junod@sunburn12.DAB.GE.COM (11/09/88)
Posting this for a fellow worker: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Subject: MacII audio port When Apple introduced the Macintosh II, I was under the distinct impression from Apple's own engineers that the sound capabilities of the MacII were significantly better than the MacPlus and SE. For one, the MacII allows sampling rates of up to 44KHz, as opposed to 22KHz on the Plus/SE. This allows for accurate reproduction of sampled frequencies as high as 22KHz. But this would be expected for a higher-speed processor such as the 68020. (Unfortunately, the standard serial ports aren't capable of transferring the data from sounds sampled at greater than 22KHz). The MacII also includes a specialized sound chip, and a line-level audio port. I had heard that Apple includes a set of Sony pre-amps on the motherboard, and that the audio port is a mini-stereo jack of the type used in stereo walkmans. However, the Apple Interface Guide for service engineers shows the pinouts for the MacII. This guide lists the MacII audio port as a MONORAL mini phone jack of the type used on the SE, Plus, and earlier Macs. So I have two questions: 1) Is the MacII audio port a mini-stereo or standard monoral phone jack? If it is monoral, how do you have to buy a special card to get stereo sound? 2) With the advent of System 6.0 (forget about the sound bugs), and the Inside Mac Vol.5 Sound Manager implemented in RAM on the Plus and SE, what advantage does the Apple custom digital sound chip in the II offer? I haven't seen any MacII-specific music software, or am I missing something? Thanks in advance! Paul Christensen GE Aerospace/Advanced Technology Laboratories : : : PCHRISTENSEN%ATL.DECNET@GE-CRD.ARPA : : : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Michael F. Junod (Mike) Domain: mjunod@atl.GE.COM RCA Advanced Technology Laboratories UUCP: ...!mcnc!ge-rtp!ge-dab!junod Moorestown Corp. CTR., Rt. 38 Phone: (609) 866-6622 Moorestown NJ, 08057 DialComm: 8*777-6622