1212 I/O MacOS General Information
1212 I/O Website
Contents
Magma PCI expansion chassis
1212 I/O versions 1.3 and later are compatible with the Magma line of PCI expansion chassis.
System 7.5.3 rev. 2 not recommended
System 7.5.3 Rev. 2 is known to have problems with third-party hardware and the Sound Manager, especially on 9500-class machines (including the Power Computing PowerTower Pro line). For use with the 1212 I/O, we recommend System 7.5.5 or later.
MacOS 8.1
Sound Manager
MacOS 8.1 includes revisions to Apple's sound architecture. A note in Apple's read me file implies that the Sound control panel should no longer be used for selecting the Sound Manager audio input and output hardware.
This is presumably true for selecting between Apple's various built-in sound options. However, the Sound control panel still functions as before for selecting third-party audio cards, such as the 1212 I/O.
Korg continues to recommend use of the Sound control panel for configuring the 1212 I/O under MacOS 8.1.
Memory Control Panel settings
As with previous system software upgrades, installing MacOS 8.1 resets the Memory Control Panel to default values. After installing the new system software, make sure to make the following changes:
1. Turn off Virtual Memory. (For more information, see Disable Virtual Memory, below.)
2. Set the Disk Cache to 96k. (For more information, see Set Disk Cache to minimum, below.)
Deck II
If "System Overtaxed" messages appear with sessions that played back OK under system versions prior to 8.1, try increasing Deck's Disk Buffer size (in File menu Preferences->Memory & Storage).
MacOS 8.5, 8.6, and 9
Memory Control Panel settings
As with previous system software upgrades, installing MacOS 8.5, MacOS 8.6, or MacOS 9 resets the Memory Control Panel to default values. After installing the new system software, make sure to make the following changes:
1. Turn off Virtual Memory. (For more information, see Disable Virtual Memory, below.)
2. Set the Disk Cache to 128k. (For more information, see Set Disk Cache to minimum, below.)
Shut down after crashing
If the computer crashes, whether or not the crash happens while you're working in a digital audio program, you'll need to do a complete power cycle before starting up again, as opposed to simply using the "restart" command. Turn off power for a moment - just a second will do - to ensure that the 1212 I/O card will be properly re-initialized. Otherwise, the card will be left in an indeterminate state, and will not show up in your digital audio programs, or in the Sound control panel.
Disable Virtual Memory
The 1212 I/O requires that the MacOS Virtual Memory (VM) be disabled. (This is done in the Memory control panel.) All major digital audio programs also require that VM be disabled, since it can cause performance degradation.
Version 1.0 of the 1212 I/O extension would cause the Mac to freeze on startup if VM was enabled.
Versions 1.1 and later include a fix this problem. If VM is enabled, the 1212 I/O icon will appear at startup covered by a red "X," the extension will not load, and the rest of the startup process will proceed as usual.
To restore the Mac from the VM freeze with version 1.0:
1. Start up with extensions off by holding down the Shift key during the startup process. (Bringing up the Extensions Manager by holding down the Space key will not work, since the 1212 I/O extension loads before Extensions Manager comes up.)
2. Open the Memory control panel, and disable VM.
3. Re-start the computer.
4. Upgrade to the latest version of the 1212 I/O software. The software can be downloaded from the 1212 I/O downloads page, at http://www.korg.com/1212down.html.
Set Disk Cache to minimum
For most digital audio applications, Korg recommends setting the Memory Control Panel's Disk Cache to the lowest possible value. Higher settings can sometimes cause degraded performance, including ADAT timecode problems and audio problems. The minimum Disk Cache setting has gradually increased with newer versions of the MacOS.
For System 7.5.5, set the Disk Cache to 32k.
For System 7.6, MacOS 8.0, and MacOS 8.1, set the Disk Cache to 96k.
For MacOS 8.5, set the Disk Cache to 128k.
Playing audio CDs through the 1212 I/O
Sound Manager programs can record and play back audio through the 1212 I/O. Some special Apple sound functions, however, may work only with the built-in Macintosh audio hardware.
The CD, for instance, seems to be hard-wired to the internal hardware; it will not play back through the 1212 I/O. The startup chime, similarly, appears to be hard-wired.
Some third-party Sound Manager programs which allow transferring CD audio tracks to Mac-format sound files (such as Toast Audio Extractor, Peak, Transfer Station, and the shareware program Retro CD) *do* allow preview of CD audio through the 1212 I/O. This is because they receive audio from the CD as SCSI data, and then play that data through the Sound Manager, instead of simply telling the CD drive to play the disk as an audio disk. Some CD-ROM drives may not support this function.
CPUs with 12" PCI slots
The 1212 I/O requires a full-size (12") PCI slot. Most, but not all, MacOS PCI-equipped CPUs offer full-size slots.
As of August 1998, MacOS computers with full-size slots include:
Apple: Macintosh 7200, 7300, 7500, 7600, 8500, 8600, 9500, 9600, G3 desktop, G3 tower, Blue & White G3, G4.
Power Computing: PowerCenter, PowerCenter Pro, PowerTower, PowerTower Pro.
Umax: S900, S910, J700 (and perhaps others as well)
Some, but not all, APS and Motorola CPUs also have full-size slots; we do not have full details at this time.
