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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Desktop Audio and Video => Topic started by: orb85750 on August 12, 2010, 08:48:35 PM

Title: Macrosystem Casablanca Classic problem
Post by: orb85750 on August 12, 2010, 08:48:35 PM
I purchase a Casablanca Classic from eBay.  For anyone (everyone?) unfamiliar, it's an Amiga ROM-based 68060 standalone non-linear video editor by Macrosystem.  (Macrosystem is the same company that made the Vlab Motion, Toccata, etc. for Amiga.)  It's in excellent cosmetic condition, but there does not appear to be any trackball/mouse pointer shown on the screen after it boots.  I'm also not able to get my SCART to composite adapter to work at all.  (The S-Video output does work.)  I spoke with Gary McNally, who suggested that it might have a bad motherboard.  Does anyone else know anything about this type of system?  It would be cool to get it up and working.   Thanks.
Title: Re: Macrosystem Casablanca Classic problem
Post by: davideo on August 12, 2010, 09:40:26 PM
Are you using the correct type of trackball?

Have you tried re-installing the operating system?

I've never had this problem in all the years that I've owned mine.

And on a personal note - would you PM me how much you paid for it please?

I've got one of these and I'm not sure what it's worth :(

Dave G :cool:
Title: Re: Macrosystem Casablanca Classic problem
Post by: Iggy on August 12, 2010, 09:53:43 PM
As far as I've heard, a standard serial mouse or a serial trackball should be all that's required.

What type of device are you using and are you sure iys functional? The fact that it boots, but does not display a pointer would indicate a problem with the mouse/trackball, not the motherboard.
Title: Re: Macrosystem Casablanca Classic problem
Post by: orb85750 on August 12, 2010, 10:48:39 PM
Quote from: davideo;574513
Are you using the correct type of trackball?

Have you tried re-installing the operating system?

I've never had this problem in all the years that I've owned mine.

And on a personal note - would you PM me how much you paid for it please?

I've got one of these and I'm not sure what it's worth :(

Dave G :cool:

Thanks for your reply.  I'm using a ps/2 mouse with a ps/2-to-serial adapter.  I don't seem to have a serial mouse anywhere among my old stuff.  Should I see a mouse pointer on the screen, even if I don't have a mouse plugged in properly?  And what shape/color should I see for the pointer?  I don't have the OS disks (or any other disks), just what is already on the hard drive.  (I'll PM you too.)
Title: Re: Macrosystem Casablanca Classic problem
Post by: davideo on August 12, 2010, 10:52:54 PM
Quote from: orb85750;574525
Thanks for your reply.  I'm using a ps/2 mouse with a ps/2-to-serial adapter.  I don't seem to have a serial mouse anywhere among my old stuff.  Should I see a mouse pointer on the screen, even if I don't have a mouse plugged in properly?  I don't have the OS disks (or any other disks), just what is already on the hard drive.  (I'll PM you too.)


Without the OS discs you won't be able to reinstall the OS.

Each set of discs is tied by a serial number to the particular machine it was installed on. So even if you could borrow my set they would not install - anti piracy :hammer:

I've never tried a mouse like your setup. I'll boot my machine up without the mouse and see what happens. Have you got a manual for it?

Dave G

Update:

I booted it up without the mouse and no pointer visible. IIRC the pointer starts out in the top left corner so it may not be visible on screen.

I then did something you should never do and plugged my mouse in withthe power on. Mouse pointer shows on screen just below top left corner of screen.

I'm not sure but I thought you could use the keyboard to control the mouse. I'll have a look in my manual.

Dave G
Title: Re: Macrosystem Casablanca Classic problem
Post by: tone007 on August 12, 2010, 11:14:52 PM
Not all PS/2 mice support serial mode regardless of the PS/2 to serial adapter, so that's one combination you might want to check on another machine with a serial port if you haven't yet.
Title: Re: Macrosystem Casablanca Classic problem
Post by: orb85750 on August 13, 2010, 03:20:00 AM
Quote from: davideo;574527
Without the OS discs you won't be able to reinstall the OS.

Each set of discs is tied by a serial number to the particular machine it was installed on. So even if you could borrow my set they would not install - anti piracy :hammer:

I've never tried a mouse like your setup. I'll boot my machine up without the mouse and see what happens. Have you got a manual for it?

Dave G

Update:

I booted it up without the mouse and no pointer visible. IIRC the pointer starts out in the top left corner so it may not be visible on screen.

I then did something you should never do and plugged my mouse in withthe power on. Mouse pointer shows on screen just below top left corner of screen.

I'm not sure but I thought you could use the keyboard to control the mouse. I'll have a look in my manual.

