data — German Delta 1010 manual / Macintosh installation → Delta 1010 PC/Mac manual — Macintosh ASIO install → M-Audio/Midiman manual — Mac OS 8.6+, Mac drivers
Lynx Studio Technology LynxONE Macintosh ASIO  2000-09-14  ↑

• Mac: LynxONE ASIO 0.90a beta was released 2000-09-14 as the initial Macintosh driver.
• Mac driver facts:
  
  • Mac OS 9: ASIO 2.0.
  • No Sound Manager support planned.
  • No Macintosh MIDI-driver support planned, despite the card having two physical MIDI ports.
  • No Mac OS X support for LynxONE.
• Hardware:
  
  • First Lynx Studio Technology product.
  • 24-bit analog I/O up to 50 kHz; AES/EBU or S/PDIF digital I/O up to 96 kHz.
  • 5 V PCI only; later G5 PCI-X machines are not supported.
• Driver chronology:
  
  • 2000-09-14 — ASIO 0.90a beta initial Mac driver.
  • 2002-05-30 — LynxONE Macintosh v1.00b.

Sources: Lynx Macintosh Read Me → 2002-05-30 — LynxONE Mac v1.00b → Lynx FAQ — OS9 ASIO; no Sound Manager/MIDI/OSX → LynxONE product page
M-Audio Audiophile 2496  2000-10  ↑

• Mac: Audiophile 2496 manual v1.0 is dated 2000-10 and includes Macintosh driver installation.
• Mac:
  
  • Power Macintosh G3/G4; Mac OS 8.6+ in period documentation.
  • Delta-family system extension / control panel + ASIO; later manuals also document OMS and Sound Manager operation.

Sources: 2000-10 v1.0 — German Audiophile 2496 manual → 2001-04 — Sound On Sound review → Midiman Audiophile indexed captures

2001
Roland RPC-1  2001-02-15  ↑

• Mac:R-BUS PCI card. Mac OS 8.6+.
• Mac driver set:
  
  • Sound Manager = only 16 bit 2-channel data
  • ASIO2 = ASIO2.0 driver, ASIO = ASIO2.0 driver without software monitoring, ASIOv3 = ASIO1 driver for Digital Performer.
  • OMS 2.3.8 MIDI driver.
• I/O: 8-channel bidirectional R-BUS over 25-pin D-sub; up to 24-bit/96 kHz with compatible Roland R-BUS equipment.

Sources: RPC-1 Owner's Manual — Mac OS 8.6+, Sound Manager / ASIO / OMS → Roland discontinued-product page — cross-platform Mac/PC → Roland RPC-1 / Studio Package PDF
Creative Sound Blaster Live! for Macintosh (CT4875)  2001-03-21  ↑

• Model: Sound Blaster Live! for Macintosh = CT4875; Mac driver v1.1 also documents CT4870.
• Timeline:
  
  • 1999-01 — Creative announced plans to port Sound Blaster Live! to Macintosh.
  • 2001-01-24 — announced as nearly ready.
  • 2001-03-21 — available; $149.99.
  • 2002-07-15 — Macintosh driver v1.1; Mac OS 8.6–9.x; CT4870 / CT4875.

Sources: 2001-03-21 — Creative ships Sound Blaster Live! for Macintosh → 2001-03-20 — Macworld shipping report → 2001-01-24 — still not shipped → Creative model-number list — CT4875 = Sound Blaster Live! For Mac → Sound Blaster Live! Mac patch
Edirol DA-2496 / DA-PCI  2001-10  ↑

• Mac: 2001-10 documentation lists DA-2496 for Mac/Windows with ASIO 2.0 + Sound Manager; the owner manual includes classic-Mac installation.
• Mac driver set:
  
  • ASIO2 DA-PCI.
  • ASIO Edirol DA-PCIv4 = ASIO 2.0 without Direct Monitor.
  • ASIO Edirol DA-PCIv3 = ASIO 1 for Digital Performer / Cubase 3 / other older hosts.
  • Sound Manager.
  • OMS driver.
• Driver: Macintosh v1.02b.

Sources: 2001-10 — Mix AES New Products: ASIO2 Win/Mac + Sound Manager Mac → DA-2496 Owner's Manual — Macintosh driver installation → DA-2496 Mac driver v1.02b → Roland/Edirol support

2002
MOTU PCI-424  2002-10-23  ↑

• Mac: The PCI-424 Macintosh guide covers Mac OS 9 and the ASIO MOTU PCI driver; 2002-10-23 24I/O documentation lists the PCI-424 system for Macintosh + Windows.

Architecture:

Code: [Select]

Mac PCI → original PCI-424 (5 V PCI) → AudioWire → 2408mk3 / 24I/O / HD192 etc.
max core-system expansion: 4 AudioWire ports / up to 96 I/O

• Card generations:
  
  • Original PCI-424 = standard 5 V PCI.
  • PCIX-424 / PCI-424-G5 began shipping with new systems around 2003-08; later MOTU documentation says it replaced the original card later in 2003; standard 5 V PCI + 3.3 V PCI-X compatible.
  • PCIe-424 = later PCI Express generation.

