Audio Player for Early Macs

#1 Wed, 22 Sep 2010 - 15:07

Does anybody know of audio software that will play on a Mac 512K? I know there were a few, but everything I've found seems to have higher system requirements than the 512K can handle (either RAM, System version, or Processor). I'm looking for something that could play either an AIFF file or WAV, preferably.

Thanks!

#2 Wed, 22 Sep 2010 - 22:03

The only thing I can think of at this moment is QuickTime 2/3.

Oh, there's also SoundEffect 0.9.2. Which is a sound editor. It supports the snd and aiff formats.

#3 Wed, 22 Sep 2010 - 22:07

as I know QuickTime needs 020/030 processor at least?

#4 Wed, 22 Sep 2010 - 22:21

as I know QuickTime needs 020/030 processor at least?

LOL! And System 7!

Need something really old....System 4.x stuff......

#5 Thu, 23 Sep 2010 - 05:02

:lol: Oh right, my bad.

Well, I have no clue about software for system 4.

#6 Fri, 1 Oct 2010 - 06:28

Sorry. There are a number of sound programs for early Macs, but neither WAV nor AIFF files existed back then. The early Macs used 8-bit mono 11 or 22 KHz sound files in either boot sound format or Mac Recorder format mostly. WAV and AIFF are both 16 or 24 bits, usually 48 KHz sample rate. An AIFF sound could be downsampled on a modern Mac and saved in one of the old 8-bit formats, but I don't know whether Sound Edit or some such can do it or not. Also because of the small storage on floppy disks, sounds were limited to a few seconds per disk. About the longest sound file would be something like the ever-popular "I'm sorry, Dave, I can't do that."

Look for an early version of Sound Edit, or SoundPlay.

#7 Sat, 2 Oct 2010 - 15:19

I'm not sure if it would run on 4.1, but Kaboom Factory may be an option. I *think* it runs on System 6.

Kaboom Factory was a simple sound editing program that shipped with the Kaboom sound package (which also included tons of sounds and a control panel). Off the top of my head, I think it plays AIFF and WAV, but I'm not 100% certain, as I haven't used the program in a long time.

#8 Sat, 2 Oct 2010 - 21:32

Of course Scott, System 6 will not run on a stock 512K. H3NRY has proposed the best solution.

#9 Mon, 4 Oct 2010 - 04:27

There may be some clues in the following threads, turned up using the "Advanced Search". Or not, I haven't read them too closely.

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=1664

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=13660

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=4091

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=13424

#10 Fri, 8 Oct 2010 - 22:46

Of course Scott, System 6 will not run on a stock 512K. H3NRY has proposed the best solution.

Mac128, you mentioned before there was MIDI software for the Mac 128K/512K? Any suggestions on the playback of MIDI files on a 128/512?

#11 Sat, 9 Oct 2010 - 01:55

Napbar, the most commonly available today, MOTU's Performer will work on at least a 512K. MacMIDI by Musicworks would work on both. So will MIDI Composer, by Assimilation, Inc. There may be others published later that will also work, but those were the contemporaries.

#12 Sat, 9 Oct 2010 - 04:38

Opcodes MIDIMAC released in 1986 might work on the 512K as well. Doubtful it would run on the 128K though.