MOTU Ships FastLane 2x2 USB MIDI Interface
August 31, 1999
Mark of the Unicorn, Inc. (MOTU), a developer of MIDI interfaces for Macintosh
and Windows, is now shipping FastLane-USB ($69), an affordable 2-IN, 2-OUT, 32-channel
MIDI interface for USB-equipped personal computers, such as Apple Computer's iMac
and "blue & white" G3 Power Macs. FastLane is available in five
semi-translucent iMac colors (blueberry, tangerine, grape, lime, and strawberry),
as well as black.
"FastLane-USB has been engineered to take full advantage of all the benefits
of USB," said Jim Cooper, MOTU Marketing Director, "including better
timing accuracy, increased bandwidth, hot swapping and plug-and-play expansion.
For example, if you need to connect more MIDI devices, just add another FastLane
via a standard USB hub." Users can further expand with MOTU's other multi-port
USB MIDI interfaces, like the affordable 4-IN/6-OUT micro express ($295), mixing
and matching models to suit their needs.
Specially designed to operate with multiple USB devices, FastLane's identity
is always maintained by the computer, regardless of how many times the computer
is restarted, the number of other USB devices present, or how FastLane is connected
(even if it is moved to a different USB hub, for example).
FastLane-USB plugs into a standard USB port and connects any MIDI (Musical
Instrument Digital Interface) device, such as a synthesizer or sampler, to the
computer for playback and recording with music software. Two sets of MIDI jacks
provide 32 simultaneous MIDI channels of input/output. An additional MIDI THRU
button allows users to play a MIDI sound module from their MIDI keyboard (or other
controller) even when the computer is turned off, without having to reconnect
MIDI cables. The THRU button also provides MIDI splitting from each input to both
outputs. Four LEDs indicate MIDI activity. FastLane is powered by its connection
to USB, so no power supply or batteries are needed. FastLane includes a USB cable
and easy-to-install software drivers on CD-ROM. FastLane-USB is 100% compatible
with both FreeMIDI and OMS, the widely-supported MIDI system extensions for Mac
OS. FastLane-USB drivers for Windows 95/98/NT will be available soon.
Mark of the Unicorn recently shipped three other multi-port USB MIDI interfaces:
the 8x8 MIDI Timepiece AV-USB, the 8x9 MIDI Express XT-USB, the 4x6 Micro Express-USB.
For more information, visit Mark of the Unicorn's web site at www.motu.com.
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