Sources: MOTU PCI-424 User's Guide for Macintosh — Mac OS 9 / ASIO → 2002-10-23 — PCI-424 / 24I/O launch-era Mac + Windows → MOTU PCI-424 / PCIX-424 / PCIe-424 generation distinctions → MOTU PCI-424 indexed captures

Lynx Studio Technology LynxTWO A/B/C  2002  ↑

• Timeline: 2002-03 review material says LynxTWO Mac drivers were not yet available but were expected in the first half of 2002. Later 2002 professional-review material documents Mac OS 9 ASIO operation; 2003-01-07 firmware notes add explicit Macintosh-specific updater versions.

Timeline:

Code: [Select]

2002-03: no LynxTWO Mac driver yet
→ 2002 — by late year: Mac OS 9 ASIO documented
→ 2003-01-07: Macintosh-specific L2Update versions added

• PCI: PCI 2.2, 32-bit/33 MHz; Lynx documents LynxTWO as PCI/PCI-X compatible.
• Mac notes:
  
  • OS 9 ASIO / ASIO 2.0 beta era.
  • Macintosh compatibility requires Mac firmware in addition to the ASIO driver; cards shipped with Windows firmware may require firmware update before use.
  • LS-ADAT and LS-AES LStream options are documented in the same classic-Mac product family.

Sources: 2002-03 — SOS review: Mac drivers not yet available → 2002 review — Mac OS 9 ASIO / ASIO2 beta documented → firmware history — 2003-01-07 Macintosh-specific versions → Lynx Mac OS9 ASIO install / Macintosh firmware requirement → 2004-04-04 — LynxTWO product page → LS-ADAT archive → LS-AES archive → Lynx PCI/PCI-X family comparison

2003
Lynx L22 / L22-G classic-Mac family  2003-01-01  ↑

• Timeline: The 2003-01-01 Mix review explicitly states that Mac ASIO 2.0 is supported under OS 9.x. Lynx firmware notes dated 2003-01-07 add Macintosh-specific L2Update versions for the LynxTWO/L22 family.
• Mac driver: Uses the LynxTWO OS9 ASIO driver family. Sound Manager support is not provided. Macintosh firmware must be loaded before Mac use when a card contains Windows firmware.
• L22-G: Uses the LynxTWO/L22 OS9 ASIO driver family.
• PCI: PCI 2.2, 32-bit/33 MHz; Lynx documents L22 as PCI/PCI-X compatible.

Sources: 2003-01-01 — Mix L22 review: Mac ASIO2 under OS 9.x → 2003-01-07 firmware — Macintosh-specific versions → L22 Macintosh OS9 installation / ASIO → Lynx PCI/PCI-X family comparison
Frontier Design Group Dakota + Montana Macintosh support  2003  ↑

• PCI / I/O: Dakota = bus-mastering PCI with scatter-gather DMA · 16-channel ADAT · stereo S/PDIF · 2×2 MIDI; Montana adds 16 ADAT channels and can occupy either a PCI or ISA slot. Exact PCI revision/signaling ?.
• Mac: Frontier Macintosh installer v1.06 · Dakota hardware guide.
• Photo: Dakota board photo.

MOTU PCIX-424  2003-08  ↑

• Hardware: The G5-compatible PCI-424 revision began shipping with new MOTU systems around 2003-08; MOTU later names this card PCIX-424 and states that it replaced the original PCI-424 later in 2003.
• PCI: PCI-X + standard PCI compliant; compatible with 3.3 V PCI-X slots and standard 5 V PCI slots. This is a genuine PCI-X-capable 424 revision, not merely the original 5 V PCI-424 used in a PCI-X host.
• Mac OS 9: MOTU’s PCI-424 system requirements explicitly cover both the original PCI-424 and PCIX-424 under Mac OS 9.0–9.2.2. In an OS9 rig the PCIX-424 is used in a compatible G3/G4 standard PCI slot; Power Mac G5 PCI-X machines themselves do not native-boot Mac OS 9.

Sources: around 2003-08 — PCI-424/G5 begins shipping with new MOTU systems → MOTU PCI-424 / PCIX-424 generation and 5 V PCI / 3.3 V PCI-X compatibility → archived MOTU system requirements — original PCI-424 + PCIX-424 / Mac OS 9.0–9.2.2

2004
Lynx AES16 / AES16-SRC  2004-08-05  ↑

• Timeline: The earliest Mac support was not OS X-only. The AES16 user manual, released 2004-08-05, explicitly contains “Installing the OS9 ASIO Driver and Mixer” and uses the shared LynxTWO_OS9.sit driver package.

Mac OS 9 path:

Code: [Select]

AES16 hardware → Macintosh firmware update → LynxTWO_OS9.sit → “LynxTWO” ASIO driver in host ASIO Drivers folder

• Notes:
  
  • Mac OS9 support is ASIO, not Sound Manager.
  • AES16 uses the LynxTWO/L22/AES16 shared driver architecture of this period.
  • Mac OS X uses CoreAudio separately.

PCI: AES16 manual: PCI 2.2, 32-bit/33 MHz, bus mastering; Lynx also documents the AES16 as PCI/PCI-X compatible. An older Lynx FAQ has described the interface as PCI 2.1, hence the table's asterisk.
Sources: AES16 User Manual — OS9 ASIO installation → Lynx AES16 manual — release date 2004-08-05 → AES16 manual scan → Lynx PCI/PCI-X family comparison

[smilesdavis]

calling all os9ers: if you happen to own any of the above cards, please take HI-RES fotos of both sides of the card and destail fotos of the componts and post here as attachment or host them somewhere so we can fill the gaps.