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

[John Check]

On Friday 10 September 2004 05:50 pm, Martijn Sipkema wrote:
> > > The problem here is that class compliant devices suffer bad timing
> > > because they use bulk transfers for MIDI data. The standard for
> > > MIDI over FireWire is much better.
> >
> > I don't agree on the subject that USB bulk transfers cause bad MIDI
> > timing. Of course, you can't use the same USB host controller at a time
> > with a MIDI interface and some other device like a CD writer and expect
> > both good MIDI timing and fast CD burning. If you can reserve a host
> > controller exclusively for your USB MIDI device, you will get pretty good
> > results, most of the time.
>
> [...]
>
> > - Isochronous transfers send or receive data streams in realtime with
> > guaranteed bus bandwidth but without any reliability.
>
> [...]
>
> > MIDI streams need to be reliable (a single byte lost isn't acceptable),
> > so Isochronous is not an option. Interrupt or Bulk transfers are very
> > similar: they use only the available bandwidth at each moment, so there
> > can be unwanted delays and timing problems. Some manufacturers'
> > proprietary protocols include a timestamp with each USB MIDI packet to
> > enhance the time accuracy, but this can be done either in bulk or
> > interrupt transfers.
>
> MIDI streams need a reliable transport with guaranteed bandwidth. If
> USB can't provide this, then it is not really suitable for MIDI, but I'm
> not saying it is unusable, just that it may perform worse then traditional
> serial multiport MIDI interfaces.
>

FWIW the M-Audio keyboard I bought has a regular MIDI interface too. I'd 
imagine one with audio inputs has it as well.  

> --ms