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Author Topic: Midiman Portman 4x4/S Parallel MIDI Interface/Patchbay (1996) win3.1/95/98/ME  (Read 11399 times)

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Offline chrisNova777

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for Windows 3.1/95/98/98SE/WinME
XP might work with the NT driver created in 1998
there is no XP driver for this interface as far as i know it would be best to avoid this interface
unless you want a midi interface for any of the pre-XP windows versions
or simply to use this as a stand alone patchbay after programming it on a win9x box with the software

https://web.archive.org/web/19970415080756fw_/http://www.midiman.net:80/prportman4x4.htm
This will also function when disconnected from the PC, operating as a stand‑alone MIDI patchbay, using MIDI program changes to select patches. (theres remote control software for windows 3.1?)

Quote
4 in / 4 out PC MIDI interface
-4 ins /  outs parallel port PC MIDI interface with SMPTE Sync, and 64 independant MIDI transmit and recieve channels that can all operate simultaneously at full MIDI bandwidth
-The MIDIMAN Portman 4x4/S plugs into the PC printer port and supports high speed bi-directional printer port modes minimizing PC overhead
-the 4x4/S is shipped with windows MME-compliant multiclient drivers, remote control Windows Software and a parallel cable
-Fully Windows MME compatible and works with Windows 3.1, 3.11, and Windows 95
-Works with all MIDI Sequencers, editors and librarians that support the windows multimedia standard

Stand-Alone MIDI Patchbay
-When disconnected from the pc, unit operates as a stand-alone MIDI patchbay
-Remote Control Windows software included

SMPTE Time Code Writer/Reader
-Can read and write 24, 25, 30 drop and 30 non-drop frame LTC SMPTE formats
-Any SMPTE time write offset can be set using the included Portman 4x4/S software
-Converts LTC SMPTE to MIDI Time Code (MTC) for syncing any MTC capable sequencer
to SMPTE
-Selectable "flywheel" that can be set to any value from 1 frame to 255 frames, or forever
-Can perfectly regenerate even the worst SMPTE time code
-Performs "JAM" sync in all modes

drivers available for:
windows 3.1
windows 3.11
windows 95
windows 98
windows ME
windows XP***

originally priced at £249 in the UK
later priced at 279.95 in the US

Quote
Package Contents
Included in the PORTMAN 4x4/S package should be:
• The PORTMAN 4x4/S interface unit.
• DB-25 to Centronics parallel cable.
• DC 9v 500 ma power supply (US only).
• This instruction manual.
• A drivers, applications and diagnostics disk

Quote
Printer Port Hardware Modes
Most computers’ parallel printer ports operate in one or more of
the following modes: Compatible, Bi-directional, EPP, and ECP.
The mode is usually manually set in the CMOS setup of the computer
(please see your computer’s user guide for more information).
While Compatible mode works with almost all printer
ports, it is also the lowest performance. If available, choose ECP
or Bi-directional first. Then when running the diagnostic software
(or drivers), set H/W Mode to match the printer port mode
you’ve selected in your CMOS setup. If the higher performance
settings do not work with your computer, back off to Compatible
Mode, which is adequate for MIDI data rates.

Offline chrisNova777

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Re: Midiman Portman 4x4/S winME driver
« Reply #1 on: March 03, 2017, 07:22:30 PM »
:)

Offline chrisNova777

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original press release:
Quote
Midiman is Now Shipping Their New Portman 4x4/S
For: Immediate Release
Retail: $ 279.95
(1996)
Arcadia, CA
MIDIMAN answers their MIDI studio and multimedia customers requests for more power and performance in an external MIDI interface;
MIDIMAN's new Portman 4x4/S is a 4 In / 4 Out parallel port PC MIDI interface with SMPTE sync, and 64 independent MIDI transmit and receive channels that can all operate simultaneously at full MIDI bandwidth.

When disconnected from the PC computer, the 4x4/S acts as a stand-alone patchbay.

The Portman 4x4/S ($279.95 msrp) is fully Windows MME compatible and works with Windows 3.1, 3.11 and Windows 95.

When functioning as a SMPTE time code writer/reader, the Portman 4x4/S can read and write 24, 25, and 30 drop or non-drop frame LTC SMPTE formats. Using the included software, any SMPTE write offset can be set. Portman 4x4/S converts LTC to MIDI time code (MTC) for syncing any MTC capable sequencer to SMPTE.

Got a bad spot on your recording? -- the 4x4/S can perfectly regenerate even the worst SMPTE time code with a selectable flywheel that can be set to any value from 1 frame to 255 frames, or forever, and it performs 3JAM2 sync in all modes.

The MIDIMAN Portman 4x4/S plugs into the PC printer port and supports high speed bi-directional printer port modes minimizing PC overhead. The 4x4/S is shipped with Windows MME-compliant multiclient drivers, remote control Windows software and a parallel cable.

For more information contact:

MIDIMAN,
45 E. St. Joseph St., Arcadia, CA 91006

Telephone: 818-445-2846
Fax: 818-445-7564
Internet Email: info@midiman.net

Press Contact: Tim Ryan
Tim's Phone: (818) 445-2842
Tim's Fax: (818) 445-7564
Tim's email tmryan@earthlinklnet


acidborgen

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Re: Midiman Portman 4x4/S winME driver
« Reply #3 on: July 06, 2018, 09:26:58 AM »
:)

hi

The driver seems not to be for portman 4x4/ but for Portman PC/P.
I am trying to install it on an old toshiba sattelite laptop running win98.
If anybody have the actual drivers it would be highly appriciated!

Offline chrisNova777

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even tho the title says pcp_LED that is the file that is currently posted on m-audio.com
im not sure its correct.. i dont even think there were win98/winME drivrs for this interface
i have the original 1.44mb 3.5" floppies that came with the portman 4x4/s but those drivers are for
windows 95/3.1


Offline chrisNova777

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ive just made this zip from my 1.44Mb 3.5" floppy disk that came with the portman 4x4/s that i bought brand new in the box
sorry for the delay everyone
should have added this long time ago

the driver files do mention win2k + windows XP but ive not tested that personally yet
thats incorrect those files are related to a network driver it seems thats at the directory above

Offline Architecture

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Can confirm the last portman driver disk you posted works perfectly with Windows 3.11

Offline chrisNova777

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http://web.archive.org/web/20010806063736/http://www.m-audio.com:80/download/drivers/port4x4.exe
i cant test this file because it says that it cant be run on my 64bit windows 7 that im on at the moment

Offline chrisNova777

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 ok i booted into Vista32bit and was able to run the exe file
ive re-archived these files in a normal zip file with 7zip and attached to this post
files are marked from 1997 so this pre-dates windows 98 and obviously Windows XP.

Offline chrisNova777

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ok as i suspected i had to move to EPP mode (v1.9) in my bios before the portman interface would be recognized by the driver in windows 98SE.

after doing that it will try to do a calibration of somesort when u first re-start the win9x OS, then the light on the frnt of the portman turned red to indicate that its in "inter"face mode rather then standalone patchbay if u power it up withotu a computer connection the green light means that its in standalone mode i think

anyway i checked in Logic Audio 5.5 and it shows my 4 midi output ports for the Midiman portman
so i can confirm its working under windows 98se with these settings.