I was a living legend.
Long live Student Loans Company, once my loan was paid into my bank there was
nothing stopping me. I had been waiting for several weeks to purchase gear for
my home studio. So, down to the local music shop for a spending spree, cool.
What I already had.
4 Shure Microphones, (Though I'm sure I stole these.)
Fostex multitracker,
An acoustic and an electric guitar,
What I got:
Korg X5 sound-module,
Stereo speakers ,
Casio CZ-101, (Well used, but okay.)
Plenty left for a week's food from the local chippy and an Atari with hi-res
monitor.
I wanted to get involved with sequencing music using a computer. I desperately
wanted an Atari but they were few and far between. My flat-mate had an IBM PC
so I enquired about using this to control my Korg sound module. The guy in the
local music shop - Rainbow Music- asked me if it had a soundcard, if so I would
need a Midi cable for the gameport. After getting home and checking the computer
it turned out that it did not have a soundcard so that was that idea ruined.
Oh well, back down to Rainbow, "It doesn't have a soundcard in it mate!"
I told the guy. To which he said I could buy an inexpensive soundcard to give
me the gameport. Okay I thought, but would I need to open the computer? Yes!
So that was that, I didn't want to open the computer as it was Camshaft's pride
and joy.
"You the guy Andy who bought the Korg sound-module off me?"
"Yes, that is me sir. it's great man. It's rock an roll, man."
"Well there happens to be a special cable, a magical cable in fact, it
plugs into the back of the X-5 into a socket called 'host.' From there it plugs
into the computer's COM port, so you don't have to open the computer."
"Cool man! I'll take two." I said thumbling with my wallet in anticipation.
"You can only use one at a time Andy, surely one would be enough?"
"Eh, eye, okay I'll take it."
Off I went to try my new cable with Camshaft's computer. I moved his computer into my studio and plugged it all together including the Korg & host cable. I managed to acquire a copy of Cubase for Windows, so I installed the host driver files and booted up Cubase. To cut a long story short, I couldn't get it to receive Midi.
Oh well, down to my local college to ask the experts. I managed to get this
guy called "Deek" to come round and have a look at it, what a strange
car he had. It had a compass and an inclinometer on the dashboard. Well he couldn't
get it to work either.
Just when all was looking lost, my friend said he was getting rid off his Atari
and getting a PC. He had found a home for his Atari and it was me who bought
it. Now the X-5 worked like it should.
Needless to say they call me Comport Andy now, ah well.