Yamaha SW60XG

[Mikko Helin]

> Hi,
> 
> Has anybody an idea what I can use Yamaha SW60XG without host computer? I
> want to make simple MIDI interface to this soundcard, because they are now
> cheapy (<100USD) and has superb stereo effect processor (Reverb 8, chorus
> 8, Variation 36). It has an ISA bus and I think that is MPU-401 compatible.
> Finally it have programmable synthesizer engine (ADSR for all these - DCF
> aka filter, DCA aka envelope, DCO aka tone pitch).
> 

SW60XG is the card for ISA bus, so you have to use
a PC motherboard to get the functionality. You don't
of course need any video card, keyboard etc. stuff,
the the mobo & psu, though you may have problems
starting the computer as bios will complain about
not having kbd etc. stuff.

I just bough a couple of Mediatrix's Audiotrix 3D-XG cards
that were on sale here in Finland (www.studiotec.fi)
for 300 FIM (about 50 euro/$'s). They come with
similar DB60XG cards which are like DB50XG cards (daughterboard)
but with the A/D converter (so you can use them
as an external FX units with excellent reverbs,
chorus, pitch shift etc. stuff). Nice cards for diyers,
just build the 2x12V + 5V analog supply and add the
optocoupler for MIDI IN.

The Audiotrix3D-XG cards are also sale in Tracertek
www.tracertek.com ($139) and some other places.
The card comes with Cakewalk Express 5.0 (old version,
but can do some audio tracks, too),
and Cool Edit Pro LE (no multitrack capabilities).
The audio quality is quite good, the pcb board
design is excellent.

-Mikko