can a 386 computer be of any use?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Lorddiagram
  • Start date Start date
I have an old 386 computer and I need to know
if it can be used for any type of recordings
and if so what type of sound cards and other
equipment can be used with it.
Big Bruce
 
Sorry dude, but the only thing you can do with a 386 is maybe sequence midi. Even at that you would be hard press to find the right sound card and software. When I started recording years ago, I used Cakewalk 3 on a 486 66DX for MIDI and sync'ed it to an ADAT. Most of the equipment now require Pentium class machines.
 
that and 30 foot of rope you can probably keep a good sized fishing boat from drifting downstream.
 
I found a group on mp3.com that had a great sound and claimed to be sequencing a crappy keyboard synth from Casio with a MIDI out from a 286. Papa something or other. But even with a 386, you'll run into problems that make the analog alternatives look like a good idea. You'll be limited to win3.1 or DOS. I'm not sure about Linux. It's a credible text-only E-mail client.
 
If I were you, I'd put a modem in it and use it on the web. There are still modems available that have drivers for WIN3.1 which will run quite well. But as far as recording anything I'd forget it.
 
Of course none of the latest web browsers will work on Win3.1. Not to mention the Y2K issues with Win3.1....you might want to set the clock back just to be safe.

You can install Windows95 on a 386. We have one 386 here with Win95 that's used as a test machine. It *works*, but that's about it. :)

Slackmaster 2000
 
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