Emax

I had a Beige G3, that is the last that had the ports, though you  
could add them to a G3 blue and white or a G4 sawtooth.

I don't think Alchemy worked with OS 9, or it had problems. Don't  
recall exactly....
I have an Performa 6214CD just for the purpose of use with Emax.

Running XP in a window on the the Beige is doable, but is slow. I had  
a G4 / 500Mhz upgrade in it, but it didn't help that much.
You can't run earlier than OS 9 in classic.
That system can't be loaded with earlier than 8.1... and you have to  
use a workaround to get Tiger to run on it.

If you want OS X and OS 8.1 which does work with alchemy, put it on  
two different volumes on the same hard drive.
That is one way to do it.

Also, the Beige is limited to 137GB drive size on the IDE bus.....

That is some of what I recall.



On Dec 5, 2009, at 5:01 PM, thenewyorkcowboy wrote:

Well, yes, the primary objective here is to figure out what is the  
highest Mac OS that will still run both Alchemy and SD2.5. I have a  
friend who has tons of Mac equipment and access to just about every OS  
ever released, so I am looking for the highest functionality on my  
Beige G3 Desktop. It can run OSX as per the Apple site, I have OS8.6  
loaded right now, but I am wondering should I try and get it to 9.2.2  
or go for OSX and run in classic mode, etc? The major difficulty I am  
experiencing is that I just don't want a limited OS i.e. a dedicated  
system just so I can play with sounds from the EmaxII. With the 8.6 I  
have installed I can surf online with IE 5.1.7 for Mac, but I can't  
log into this site for example because of security features that are  
built in. The browser does not display Captchas and cannot deal with a  
standard login with password either. So everything I have been doing  
so far I have to do on the PC and then burn to CD and transfer it that  
way.

The other links were to simply verify up to what point the Mac  
hardware still contained a 422/232 port for the cable assembly. My G3  
has a 266cpu and 512mb of memory, but I can push it up to 768mb and  
buy a ZIF upgrade to 1Ghz if it is going to be the last piece of  
hardware that has the 422 port, then I could run OSX with ease plus  
still have access to the functions of Alchemy and SD2.5. That way I  
could use it with more utility and download the files directly, share  
any new banks or samples, etc, without having to port them over to my  
PC and such. So before I invest more $$ and time, I wanted to know the  
last modern Mac with a 422 port that works and the highest OS that  
still runs Alchemy and SD. In this way it would be also a neat feat to  
use other software on the MAC to emulate a PC or make a virtual one so  
that EMXP could run on it as well with omniflop and everything else.

As for the 422 converter, would looking at the chip that MACs use  
help? And are we going for USB connectivity or will the PC that uses  
the converter need a serial port? Will a driver be written for Linux  
as well? What about Windows 7? Those are mostly just thoughts rambling  
about my head, not pressure or demands, just trying to get on the same  
page as everyone else, that is why I did all that reading...;)

Oh and THANKS! for the emulator archive link. I had seen that page  
about two years ago, if I had remembered it I wouldn't have asked  
about the cable.

