Re: Gurus! Help me ID some A2 cards, please?

[acrout@vcn.bc.ca (Al Crout)]

Pat McNeil (SpammersWillBeShot@Noon.Com) wrote:
: Hello all,
: 
: Okay, I posted this a few weeks back, but never got any answers as it
: was flamewar season and not tech-help season. :)
: 
: I found some cards of late that I need help identifying/using.  Any 
: and all info would be great.
: 
: 1) A Hayes Micromodem II.  Yes, I know what it is. :)  My question is
: what are the pinouts.  This has a ribbon cable coming off the end of it
: with two rows of 5 pins, one is blocked off.
: 
: 2) A passport designs Soundchaser card.  Not attached to anything, but
: has an empty 16 pin DIP socket.  What's it do & What software is
: needed, if any.
: 
: 3) Two cards linked together labelled "mountain computer MusicSystem"  
: (c) 1979. This has 2 RCA jacks coming off it, and a device that looks
: something like a lightpen.
: 
: 
: Reply to NG or to bassclef at netcom dot ca
: 
: Thank you for your help,
: Pat McNeil

Wow, lucky guy with the Soundchaser cards and funny thing, too, just a
couple of weeks ago, my neighbour, an amateur composer, invited me up to
see Turbo Tracks (Passport) and his Soundchaser music system.

The two Mountain Computer cards linked together are the synthesizer cards,
generating 16 voices, often used in pairs for a "richer" sound. The
Soundchaser card is the klavier interface card, so it could be that the 16
pin connector is for the klavier connection.

Assuming you have the software, to input music with this system, you'll
require the Soundchaser keyboard (klavier) or equivalent. To playback and
listen to music with this system, you are only required to connect the
RCA-type audio output jacks on the Mountain Computer card to a stereo AUX
input.

All kinds of software was produced for this system and the audio quality
was really good for the time and can still be useful but with quite a bit
of work, from my experience.

If you're into music, the GS with a midi interface & keyboard can do
better with less hassle, and with cool software available free or at
little cost. 

Anyway, I hope that answers your Q's reasonably accurately.

-- al