MAC to Amiga Conversion
23 messages in this thread
Lou,
I want to be able to take MIDI song files in MFF format that were
created on the MAC and simply convert them to MFF for use with the Amiga.
I have an 8-track/MIDI studio and many musicians come with basic sequences
that they recorded on a MAC and they want me to flesh them out, add more
parts, sync it to multitrack, add non-MIDI instruments and vocals, and
then mix it down for them. So I simply need a way to convert the MAC files
so I can import them into Bars&Pipes Pro on the Amiga. I don't need a MAC
emulator, just a conversion program.
I know about AMAX II+ and MAC-TO-DOS, both the former is overkill for
me and the later requires a MAC floppy drive. I'd like to know if there is
a software-only program that will do the conversion for me, but that does
NOT require a MAC floppy drive? I'm looking for the cheapest solution
possible.
I appreciate your help. Thanks.
Dom Fontana
<– Sent from New York via AutoPilot –>
Dominick,
I use Macs & PCs every day and I often want to transfer files from Amiga to
mac etc. I found that the best solution and the cheapest I know of, is to
purchase DosMounter for the Mac (or PCAccess, etc). This will allow you to
read & write disks, transfer those to your Amiga, all using Dos (PCDos) as
the common format. DosMounter will allow you to format dos disks as well.
You can use CrossPC for the Amiga side or cheaper still, use MultiDos, a
shareware CrossPc type utility. The whole works will only cost you less
than $100.
E-mail me if you have questions
Matt
Mathew,
Thanks for the info on DosMounter. However, I'm not certain I
understand how it works. I had asked for a program that would allow me to
read Mac disks on the Amiga, without a Mac drive.
You mentioned DosMounter for the Mac. If it's only for the Mac, then it
wouldn't do me any good, since I don't have a Mac. Are you saying that
DosMounter is available for the Amiga? If so, where can I get it?
Again, I'm looking for a program that will allow me to read Mac disks
on the Amiga, without my having to buy a Mac floppy drive. The Mac disks
will be brought to me by other people that have Macs. I don't have a Mac,
or access to one myself. I'm already getting CrossDos+ for the Amiga. I'm
looking for Amiga software that will read Mac disks, and that works like
CrossDos+ does. Is Dos Mounter still what you suggest? If not, then you
may have misread my initial message.
Thanks for your help.
Dom Fontana
<– Sent from New York via AutoPilot –>
Dom,
Although I'm sure you know this, both the Amiga and the Mac can read and
write MS-DOS disks with the right software…I would assume that Mathew
was suggesting using MS-DOS as a lowest common denominator, so to speak.
The only other way to read a Mac disk with an Amiga drive, is the Sybil
from Utilities Unlimited. And…I have yet to hear of anyone completely
happy with one of these.
Jonathan, via AutoPilot // Only Amiga makes
\\// it possible…
Jonathan,
You've forgotten about the MAC 2 DOS interface, whoops, you need a
macintosh disk drive. The subject of this thread is "…is there anyway to
read macintosh disks on the amiga without buying any macintosh disk drives
or other hardware…"
Chris
I thought the wierd thing about Macintosh disk (floppy) drives was
that they VARIABLE speed, that is the speed of the floppy drive motor
actually changes during read/write so that the disks cannot be
read/written from any other drive than a Macintosh drive.
that used to correct, but now ReadySoft has somehow figured out a way
to use the Amiga drives to read/write macintosh disks, by going thru
their AmaxII + card. So they must be doing the variable track speed
magic via the solid state electronics.
Readysoft's magic is broken if you're using any version of WB higher
than 2.04 at the moment. I have a high density floppy drive in my
3000/040 and there are very few disks that I can actually read. I
have not much trouble with high density disks, but if I try and read
a commercial program's low density disk, it won't do it. ReadySoft's
answer was for me to reinstall WB 2,04, and there ain't a chance of
that happening! 🙂
It is strange, but I've been having trouble reading DD floppy disks
that were formatted on a real MAC High Density drive under System 7.
If I take the disk transfer it to a macintosh hard drive, connect my
800K Cutting Edge drive to the mac reformat the disk and then redrag
onto it the files I have no problems reading the disk. In fact, a
friend with a MAC II that has a DD drive before the "SuperDrive" was
used has the same problem. So I don't think it is AMAX for me that is
the problem. I've heard of others having trouble with their MACS and
800K formatted disks in the superdrive.
I was having the same problem reading Lo-Density Mac floppies on my
machine under 2.04 also. I don't think it's caused by 2.1 –
personally, I think it is caused by aging component values on their
AMAXII+ board. I noticed this problem with increasing frequency ever
since I got my AMAXII+ board – at first everything seemed to work
fine, but over the months, the ability of AMAXII+ to read LoDensit
floppies has degraded to almost 0%. (It is interesting to note that
I only have the error after ~500K of data is put on a LoD disk –
usually anything below that is safe.)
