13 Feb
2004
13 Feb
'04
3:48 a.m.
Soon i'll have to connect 3 MIDI devices to a Linux system (and also
send MIDI between the devices themselves, not only device<-->computer):
two hardware synths (keyboards) and an effects box. Possibly another
device later, but we'll see.
What MIDI box do you recommend in this case?
I'm looking at M-Audio USB MIDISPORT 4x4 which seems to be quite ok:
http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=products.main&ID=a4fc99df673e54ff97…
Anyone using it? Can you route the MIDI signal in arbitrary ways? Can
you route one input to all outputs, or do other similar things? What's
the software that you use to control it?
Does it work with your sequencer?
How well does it work with ALSA?
If you have a sound card (or maybe two soundcards) on your system, can
you use its MIDI interfaces in addition to the 4x4? Can you do arbitrary
MIDI routing in that case?
On the ALSA website, next to the 4x4 it says "Firmware driver coming
soon" - what does that mean? Is it not supported yet?
If 4x4 doesn't work under Linux, can you recommend a product similar in
features and price?
--
Florin Andrei
http://florin.myip.org/
13 Feb
13 Feb
10:37 a.m.
Florin Andrei wrote:
Soon i'll have to connect 3 MIDI devices to a
Linux system (and also
send MIDI between the devices themselves, not only device<-->computer):
two hardware synths (keyboards) and an effects box. Possibly another
device later, but we'll see.
What MIDI box do you recommend in this case?
ESI Miditerminal M4U: http://www.esi-pro.com/viewProduct.php?pid=19
Edirol UM-4: http://www.edirol.com/products/info/archive/um4.html
or UM-550: http://www.edirol.com/products/info/um550.html
I'm looking at M-Audio USB MIDISPORT 4x4 which
seems to be quite ok:
The MidiSport 4x4 requires that you install a separate firmware
download utility (<http://usb-midi-fw.sf.net/>), the others work with
ALSA out of the box.
Can you route the MIDI signal in arbitrary ways?
Yes. ALSA can route MIDI events from any port to any port.
(It's not possible to route commands depending on their command
type/channel/data etc., but it would be easy to write a program to do
that.)
Only the UM-550 can do routing in hardware. (Usually, only 8x8
interfaces can do routing.)
Can you route one input to all outputs, or do other
similar
things?
Yes.
What's the software that you use to control it?
ALSA's routing is controlled by the command-line utility aconnect, or
kaconnect for mousophiles.
I don't know if it's possible to control the UM-550 by software (try
asking Edirol), but it has a sixth port (labeled "Control" in the
Windows driver), so it may be possible to do something with SysEx's.
Does it work with your sequencer?
Any device supported by ALSA works with any sequencer that supports
ALSA.
If you have a sound card (or maybe two soundcards) on
your system, can
you use its MIDI interfaces in addition to the 4x4?
Yes. ALSA currently supports up to 8 cards at the same time.
Can you do arbitrary MIDI routing in that case?
Yes. ALSA can route between any ports, even if those are on different
cards, or are software ports (implemented by some application).
On the ALSA website, next to the 4x4 it says
"Firmware driver coming
soon" - what does that mean?
That means that the website is out of date.
HTH
Clemens
14 Feb
14 Feb
2:39 a.m.
On Fri, 2004-02-13 at 06:33, Clemens Ladisch wrote:
Ok, so since you're the maintainer of the Midisport firmware loader, i
figured you should know the answer: how stable are these cards (the ones
that require your loader) under Linux? If i do the firmware loading
correctly, they will work as expected, right?
Do you see any problems in the future, like - your loader not working
anymore under future versions of the Linux kernel, etc.
I guess what i'm asking is, if i buy a 4x4 now, i'd like to make sure
i'm going to be able to use it successfully under Linux, for years to
come.
If these cards work fine under Linux, i have no issues with using your
loader. It's just one more step in the boot-up sequence, one script to
add to /etc/init.d before ALSA kicks in (or maybe modify the ALSA
script).
In fact, the 4x4 seems to be exactly what i need, in terms of price and
features.
