Old MOTU MIDI interfaces, back to life!

[SalPro]

Recently I made couple things that maybe interest of owners of very old MOTU MIDI interfaces like MTP, MTP_II and MTP_AV of any flavor, and probably also most Opcodes with Mac connector.

1. ClockWorks replacement. Not full set of functions but core: MIDI routing, live control and presets. I was trying to make interface usable for live performance as well as stdio use. See it here: ExactEtudes.
2. Hardware adapter for MOTU (and Opcode) MIDI interfaces with old Mac serial RS422. Pretty much any MTP become class_compliant 8-cable USB MIDI adapter, can be used with any modern OS with USB interface. See my hardware+firmware project: DURA_MIDI.

Adapter works for Opcodes as MIDI interface in MOTU emulation mode, but no routing functionality for Opcode, at least for Studio4 - the only Opcode I have to test.

Please try and let me know.

S.P.

 

[Papanate]

Recently I made couple things that maybe interest of owners of very old MOTU MIDI interfaces like MTP, MTP_II and MTP_AV of any flavor, and probably also most Opcodes with Mac connector.

1. ClockWorks replacement. Not full set of functions but core: MIDI routing, live control and presets. I was trying to make interface usable for live performance as well as stdio use. See it here: ExactEtudes.
2. Hardware adapter for MOTU (and Opcode) MIDI interfaces with old Mac serial RS422. Pretty much any MTP become class_compliant 8-cable USB MIDI adapter, can be used with any modern OS with USB interface. See my hardware+firmware project: DURA_MIDI.

Adapter works for Opcodes as MIDI interface in MOTU emulation mode, but no routing functionality for Opcode, at least for Studio4 - the only Opcode I have to test.

Please try and let me know.

S.P.

I don't even know what you mean.....

 

[SalPro]

I don't even know what you mean.....

Then you do not need it.

I guess you need to be in recording before 2000 and maybe as far as 1990 and keep your gear. Or, younger folks, maybe just be curious. The history is, my version: MOTU used to rule the world of MIDI, and most of their hardware from that era is bricked now. Many pieces kept, many end up on Reverb and Ebay. Fantastic hardware that become obsolete, essentially for single reason: at that time it was all done essentially on single platform, what now is called "Classic Mac". There was a bit of Atari with built in MIDI, but that was a budget option for Europe. USA budget was Opcode (not much cheaper), and they tried to take over MOTU. Anybody serious about recording at that time must use MOTU MIDI on Mac and nothing else. MOTU still well today and Opcode perished. Opcode's MIDI gear has operational mode where it pretend to be MOTU, because MOTU is the boss.

Some examples of hardware still operational and kind of supported today (officially not supported but can be made usable): "MTP_AV USB" It runs on the same hardware and software architecture from 90s. Professional musicians rave about it. Later date codes of these interfaces working with Windows (I have it with Win11), earlier only with MAC. But most of these that still around only have 9pin mini-din serial RS422 for classic Mac and no USB.

Many pieces of hardware survived. I have a few. They are back to work now.
This was my hardware project.

Their software to control those interfaces, Clockworks, was written at the time when VGA resolution was considered a HighRes. Today it is essentially unchanged and just silly, but somehow MOTU keeping exactly the same interface even on latest M Macs! Rounded corners and better fonts, but still. So I made UI that I can be comfortable with even performing live. Only function I use most often - routing.

Now you know.

Cheers!

 

[Papanate]

Then you do not need it.

I guess you need to be in recording before 2000 and maybe as far as 1990 and keep your gear. Or, younger folks, maybe just be curious. The history is, my version: MOTU used to rule the world of MIDI, and most of their hardware from that era is bricked now. Many pieces kept, many end up on Reverb and Ebay. Fantastic hardware that become obsolete, essentially for single reason: at that time it was all done essentially on single platform, what now is called "Classic Mac". There was a bit of Atari with built in MIDI, but that was a budget option for Europe. USA budget was Opcode (not much cheaper), and they tried to take over MOTU. Anybody serious about recording at that time must use MOTU MIDI on Mac and nothing else. MOTU still well today and Opcode perished. Opcode's MIDI gear has operational mode where it pretend to be MOTU, because MOTU is the boss.

Some examples of hardware still operational and kind of supported today (officially not supported but can be made usable): "MTP_AV USB" It runs on the same hardware and software architecture from 90s. Professional musicians rave about it. Later date codes of these interfaces working with Windows (I have it with Win11), earlier only with MAC. But most of these that still around only have 9pin mini-din serial RS422 for classic Mac and no USB.

Many pieces of hardware survived. I have a few. They are back to work now.
This was my hardware project.

Their software to control those interfaces, Clockworks, was written at the time when VGA resolution was considered a HighRes. Today it is essentially unchanged and just silly, but somehow MOTU keeping exactly the same interface even on latest M Macs! Rounded corners and better fonts, but still. So I made UI that I can be comfortable with even performing live. Only function I use most often - routing.

Now you know.

Cheers!

I used different gear.

 

[SalPro]

I used different gear.

Me too. At the time (1990s) I use Emagic. It used to work in both, Windows and Mac. MOTU was out of reach for my personal studio. At the time it was $500-$1K. Now, that old gear is almost free. Nowadays you barely can get decent plain MIDI interface for under $100 (most are glitchy) . Add routing - and it cost multiple of that. Professional interfaces still in that range today. (Considering money depreciation I guess it got cheaper)? But, this whole MIDI physical interface is pushed out with MIDI2, USB, RTP_MIDI and virtual instruments. I still have a lot of gear in my rack that need that physical connection. It is a fun project for me to squeeze more life out of those MOTUs. I though the are some folks who may share that sentiment.
To me, to have that 1990 original MOTU MTP in my rack, earlier discarded as trash, fully functional, better than most of modern gear, it is kind of like hot rod equivalent. Maybe just me.