Not enough of those serial ports. An inSync reader writes: “I purchased my MOTU Pocket Express MIDI interface from Sweetwater late last year so I could work with my Alesis QSR and Korg i4S synth as a controller. With MOTU’s software and FreeMIDI, the configuration requires using both the modem and printer ports. Would a port expander (such as MacAlly) eliminate time spent with my hands behind my Mac, trying to find and switch connectors in ports when wanting to print or get online? Plus: What’s your recommendation for clearing serial ports when changing from MIDI function to printing or modem use? I’ve been using MIDIMangler, a freeware app I found along the way.”
Don’t you just love questions that are really multiple questions in disguise? Depending upon what you are doing it may be possible to get this system to work on one serial port. You should contact our technical support team (if you haven’t already) about that. The best long term answer to all of your problems is to trade in the interface you bought and get a true multi-port interface. Yes, they cost more money, but you can easily drive your whole rig (including any future expansion) from one serial port, plus many of them have pass-through switches that will allow you to keep your modem or printer connected and just switch between them on the interface. We have found the operation of serial switch expander boxes to be erratic with MIDI. Actually I think it is more their software than the hardware, but the result is the same. Another possible solution would be one of the PCI serial port cards that have proliferated since Macintoshes stopped coming with serial ports. Finally, if FreeMIDI is set up correctly it shouldn’t be necessary to clear your serial ports after quitting the MIDI application. This may be another technical support issue. It sounds like our tech support group needs to go through your system with you to make sure you have everything set up in the best possible way. On the other hand, if you have a solution that is working for you then stick with it.