--
Florin Andrei
http://florin.myip.org/
Florin Andrei wrote:
Well, the first one is made by a company who doesn't have as a
distributor any of the major on-line music stores that i know (they seem
to be a small company anyway).
The second one seems to be discontinued.
Soon i'll have to connect 3 MIDI devices to a
Linux system (and also
send MIDI between the devices themselves, not only device<-->computer):
two hardware synths (keyboards) and an effects box. Possibly another
device later, but we'll see.
What MIDI box do you recommend in this case?
ESI Miditerminal M4U: http://www.esi-pro.com/viewProduct.php?pid=19
Edirol UM-4: http://www.edirol.com/products/info/archive/um4.html or UM-550:
http://www.edirol.com/products/info/um550.html
Only the UM-550 can do routing in hardware. (Usually, only 8x8
interfaces can do routing.)
I don't know if it's possible to control the UM-550 by software (try
asking Edirol), but it has a sixth port (labeled "Control" in the
Windows driver), so it may be possible to do something with SysEx's.
That one looks interesting. Kind of on the expensive side ($200) but
appears to be a good piece of hardware.
I understand the concept of routing in hardware, and i see the
advantages, but wouldn't that prevent aconnect/kacconect to do their
normal job?
I mean, can i override with acconect whatever settings are made in
hardware? (i assume UM-550 can be configured via its buttons or
something)
In general, is there any way to control this interface in software under
Linux?
(hope i'm making sense)
On the ALSA
website, next to the 4x4 it says "Firmware driver coming
soon" - what does that mean?
That means that the website is out of date. 
12:18 p.m.
Florin Andrei wrote:
Hi Florin,
I have the UM-880. In the back of the owner's manual is a detailed MIDI
implementation chart for remote control. I've only ever used the
buttons on the front myself.
The nice thing about these boxes is that you can chain up to four of
them together if you ever get more MIDI devices, although I'm not sure
if and how it affects performance. They're also rack-mountable (not
sure about the UM-550).
Anyway, I haven't switched my audio stuff over to Linux yet, but will
try sometime in the next couple months. Keep in touch if you do end up
getting either the UM-550 or UM-880.
Cheers,
Chris
On Fri, 2004-02-13 at 06:33, Clemens Ladisch wrote:
or UM-550:
http://www.edirol.com/products/info/um550.html
Only the UM-550 can do routing in hardware. (Usually, only 8x8
interfaces can do routing.)
I don't know if it's possible to control the UM-550 by software (try
asking Edirol), but it has a sixth port (labeled "Control" in the
Windows driver), so it may be possible to do something with SysEx's.
That one looks interesting. Kind of on the expensive side ($200) but
appears to be a good piece of hardware.
I understand the concept of routing in hardware, and i see the
advantages, but wouldn't that prevent aconnect/kacconect to do their
normal job?
I mean, can i override with acconect whatever settings are made in
hardware? (i assume UM-550 can be configured via its buttons or
something)
In general, is there any way to control this interface in software under
Linux?
(hope i'm making sense)
16 Feb
16 Feb
8:37 a.m.
Florin Andrei wrote:
I understand the concept of routing in hardware, and i
see the
advantages, but wouldn't that prevent aconnect/kacconect to do their
normal job?
No. There are two layers of routing. The hardware routing specifies
how the (hardware) MIDI connectors are connected to each other and/or
to the ports made available by the driver. ALSA's routing specifies
how these (software) ports are connected to each other, and/or to
applications.
(UM-550/UM-880)
In general, is there any way to control this interface in software under
Linux?
Chris Pickett already mentioned this is possible by sending SysEx's to
the control port. There isn't any point-and-click utility for Linux,
but it wouldn't be an overly intricate job to write one.
how stable are these cards (the ones that require your
loader)
under Linux? If i do the firmware loading correctly, they will
work as expected, right?
I don't have any M-Audio device, but from what I've heard, all
MidiSport devices work just fine.
Do you see any problems in the future, like - your
loader not working
anymore under future versions of the Linux kernel, etc.
I don't foresee any incompatible changes to the kernel.
HTH
Clemens
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4 comments
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participants (3)
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Chris Pickett -
Clemens Ladisch -
Florin Andrei