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Tips
& Tricks
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ASR-X
vs. iMac June
29, 2002 ~ Here's a reoccurring question recently
received from a new iMac owner: <<
I was also wondering if there is any alternative to
interfacing with my iMac aside from SCSI (being as
how they're not equipped with it) and my ASR-X
didn't come with the option installed.
>> To
which I replied: "What
do you want to accomplish by 'interfacing' your
iMac and the ASR-X? Obviously, SCSI is necessary
for the convenience of SMDI transfers of sample
data and this isn't going to happen without SCSI on
either unit :-( The ASR-X does not support SDS via
MIDI so you're out of luck there too. If you want
to share data between the two you'll need to use
old fashioned media (3.5" diskette or Zip disks
with the appropriate USB attached drive attached to
your iMac) to move samples between your iMac and
your ASR-X. AFAIK, USB to SCSI or Firewire to SCSI
adapters are not supported by any of the current
Digital Audio Editors for Mac (BIAS Peak, Spark,
etc.) so that's out too. The iMac is a great
computer but it's not well suited for interfacing
with legacy systems like the ASR-X. If
you're looking to use a proper Audio/MIDI Sequencer
on your iMac in conjunction with the ASR-X then a
USB MIDI Interface from the likes of a reputable
company will be necessary. I've tried a couple of
low cost models with my Mac and found they work
reliably for MIDI Note and MIDI CC data but not so
for SysEx data - which is necessary if you want to
use the freeware ASR-X Editor available from
ASRXCITE. I know of some users who swear by the
Emagic AMT8 - it has a good reputation for handling
SysEx data via USB - but I've not used one myself
(and it's not budgeted for this year I'm afraid.)
I'm sticking with my 2nd hand Opcode Studio 128x
for the time being."
To
add to the above, my advice is to buy same
manufacturer accessories for whichever sequencing
platform you choose for your iMac, i.e., buy an
Emagic brand MIDI Interface if you go with Logic
Audio or a MOTU brand MIDI Interface if you go with
MOTU Digital Performer, etc. (sound cards are a
related subject matter but beyond the scope of this
write up.) As
manufacturers increasingly adapt their products to
OS X it may prove to be the great leveler -
offering Core Audio and Core MIDI services. But in
the interim, under OS 9, the current spirit of
cooperation on the Mac platform in regards to
proprietary MIDI Time Stamping enhancements and the
lack of any support what so ever for OMS
(Open MIDI System) is increasingly frustrating for
MIDI users. |
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