[comp.sys.atari.st] Real Time Programming

apolivka@x102a.harris-atd.com (polivka al 60047) (02/24/90)

I want to write a program for the ST that involves acurate timing and
therefore needs access to the internal clock or timers in the ST.  I
would like a few suggestions.

In particular, I want to continuously read events comming in via the
midi-in port and note the time at which they were received to a
(user-selectable) accuracy of about 1 to 10 milliseconds.

I will also need to be able send out messages over the midi-out port
by reading them from a file that contains all of the messages to be
sent along with the time at which each message is to be sent out (with
similar timing accuracy).

My questions are:

1. What language/compilers are recommended for doing this sort of thing?

 1a.  i.e. Do certain compilers provide commands or routines for
      easily getting access to Atari's internal clock and/or timers?

 1b.  How does the efficiency (in terms of memory and CPU utilization)
      for such real time routines compare between the various
      candidates (particularly in comparison with code compiled with
      Personal Pascal or Megamax C)?

2. Does the "Personal Pascal" compiler in particular allow such real
   time programming (I already own it and am familiar with it)?

 2a.  If so, how (what commands/routines need to be used for accessing
      the clock and/or timers)?

 2b.  There is a "clock" command in Personal Pascal but it only has 2
      second accuracy to my understanding.

3. Does anyone have any sample source code for this sort of thing that
   they'd be willing to share?

Those of you familiar with midi may realize that I am trying to
understand how to write the real time aspects of a "sequencer"
program for the ST.

Thanks,
Al
--

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Al Polivka                           arpa: apolivka@x102a.ess.harris.com
Mail Stop 102-4858                 usenet: uunet!x102a!apolivka
Harris Corporation                  phone: 407-729-2983
Government Aerospace Systems Div.    Bldg: 102 Room: 3433
P.O. Box 94000
Melbourne, FL 32902
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wright@hpccc.HP.COM (Jeff Wright) (02/27/90)

/ hpccc:comp.sys.atari.st / apolivka@x102a.harris-atd.com (polivka al 60047) / 10:51 am  Feb 23, 1990 /
Re:

> I want to write a program for the ST that involves acurate timing and
> therefore needs access to the internal clock or timers in the ST.  I
> would like a few suggestions.

Please post/summarize any mail responses you get.  I have been doing
a little midi programming myself in GFA BASIC and Sozobon C.  As far
as I have been able to determine, the best timer resolution you can
get in those languages is 200 Hz, which seems pretty marginal to me.

Another would-be midi hacker,

Jeff Wright
"midi is not a concern of my employer, to my knowledge"