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From: dca@kesmai.COM (David C. Albrecht)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga,comp.sys.atari.st,comp.sys.cbm
Subject: Re: Amiga and MIDI
Message-ID: <150@kesmai.COM>
Date: Tue, 1-Dec-87 01:16:18 EST
Article-I.D.: kesmai.150
Posted: Tue Dec  1 01:16:18 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 5-Dec-87 11:20:33 EST
References: <447@nuchat.UUCP> <32160@auc.UUCP> <528@otto.COM>
Organization: Kesmai Corporation, Charlottesville, VA
Lines: 41
Keywords: MIDI Amiga Atari ST
Xref: mnetor comp.sys.amiga:11824 comp.sys.atari.st:6578 comp.sys.cbm:991

> >   From Skyles Electric Works: MIDI IN, 2 MIDI OUT, and MIDI THRU
> >
> >I think Mimetics also has a MIDI Interface with similar features and price.
> 
> hmmm... This sounds pretty scary to me.  If the interface is built into the
> computer, then the software developers don't have to worry about writing
> 'drivers' to support all the different interfaces with 'similar features'.
> However, if you have to hook the interface up as an afterthought, only the
> software supplied by the interface manufacturer may be compatable.
> 
> The MIDI port is already there on the ST, so the musician who wants to become
> 'computerized' can just go buy an ST, and just any piece of music software, and
> he's ready to go.  This guy's gonna have enough problems trying to figure out
> why the program won't do the same things to his Juno-106, that it does to his
> Yamaha DX-7 (?).  He really shouldn't have to worry about why the progam won't
> talk to either of them (read: why the program wont talk to the interface.).
> 
> Rex Jolliff  (rex@otto.UUCP, {akgua,ihnp4,mirror,sdcrdcf}!otto!rex)

Let me put Mr. Jolliff's fears to rest.  The RS232 connection on the
back of the Amiga (500, 1000, 2000) is connected to a programmable UART
which accommodates a wide range of baud rates including that which MIDI
uses.  The Midi interfaces are really just a RS232 to MIDI adapter which
given that there are standards at both ends should no more a problem than
a cable which goes between your printer and your computer.  The interfaces
are just a matter of some hex buffers and optoisolators and 'features' like
pass-through or multiple outputs certainly have no affect on what
the program driving the interface sees.  A typical interface is very simple
consisting of less than $5 of parts.  He certainly could go buy an ST
but if the sole reason is fears of incompatibility from the MIDI interfaces
then he is being misguided by your information and you are certainly doing
him no favors in the department of making intelligent choices.

I will grant that there is more MIDI software available for the ST.
Now that a low cost Amiga has hit the streets I expect the Amiga MIDI
market will probably expand.  Rather than start the wars going I will keep
any comparisons of the machines to myself.  In the future you might consider,
however, that inaccurate speculation is one of the surest ways to cause
a furor.

David Albrecht