Demo booth
The MPWG/AMEI hosted a demonstration, as
also done last year, with working prototypes
of the next generation of MIDI-plus-digital-audio
system, employing IEEE1394 technology.
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↑ A crowd of people watching Mr.Furuyama's
IEEE1394 demonstration. Attendees high interest
indicates that users are anticipating such
future products.
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↑ Overview of the MPWG/AMEI's demo booth and
the IEEE1394 prototypes, promoting multiple
digital audio and MIDI transfered over IEEE1394. |
← Mr.Furuyama ( a famous synthesizer artist)
presents the demostration with brief explanations
about IEEE1394 and with actual demonstration
of operational prototypes.
Manufacturers who demonstrated last year,
Kawai, Korg, Roland, and Yamaha, were joined
by several new companies this year, including
Steinberg Japan, Apple Computer and TEAC.
CueBase VST on Macintosh G3, 8-Tr Digital
Multitrack Recorder, and a Multi-Channel
Audio Gateway were newly added to the demonstration
set. Each prototype was tied to the next
one beside it by using simple IEEE1394 cables.
At the demostration, by manipulating those
prototypes, it was shown that multi-channel
digital audio and MIDI are really transfered
over this cable link simultaneously and in
realtime. Those prototypes were arranged
in a formation that may be typically used
in a small studio situation. Demonstrator,
Mr.Shun-ichi Furuyama (a famous Japanese
synthesizer artist), breifly explained how
IEEE1394 technology is utilized by describing
and demonstrating the common recording processes
such as material recording, sound effect
processing, auditioning and track Mix-Down.
Included among the prototypes were some devices
generally called "Gateways", which
allow legacy MIDI and audio devices to join
to IEEE1394 system. This was done to indicated
that there already is a solution idea for
compatibility, connectivity and interoperability
using legacy devices.
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↑ A stack of prototypes including Korg's TR-Rack,
Roland's JV-2080, and TEAC's DA-98, all eqquipped
with IEEE1394 I/F. A full rear wall mirror
was used so that attendees could see the
simple IEEE1394 cabling.. |
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↑ Kawai's prototype of K5000R equipped with
IEEE1394 I/F, and the prototype of "Gateways"
(by TEAC(TASCAM) and YAMAHA) which allow
legacy devices to be connected to the IEEE1394
system. |
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↑ Yamaha's prototype O3D digital mixer equipped
with IEEE1394 I/F. |
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↑ Roland's prototype speaker system with embeded
amplifier, allows direct connection by IEEE1394
cable. (back view) |
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↑ Another Roland prototype, a multiple port
MIDI gateway system. This system handles
eight individual legacy MIDI cables simultaneously
over IEEE1394. |
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Seminar
← A snapshot of IEEE1394 technical seminar
held on the first day. Engineers from Yamaha,
Roland, Korg, KAWAI and TEAC(TASCAM) who
prepared the prototype models got together
at the presentator's table, presenting and
promoting the good cooperation between all
companies in the MPWG/AMEI.
In additionally to the demo booth, the MPWG/AMEI
presented a technical seminar about IEEE1394
utilization for music applications in a separate
seminar room. Even though this seminor was
not free-of-charge, many people attended
to it. Among the attendees there were people
with interest in sound recording and musical
instruments, people from the semiconductor
manufacturing industry and commercial installation
industry were seen. At this technical seminar,
attendees energetically listened to the very
technical issues which were not explained
at the demo booth. The engineers from each
company, who were actually involved in creating
the experimental prototype models, demonstrated
at the booth and they presented their comments
about possibility, possible applications,
and market vision from their experience.
They showed actual suggestible applications
such as sound recording studio, music lesson
room, equipments for the concert events and
fun pianos for home environment etc... presented
in practical terms without too much "marketing
hype". MPWG/AMEI introduced their attitude
and approach such as practical co-evaluations
with experimental prototypes shown at the
demo booth and showed their recognition of
and participation in trends of worldwide
standardization, not only limited to the
musical instrument industry but also in co-operation
with the other electronic device industries.
As one examples, a presenter from MPWG/AMEI
noted that they have been sending representing
members regularly to the meetings held by
the IEEE1394 Trade Association, the official
worldwide central standardization organization
of IEEE1394 technology and they have presented
several proposals promoting the application
of IEEE1394 technology to music and sound.
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