This page about Apple Macintosh 9600 is a stub. You can help improve it:

Pricing and availability

* Product prices and availability are updated by Equipboard every 24hrs and are subject to change. Equipboard may receive compensation for purchases made at participating retailers linked on this site. This compensation does not affect what products or prices are displayed, or the order of prices listed. For more information, please refer to our affiliate disclosure.

Description

The Apple Macintosh 9600, nestled in the Musical Instruments > Computers & Peripherals category, is a classic piece of technology that's been a cornerstone for musicians and producers since its release. Known for its reliability and performance, the Macintosh 9600 offers a robust platform for music production and audio editing. Its versatile architecture supports a variety of music software, making it a favorite among those who cherish vintage computing power.

This model is equipped with six PCI slots, allowing for extensive expansion possibilities, which is a significant advantage for users looking to customize their setups. With the capability to support multiple processors, the Macintosh 9600 can handle demanding audio tasks with ease. Its ability to run legacy software without a hitch makes it an essential tool for those wanting to preserve their existing workflows while exploring new musical horizons.

Designed for professionals who value both power and expandability, this computer represents a bygone era of computing, where customization and performance were key. It's an excellent choice for musicians who appreciate the blend of old-school charm with reliable functionality.

Key Features:

  • Six PCI slots for extensive expansion
  • Support for multiple processors
  • Compatible with a wide range of music production software
  • Ideal for vintage computing enthusiasts and musicians
  • Robust architecture for demanding audio tasks
Call me Chato

Call me Chato

Is a 1997 Mac PowerPC OS9 still usable in 2019?

Video thumbnail for Is a 1997 Mac PowerPC OS9 still usable in 2019? by Call me Chato

Is a 1997 Mac PowerPC OS9 still usable in 2019?

Call me Chato

Call me Chato

Video thumbnail for Building an Extreme Power Mac 9600 by Action Retro

Building an Extreme Power Mac 9600

Action Retro

Action Retro

Video thumbnail for I Found a Beat Up Power Mac 9600 by Action Retro

I Found a Beat Up Power Mac 9600

Action Retro

Action Retro

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Apple Macintosh 9600.

Mods and upgrades

  • The Sonnet Crescendo G4 1GHz processor and Radeon 9200 PCI card are popular upgrades, but note that the Radeon 9200 lacks drivers for System 7 and OS 8, affecting its performance.

    Source
  • A painted LaCie Tsunami external drive with a ZuluSCSI RP2040 compact enhances both aesthetics and performance for the 9600 setup.

    Source
  • ATTO UL2S SCSI card upgrade allows for internal/external SCSI connectivity, beneficial for expanding storage options in video editing setups.

    Source

Software and compatibility

  • Running System 7.5.5 on a G4 processor with an SSD significantly enhances speed and responsiveness, far exceeding the original performance intended for lower-spec machines.

    Source
  • The Apple PC Compatibility card allows the 9600 to run Windows applications, broadening its utility.

    Source
  • Media 100 software requires a hardware copy protection dongle to launch, with replacements historically costing up to $9,000.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • Multi-boot setups on the 9600 can support Mac OS versions from 7.5.5 to 10.5.2, although users report issues upgrading to 10.5.8 due to boot screen freezes.

    Source
  • The 9600 can be equipped with nearly a gig of RAM, which was exceptionally high for its time, significantly enhancing its capabilities.

    Source
  • The Media 100 breakout box includes XLR microphone, RCA stereo, S-Video, and RGB/Composite BNC inputs, enhancing professional audio-video integration capabilities.

    Source

User experience

  • Owners appreciate the machine's ability to run nearly every PowerPC Mac OS version natively, offering a unique capability to explore a broad range of system software.

    Source
  • Owners have retrofitted the 9600 with a JEMS branded 4-disk SCSI RAID enclosure, though dead hard drives may require replacement for full functionality.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The 9600 can handle higher-end games like UT99 and is used for Groovemaker and archiving tasks, showcasing its versatility.

    Source
  • The 9600 model was optimized with six PCI card configurations for video editing, including a proprietary encoder/decoder card for Media 100 software.

    Source

Value and pricing

  • In 1997 prices, nearly a gig of RAM significantly increased the setup's cost, highlighting the premium nature of such configurations.

    Source

Comparisons

  • ViewSonic GS790 displays are praised for fantastic color balance, making them a preferred choice for vintage setups.

    Source

Based on 0 Reviews and 0 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Marius de Vries uses Apple Macintosh 9600

Marius de Vries

Composer, Music Producer

The Blow Monkeys

...
Verified via Soundonsound

Marius de Vries' equipment list, from the September 1998 issue of Sound on Sound:

COMPUTER & SOFTWARE

Apple Mac 9600/350, with Glyph 9Gb hard drives (x2), plus Jaz and DAT backup DAC MD4000 shell with 2 Syquest drives Digidesign Pro Tools 888 (2x24‑bit, 3x16‑bit) Emagic Logic Audio Platinum

See how Michael Bradford uses Apple Macintosh 9600

Michael Bradford

Guitarist, Composer

Uncle Kracker Band

...
Verified via Soundonsound

Michael Bradford's 'Chunky Style Gear'

A big, beefy guy with a penchant for making big, beefy‑sounding records, Michael Bradford aptly names his production company Chunky Style Music. Accordingly, he also has his own chunky style setup at a post‑production facility named Millennium Sound. Mostly MIDI‑related or used to run Pro Tools, this collection of equipment is pretty comprehensive:

Akai S1100 sampler.Alesis ADAT digital multitrack w/BRC.Apple Power Macintosh 9600 running a Digidesign Pro Tools 5.1 Mix Plus system.Casio RZ1 drum machine.Clavia Nord Rack and Nord Modular synthesizers.CM Automation Motormix.Compaq AP500 Pentium III with Windows NT running Pro Tools 5.0 Mix Plus System.Emu E6400 and Emax samplers, Orbit and Planet Phatt sound modules, and E‑Synth keyboard.Korg M1R and N5SR sound modules.Line 6 Pod and Bass Pod.Mackie HR824 hard disk recorder.Mackie HUI control surface.Mackie 3304 mixer.Yamaha FB01 sound module.

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Apple Macintosh 9600, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

Kurzweil K2000
Kurzweil K2000 Synthesizers
1
Avid Pro Tools
Avid Pro Tools DAW Software
1
Roland MSQ-700
Roland MSQ-700 Audio Sequencers
1
Korg M1R
Korg M1R Synthesizers & Sound Modules
1
Akai S3200XL
Akai S3200XL Audio Samplers
1
EMS Synthi A
EMS Synthi A Synthesizers
1

More Apple Computers & Peripherals

Community setups

Similar

Gear Guides

  • Added to Equipboard on by

    dandaman
    dandaman

    Gear IQ 73449