i have just updated my mac to a g4 blah blah.....
and am using a unitor 8 as a midi interface, however with the g4 not having a serial port i was wondering if there were a way to convert from usb to serial using an external device/cable. the interface wasn't cheap and to replace it won't be either! any advice much appreciated (ps i can give all my knowledge of tantric in exchange ha ha)

You could try to find a Keyspan adaptor. It allows you to connect to serial devices using your usb port. The adaptor plugs into your usb port and all you need is a serial cable. don't know if this will work though. It does work when trying to connect a Macintosh to a router or switch via the serial console.

Peace.

Ver

I looked around for a USB to serial convertor when I got my Quicksilver mac several months ago. The problem I found when I started shopping around and reading compatability restrictions, is that all the USB to serial convertors that were out at the time wouldn't work for midi devices. Just printers, tablets, mice. I ended up getting a Griffin Gport serial device. (you have to unhook the internal modem and swap it with the Griffin.) It works great with my midi rig under OS 9...........not supported with 10 though. I think somene that comes out with a USB to serial device that can fool OS 10 into thinking its a USB midi device will sell a bunch

Another option is that you can also add a serial port to your G4:

http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/...port/index.html

Their pages say it works with serial MIDI devices, and that most likely will hold true under OS 9 (you'd have to check for your device).

Caveat: I can tell you for a fact that a MOTU serial MIDI interface will not work with the Griffin G4Port or any other type of adapter under OS X. The jury is still out as to why: OS X problems, or MOTU refuses to support their serial devices under OS X. Not knowing where the problem lies, I have no idea whether that would be true for your Unitor 8 if and when you wanted to use OS X for MIDI.