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[gert79]

Hello community, long time i didn't post here.

I was thinking of maybe adding a mobile option for my sound editing, to copy stuff from my QS onto it for oldschool editing on the go, not sure if it does exist but maybe a serial port would be cool to hook up the Opcode Studio 4 and a firewire soundcard? Also for file transfers firewire would be better than USB 1.

I looked around for the "latest" machines that can run OS9 natively and found the Powerbook G4 Titanium series, in some places it was said they are not reliable, had some issues? Also it was said the "non titanium" (aluminum) series cannot run OS9 native, but i found some forum posts that is factually is possible?

The "Pismo" type i would like to avoid, sorry to say the look does not appeal to me.

Then i also found a model "A1007", PowerBook 4,3, G3 which looks very promising, and i thing native resolution of 1024x768 would be perfect for SVP.

All these machines can be had in a price range from 80 to 150 euro, i am just not sure which to choose.

Are there any machines to avoid, that have common errors that will be a problem? Dying displays, dying powersupplies? Are there any machines that have some specific strengths?

Important for me would be also that i can build in a SSD in the availabe space, given the availability of SSD for the footprint. Also to extend RAM to 1024 MB given the availability of RAM modules.

I have actually researched the whole thing a bit, it is just really hard to get proper info from sellers aswell.

Any input welcome

[robespierre]

All the laptops that can run OS9 use fluorescent display backlights. They are now 20 or more years old and these fluorescent tubes are all worn out.

[rvense]

Titanium Powerbooks are famous for bad hinges and flaky paint.

The multicolour iBooks all have 800x6000 screens, but G3 iBooks are also 1024x768. I believe there's an issue with keyboards developing a smell? But I don't know the details of that.

20-25 year old laptops are quite likely to have issues, though. Adjust expectations...

[smilesdavis]

i had to go thru 10 tibooks before i scored some perfect specimens. Worth it, totally. (in cartman voice)

do we have a list of Cardbusses that work on mac os 9? cause im tryint to transfer a simple .sit from a WIN10 machine to a tibook9.2.2 and i cant figure out whats the easiest way...

Update: So the second most professional Audio hardware you can hook up to your PowerBook G4 867 (Ti) (the one you want since it doesnt overheat as much as the 1.0 Ghz) is the RME Digiface - CardBus Combination.

"In S/P-DIF mode, identical signals are available at both the optical andthe coaxial outputs. An obvious use for this would be simply connect-ing two devices, i.e. using the Audiolink 96 as a splitter (distribution 1on 2). To receive signals in AES/EBU format,an adapter cable is required." it has WordClock I/O and should work on Mac OS 9. (even 8.6 I've read). so you can transfer audio via aes/ebu from a modern rig or into your tibook to process with the amazing mac os 9 processors everyone forgot about.

Im gonna get one of those rme and report back.

oh wait ... why "second" you might ask. magma chassis 4U with Pro Tools Mix Cube also works on a TiBook with the Magma Cardbus. Studio Vision Pro supports 24-bit TDM systems from 4.1+ onwards. so you can run an entire mix cube SVP setup from a tibook with a 4U magma chassis on a cardbus. now thats a endlevel setup.

personally i cant get it working in Mac OS 9, but OS X works so far. maybe someone here can help?

[gert79]

Thanks guys for all the information.

Yes sure the backlight can die... many of the powerbooks i saw still work, maybe they have not been used so much? in worst case i could attach a monitor, its still more portable than the QS tower.

@smilesdavis - so you had to go thru ten tibooks (that failed) an result was that the PowerBook G4 867 (Ti) is the best option? The RME interfaces are hard to find in complete condition, many just sell the box without the card.

I thought firewire would be a good option, magma cardbus/chassis i have never seen or heard of.

[ssp3]

Update: So the second most professional Audio hardware you can hook up to your PowerBook G4 867 (Ti) .... is the RME Digiface - CardBus Combination.

Yeah, "We got both kinds, we got country and western!" 

Ever heard of anything like that?
http://macos9lives.com/smforum/index.php?topic=3375.0
http://media.miroc.co.jp/show_rep/AES2002/07/mobilei.html

Old, OS9 related PR. Start here.
https://mhsecure.com/metric_halo/community/mh-news.html?start=250
https://mhsecure.com/metric_halo/community/mh-news/209-mobile-io-no-brainer-for-brain.html

[smilesdavis]

i tend to forget firewire maybe ignore is already present in the tibook

nevertheless, an Apple PowerBook G4 867 (Ti) with a Magma 4U with Digidesign Pro Tools|24 MIX 3 and an extra Mix Farm connected with 3x https://web.archive.org/web/20030407180115/http://www.prismsound.com:80/psada8.htm
will give you 24 channels of I/O conversion that still rivals almost everything available today.

Pro-Tools Mix™ I/O module
Compatible with Digidesign Pro-Tools™.
Part no. 8C-PT
Digital module, cable not supplied.

Pro-Tools I HD™ I/O Module
Compatible with Digidesign Pro-Tools I HD™
Part No: 8C-PTHD
Digital Module, cable not supplied

they also made a Firewire I/O module with ASIO driver for MacOS:

Firewire/IEEE 1394A Module
Implements IEC 61883-6
Part no. 8C-FW
Digital module, 2 connectors
Cable not supplied

[gert79]

Ok this is all rather rare stuff that is harder to find in Europe. And i probably need only 8 tracks, maybe even a small 2 track interface will do. From what i have seen only some types of Powerbook G3 still have the serial port and later it was gone, so no Opcode Studio Interface.

