shri@ccs1.cs.umass.edu (H.Shrikumar{shri@ncst.in}) (01/12/90)
Hi, [Attn: people on RMS - I am still looking for a used Yamaha FB-01, anybody got one or know anybody who is willing to sell. I need one fast. pls e-mail or phone.] But to get to the subject ... I understand that typically a RS-232 to MIDI box is used to interface MIDI to a Mac. I also believe that the box is usually smart and does some timing etc. locally. Due to various reasons I cannot use such a box. On the other hand my needs are very simple too, compared to a performing musician. I wish to use a MacII to just input and output MIDI data - ie. I am not too worried about timing messages etc. and I dont expect more than some note-on note-off messages and a few sys-ex (for the FB-01). I am assuming that these do not generate much MIDI bandwidth since I expect to have just one FB-01 connected to the MacII. I believe the Mac has a USART which allows external clocking. My question specifically is - 1. Can the USART be persuaded to generate 31250 baud 8 bit no-parity serial data, (which is what MIDI requires) by software tricks only ? 2. Or can it be done by feeding an external clock at 31250 Hz. to the USART ? If this can be done, a the serial port can be interfaced to MIDI with just the optoisolator for the RS232 voltage to 5ma current loop standard of MIDI. Anyone done this ? Thanx in advance for comments/ideas. -- shrikumar ( shri@ccs1.cs.umass.edu, shri@ncst.in (413)-549-1836 )