Disconnect the power and all cables from the Apple II, then remove the top panel. If you have any preexisting cards, look to see if they need to be moved. The alphaSyntauri keyboard interface card can go in any slot, but the "left" Mountain Computer music card must go in slot 1, 2, 3, or 4, and the "right" card must go in the next slot. Rearrange any cards you already have to open up two adjacent slots for the Mountain cards.

In the image at left, you can see the RAM card on the far left and the disk controller card in slot 7. Slots 1-6 are open.

Next, plug in the keyboard interface card. I have plugged mine into slot 1. The ribbon cable will just slip through hole 12 on the back panel, even the big plug on the early keyboard card. Be careful not to cut the ribbon cable on the casing, though.

Now we can install the Mountain Computer music cards. The two cards must be plugged into adjacent slots, and the "left" card must be plugged into one of slots 1-4. In the image at left, I have plugged the cards into slots 2 and 3. Be careful with the short ribbon cable between the cards. It can be pulled out, and it's not easy to get back in.

The stereo audio cables attached to the card (and, if present, the light pen) can be run out the back of the case through one of the round case holes. Here I have run them out through hole 8.

That's everything you need on the inside of the Apple II. Here in my computer, I have some extras. In slot 4, I have a Passport MIDI interface, and in slot 5, I have an Apple Super Serial card. I have not yet been able to use the MIDI interface with the alphaSyntauri. But the Super Serial card is handy for being able to download Apple II software from the Internet and transfer it from your PC to the Apple.

Close the case, reconnect the power, monitor cable, and floppy disk drives. Connect the stereo audio cables to a sound source such as a receiver or amplifier.

Plug the other end of the ribbon cable into the port on the back of the far right of the keyboard. If you have one or two foot pedals, plug them into the 1/4" jacks on the back of the middle of the keyboard.

Put the "Alpha Plus" disk in the floppy drive, and power up the Apple II. In a moment, if everything is set up correctly, you will get the splash screen shown at left.

Everytime you boot up, the alphaSyntauri software will prompt you for the slots each card is in. Here we have specified slot 1 for the keyboard interface card, and slot 2 for the first Mountain Computer card. To change a setting, press "Y" then the Enter key. Never change the first two fields unless you know what you're doing. Change the slot numbers to match your configuration. Afterward, press "N" then the Enter key. You should not have to change these settings again, but this screen will still come up automatically in the future.

Finally, the "Alpha Plus" software boots up. If you have everything hooked up, you should be able to play the keyboard and hear sound. You should also see bars appear on the monitor that correspond with the keys you press in a kind of Close Encounters of the Third Kind style. Congratulations, it works!!!