Apple Performa series computers (such as the 6500) do not have full-size slots.
Chooser can cause card to disappear with older
software
With versions of 1212 I/O-compatible digital audio software released prior to Spring 1998, opening and then closing the Chooser can cause the 1212 I/O to "disappear" until the system is shut down and re-started.
This is due to a conflict between the Chooser and an early version of the Korg 1212 I/O glue library. The glue library is a piece of code, provided by Korg, which is used by software developers when implementing 1212 I/O support in audio applications. Korg has distributed a new version of the glue library which fixes this conflict, and which should be incorporated into the most recent versions of 1212 I/O-compatible audio applications.
With older software, as a workaround, Korg recommends using the Control Strip to select different printers, or to turn Appletalk on and off.
Motorola StarMax & APS clones
PCI slot placement in 5-slot models
When installing the 1212 I/O in any Motorola StarMax 5-slot tower model, Korg recommends that the 1212 I/O be placed in one of the two PCI slots closest to the motherboard (these computers use a PCI riser board, which extends outward from the motherboard).
This is because the 5-slot StarMax computers use a PCI bridge chip for all but the first two PCI slots, and the bridge chip apparently can cause problems in some cases. Motorola recommends that high-throughput cards - such as professional audio cards - be placed in the slots which do not use the bridge chip.
APS clones were made under arrangement with Motorola, using the same motherboards, so we expect (but have not confirmed) that 5-slot APS machines will be similar.
Cache coherency
There may be a StarMax issue relating to PCI cards which use DMA to transfer data to and from the main motherboard RAM. A user-created program may address this problem. For more information, see the unofficial StarMax website, at http://www.starmax.net/ref/issues/42.shtml.
Umax S900, S910, & J700
When installing the 1212 I/O in a Umax S900, S910, or J700, Korg recommends that the 1212 I/O be placed in PCI slots A or B.
This is because the S900, S910, and J700 series use a PCI bridge chip for all but the first two PCI slots (A and B). The PCI bridge apparently causes problems with PCI cards from a number of manufacturers, including Digidesign, Adaptec, Media100, Radius, Apple, ATI, and Diamond Multimedia.
Umax acknowledges this issue. For more information, see the Umax website, SuperMac service section, and refer to article KB00218.
Power Computing PCI Timing Update
Users of Power Computing systems based on Apple's 7200 motherboard design, including the PowerTower, PowerCenter, and PowerCurve families, should install the Power Computing PCI Timing Update. This corrects a timing error which, according to the Apple website, "may cause intermittent issues on some PCI cards when used with Mac OS computers based on the original 7200 logic board design."
You can download the update from Apple's website, at http://til.info.apple.com/swupdates.nsf/artnum/n10770.
PowerPC Interrupt Extension (System 7.5.5
only)
The PowerPC Interrupt Extension fixes problems specific to System 7.5.5, which could cause inexplicable hangs or momentary freezes on Power Macs. Problems with audio editing tools have been specifically noted, and so this extension is recommended for all digital audio and MIDI programs when using System 7.5.5.
The PowerPC Interrupt Extension applies to System 7.5.5 only, and is no longer necessary when using System 7.6 and later.
You can download the PowerPC Interrupt Extension from Apple's website, at http://til.info.apple.com/swupdates.nsf/artnum/n10846.
G3 CD Update
Apple has identified and fixed a problem with certain Power Macintosh G3 models, in which the CD-ROM could cause long delays in system response while "waking up," which may happen (for instance) when a new CD-ROM is inserted into the drive. These delays may cause crashes with certain digital audio programs. If you have experienced this problem, you can download the G3 CD Update from Apple's website, at the following very long URL:
Blue & White G3 systems and G4
1212 I/O software version 1.3.1 or higher is required for use with Blue & White Power Macintosh G3 computers, or Power Macintosh G4 computers.The latest 1212 I/O software can be downloaded from the 1212 I/O downloads page on the web, at http://www.korg.com/1212down.html.
Please see the read-me file included with the software for any late-breaking compatibility news.
Sound Manager "Not enough memory" crash
Apple tech note #30898 notes that, with MacOS 8.5, a damaged Sound Preferences file can cause a crash on startup, which shows the error message "Not enough Memory is available while using Sound Manager." MacOS 8.6 apparently alleviates this problem.
With MacOS 8.5, Apple recommends the following procedure to fix this problem:
1. Restart with extensions turned off. TO do this, hold down the Shift key as you restart, and keep it held down until you see the message "Extensions Off" appear under the MacOS logo.
2. Open the Preferences folder (in the System Folder), and drag the Sound Preferences file to the Trash.
3. Restart normally.
For more information, see tech note #30898 in the Apple Tech Info Library (http://til.info.apple.com/techinfo.nsf/artnum/n30898).
Video Capture Cards
While Korg has not officially tested any MacOS third-party video capture cards for compatibility with the 1212 I/O, Korg users have reported success using the Miro DC30. For optimum performance, users recommend setting the DC30 to a smaller resolution (such as 384 x 288), and limiting the data rate to 500-700K/sec. This allows 25-30 frames per second without overly taxing the PCI bus.
Copyright 1998-2000 Korg Inc. FAQ Version: 11/29/00