CM-64 on ebay

[bestemor]

Here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=008&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=180137216766&rd=1&rd=1
Comes with both power adapter and a PCM card...

And, for the record, it seems like one of our members were the lucky one to get the 'MPU-401/AT + SCB-55' combo... congrats ! 
http://queststudios.com/smf/index.php/topic,2354.0.html

On that note, I'm curious as to what it is about this last combo that would be 'better' than the SCD-15 with just any good sound card ?

[Mike 01Hawk]

Woot, congrats davesedg

You got it for a steal methinks.

[Rhizome]

I never got a PCM card with mine 

[Ari]

Here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=008&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=180137216766&rd=1&rd=1
Comes with both power adapter and a PCM card...

Looks to be in a very good condition. My CM-64 is already becoming yellow, while this one seems to have retained it's original grayish color. The PCM card is a very worthwhile addition, especially at this price.

And, for the record, it seems like one of our members were the lucky one to get the 'MPU-401/AT + SCB-55' combo... congrats ! 
http://queststudios.com/smf/index.php/topic,2354.0.html

On that note, I'm curious as to what it is about this last combo that would be 'better' than the SCD-15 with just any good sound card ?

Nothing much, except for, maybe, the fact that when you connect an SCD-15 to a regular SB16, you tend to get hanging notes here and there. With the MPU-401-AT, you don't. Of course, you could always use a non-SB sound card.

[davesedg]

Woot, congrats davesedg

You got it for a steal methinks.

Thanks Mike,

I think it was a good price, since it included cables etc, not too much more than the similar one that went in January. But MPU-401/ATs don't seem to come up all that often.

By the way, regarding this thread: http://queststudios.com/smf/index.php/topic,1969.msg20459.html#msg20459

- was there a consensus reached on whether it is a good idea or not to post eBay links? kreatorb seemed to think it just made other, non-QS people, more easily able to Google the sales and thus end up in competition with us for items.

It doesn't bother me, since I do regular eBay searches on those things I'm looking for anyway. What does everyone else think?

[Cloudschatze]

What does everyone else think?

I think your wife is going to pummel you.

[Great Hierophant]

Looks to be in a very good condition. My CM-64 is already becoming yellow, while this one seems to have retained it's original grayish color. The PCM card is a very worthwhile addition, especially at this price.

Thats nothing, my CM-32L's top plastic looks like a tire ran over it, but it works like a charm. 

Nothing much, except for, maybe, the fact that when you connect an SCD-15 to a regular SB16, you tend to get hanging notes here and there. With the MPU-401-AT, you don't. Of course, you could always use a non-SB sound card.

Even better, it works with all the games that support an MT-32 and require the geniune Roland MPU-401 interface.  Hook an MT-32 up to the cables and enjoy the LA synthesis

[mace]

Back in those days the petrochemical industry was not as far as they are now. (obviously)

So the "grey" plastic of those days WILL turn yellow, sooner or later.
It was just the chemical makeup of plastics those days, there is no way to stop the process.

[Ari]

Even better, it works with all the games that support an MT-32 and require the geniune Roland MPU-401 interface.  Hook an MT-32 up to the cables and enjoy the LA synthesis

Don't see much reason in doing so, since I have an LAPC-I in the same system. Although it would help in mixing the two...

[kreatorb]

Well I'm on the lookout for a cm-64 cm-32l .. guess I can take this one off the watch list now.

[bestemor]

Even better, it works with all the games that support an MT-32 and require the geniune Roland MPU-401 interface.  Hook an MT-32 up to the cables and enjoy the LA synthesis

Hmm, and what games might that be ?
Any examples - list of the most 'important' ones ?

Would those games NOT produce any sound then(with a MT-32 connected as midi device), if no genuine(?) interface was present ?  

[mace]

Even better, it works with all the games that support an MT-32 and require the geniune Roland MPU-401 interface.  Hook an MT-32 up to the cables and enjoy the LA synthesis

Hmm, and what games might that be ?
Any examples - list of the most 'important' ones ?

