[Resolved(?)] Midi Music (Specfically Doom Series, but others too.) problems on Powerbook G3.

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2012, April 10 - 10:44pm

Rocky Raccoon

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Joined: 2012 Mar 4

[Resolved(?)] Midi Music (Specfically Doom Series, but others too.) problems on Powerbook G3.

I seem to be having an odd issue with my Powerbook G3 400mhz/192 megs of Ram/6 gig Hard drive/DVD.

It's running OS 9.2.2. for the record.

ANYWAYS:

My problem is this. When I play a game with Midi Music (In this example, I use Doom, because it's what I primarily play that has Midi music in it!), the Music is very choppy, with a bunch of pausing and stopping.

I've reformatted, the problem will go away with a new install...then return. The second time, I made a note of everything I installed, and uninstalled it.... Still Choppy. I've also gone and Turned off all extensions that weren't essential to the Midi Music (I believe it's Quicktime and Sound Manager.), and the music was still choppy.

What could be screwing with the Midi playing capability?

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2012, April 11 - 2:25pm

Temporary Joe

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Joined: 2009 Nov 14

Dang, I had a similar problem in OS 9.x, but I forgot how I fixed it. What version of QuickTime are you using?

2012, April 11 - 2:46pm

(Reply to #2) #3

Rocky Raccoon

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Joined: 2012 Mar 4

That's a good question... I /think/ it's Quicktime 5 that came on the 9.2.2. install CD...

I'm gonna go check right now mid typing this!

and yeah, I'm correct, Quicktime 5.0.2. according to the Extensions Manager. I didn't upgrade it this time because I thought an upgraded version of Quicktime was the cause of my initial issues before I reformatted... (This is obviously not the case afterall.)

2012, April 11 - 6:13pm

Arthegall

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Joined: 2011 Dec 31

Don't get me wrong, I'm a vintage Macaholic.

But threads like this remind me how happy I am that I don't still live in the classic Mac OS all the time. Extensions conflicts. Crashes. Just reading the words "Extensions Manager" makes me *shudder*

Here's to the days before Multifinder and the days after Intel processors!

Oh, and I've got a Powerbook G3 running 9.2.2, so if your problems continue, I can set it up on mine and see if it works. Where's your Doom software coming from?

2012, April 11 - 6:23pm

(Reply to #4) #5

Rocky Raccoon

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Joined: 2012 Mar 4

It's "The Ultimate Doom" Download from this site, actually. http://macintoshgarden.org/games/the-ultimate-doom

ANYWAYS, I found a site that suggested turning off AppleTalk....but...that did'nt help the issue.

Another source suggests I Downgrade Quicktime to Version 4...... can you even do that in 9.2.2.? or will there be issues? (and how would I fully uninstall the current Quicktime 5.0.2. anyways? I forget how program uninstall works on a Mac. >,

2012, April 12 - 2:30am

MCP

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Joined: 2010 Mar 12

I've never had anything but trouble with QuickTime 5; I would remove anything QuickTime from the System folder and go with some version of 4 or 6. Extensions Manager control panel can help identify things related to QuickTime though I think their filenames are plainly labeled. Be sure to remove Preferences files for QuickTime too.

2012, April 12 - 12:55pm

(Reply to #6) #7

Rocky Raccoon

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Alright...so if it says Quicktime in the Extensions Manager (or is plainly labeled it.), disable/delete it...then also delete preference files. Then install 4 or 6.....since most of what I play is older games anyways....I'm gonna go with 4. if that doesn't work, then 6. ;P.

2012, April 12 - 10:23pm

Rocky Raccoon

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Joined: 2012 Mar 4

Alright guys, here's everything I've done so far:

* Turning off AppleTalk. (Didn't work.)

* Disable MacIPX (Did'nt work.)

* Downgrade to Quicktime 4 (Didn't work. Portions Incompatible with OS 9.2.2, sound worked but no Midi Music even played, period.)

* Upgrade to Quicktime 6 (Didn't work.)

* Run Norton Disk Doctor (Found some problem relating to bad file creation dates. But that's all---Disk is otherwise fine... Didn't work.)

* Run Norton Speed Disk (Didn't work.)

* Turn up the Connection Speed Settings / Allow play from Multiple Streams. (Didn't Work.)

Pretty much at the end of my rope. x-x;.

2012, April 12 - 11:00pm

Rocky Raccoon

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Joined: 2012 Mar 4

Alright, since I've tried a lot of different fixes, I'm gonna try another reinstall using a generic OS 9 install disc, and upgrade to 9.1, rather than the iBook 9.2.2. install from the Mac Garden here (It said it was compatible with Powerbook G3s, but I am beginning to wonder if there isn't side effects to that now...), and see if that's the issue, or related to the issues, I'm having.

(I'd use OS 8.5/6 or something, but as far as my research shows, an Aironet Cisco driver doesn't exist for my PCMIA Card for it, and it doesn't use or work with external USB drives, which is my main means of moving stuff easily atm rather than needing to wait days to gather stuff to burn a new DVD. x-x;)

2012, April 13 - 12:13am

#10

MikeTomTom

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Joined: 2009 Dec 7

I'd use OS 8.5/6 or something...

Its possible that OS 9 drivers will work with 8.6, also most USB devices will function too with the addition of the Macintosh USB Update drivers "USB Card Support 1.4" - for USB PCI & Card Bus slots (e.g. PCMCIA) & "USB Storage Support 1.3.5" for connecting USB complient external devices after installing or upgrading to 8.6

Not suggesting that you should install 8.6, or that it will fix your original problem. Just adding those Cisco drivers if you have them for OS 9 they may possibly work under 8.6 too and that most USB devices will also work after installing the USB updates.

2012, April 13 - 12:31am

(Reply to #10) #11

Rocky Raccoon

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Joined: 2012 Mar 4

Well. the 'Guide to Wifi PC Cards for OS 9' that LowEnd Mac has does say it should work in 8 with Cisco drivers. :/d. I'll think I'll give this a shot.

2012, April 13 - 12:32pm

#12

Rocky Raccoon

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Joined: 2012 Mar 4

Whelp. I tried Mac OS 8.6.

The good news is that no matter what I install, Midi Music works great!

THE Bad news is that there appears to be no OS 8.6 drivers for the Cisco Aironet 340 card I have for OS 8.6 , even thought LowEndMac's Guide to Powerbook Wireless suggets it is 8.6 compatible. x-x;. On top of this, the USB MiniDrive I got won't work in 8.6, with the USB updates and all, so...the two things I REALLY need won't work. :-/

Gonna try a lesser version of 9 then, or a different 9 install and see what happens I guess now.

2012, April 13 - 5:30pm

#13

Rocky Raccoon

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Joined: 2012 Mar 4

Alright, Another Update.

I installed Mac OS 9.0.3.

I've installed Roxio Toast 5.0.2, Stuffit Deluxe 7, Wireless Drivers.

I installed Shadow Warrior, Duke Nukem 3D and Redneck Rampage and Ultimate Doom and Microsoft Office 98.

So far so good...No Stuttering Midis....yet.

Edit: Alright, seems to be fixed! So, The problems were Most Likely one or more of the following: Something on the iBook G3 9.2.2. DVD I had that also works with Powerbook G3s isn't quite compatible with everything. Quicktime 5+ doesn't like Midis on 9.2.2. (currently using Quicktime 4.1 on 9.0.3.), or 9.2.2 doesn't like old Midis. or really, anything coulda happend, but for now, runs great on 9.0.3. and not gonna upgrade it unless I /have/ to. x-x;.