[linux-audio-dev] a question re: the MIDI spec

[John Check]

On Wednesday 08 September 2004 11:53 am, Jens M Andreasen wrote:
> On ons, 2004-09-08 at 15:34, Dave Phillips wrote:
> > Greetings:
> >
> >   I'm doing some research for an article about Linux MIDI support. In my
> > text I briefly describe the evolution of the MIDI specification since
> > its adoption, mentioning things like MIDI Time Code, MMC, the sample
> > dump standard, and the standard MIDI file. However, one item has me a
> > bit mystified. I'm unable to ascertain whether multi-port interfaces are
> > in fact described and supported by the spec. I checked the MMA docs
> > on-line, and I also have the Sciacciaferro/De Furia MIDI Programmers
> > Handbook, but nowhere do those sources indicate explicit support for
> > multi-port hardware. Are multi-port MIDI interfaces vendor-specific
> > solutions or is there actually an extension to the MIDI spec somewhere
> > that I'm just missing ? TIA!
>
> Muliport-interfaces were included in the initial discussions on the MIDI
> standard and referred to as "star systems":
>
>        tape-sync
>            ¦
>         +-----+
>     <---| SEQ |--->
>         +-----+
>
>            V
>
> It was thought that a single interface would be good enough for stage
> and budget systems and that professional recording studios could
> overcome bandwith limitations by using one port for each synth-module
> attached.
>
> No specifics regarding naming nor discovery were mentioned. I suppose
> Roland, Sequential and Yamaha intended to build and sell those
> sequencers all by themselves ...
>
> The place to look for a universal standard for multiple midi-devices
> would be in the USB specification. And it even appears like some vendors
> are (finally!) starting to follow suit:
>
>    http://midiman.com/products/en_us/KeystationPro88-main.html
>

Yeow! I bought a keystation49e and all it took to get running was plug it in, 
turn it on. 


>    - "USB class compliant—no drivers required for
>      Windows XP or Mac OS X"
>
>
> mvh // Jens M Andreasen
>
> > Best regards,
> >
> > dp