From: hatter@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (John Eichenseer)
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth
Subject: Re: Yet another set of Mac/Powerbook/MIDI Queries
Date: 21 Jul 92 21:59:05 GMT
Organization: The University of Texas at Austin, Austin TX

In article <3392@blue.cis.pitt.edu.UUCP> metlay@minerva.phyast.pitt.edu (metlay) writes:
>One was purchased by a person on r.m.s using Alchemy and several
>other programs; he reports that the machine does OK for him. The

Right. I have been quite satisfied with the functionality of my Outbound 
Notebook. It does NOT suffer from the input density problems that the 
PowerBooks do. 

>other was loaned for a couple of weeks to a very high-powered 
>user who normally runs a IIci with an MTP and uses MAX and TurboSynth
>heavily, among other things. HE reports that the timing of MAX is 
>messed up beyond repair, and that TurboSynth is useless because it
>cannot access the Outbound's speaker to preview sounds. One satisfied
>but not terribly demanding, one demanding and not satisfied at all.

Errmmm. Wrong on a few points here. For one thing, I have used the Outbound
in a very demanding setting. I was running with an MTP as well, under Opcode's
OMS and Apple's MIDI Manager.I had no problems setting up a fairly complex
routing loop between Performer and M running simulataneously, and no problems
with several other demanding, multitasking setups under this configuraton. 

TurboSynth DOES play sounds back through the speaker, but they are slightly 
distorted (usually) because of a problem with Apple's sound driver. I was
under the vague impression that this was under investigation at Outbound. It
doesn't concern me unduly because Alchemy works just fine, and TurboSynth
works well enough for me for as much as I use it (not much). 

MAX is the Outbound's most glaring incompatability at the moment. They are in
the process of fixing it. Remember, they have been fixing problems like this
for years, and I don't think that there has been any incompatability so far
which they have not been able to resolve. Sure, this is VaporWare at the 
moment, but I would predict that they get MAX working pretty soon. 

>The final word from Outbound is that they are continuing to improve
>MIDI compatibility, and believe they have a contender in the MIDI realm.
>The final word from me is that they aren't there yet for things like
>sample editors or MAX, but sequencers and librarians seem to work just
>fine, so if you want a modular, upgradable machine rather than a PB
>and you're only interested in standard uses, the Outbound will work.
>(Performer, Vision, Finale, and several other programs have tested
>bulletproof on the Outbound-- at least as bulletproof as on any other
>machine.)

Well, they just started working on MIDI compatability a couple of months
ago, so I am pretty happy with how far they have come. There are some 
significant issues to iron out, but I have a fair amount of confidence
in Outbound's responsiveness to the needs of their users. For me, the 
benefits of the Outbound system far outweighed the disadvantages, when 
compared to the PowerBooks. Even considering the plummeting prices of 
Apple's line (especially for educational buyers).

I can field questions, if anybody has them. Again, if you want to talk
to Outbound directly, get a hold of Neil at 1-800-444-4607, ext.161. 

Hope this helps...

	jhno


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John Eichenseer		          		Applied Research Laboratories
hatter@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu		    The University of Texas at Austin
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth,comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard