I just picked up a used MIDI Timepiece AV this morning, no manual. It's the pre-USB version -- i.e. it's serial (parallel?)
I'd like to use it on a second softsynth PC of mine. But I just realized I don't have the serial/parallel port. So I need to figure out how to add one.
First, what type of connection will I use? On the back of the MTPAV I see two round RS422 ports (Net and Mac) -- am I going to use the Mac port to connect to a PC? And if so, how can I add a RS422 port to my PC?
There is also another connector called "PC Parallel Port A" which is an elongated 25-pin connector. Should I be using this? And if so, what kind of PCI card should I look at getting for the PC?
Help with a serial port MIDI Timepiece AV
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Discussion related to installation, configuration and use of MOTU hardware such as MIDI interfaces, audio interfaces, etc. for Mac OSX
Discussion related to installation, configuration and use of MOTU hardware such as MIDI interfaces, audio interfaces, etc. for Mac OSX
Hi,
Make sure you don't get the two com ports confused. The MOTU one will be a parallel connection. Serial (RS-232) is what you see on the male 9-pin, "trapezoid" shaped jacks, sort of like on the end of your monitor cable, but with one less row of pins. Then there's also sometimes a male 25-pin socket (like on some old Mac SCSI cables). That's actually another serial port. The one you want will be a similar female 25-pin (some sort of IEEE crap), usually labeled printer or parallel, if you've got it. I don't know why you wouldn't have one, unless you're on a laptop, but there used to be lots of old cards for additional COM ports, as a last resort. Keep in mind, however, that ISA cards suck crap. There's supposedly some weird relationship between any "modern" boards and some of that legacy stuff (due to the PCI to ISA bridge). It can not only run the legacy hardware at a much slower speed than it's capable of, but can also put an overall "load" on your processor, which you may not have gotten with PCI,etc.
Another note: Many of the "all-in-one" type boards won't have the standard backplate of connectors integrated into the rear of the motherboard, but still have the circuitry onboard. They may have some small dual row pin headers on the motherboard to connect to (possibly standardized) slot covers with the jacks and ribbons on them. You might check your board or manual just to make sure.
Good Luck!
George
PS---- Seriously man, don't get your hopes up on a reliable MOTU parallel MIDI rig if you're under 2K/XP. I gave up on mine, and I really wanted it bad. I wish it wasn't like that.
Make sure you don't get the two com ports confused. The MOTU one will be a parallel connection. Serial (RS-232) is what you see on the male 9-pin, "trapezoid" shaped jacks, sort of like on the end of your monitor cable, but with one less row of pins. Then there's also sometimes a male 25-pin socket (like on some old Mac SCSI cables). That's actually another serial port. The one you want will be a similar female 25-pin (some sort of IEEE crap), usually labeled printer or parallel, if you've got it. I don't know why you wouldn't have one, unless you're on a laptop, but there used to be lots of old cards for additional COM ports, as a last resort. Keep in mind, however, that ISA cards suck crap. There's supposedly some weird relationship between any "modern" boards and some of that legacy stuff (due to the PCI to ISA bridge). It can not only run the legacy hardware at a much slower speed than it's capable of, but can also put an overall "load" on your processor, which you may not have gotten with PCI,etc.
Another note: Many of the "all-in-one" type boards won't have the standard backplate of connectors integrated into the rear of the motherboard, but still have the circuitry onboard. They may have some small dual row pin headers on the motherboard to connect to (possibly standardized) slot covers with the jacks and ribbons on them. You might check your board or manual just to make sure.
Good Luck!
George
PS---- Seriously man, don't get your hopes up on a reliable MOTU parallel MIDI rig if you're under 2K/XP. I gave up on mine, and I really wanted it bad. I wish it wasn't like that.
I got it to work!
A $5 25-pin to 25-pin cable from Fry's works perfectly, connecting the PC Parallel port to the existing printer port on the PC.
Carefully following MOTU's install instructions for parallel port usage yielded the entire MTP AV showing up to my audio apps.
I am a happy camper! $20 for the MTP AV at the garage sale, $5 in cabling, and I'm now 128 MIDI channels richer.
Thanks for everyone's help.
A $5 25-pin to 25-pin cable from Fry's works perfectly, connecting the PC Parallel port to the existing printer port on the PC.
