Software

The two G4s will be configured at Ircam, but in case of disaster, reconfiguration may be necessary, or a substitution may have to be made.

Replacement Machine: Hardware/Software Configurations

In the most unfortunate event that a different machine must be used, here are some guidelines.

A PCI Power Macintosh with USB, preferably a G4
256MB of RAM
a second disk, either IDE or SCSI, at least 40GB
Audio I/O, preferably the integrated audio with 3.5mm stereo jacks. (Apple, in its wisdom, has replaced the audio input in its Newer, Improved versions of the G4 with a second audio output. A vintage G4 with integrated audio input is highly recommended.)
If other audio I/O must be used, extra software may be necessary, such as an ASIO driver, to make it work with Digital Performer and Max/MSP. As well, the appropriate audio cables will be needed with 1/4" plugs at the machine room mixer end.

However, let it be stressed that replacing a G4 is a bad idea to be avoided at all costs, short of homicide or animal abuse.

Software required on the G4s

Here is a list of some of the software required for this experiment. It is incomplete.

Digital Composer v2.7 from Mark of the Unicorn
for MIDI and audio recording during the concert
MAX MSP MIDI and sound processing program from Cycling '74
for installation and testing of the data connections between the slider boxes and the G4s, and if necessary reconfiguring an Atomic Pro
The Opcode Midi System (OMS) from Opcode
for getting MIDI data between the USB input and Digital Performer or Max
An FTP program such as Fetch from Dartmouth College
for transferring data to Ircam
An internet terminal emulator such as Telnet from NCSA
for logging on to a local machine, on which the ssh program could be used to log on to Ircam machines.
The installation CD for the Unitor 8 from Emagic
for re-installation (God forbid) of the Unitor-8 software
The folder of diagnostic Max patches on a CD

The only way to be sure of listing all necessary software would be take a G4, erase its disks, re-install the system and all the necessary software. The experimenter would have to take careful notes of how the guy from the System Group installs each program, and persistently ask lots of questions to be sure of understanding everything, as well as many questions that begin "what if the machine I try to install this on is ....". All CDs used would have to be kept or copied. In particular, the System Group would have to lend us the unique key disks of copy-protected programs. All software copied from other local machines or file servers would have to be copied onto a CD.

Not a single file should be left out; the experimenter must not fail to note the slightest detail in the installation process. If these conditions are not met, installation of the experimental software on an unfamiliar machine in the field could fail. It also may be that some programs wouldn't run due to hardware incompatibilities.

It is highly advisable that the two G4 boxes (as well as keyboard and mouse) from Ircam should be shipped to the host venue, well packed in robust flight cases, but that the host provide the video monitors. I wouldn't have hesitated to recommend using local machines when I was young and foolish, but today I know better.

Diagnostic Max Patches

The diagnostic Max patch folder can be found somewhere such as [root-disk]:reynolds:patch:patch.[computer name], or on a CD brought from Ircam, or maybe even zipped up in a discreet place on the Ircam public web site. It contains a number of Max patches for equipment installation and testing, and configuring the Atomic Pros. In addition it contains an alias to the appropriate Max program (currently MaxFAT3.6.2, but this can change with time. Users are encouraged to keep abreast of the current version.) Max patches should be started by dragging them over this alias, not by double-clicking on them, as this can start an inappropriate version of Max.

In addition, Max authorisation periodically expires. Be sure to verify that it won't expire at an awkward moment.

Testing the slider -- computer connections

The following procedure can be used to verify proper connections between the slider boxes and the G4 software.

Drag the saysliders.pat file and drop it on the Max alias. (You should first make sure to close any Max patches that are already running.) Whenever a slider is moved, and the corresponding midi message is successfully received by Max, Max will play a recording of a voice speaking the number of the slider box. Adjust the machine room mixer to send the audio output of this G4 to the output for the diagnostic signal to the auditorium mixer, and ask the sound people to put this signal on the loudspeakers. If everything is working correctly, when you move, for example, the slider on box no. 37, a voice saying "thirty-seven" will be heard over the speakers in the auditorium.
That is, provided:

Everything is plugged in, and turned on
The slider is correctly connected to the appropriate boîte de scène
The boîte de scène is correctly connected to the appropriate Atomic Pro input
The appropriate Atomic Pro MIDI output is correctly connected to the appropriate Unitor 8 MIDI input
The Unitor 8 is correctly configured
OMS is correctly configured on the G4
Max is correctly configured to recieve MIDI from OMS
The dacs are running in Max MSP
The sound signal is being sent out of the G4's sound output
The sound is correctly routed from the G4 output, through the control room mixer, to the auditorium mixer
The sound people in the concert hall agree to put the diagnostic signal on the loudspeakers. This may be not always possible, e.g. rehearsals, sound checks, quitting time, etc.

(re)Configuring an Atomic Pro

The four Atomic Pros for the experiment are pre-configured at Ircam. If some unspeakable misfortune should require that one be reconfigured, the following procedure can be used.

Go to the folder [mumble mumble] and drag the zzzz.pat file and drop it on the Max alias. (You should first make sure to close any Max patches that are already running.) This patch reprograms the Atomic Pro using system exclusive MIDI messages. Connect any of the Unitor 8's MIDI outputs to the Atomic Pro's MIDI input. There are four buttons on the patch, corresponding to the number of the Atomic Pro you want to configure. Press the button and wait a few seconds. The Atomic Pro display screen should show "Angel Patch N" or something like that, where N is a nubmer from 1 to 4, corresponding to the number of the Atomic Pro.

Additional diagnostic information

Hundreds of pages of additional material, with instructions, pictures, drawings, examples, etc. could be added. A reasonable amount will be, but they're not here yet.