M-audio PORTMAN 2X4 user guide
Table of Contents
FCC Class B/ CE Compliance ...................................... 2
Overview ................................................................................................ 3
Features ................................................................................................. 4
Hardware Installation ...................................................... 4
About the Parallel Cable .............................................. 4
Typical System Set-Up ...................................................... 6
Software Installation (Drivers) .......................... 6
Windows 98 Driver Installation ................................................................ 7
Windows 95 Driver Installation ................................................................ 8
Windows 3.1 Driver Installation ............................................................... 9
1st-Time Windows Driver Installation ..................................................... 9
Updating the Windows Driver ................................................................ 11
MIDI Application Set-Up Examples ............. 11
Cakewalk for Windows (v. 2.0 & Later) ................................................. 11
Cakewalk for DOS (v. 4.0 & Later) .......................................................... 12
About Your PC Port Address .................................. 14
Basic Trouble-Shooting ................................................. 14
Advanced Trouble-Shooting .................................. 15
2X4DIAG.EXE ............................................................................................ 15
1. Hardware ........................................................................................ 16
2. MIDI Input/Output ...................................................................... 16
3. Internal Buffer Test ........................................................................ 17
4. Receive Interrupt Test ................................................................... 17
Symptoms/Solutions ........................................................ 18
Windows ..................................................................................................... 18
DOS ............................................................................................................. 19
Lifetime Limited Warranty ...................................... 20
Portman 2x4
™
MANUAL
1
Version P2x4: 060299
2
FCC Class B/European CE Compliance
WARNING: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the
limits for a CLASS B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful
interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses
and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in
accordance with the instructions contained in this manual, may cause
harmful interference to radio and television communications. However,
there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation.
If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television
reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on,
the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of
the following measures: 1) reorient or relocate the receiving antenna; 2)
increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver; 3) connect
the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that of the receiver;
4) consult the dealer or an experienced audio television technician.
NOTE: Connecting this device to peripheral devices that do not comply
with CLASS B requirements or using an unshielded peripheral data cable
could also result in harmful interference to radio or television reception.
The user is cautioned that any changes or modifications not expressly
approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s
authority to operate this equipment.
To ensure that the use of this product does not contribute to interference, it
is necessary to use shielded I/O cables.
IMJPORT2X4
This product also complies with European CE requirements.
3
Overview
Thank you for purchasing Portman 2x4.
Portman 2x4 is a professional 2 In/4 Out MIDI interface that connects
externally to the parallel printer port on any IBM or compatible PC computer.
When using Portman with a MIDI application, you will have to make sure
that the correct Portman MIDI driver is installed for your application.
Fortunately, all Windows applications use the same driver and this is
included on the diskette that comes with your Portman. If you have a DOS
MIDI application, you should check and make sure that the correct driver
is included on the diskette and that it is loaded properly.
If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions about Portman 2x4 or
any MIDIMAN product, we invite you to contact us directly at:
MIDIMAN
Technical Assistance: (626) 445-8495
45 E. Saint Joseph Street
Arcadia CA 91006-2861
Fax: (626) 445-7564
World Wide Web: www.midiman.net
4
Features
PORTMAN 2x4 has the following features:
• 2 completely independent MIDI Ins and 4 MIDI Outs.
• Extremely Portable. Works with laptops, and notebooks, as well as
desktops.
• No internal installation is required. Connects via standard Centronicscompatible printer cable.
• Runs on any PC including XT/286/386/486 compatible computers — at
any speed.
• Compatible with any sequencer that supports the Windows Multimedia
Environment.
• Windows and Cakewalk DOS drivers included.
• Power adaptor and Centronics cable provided.
Hardware Installation
1. Make sure that you have turned off power to your computer.
2. If you have more than one parallel (printer) port installed in your computer, choose one and connect PORTMAN to it via a standard (fully
Centronics-compatible) PC printer cable. There should be one included
in the PORTMAN box. Then plug one end of the power adaptor into
PORTMAN and the other into the AC power source. The computer is
now ready to be turned back on. Turn it on.
About the Parallel Cable
PORTMAN comes with a suitable parallel cable. However, if you need to
replace this cable or want a longer one there are certain requirements that
you should be aware of. The PORTMAN 2x4 appears to be able to work
with any printer cable. This unfortunately is not the case. A Centronics
cable that works with your printer won’t always work with the PORTMAN
2x4. There are two reasons for this:
1. The PORTMAN runs at a much higher data rate than a printer and
therefore often requires a shorter (6 feet or less) and higher quality cable
with all of its ground wires present.
2. PORTMAN uses some of the signals of the Centronics cable that are
unneeded by a printer. The PORTMAN therefore requires a cable that
has all 25 wires present and connected according to Centronics specification.
5
If you are having trouble with the PORTMAN using your present printer
cable, you can purchase one either directly from MIDIMAN, through a
MIDIMAN Dealer or from your local electronics store.
MIDIMAN has found at least one easily obtainable cable that is known to
work with the PORTMAN 2x4. It is made by GC Electronics and has Part
#45-201-BU.
In the event that you are going to purchase a cable yourself and you can
not find the GC Electronics cable, you can use this chart as a guide to find a
compatible cable:
Line Name
DB25s (25 pin end) Centronics
-Strobe* 1 1
D0 2 2
D1 3 3
D2 4 4
D3 5 5
D4 6 6
D5 7 7
D6 8 8
D7 9 9
-ACK* 10 10
Busy 11 11
PE 12 12
SLCT 13 13
-AUTOFD* 14 14
-Error* 15 32
-INIT* 16 31
-SLCT In* 17 36
Ground 18 thru 25** 16,19-30,33
* A dash in front of a line name denotes a line that is functionally
active when low.
** The ground lines on the DB25s end of the cable can tie to any of
the ground pins on the Centronics side, but they must run as
separate wires and not share any pin at the Centronics end (none
bridged or tied together).
Typically, if you ask your dealer for a 6-foot Centronics cable with all 25
wires connected, you will get a cable that matches the above table.
Note: Cables lengths of up to 30 feet have been found to work just fine
6
in tested systems.
Typical System Set-Up
The diagram below shows a typical set-up using the PORTMAN 2x4. Your
required set-up may vary slightly from this but this general set-up should
be followed.
Software Installation (Drivers)
Software installation varies according to the MIDI application(s) you are
using. Most programs require a special piece of software known as a
“MIDI Driver” in order to communicate with the PORTMAN interface
hardware. Others have built-in PORTMAN support and may require you
Master Keyboard
Master Keyboard
MIDI Sound Module
MIDI Sound Module
To Wall Wart
Power Supply
PC Computer
MIDI Out
MIDI In
MIDI In
1 2 3 4
PORTMAN
MIDI INTERFACE
CENTRONICS
9VDC
▲
To Centronics (Printer)
Connector
▲▲
▲▲
MIDI OUT
2x4
PC PARALLEL
1
▲
MIDI In
TM
▲
MIDI IN
▲
2 1
MIDI In
+
9 vdc
MIDI Sync Box
MIDI Out
OUT
OUT
IN
IN
TAPE
MIDI
WRITE
On Off
---
---
SONG POINTER - (Off)
DIRECT LOCK (Map R/W)
DUPLICATE - (Plus Mode)
MERGE
24 DF 3025
SMPTE FORMAT
Syncman
SMPTE/Song Pointer Sync Box
TM
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