Dave G


Many thanks for your help!  That's very useful info.
Title: Re: Macrosystem Casablanca Classic problem
Post by: orb85750 on August 13, 2010, 03:22:51 AM
Quote from: tone007;574530
Not all PS/2 mice support serial mode regardless of the PS/2 to serial adapter, so that's one combination you might want to check on another machine with a serial port if you haven't yet.


I didn't know that.  I hope that's the problem.  I have no other such serial port machines, so I think I'll try to find/buy a serial mouse rather than use an adapter.   Thank you.
Title: Re: Macrosystem Casablanca Classic problem
Post by: orb85750 on August 20, 2010, 02:25:48 AM
OK, got it working with a bonafide 2-button serial mouse!  Software version is 2.7.8.  Looking forward to working with it.
Title: Re: Macrosystem Casablanca Classic problem
Post by: Iggy on August 20, 2010, 03:05:29 AM
Quote from: orb85750;575449
OK, got it working with a bonafide 2-button serial mouse!  Software version is 2.7.8.  Looking forward to working with it.

Cool, keep us up to date on how you do. I'd like to know more about the Casablanca.
Title: Re: Macrosystem Casablanca Classic problem
Post by: davideo on August 20, 2010, 08:41:32 AM
Quote from: orb85750;575449
OK, got it working with a bonafide 2-button serial mouse!  Software version is 2.7.8.  Looking forward to working with it.


Congrats - I'm sure you'll have fun using it :)

Dave G :cool:
Title: Re: Macrosystem Casablanca Classic problem
Post by: orb85750 on August 21, 2010, 07:33:32 PM
Thanks.  I'm still puzzled as to why I cannot get the SCART output to work properly.  I have a simple, cheap adapter (from eBay) that is supposed to convert it to composite video + audio, but nothing works at all.  Given all the other adapter failures I had, I wouldn't doubt if that's the problem here too, but if anyone has any experience with SCART output, please let me know.  (I don't have any SCART devices, so I cannot use it directly.)
Title: Re: Macrosystem Casablanca Classic problem
Post by: AmigaEd on August 22, 2010, 02:35:46 AM
Quote from: davideo;574527
Without the OS discs you won't be able to reinstall the OS.

Each set of discs is tied by a serial number to the particular machine it was installed on. So even if you could borrow my set they would not install - anti piracy :hammer:


@orb85750

Based on Dave's comments, if I were you I'd start looking for a way to clone your hard drive. Sounds like it would be a nightmare if the drive was corrupted, lost files, etc.

Regards,
AmigaEd
Title: Re: Macrosystem Casablanca Classic problem
Post by: orb85750 on August 22, 2010, 07:34:42 PM
Quote from: AmigaEd;575609
@orb85750

Based on Dave's comments, if I were you I'd start looking for a way to clone your hard drive. Sounds like it would be a nightmare if the drive was corrupted, lost files, etc.

Regards,
AmigaEd


You make a very good suggestion.  It is a SCSI hard drive (SCSI-2).  If I can remove it and put it into one of my A2000 machines, do you know if it would be possible to clone it if it's a nonstandard format.  (I think it's nonstandard, but I'm not certain at this early stage.)  I've never used 3 hard drives in an A2000, so I hope that can be done too (the system drive, the Casablanca drive, and the empty drive). Yes, I'll need an exact clone, not a file backup.  I have no clue how to do it, but you're right that it's time for me to start thinking about it.  Thanks.
Title: Re: Macrosystem Casablanca Classic problem
Post by: odin on August 22, 2010, 08:33:29 PM
Better get confirmation on whether a Casablanca drive is Amiga readable from a (previous) Casablanca owner before you fry it =).

Either way, hooking it up to a machine running Linux and using the dd command to make a bit-by-bit image of the drive might also be a solution:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dd_%28Unix%29
At your own risk though ;).

Isn't it possible to add a second drive to the Casablanca itself?
Title: Re: Macrosystem Casablanca Classic problem
Post by: davideo on August 22, 2010, 09:33:04 PM
Quote from: odin;575697
Isn't it possible to add a second drive to the Casablanca itself?


That's the tricky bit with the original Casablanca.

You can fit two hard drives to it. One internally in the caddy and one externally on the 25 pin expansion.

AFAIR But and it's a big BUT the Casablance will only see one at once. The internal is the primary drive unless you plug in an external drive and then it becomes the primary drive and the other vanishes until you remove the external drive.

Dave G :cool:
Title: Re: Macrosystem Casablanca Classic problem
Post by: kolla on August 22, 2010, 11:09:56 PM
So it's not SCSI compliant?
Title: Re: Macrosystem Casablanca Classic problem
Post by: davideo on August 22, 2010, 11:13:40 PM
Quote from: kolla;575718
So it's not SCSI compliant?


I guess not in the true sense of the word.

The later Cassie had the ability to copy a project from one disc to the other but I think that was only the video project not the system software.

