- Building a handmade parallel port multiplier - Using a powered usb hub (fig.8) The second option appeared to be more convenient for it was faster and easier to achieve. The only element which concerned me was the possibility that a parallel-to-parallel connection had a pin-to-pin correspondence while the usb-to-parallel connection obviously not. I thought this might have been a concern, but it eventually was not because appeared to be the sole option I had anyway. The procedure would then be to connect one printer at a time via usb-to-parallel adaptors (fig.9) and, afterwards, a series of 56 K modems. Crucial would be to have the least latency possible and the most accurate synchrony between all the instruments. This depends on the software side of the project. fig.6 lpt male - Author’s own
fig.7 scsi male - Author’s own
fig.8 Powered hub male - Author’s own It is used to connect all the peripherals to one computer
fig.9 usb-to-parallel adaptor - Author’s own It allows the operating system to manage more than two peripherals, since the default number of lpt ports on Windows bios is either 2 or 3
48 ◊ Performair: music for offices