General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

2

Total Parts

5

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

metal casing and parts/ synthetic lamps and parts

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

10.1 cm

Width

8.2 cm

Height

3.9 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Communications

Category

Music

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Marquis

Country

United States of America

State/Province

Unknown

City

Unknown

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Unknown

Period

late 1980s

Canada

Part of a collection of electronic equipment for musical composition, performance and recording owned and used by Canadian Paul Hoffert, composer, musician, author, researcher, entrepreneur and arts administrator. American born, he came to Canada as a child and his career has encompassed many areas of the Canadian music business, including working as a jazz pianist, CBC music director and performer, educator, manufacturer of stereo equipment, music producer, and film composer. In the late 1960s he worked for a short time as a researcher in Hugh LeCaine's electronic music lab at NRC, where he wrote a computer program for music analysis and developed a solid-body electric violin. In 1968 Hoffert and rock drummer Skip Prokop, formed the very successful jazz-rock band Lighthouse (1969-1974, 1982, 1993-present), which earned one platinum record and four gold records and received three Juno awards between 1971 and 1973 In 1977 Hoffert received a Canadian Film Award (later known as a Genie) for best original musical score for the movie "Outrageous!". He also headed the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television, the Guild of Canadian Film and Television Composers,and the Ontario Council for the Art. In 1995 he was inducted into the Canadian Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2009 he was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada.

Function

A digital data transfer device that allows digital MIDI signals to be transmitted up to three kilometres.

Technical

The Hoffert collection consists of approximately 25 pieces of electronic equipment for musical composition, performance and recording. These range from iconic keyboard instruments of the 1970s, to a variety of digital devices from the 1980s, to computer software from the early 1990s. These were used either for stage performances, especially during his years in the jazz rock band Lighthouse, or for work in his home studio. Hoffert was co-developer of digital data transfer technology that allows digital MIDI - Musical Instrument Digital Interface - signals to be transmitted up to three kilometres instead of the standard ten meter limitation. The technology was licensed to Anatek Inc. for manufacture. The MIDIboost system consists of two identical two-way units and two 9v power supplies.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

white lettering on top reads 'Midia/ MIDIBOOST (TM)/ a product of/ Marquis Music Inc./ made in U.S.A./ patent pending'/ white lettering for control functions

Missing

appears complete

Finish

textured black painted casing/ black synthetic parts/ red and green lamps

Decoration

N/A