From jude.kelley@yale.edu Wed Jan 15 14:02:16 2003
Subject:Re: B4 setups... any more questions?

everything start up automatically when the PC fires up? I had one set
up that way at first but had some difficulty. I would be interested
in making this work since a PC is much cheaper to build than a laptop
is to buy...
>
> Deke The Geek

Right now my setup is running with PC guts--an AMD Duron at 1.0 GHz
(got the motherboard/cpu combo for $80), 256 MB ram, and a
SoundBlaster Audigy 2 PCI card. Using ASIO I'm down to 2 ms. I had
some used parts (6 gig hard drive, atx power supply, memory, CD rom
drive) which helped cut costs.

My rig automatically boots up into B4, and I have played several
sessions without connecting a monitor to the system.
I like the way B4 stores a file with the last session's settings--
this gives me good continuity with the manual drawbars from session
to session.

Running monitorless isn't so bad--with enough manual (real) control
knobs/switches assigned I can get by without the interface. I'm
planning on getting one of those 9 inch SVGA's though--they are all
over ebay for $50 or so, and are small enough to fit on top of my
controller. (They're like the ones cashiers use.)

Shutting down is a little funny--Alt F4, (to close b4) Alt F4 again,
(to get to the windows shut down screen) and then enter (to shut down
windows). I'm going to add a text macro application to my startup
folder, and then hard wire a button to controller that does these
keystrokes (on the opposite end of my two position momentary 'run'
switch). The other nice thing about my motherboard is it has a power
suspend function similar to that found on laptops. If I hit my power
on button again it puts my system in suspend mode.. press it again to
wake things up.

For keyboard/pointing device I'm using a wireless RF keyboard ($40).
It has a funky mouse controller on it.. Anyway, it seriously cuts
down on the amount of cables, and the keyboard can be tucked away
behind the scenes when not in use. It also has some useful extra
buttons for master volume, etc. These things are a must for anyone
going the PC route.

I'll be posting some new pictures of the PC inside the organ case
pretty soon.

Later,

Jude