NEWS • AUGUST 21, 2000
New G4s: No MIDI?
Emagic says tests show problems with MIDI interfaces and software on the new Macs

by David Nagel
Executive Producer
dnagel@digitalmedianet.com

Emagic, a developer of digital audio equipment and software, has reported problems with the new G4s equipped with USB MIDI interfaces, including combinations of its own Logic Audio and certain hardware. The company issued the following statement:

"The most recently released generation of Apple G4 Macs ('Gigabit Ethernet') experience some problems involving the USB driver interface.

"Affected is Logic Audio in combination with the Unitor8 MkII, AMT8 und MT4 MIDI interfaces. This issue also affects the MIDI software and USB MIDI interfaces of several other manufacturers we randomly tested. At present, we can not recommend using USB interfaces with these Macs. It is also possible that the upcoming new Macs (Cube, new iMacs), which are not available for testing at this time, will display similar problems.

"In cooperation with Apple we will work intensively to find a solution to this problem and will post more information on this issue shortly.

"Our first tests did not indicate any problems using MIDI interfaces (Unitor8 MkII, AMT8) with a serial port. This, however, means a 'Stealth Port' has to be installed in these new Mac G4's. It should be noted that due to a small change in the motherboard design of the new Mac G4s, the older Stealth Port does not fit perfectly and has to be modified manually. Please ensure that the newest version of the Stealth Port is installed in these machines if a serial interface is used."

Problems with USB MIDI interfaces have been reported since the first generation of USB-equipped Macs. We'll follow up with information on this latest generation of problems as it becomes available. For more information on Emagic, visit http://www.emagic.de.

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