Alphasyntauri and Passport Systems synthesizers, Mountain Hardware etc

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OldSchoolAppleII's picture
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Alphasyntauri and Passport Systems synthesizers, Mountain Hardware etc

Hi,
Anyone here interested in the Alphasyntauri synthesizer for Apple II?
I will be posting a COMPLETE system on ebay in the next day or so.
I have the keyboard, software, Mountain Hardware boards AND the interface for the keyboard!
If you have interest, post here or search eBay.
Also if you are in need of just the often missing keyboard interface board, I have some I can sell separately.

Regards,
Rory McDonald
Asciirory@gmail.com

PS anyone have a Passport synthesizer? I am working on getting one working.

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Re: Alphasyntauri and Passport Systems synthesizers, ...

Hello OldSchoo AppleII,
related to thequesion about the Passport system you schould pm
member stynx here in the community.

Related to an single keyboard interface i woukd appreciate also a pm: which kind of interface card and what amount demanded ?

Like mentioned in my pages on my site
i purchased kexboard without interface and still am hunting for a interface.
sincerely
SpeedyG

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Re: Alphasyntauri and Passport Systems synthesizers, ...

I own the 49 key version. I have posted a picture of the interface card here
You can build a Soundchaser based on the info. I have cloned the soundchaser 49key keyboard by adapting a midi-keyboard (removed the midi part).

Im still looking for the Syntauri and especially the older ALF MC16 based software (that was used prior to the MCMS).

-Jonas

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Re: Alphasyntauri and Passport Systems synthesizers, ...

I have the interface needed from the Keyboard to the Apple II. To run an Alphasyntauri you also need:
1> The keyboard 61 or 49 keys. The 61 key is velocity sensitive.
2> Set of Mountain Hardware MusicSystem boards (there are two in a set-each is different) OR the ALF 16 channel board
3> A straight thru RS-232 cable- all pins connected, Male-Male DB25
4> The Alphasyntauri software

I am asking $75 for the interface card. It is a new card that works instead of the original.
I can also make copies of the software if needed.
Also I might have an extra set of Mountain Hardware MusicSystem boards for sale on eBay very soon.
If interested you can reach me at asciirory@gmail.com

Regards
Rory McDonald

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Re: Alphasyntauri and Passport Systems synthesizers, ...

I think I have the software you are talking about. I can make you a copy.
Interested in one of the 61 key keyboards?

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Re: Alphasyntauri and Passport Systems synthesizers, ...

PS- thanks for the info on the interface for the Passport. I am curious if my alpha interface will work on the Passport; they do pretty much the same thing, the keyboard is just really a bunch of switches. I will try that out soon.

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Re: Alphasyntauri and Passport Systems synthesizers, ...

The Alpha Syntauri keyboard interface is not compatible with the soundchaser. The Soundchaser scans every key on the keyboard bit-wise while the alpha scans byte-wise. The Alpha Syntauri uses several addresses for these byte-wise scans while the Soundchaser uses only one address for reading the key state and the same addess for writing the number of the key to scan.

In short: The Alpha Syntauri has a memory mapped keyboard while the Soundchaser uses a single port for reading the keyboard matrix.

While the AS can scan 8 keys per R-cycle, the SC must do a W-R-cycle to scan a single key. The AS-interface is much more sophisticated and complex and was therefore more expensive to build. one of the consequences of these design decisions was, that the SC was never offered with a dynamic keyboard. The AS on the other hand could easily be expanded with support for dynamic keys by adding another address-block covering the additional key "states".

-Jonas

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Alpha synaturi Keyboard from Rory

I have received a AlphaSynauri Keyboard from Rory. It is in good shape and only minor things are to be done. The grease has hardened/ vanished and the sponge-foam for dampening the keys has disintegrated. The overall price that Rory requested was well below the usual eBay figures and we have used eBay international shipment very successfully without a lot of hassle. The shipping was very fast as well. I am happy to be finally be able to test the syntauri and implement my own analog synthesizer based on the ALF MC16 with the Syntauri.

My current iteration of the ALF MC16 compatible card will be completely redesigned since one of the central chips (CEM3396) has gotten much to expensive and is not as flexible as I have hoped. I will go with a more generic approach using off the shelf components. I hope to get the final version to be ready in 2019 and will provide schematics and board-layouts.

Getting a Syntauri with the ALF MC16 Software has gotten me a step closer to finish this project Smile
I will try to make a Syntauri clone keyboard based on a midi keyboard as well. Finally I want to make a more universal keyboard interface that is compatible with the Passport Soundchaser as well as the Syntauri/Mimetics software using a generic 8x8 Matrix keyboard.

-Jonas

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I'm looking for an alpha

I'm looking for an alpha syntauri keyboard and interface card if anyone is still selling. (Ideally 61 key)

 

 

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