eBay Auction: IBM Music Feature Card

[Cloudschatze]

http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-XT-8-bit-ISA-Sound-Card-NEP-16T-Yamaha-YM2164-1987_W0QQitemZ8815212431QQcategoryZ4193QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I sent an e-mail to the seller, telling him his prices were a bit "lofty".  :roll:

[Great Hierophant]

I sent an e-mail to the seller, telling him his prices were a bit "lofty". Rolling Eyes

Oh, just a bit high.  I would consider buying it at $200 if it came with its breakout box and diagnostics disks, (which came with the card), but not for the bare card alone.

[Cloudschatze]

Since the opto-isolator is on the card itself, a DIY breakout box/cable would be a fairly easy project.

The diagnostic disk is not specifically for the card, but for the IBM host system. I'm sure this is on the web somewhere.

[Great Hierophant]

The diagnostics disk isn't all that useful, it just lets you test IBM devices.  Also, I would  never spend $200 on a card not guaranteed to work, this card.  

It seems likely that only five pins of the cable are used, three for midi out and two for midi in,  THe midi thru connector would not need any pins to card.  But how to determine which pin does what is a real difficulty.

[Cloudschatze]

But how to determine which pin does what is a real difficulty.

Jim Leonard provided me with that info awhile back:

IMFC Technical Reference Appendix B

(I am going to update my IMFC post with the above file as well)

[Great Hierophant]

Assuming there is nothing between the 9-pin cable and the DIN ports, then there is your DIY box right there.  However, if there are more than circuit traces inside the box, then the investigation is not over.  At leas t the character of each pin is not modified from the cable to the connector.  

Also, the IMFC installation manual uses two dipswitches for I/O selection.  This was to enable the use of two cards in a system.  Two dipswitches can be put in four positions.  This strongly implies that you could use four IMFCs in a system.  Of course, I seriously doubt this would be practical given the number of slots and interrupts four IMFC cards would require.  Also, it may take something beyond an 8088 to drive four cards with data at once.  I wonder what I/O addresses the IMFC could use?

[Cloudschatze]

However, if there are more than circuit traces inside the box...

There's nothing else - I've looked.  

This strongly implies that you could use four IMFCs in a system.  Of course, I seriously doubt this would be practical given the number of slots and interrupts four IMFC cards would require.  Also, it may take something beyond an 8088 to drive four cards with data at once.  I wonder what I/O addresses the IMFC could use?

The Playrec and Compose manuals both state that four cards can be used.

The dip-switch positions in the manual are for addresses 2a20 and 2a30. I suppose the remaining two might be 2a40 and 2a50. One of these days, I might get around to finding out for sure.

[Rhizome]

I'd say that is very pricey for how it sounds. The MT-32 goes much cheaper than that.

[Great Hierophant]

The dip-switch positions in the manual are for addresses 2a20 and 2a30. I suppose the remaining two might be 2a40 and 2a50. One of these days, I might get around to finding out for sure.

Given the positions of the switches in the installation instructions, the addresses would more likely be 2a00 and 2a10.  Of course, by using a NOT gate, they can use 2a40 and 2a50 just like the RAP-10AT does.

[Rhizome]

The seller has put on a "BuyItNow" at $500. Yeah, like someone is going to pay that  :roll:

[jeffcowe]

Ammm


Dose it have midi? Like the Roland mt32 or is it Fm and sound more like an adlib or worse a game blaster ?


jeff

[Ari]

See here for examples of what it sounds like, if you like.

[jeffcowe]

thanks ari

ammm well its an adlib +

but no more

jeff

[Cloudschatze]

ammm well its an adlib +

but no more

jeff

I suppose the DX7 is an adlib ++?

[Ari]

More like Adlib ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++  :lol:

[Dustin]

I've had a go at playing a DX-7, and was blown away by the sound. Just amazing.

I'd like to point out that I've found the Yamaha TX-7 is a far better replacement for the IBM MFC.

[Great Hierophant]

I'm glad the auction ended at $199.99 without any takers.  Maybe this will induce more reasonable prices the next time around.   I would pay $100 at best for the card.

[Great Hierophant]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8821920418&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ebay.com%3A80%2Fws%2Fsearch%2FSaleSearch%3Fsofocus%3Dbs%26satitle%3D8821920418%26sacat%3D-1%2526catref%253DC5%26from%3DR7%26nojspr%3Dy%26pfid%3D0%26fsop%3D1%2526fsoo%253D1%26fcl%3D3%26frpp%3D50%26fvi%3D1

I

I'm glad the auction ended at $199.99 without any takers. Maybe this will induce more reasonable prices the next time around. I would pay $100 at best for the card.

And as I predicted, that came to pass.

[Ari]

Congratulations!  
What are you going to do with it?

[Great Hierophant]

What are you going to do with it?

It will have a place in the retro PC I am going to build, and it will keep company with similarly rare midi devices.  It shall be the Midi Box . . . OF DOOM!