8PortSE: Godlike Productions

8PortSE

The MusicQuest 8 Port SE is a MIDI Interface that connects over a parallel port and was released in the days of DOS.

It is still highly revered for it's tight MIDI timing and patch panel capabilities and drivers still work with this interface even on Windows 10.

Music Quest (Opcode) 8PortSE

The 8PortSE is a MIDI interface designed for Windows that uses parallel port for communication with the computer. It is a versatile MIDI Patchbay/SMPTE sync device that supports 8 MIDI Ports (both In and Out).

It is renowned for low jitter and low latency and through the extraordinary work of developers such as Earth Vega Connection, drivers are available that work for all versions of windows up to Windows 10. Not bad for a device that was originally designed for DOS and Windows 3.1.

Below are all drivers I have been able to find for this device, going back to the original floppy that shipped with the unit, through Windows NT, XP, 7 and 10, as well as the original manual.

The latest driver is the Windows 7 driver created by Earth Vega Connection and is confirmed to work in Windows 7, 8 and 10 with driver signing enforcement disabled. While we looked at recertifying this driver, it's not feasible for me to do so, so I'm providing the original with default user registration. A thread discussing this is here https://gearspace.com/board/music-computers/950166-8port-se-earthvega-directmusic-driver-revival.html

To disable driver signing enforcement visit https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/permanent-disable-driver-signature-verification/009c3498-bef8-4564-bb52-1d05812506e0

This has not been tested by us for Windows 11, but if you have success, please Contact Us and we'll update the description here.

We thank Earth Vega Connection for permission to republish their driver and make it available to the public.

All other drivers and manuals are provided free of charge

Drivers

Download Windows XP DriversWe believe these are the Windows XP drivers for the 8 Port SE246 KB
Download Windows NT DriversWindows NT Drivers for the 8 Port SE40 KB
Download Windows XP DriversAn Alternate set of Windows XP Drivers for the 8 Port SE651 KB
Download DOS DriversMS Dos Drivers for the 8 Port SE236 KB
Download Direct Music DriversLatest version of EarthVega's 64 bit Direct Music Drivers for Windows XP and later. Will only run in test mode with driver signing enforcement disabled. Registration details included.978 KB

Manual

Download 8 Port SE ManualA PDF of the original manual that shipped with the device.1 MB

Disclaimer

We have not been able to find the manual or drivers on the web through either the original manufacturer (Music Quest, who was acquired by Opcode, who was subsequently acquired by Gibson), and we provide those manuals and drivers here as a service to users who still wish to use this device. If you are the copyright holder of any of the material available from this page, please contact us, to either formally grant permission for us to provide these materials, or let us know where you are hosting the original files so that we can replace the download with a link to your page.