--- In emax@yahoogroups.com, "esynthesist" <esynthesist@...> wrote:
 >
 > I'm not sure what you are aiming to, based on all these messages  
and information which you have been reading :-)
 > - do you want to get Alchemy, SD, or any other vintage software  
running with Emax/Emax-II connectivity on higher Mac versions ?
 > - do you want to find out how to come up with a device supporting  
externally clocked RS422 for use with any modern computer equipment ?
 > - do you just basically want to get Alchemy, SD of any other  
software running with Emax/Emax-II connectivity on a vintage Mac  
(Classic, SE, ...) ?
 > - do you want to make new software for communication between  
computer and Emax/Emax-II ?
 > - ...
 >
 > With respect to your questions, I can only answer the first two of  
them:
 >
 > 1/ Yes, I have a minidin8 <--> DB9 cable perfectly working between  
my Mac and my Emax/Emax-II. The cable specs are available on  
emulatorarchive:
 > http://www.emulatorarchive.com/Archives/Samplers/EmaxOverview/EmaxEditors/emaxeditors.html
 > This obviously is the RS422 variant.
 >
 > 2/ Alchemy would be a better starting point in terms of native Emax- 
II support but ONLY for sample transfer communication. If all possible  
RS422 commands should be supported, then SoundDesigner for Emax is a  
better choice.
 >
 > Note that we are "only" one step away from new software running on  
Windows XP/Vista (or Mac OS X or higher) which can communicate with  
Emu samplers. The only missing part is an externally clockable RS422  
port which can be put in between the Emax and the computer :-)
 > I have already a working prototype communication software on my PC.
 > A few days ago someone mailed me with the message that the KeySpan  
XG 28 (USB/RS422) device for Mac probably supports external clocking.  
But I don't know if this is true because when I was looking to its  
specs a year ago, I read somewhere that synchronous communication is  
NOT supported by that adapter. Also, this device - which is already  
obsolete - was only released with Mac drivers, not Windows drivers.
 > Of course it is not true to say that these externally clockable  
RS422 ports for modern computers don't exist - in industrial apps they  
are being used. But their price is way too high for us (500 USD...)
 >
 > I also have a prototype device here from a fellow member, but we  
are still trying to get it working :-) Maybe I will connect my  
Oscilloscope to that device this weekend, it's been a while...
 >
 > //E-Synthesist
 >
 > --- In emax@yahoogroups.com, "thenewyorkcowboy" <thenewyorkcowboy@>  
wrote:
 > >
 > > This looks like a good time to interject a few questions...
 > >
 > > Here is the page I started with:
 > >
 > > http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/emax/message/4847
 > >
 > > So I did my own research and found this page:
 > >
 > > http://support.apple.com/kb/SP130
 > >
 > > and
 > >
 > > http://lowendmac.com/tech/serial.shtml
 > >
 > > Which I have...so I am convinced that the 8 pin mini din can  
handle both RS422 and RS232 depending on the CABLE!!!
 > >
 > > What they are talking about as the "obsolete" port is what is  
considered a GeoPort, it only has 4 pins in the mini-Din. So anyone  
who has 8 pin serial ports on any Mac can use either Sound Forge or  
Alchemy...
 > >
 > > It was said earlier in the posts that neither software can do  
entire bank transfers, but I am not at that point yet...What I need is  
someone to clarify these last questions I have before I am going to be  
able to contribute something to the conversation...
 > >
 > > On ANY Mac with the two "422 serial" ports (8 pin Mini Dins) it  
certainly does seem true that they will accept up to a 2Mb external  
clock.
 > >
 > > Did we get this pinout solved from post? I only have:
 > >
 > > http://www.interfacebus.com/Apple_MiniDIN_PinOut.html
 > >
 > > and
 > >
 > > http://saragossa.net/intfcing.html (scroll to far bottom)
 > >
 > > to determine how to "make" a cable to connect to the Emax II
 > >
 > > and these posts to leave me wondering:
 > >
 > > http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/emax/message/5241
 > >
 > > and
 > >
 > > http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/emax/message/4789
 > >
 > > (and the following conversation that ensues)
 > >
 > > and finally...
 > >
 > > http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/emax/message/4838
 > >
 > > So, I have to ask:::
 > >
 > > 1. Has anyone actually built a Mini Din-8 cable to the EmaxII  
serial port or a DB-9 serial, and got it to work with Alchemy? What  
are the final pinouts?
 > >
 > > 2. I know what our Files section holds in the way of Alchemy and  
Sound Designer...which is the 'best' version that we should be  
focusing on as a prototype?
 > >
 > > 3. The last question is a little more specific, if anyone has a  
later MAC OS working with any of the software versions metioned in #2  
above, what is it? Will MAC OS 9.2.2 work with Alchemy 2.5 through a  
