The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

--- In AN1x-list@y..., Bruce Wahler <bruce@a...> wrote:
> All,
> 
> >Hi Jon ,
> >When I replaced de MIDIMAN USB Midisport2x2  for a Emagic AMT8 al
> >the problems were gone, and at this moment I use it with a Mac G4 MP OS 9.04,
> >SoundDiver and a lot of stuff,no single problem.
> >-Joop-
> 
> A shame about the MIDIsport on the Mac.  On the PC side of things, the 
> MIDIMan gear is very stable; in fact I've found my MIDIsport 8x8 USB to be 
> more stable than the (parallel port) MIDI Quest Note1 that I used for 
> several years, and at least as stable as the joystick interface on most 
> sound cards.

I'm curious to see how the OS X drivers from MIDIMAN unfold this year. 
AFAIK, Emagic appears to be well positioned to get OS X support out the 
door this autumn. I'm feeling really good about my crossgrade from 
Opcode to Emagic sw right about now. I'm excited about Logic v5 and 
make use of the oppotunity to switch MIDI Interfaces once and for all 
too. I *want* a new Mac but don't really *need* one so it waits until 
next year...;-)

> 
> USB was supposed to be the great MAC-PC unifier, but it just doesn't seem 
> to be happening.  Almost all the MIDI manufacturers seem to have great 
> expertise in one side, much less in the other.  When I was shopping for a 
> USB 8x8, the candidates boiled down to MIDIMan and MOTU, since Opcode's 
> site clearly states that they don't support Win98SE or Win2K (!).

Yeah, I agree in regards to USB on MIDI peripherals. Again, I'm real 
comfortable using Emagic kit right now and I'm reasonably confident in 
their ability to acknowledge problems and make a fix available in a 
reasonable time frame. The MT4 and EMI 2|6 seem to be picking up steam 
on both platforms. I'm not trying slag any of the other 
manufacturers...just express my confidence in the Emagic thing.

Once Opcode sold out to Gibson it was all over...Opcode's Mac hardware 
and software was GREAT in their heyday. They had a few tricks up their 
sleeve for ease of use that Emagic would do well to learn from. I still 
harbor an unreasonable bias against MOTU from the old Opcode vs. MOTU 
battles in the early-90's. Ridiculous, isn't that? I should grow up and 
get over it...


> 
> I checked the website, and the MOTU Windows USB drivers were listed as 
> "coming soon".  I called MOTU support, and didn't get a good feeling about 
> the situation, so I held off a bit.  After a second call, went with 
> MIDIMan.  Good thing, too:  The WDM drivers were finally released on 
> 8/14/2001 -- a little more than a year after I bought my MIDIsport, and 
> almost 16 months after I called MOTU!
> 
> So much for the "universal interface" ...

On the plus side, I've been able to swap a generic USB adapter card 
between Mac and Win machines and a pair of Lexmark printers too! For 
common place peripherals USB seems to be delivering - it's the MIDI 
peripherals that seem to take more effort in regards to the drivers :-(
> 
> Regards,
> 
> -BW

regards,

Jon