I started having problems copying MAC files from my hard drive to LoD
floppies last week. (A3000/AMAXII+) Yesterday I got fed up and
finally installed my Hi Density floppy drive, and now can drag & drop
copy files to Hi Density disks with no problem. I haven't checked yet
to see if the new floppy drive has improved lo density disk
performance.
Mike – I've experienced the exact same problems on my A3000T. I have
two high density drives and I cannot read Mac disks reliably. This
happened to me under 2.04 as well. (Running 2.1 now) Do you know if
the 2.53 update to A-Max resolves any disk-related problems? Tim
Tim:
I don't know, as I don't have the 2.53 upgrade yet.
// -Mike Schiller
\X/ AMIGA! On AutoPilot in sunny Fort Lauderdale
Thanks, that is really good news to hear. How much does an AMAX II+ card
cost including the chips! Where does one send away for the chips (to
Apple)?
Most mailorder stores can sell you the AMAX hardware/software. The chips
are a bit harder to obtain. Some of these same sellers may have them or a
source. Here is a bit of reference on pricing.
RETAIL
A-Max II Plus internal card —– ReadySoft, Inc. —— $499.95 $332.61
MAC ROM Set ——————————————– $199.95 $169.49
A-Max II (Cartridge) ————-ReadySoft, Inc. ——-$199.95 $126.54
Occasionally, you might see a complete AMAX setup for sale in the
Classifieds here in AUser.
Chris
Jonathan,
So you do think that Mac-To-Dos and a Mac drive is the way to go?
Dom Fontana
<– Sent from New York via AutoPilot –>
Dom,
I honestly think that the best way to go is to use Apple File Exchange on
one end, and CrossDos on the Amiga side. It is quick, easy, and cheap.
I have no experience with MacToDos, so I cannot recommend it. I
have nothing good to say about the Sybil, yet…so it kind of wins by
default.
I would check out if there is a High Density version of MacToDos;
quite a bit of Mac software comes that way these days.
Jonathan
Actually, an add-on like the Dayna DOS Mounter is even easier to use than
Apple File Exchange, you just plop in the PC disk and it acts like any
other floppy. There are several others like this out there for the Mac, I
think another's called PC Access. The DOS Mounter comes with MacLink,
another useful program when it comes to moving files between platforms. It
translates data formats.
John,
Haven't really had a chance to buy new software for the Macs here at work,
lately…but Dos Mounter sounds pretty good. Probably get it when I do my
next mail order bundle…thanks for the tip.
Jonathan
Of course, what we could really use is something like CrossDos for Mac
disks, if this is at all possible. ReadySoft could probably clean up if
they released a hardware/software bundle for under $100 that provided this
functionality.
Jonathan,
Thanks for the help. Let's see if I understand. I should tell the
clients to save their MIDI sequences on the MAC using the Apple File
Exchange. Is this something all MAC users will have? What does that do,
save the sequences in MS-DOS format? Then I can read their MAC disks, now
converted to MS-DOS format, by using CrossDos on the Amiga.
Do I understand you correctly? If so, then with the Amiga and CrossDos,
I could read Amiga, PC and Atari disks, plus read MAC disks that have been
saved using Apple File Exchange. Is this correct?
Happy New Year!
Dom Fontana
<– Sent from New York via AutoPilot –>
Dominick,
You should probably buy your clients Dos Mounter (or a similiar product),
read the manual, set it up for them…and give them a box of preformatted
720k disks. Label them "DOM's DISKS"; this will avoid confusion. They
will probably appreciate the hand holding, and the attention, and it should
not cost you a whole lot of money.
This way, they can simply drag the MIDI files into a dos-disk icon,
and send the disk to you. Simple as you like, and no fuss for them.
Otherwise, you will have to teach them how to use Apple File Exchange, and
I usually find that this program scares Macheads…although there is
nothing to it, really.
Apple File Exchange comes with all Macs that have shipped with a
SuperFloppyDrive, which has been going on for a long time (at least a
couple of years, probably much longer). For example, the old model MacIIcx
here has one, and that is over three years old.
To answer your question…CrossDos will let you read MS-DOS formatted
disks…so that would include MS-DOS, Apple File Exchange written DOS
disks, and Atari (which I understand uses a MS-DOS (like?) formatting
scheme).
If I were you, I would get in touch with a client that you are on good
relations with…ask to borrow their mac for a couple of hours (in their
space), and try out Apple File Exchange. After getting familiar with that,
I would try out Dos Mounter as well…document the routine, so that it as
simple as possible for the client.
Jonathan
Jonathan,
Great. Thanks for all that advice. I'll try what you suggested.
Dom Fontana
<– Sent from New York via AutoPilot –>