soldered MiniDin-8 to DB-9 cable to the EmaxII? Will OSX work in  
classic mode?
 > >
 > > These are the questions I need answered to port some more  
information into the loop.
 > >
 > > Kirk
 > >
 > >
 > >
 > > --- In emax@yahoogroups.com, tu@ wrote:
 > > >
 > > > According to the sysex spec, the Emax II can receive Emax I  
compressed bank transfers. It needs
 > > > to for compatibility with the RS422 CDROM drive! But it does  
not support transmitting compressed
 > > > banks or any transfer of 16 bit banks.
 > > >
 > > > Sample transfer using high or low speed MMA sample dumping is  
also limited to maximum sample
 > > > size of 2M words (4MB in 16 bit samples). So an Emax II bank  
containing a sample longer than this
 > > > will not be possible to transfer over RS422 or MIDI. This would  
not be a problem for most sample
 > > > banks but does prevent a universal method of bank transfer  
between the Emax II and a computer.
 > > > The solution is of course to save such banks to disk and then  
load from there.
 > > >
 > > > /Tristan
 > > >
 > > > On Sat, Dec 5th, 2009 at 8:33 AM, esynthesist <esynthesist@>  
wrote:
 > > >
 > > > > Alchemy doesn't support bank transfers with any sampler.
 > > > > It only supports sample transfers, including an interesting  
"bulk"
 > > > > mode to transfer all samples at once. But that's still  
without any of
 > > > > the preset and voice parameters...
 > > > >
 > > > > In fact no software supports bank transfers with the Emax-II.
 > > > > I will add it to EMXP as soon as we get the RS422 device for  
PC up
 > > > > and running...
 > > > >
 > > > > ///E-Synthesist
 > > > >
 > > > > --- In emax@yahoogroups.com, "John" <jrb1864@> wrote:
 > > > > >
 > > > > > Does Alchemy support bank transfers to and from Emax 2? How  
in
 > > > > depth are the sample edit features?
 > > > > >
 > > > > > Thanks!
 > > > > >
 > > > > >
 > > > > > --- In emax@yahoogroups.com, "Rish" <rish@> wrote:
 > > > > > >
 > > > > > > Hey If anyone needs the Alchemy ver 3.0 full manual I  
have 5 of
 > > > > them available.
 > > > > > > Richard at www.Route66studios.com
 > > > > > > ----- Original Message -----
 > > > > > > From: sanctifiedone@
 > > > > > > To: emax@yahoogroups.com
 > > > > > > Sent: Thursday, December 03, 2009 11:56 AM
 > > > > > > Subject: Re: [emax] Emax II with MAC Se
 > > > > > >
 > > > > > >
 > > > > > >
 > > > > > > I love posts like this one from Ted. And while I'm at it, I
 > > > > also want to express my appreciation for group members like  
Dave
 > > > > willing to help me untangle my EMAX II problems.
 > > > > > >
 > > > > > > ----- Original Message -----
 > > > > > > From: "Ted Summers" <djtbs1@>
 > > > > > > To: emax@yahoogroups.com
 > > > > > > Sent: Thursday, December 3, 2009 11:58:49 AM GMT -05:00
 > > > > US/Canada Eastern
 > > > > > > Subject: Re: [emax] Emax II with MAC Se
 > > > > > >
 > > > > > > Alchemy software v3.0 sit is in the groups files section,  
and
 > > > > it works......
 > > > > > >
 > > > > > > Regards,
 > > > > > > Ted
 > > > > > >
 > > > > > > On Thu, Dec 3, 2009 at 7:57 AM, John <jrb1864@> wrote:
 > > > > > >
 > > > > > > >
 > > > > > > >
 > > > > > > > I have an Emax 2 with 2mb ram, jazz drives, floppies,  
cables
 > > > > and connector
 > > > > > > > cable to the MAC.
 > > > > > > >
 > > > > > > > I had a dream...a dream of running my Emax 2 with sound
 > > > > designer or
 > > > > > > > Alchemy. Alas no luck, I only have Sound Designer  
Universal
 > > > > and it's not
 > > > > > > > working with the EMAX 2.
 > > > > > > >
 > > > > > > > I have Sound Designer Universal in the box, original  
disks
 > > > > etc, a MAC SE,
 > > > > > > > systems 6, and 7 but unable to find the Alchemy  
software or
 > > > > Sound Designer
 > > > > > > > that works with Emax 2.
 > > > > > > >
 > > > > > > > If I can't get it all to work I will give up on this  
dream
 > > > > and sell the lot
 > > > > > > > to someone, preferably on the forum, with love,  
patience, and
 > > > > abilities to
 > > > > > > > make this system work and send me photos! LOL!
 > > > > > > >
 > > > > > > > If you have the software I need or time and willingness  
to
 > > > > help me through
 > > > > > > > it I would appreciate otherwise I'm selling it all for  
$350
 > > > > plus shipping
 > > > > > > > costs.
 > > > > > > >
 > > > > > > > Thanks all! Maybe one day.....
 > > > > > > >
 > > > > > > >
 > > > > > > >
 > > > > > >
 > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
 > > > > > >
 > > > > > > ------------------------------------
 > > > > > >
 > > > > > > Emax and Emax II User's Group Website
 > > > > > >
 > > > > > > http://www.silveriafamily.comYahoo! Groups Links
 > > > > > >
 > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
 > > > > > >
 > > > > > >
 > > > > > >
 > > > > > >
 > > > > > >
 > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
 > > > > > >
 > > > > >
 > > > >
 > > > >
 > > > >
 > > >
 > >
 >






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