Also there was a backup solution sold for one of the Cassies that would let you backup to DVD but again I don't think that was the OS only the project.

Dave G :cool:
Title: Re: Macrosystem Casablanca Classic problem
Post by: gmcnally on June 13, 2011, 07:28:02 PM
We bought out all the Casablanca Classic Hardware, Software, and Accessories  in 2003, and we still offer sales and service on the complete line. As for not having floppy disks for your unit, we still sell those, as well as about 30 other programs. We even sell mirror back up software, which will make an exact copy of the internal hard drive to an external Ssci drive. You can also clone the external back to the internal. We sell the internal and external drives for the Mirror System, and we also sell the DVD-Ram project back-up Software, DVD-Ram writer, and DVD-Ram 5.2 Gb Blank Discs.
The external drive is set to Scsi 1, and the internal is Scsi 0. If you want to boot to the external, simply remove the internal sled. Yes you can edit directly on the external.

I have a Video Toaster, and the MacroSystem floppy disks are NOT recognized by it:hammer:

As far as the trackball not working, I said if it is not the TB, then it is the motherboard. This is the board with the serial connector, and I have seen the hardware serial components fail many times.

We also sell serial trackballs. USB to serial adapters do not work, and PS2 to serial adapters do not always work.

We also sell the DV boardset upgrade. If you have a 4-pin DV connecter on the rear of your unit, you can easily install the boards with our self install DVD. If you have no DV on the back, or a 6-pin DV, then your video board will also need to be replaced, but no problem just more money.

And of course we continue to trade-in the Cassie Classic, refurbish and upgrade them, and resell them:)

Mail :
MCNALLYS PLUG AND PLAY
4282 ARNIE ROAD
BLAINE, WA  98230

Phone :
360-371-2103

E-mail :
garymcnally@earthlink.net
Title: Re: Macrosystem Casablanca Classic problem
Post by: number6 on June 13, 2011, 07:57:10 PM
Quote from: gmcnally;644877
I have a Video Toaster, and the MacroSystem floppy disks are NOT recognized by it:hammer:



They didn't have a driver for those disks to install on classic like they did for DRACO?

#6
Title: Re: Macrosystem Casablanca Classic problem
Post by: Vlabguy1 on June 13, 2011, 08:21:03 PM
Glad you got it working.. If you ever open her up..take pics..

Rich
ny
Title: Re: Macrosystem Casablanca Classic problem
Post by: Effy on October 16, 2013, 08:32:02 AM
Time passes by, meanwhile two years later. Stumbled over a local add for a Casablanca Classic and started browsing the web and ended here. My question is how to install an Amiga OS on such a Casablanca. I've read that the floppies you wanna use need to have a specific code on it because otherwise they are useless, so how do you install for example OS 3.9 ?
I found this :

"DraCo OS3.9 is "just" a patched version of Amiga OS3.9.
If you want to buy it from Cash Multimedia (patric hoffman) you must be legal owner of Amiga OS3.9 and CyberGFX v4. http://www.cash-multimedia.com/page1/page1.html "

Okay, a patched OS 3.9 on a Casablanca with 060 with only rtg software, seems nice, but as they say on Discovery Channel : how do they do it ? Anybody got evidence and a quick manual ?
Title: Re: Macrosystem Casablanca Classic problem
Post by: Effy on October 16, 2013, 11:38:00 AM
On the other hand a Casablanca does not have a cdrom so how would you get a patched OS3.9 on it ? Only by floppies ? Casablanca uses high density floppies of 1,8 Mb, not really normal pc or Amiga formats ... and I don't know anyone who has tried to put a hd inside the Casablanca which has been formatted and installed on a regular Amiga ...
Title: Re: Macrosystem Casablanca Classic problem
Post by: amiman99 on October 16, 2013, 03:10:17 PM
It's been discussed before and the conclusion is: you can't install Amiga OS on Casablanca or at least, no one was able to do  it so far.
I have one it does the job in what is supposed to do, that's all.

Draco and Casablanca are completely different machines.
Title: Re: Macrosystem Casablanca Classic problem
Post by: Themaster on July 08, 2016, 01:31:58 AM
does anyone could know how to revive a Casablanca 060 with a dead HD and no install discs ?
:(
Just got one as gift and I couldn't find any info !
Title: Re: Macrosystem Casablanca Classic problem
Post by: Gulliver on July 08, 2016, 02:46:37 AM
Quote from: Themaster;810752
does anyone could know how to revive a Casablanca 060 with a dead HD and no install discs ?
:(
Just got one as gift and I couldn't find any info !

There is certainly a way to revive it.

You need to get a new/refurbished scsi 50 pin HD first.
Then you need to get the Casablanca Floppy install discs which I believe are still sold by some distributor already mentioned in this thread (you should contact them first).

There are other ways to do it, but this is the easiest way.