Carefully following MOTU's install instructions for parallel port usage yielded the entire MTP AV showing up to my audio apps.
I am a happy camper! $20 for the MTP AV at the garage sale, $5 in cabling, and I'm now 128 MIDI channels richer.
Thanks for everyone's help.
I am about to try to make a serial/parallel version of MTP AV work with my computer. I have two computers actually and wondering the ups and downs of the various scenarios. My desktop has both a serial and parallel port. My laptop has only USB and parallel.
Are there any advantages or disadvantages to serial vs parallel? Also, I have a USB/serial adapter, but I am wondering if it will render the same level of performace as if I use serial or parallel directly.
My understanding is that in the old days, serial devices were interrupt driven, and as such more likely to deliver MIDI events from my MIDI controller to my computer with less latency than USB...but now with XP..I have no idea how it all works...
????
Are there any advantages or disadvantages to serial vs parallel? Also, I have a USB/serial adapter, but I am wondering if it will render the same level of performace as if I use serial or parallel directly.
My understanding is that in the old days, serial devices were interrupt driven, and as such more likely to deliver MIDI events from my MIDI controller to my computer with less latency than USB...but now with XP..I have no idea how it all works...
????
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Steve Fogal
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Mon Mar 11, 2013 3:19 pm
- Primary DAW OS: Windows
Re:
Digging up the grave here... But I've been reading on the internet on more than a couple/few diffetent threads that a USB to serial (or was it USB to parallel) won't workok4711 wrote:i added a serial port using a usb to serial connector...works fine...just in case yaou have no serial port
So I'm wonder if they were wrong? Or is this a joke...? I guess it would hurt anything to try 
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Steve Fogal
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Mon Mar 11, 2013 3:19 pm
- Primary DAW OS: Windows
Re:
Being it's now March 2013, and most computers don't have either serial or parallel ports anymore....but I'm behind. Using Win XP still with an ASUS P5KC mobo, which has a 9-pin serial pin-out header on the board itself, but not at the back plate. I was hoping to somehow use my mobo's serial 9-pin header to a motu mtp av...having a hell of a time finding a suitable adaptor to go from 9-pin to a 25-pin parallel...if that would even work! And thought about using one of the rs22 ports to a PC (not mac) but not sure that would work either. As mentioned, don't know about a USB to parallel. I was trying to avoid a PCI to parallel...needing my PCI's...maybe a PCIe to parallel as I have a 2nd one (crossfire). Also thought about the adat port to use as the out to a PC...but don't think that will work either...?dewdman42 wrote:I am about to try to make a serial/parallel version of MTP AV work with my computer. I have two computers actually and wondering the ups and downs of the various scenarios. My desktop has both a serial and parallel port. My laptop has only USB and parallel.
Are there any advantages or disadvantages to serial vs parallel? Also, I have a USB/serial adapter, but I am wondering if it will render the same level of performace as if I use serial or parallel directly.
My understanding is that in the old days, serial devices were interrupt driven, and as such more likely to deliver MIDI events from my MIDI controller to my computer with less latency than USB...but now with XP..I have no idea how it all works...
????
And for the records/archives... at this time 2013, there are now Win XP drivers available...I'm using an mtp av with a parallel port on it with Win XP drivers...but I'm really wanting to use it on my newer machine...?
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supernova777
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Fri Dec 06, 2013 8:11 am
- Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Re: Help with a serial port MIDI Timepiece AV
where is the xp driver that altoid boy used to get his to work??
if i understand correctly he was using a MTP AV (non usb) 1996 model? with winxp??
i love how he didnt say anything about which driver or what os he is using lol
"daw OS unspecified.. Grreeeeeeat thanks altoid girl
http://superuser.com/questions/627922/h ... otherboard
heres some relevant article on how to recognize if your motherboard has headers for an addon LTP1 module/port/jack/slot cover&ribbon thingamajigg:D
if i understand correctly he was using a MTP AV (non usb) 1996 model? with winxp??
i love how he didnt say anything about which driver or what os he is using lol
"daw OS unspecified.. Grreeeeeeat thanks altoid girl
http://superuser.com/questions/627922/h ... otherboard
heres some relevant article on how to recognize if your motherboard has headers for an addon LTP1 module/port/jack/slot cover&ribbon thingamajigg:D