I dont know how well USB interfaces perform but i guess like on any system they suffer from USB polling rate, so no precise midiclock output is possible? Ideally i would go for an easily available cheap firewire interface with audio and USB, which are all listed here in the forum.

A pity the MOTU 828 mk2 doesnt do midi in OS9.

I mean it is just a fancy idea to have SVP on a dedicated laptop so i can copy session over that i recorded on my "stationary" setup and be able to still edit them in SVP, and under circumstances also record some more parts. Its about having a portable setup without having to drag the quicksilver, monitor etc...

As another option i still have a 2013 macbook with logic pro and MOTU ultralite mk3 Hybrid which performs excellent with a multilingual firewire cable, but somehow it would be nicer to produce everything inside SVP.

[smilesdavis]

rare because it was defacto highest-end even back then. its just the highest quality 888/24 upgrade there was after the AD8000SE.

[IIO]

A pity the MOTU 828 mk2 doesnt do midi in OS9.

the mkII has midi. if it does not appear try reinstalling all the drivers, you might lack the OMS component?

[gert79]

According to manual midi only works with OSX, not OS9. A soundonsound article also states that. I tried finding if the driver was updated at some point to support OS9 but MOTU doesn't even list OS9 drivers on their webpage anymore.

And, I don't have the soundcard physically as I planned to buy it only if it supports OS9.

[gert79]

Ok I did some research and I will not get an iBook G3, I don't know if the smelly keyboard issue is still a thing after all these years, but they also say any iBook above 600Mhz will die from graphic chip/logic board failure sooner or later, also this machine is not fun to upgrade and disassemble.

I saw a few TiBooks on the market but no 867 model.

Then I am reconsidering the Pismo, which I could find with 400Mhz and 512MB RAM for 50 euro.

Also soundcard wise, I found a lot of M-Audio FireWire cards, one as low as 30 euro.

Given the spec requirements of SVP probably I could have a lot of fun with this if I install a proper SSD to the Pismo.

[smilesdavis]

maybe you can find a 500mhz pismo or one with an upgrade?
an SSD adapter with an m.2 will speed things up as well

tibooks are always a win because they are so beautiful and capeable

Also if chosing a pismo check the minimum specs of a FW400

[ssp3]

I saw a few TiBooks on the market but no 867 model.

You don't need 867 model. I have 1GHz model here, but prefer 667, because it doesn't have the second fan and is less noisy. 400/500/550 are fine too.

[smilesdavis]

im no expert but that looks like a NOCTUA NF-A4x10 FLX could replace this fan, drill or cut a hole in the side so the air is thrown outside

[gert79]

I found a TiBook with 1Ghz, 768MB RAM for the price of 168 euro including shipping. Comes with two chargers for whatever reason.

Probably this is a once in a lifetime opportunity at that price?

My only concern is the heat and fan noise. Is it possible to lower the CPU clock by setting jumpers, like it is possible on G4 PowerPC cpu cards?

I also saw a forum post it should be possible to lower the clock or bus speed in power management?

[smilesdavis]

normal price for just the book. the psus if they are the ufos are prone to die much so in lineage with the powerbooks before them.

[gert79]

Ok now that i have the TiBook in front of me i am glad i got it. Its really a nicely designed machine and probably THE archetype for all "metallic" looking macbooks.

The fan noise is not so annoying when you dont run on high performance, on mine OSX 10.4 was installed with some system components last updated 2013.

there is a massively sized mechanical PATA hdd installed and i am thinking about buying a kingspec 64GB (128 is too expensive for me ), and then creating dual boot with OSX and OS9. it seems YANSEN is now the new brand that was previously KingSpec, does anybody know please if they work just as good or if there is models to avoid? YANSEN 2,5" 44pin PATA SSD, Aliexpress.

As i have read here on the forum, the M-audio 410 firewire should also run well when firmware is downgraded.

I know this is a ~24 year old computer but it feels so worthy and nice, its definetely better than my old Toshiba, Asus or Lenovo laptops. Even the keyboard mechanics just works nicely, it seems apple had these first and everybody (badly) copied them.

[smilesdavis]

the 1ghz i just got OVP is still sitting on the top of the retro shelf waiting to get a cleaning, repaste, sdd, ram maxed out...

we need on archive.org isos of dual boot setups for every machine

[ssp3]

.... i am thinking about buying a kingspec 64GB (128 is too expensive for me )...

Why on earth KingSpec? I personally wouldn't touch that brand with a six foot pole.
You're located in Germany, right? Get the used 128 GB Samsung PM871b M.2 SSD on ebay.de for 10-15 EUR. Add IDE to M.2 'white box' adapter from AliExpress  and that combo will serve you for the rest of your life.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006355478367.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005761995669.html

And, btw, what's your budget if 128 GB is too expensive?

..it seems YANSEN is now the new brand that was previously KingSpec, does anybody know please if they work just as good or if there is models to avoid?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7YBCynA-b0

Two year old test of PM871b M2 below. IIRC, it was in Mini 1.42.