First post, by Paddan1000
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I finally managed to get my hands on a real LAPC-I, to use in my retro PC. After having searched the world for years, it turned out that one of my neighbors had had one in his closet all the time, together with a GUS Classic and a GUS PnP, and was willing to sell all three cards to me for a mere $60.
Too bad the LAPC was missing the MCB-1 interface needed for me to hook up my Sound Canvas and my first generation external MT-32. The seller claimed that he had never owned the MCB-1 in the first place, but that he had made a MIDI-interface by himself back when he was using the card. Unfortunately, he couldn't find this home-made MIDI-interface, or he would have given it to me.
I doubt I could ever find a real MCB-1, so I'd like to try to make an interface myself. After some searching I managed to find some information on the procedure here:
http://queststudios.com/smf/index.php?action= … ge;topic=2796.0
The link contains the schematics of the MCB-1...
...and this short description of how to modify a standard MIDI-cable into a MCB-1 compatible MIDI-cable:
"You could get a standard gameport-midi cable, and modify that. […]
"You could get a standard gameport-midi cable, and modify that.
Pin 4 and 5 of the gameport are 11 and 12 on the LAPC-I (GND)
1, 8 and 9 on gameport are 1 and 2 on LAPC-I (+5 V)
12 on gameport is 4 on LAPC-I (TXD)
15 on gameport is 3 on LAPC-I (RXD)"
I don't need MIDI-in, SYNC-out, the metronome or anything else except MPU-401 compatible MIDI-out to my Sound Canvas and my external MT-32.
I don't have much experience with electronics, so I wonder if anyone could verify that the information found in the link is correct and give me a more detailed description on how the modification is to be done and what problems could arise. I'd like to know stuff like where to cut the cable, if I need to do anything inside the plugs, where to solder and if I need any resistors and the like. The cable I'm willing to sacrifice is a standard 15-pin gameport to MIDI-in and MIDI-out, like this one: http://images.maplin.co.uk/full/vl80b.jpg