Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Using a Macintosh iBook with Dolby Setup Software

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Topic: Using a Macintosh iBook with Dolby Setup Software

Manny Knowles
"What are these things and WHY are they BLUE???"

Posts: 4247
From: Bloomington, IN, USA
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 07-14-2003 12:53 PM

Well...that time around, I had to resort to borrowing a PC laptop. Since then, I've learned that you don't NEED a laptop to EQ the CP-650 (but it sure makes life easier).

Thank goodness for the search engine!

I've just ordered the Keyspan adapter and can't wait to try it out. Thanks, Randy for the link (it still works!)...and everyone for the help. I'll report back with the results. Stay tuned.

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Randy Stankey
Film God

Posts: 6539
From: Erie, Pennsylvania
Registered: Jun 99

posted 07-14-2003 04:02 PM

Since the last time I wrote here, I have done some fine tuning of the process. I have found a way that works better for me.

I prefer to use Dolby DRAS or LOAD500 under DOS. It saved me a lot of headaches to ditch Windows. I got myself some DOS installation disks and installed a DOS machine on Virtual PC. Then I loaded DRAS into that and modified the "AUTOEXEC.BAT" file to run DRAS upon startup.

I got onto this idea when I was working on a project for work. (On the stage at Mercyhurst.) I had to write a program for the Strand lighing console and I didn't have time to sit in front of that big board and enter commads all day. I got the bright idea to load the software from the console into my Mac (VPC). I got a lot of crashes and hangups with Windows. I finally got so peeved off at it that I had to think of another way. I though, "Hey! This thing runs under DOS... Can't I make a DOS "partition" in VPC? I tried it and it worked.

Since then I have made DOS partitions for two different versions of console software. (Strand GSX/LBX and Strand 500i.) I have also made DRAS and LOAD500 into their own partitions. Now when I want to run a console program I start Virtual PC and choose which Virtual Machine to start up. It's Da' Shit!

Here's where it gets good! Virtual PC handles all the network and USB connections for you. If you have VPC configured correctly you can literally plug in a peripheral or network connection to the Mac and the virtual machine will think it's a real conection. I can plug my Mac into the college's network via an ethernet cable. (Actually I use AirPort. The AP Base Station is on the network.) The main console in the theater has an ethernet connection on the back. I can plug it into the network and control the lights on the stage with my iBook from anywhere in the theater that the Airport Base Station can reach!
(Evil possibilies abound here! [evil]

Do you have a set of DOS installation disks that you can use to make a DOS virtual macnine with? If you do (or if you can find some) I would suggest that the time you spend experimenting would be worth it.

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