Would those games NOT produce any sound then(with a MT-32 connected as midi device), if no genuine(?) interface was present ? 

Sierra and Dynamix games produced between 1988 and 1994.
They all need a real MPU-401.

This is a list I took from the mt32sb tool, which is a driver for sierra games that adresses the issue,
this is by no means a complete list, just the games supported by the driver,
but it gives you and idea about the extent of the problem.

- "King's Quest IV - The Perils of Rosella"
- "Leisure Suit Larry II - Looking for Love..."
- "Police Quest II - The Vengeance"
- "Silpheed"
- "Space Quest III - The Pirates of Pestulon"
- "Hero's Quest"
- "Hoyle's Book of Games"
- "Leisure Suit Larry III - Passionate Patti..."
- "The Colonel's Bequest"
- "Conquests of Camelot"
- "Codename Iceman"
- "Sorcerian"
- "Hoyle's Book of Games, volume 2"
- "Mixed-up Mother Goose" (SCI-version)
- "King's Quest I" (SCI-version)
- "Oil's Well"
- "Quest for Glory II - Trial by Fire"
- "Jones in the Fast Lane"
- "Firehawk - Thexder the Second Contact"
- "King's Quest V - Absence Makes the Heart go Yonder!"
- "Space Quest IV - Roger Wilco and the Time Rippers"

[bestemor]

Yikes, that was a long list!

Though still in the dark as to what would happen ?
No sound ?
Inferior sound ?

As these cards only come by once or twice each year, I'm hoping for the latter.
But if owning a SCC-1 helps, then we're in the clear 
Well... if I can get it to coexist with my other cards, that is.... 
(hanging notes/IRQ problems?)

PS: where does one obtain that driver ?
(somewhere on this site maybe?)

[mace]

Yikes, that was a long list!

Though still in the dark as to what would happen ?
No sound ?
Inferior sound ?

As these cards only come by once or twice each year, I'm hoping for the latter.
But if owning a SCC-1 helps, then we're in the clear 
Well... if can get it to coexist with my other cards, that is.... 
(hanging notes/IRQ problems?)

No sound, but I think you're good with the SCC-1

I'd say put you soundblaster or whatever at 300H, and put your SCC-1 at 330H.

Also: the modified driver actually fixes the issue, so all those games I've listed work with the driver.
So you can use a midi interface other than a real MPU-401

[Laust]

Back in those days the petrochemical industry was not as far as they are now. (obviously)

So the "grey" plastic of those days WILL turn yellow, sooner or later.
It was just the chemical makeup of plastics those days, there is no way to stop the process.

Well, cheap plastics at least. I have computer gear of the same vintage as these synths and it hasn't yellowed at all. Even the IBM Model M keyboard I have purposefully left in the sun for a few years now still looks the same, although for all I know, it can be brittle and turn to dust the next time I touch it

[Great Hierophant]

Well, cheap plastics at least. I have computer gear of the same vintage as these synths and it hasn't yellowed at all. Even the IBM Model M keyboard I have purposefully left in the sun for a few years now still looks the same, although for all I know, it can be brittle and turn to dust the next time I touch it

If its an IBM (not Lexmark) manufactured Model M, it will be around and still functioning long after you have become brittle and have turned to dust.

[bestemor]

Ok, so my 1987 Model M keyboard will last for a while (been using this since 1995... these very words beeing typed on it as we 'speak'...!)
anyone know where that modified Sierra MT32 driver might be located ? 

[Ari]

I think this little patch solved most of the problems regarding the MT-32 and Sound Blaster in those early Sierra games.

[davesedg]

What does everyone else think?

I think your wife is going to pummel you.

Yikes! You may be right!

perhaps my loss (bodily injuries) may be QS members' gain, if I am forced to off-load some of the gear I've accumulated over the last few months... 

[Mike 01Hawk]

Na, just hide it in the closet

As for the discoloration, here's an article that was written in Vintage Computing and Gaming: http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/189