[rec.music.synth] Initializing a Mac MIDI interface from a DA

dce@stan.UUCP (David Elliott) (03/21/89)

I am in the process of writing a MIDI desk accessory for the Mac, and
need some information about initializing the interface.

I recently tried out a DA called MPS, which sends out MIDI program
changes.  In this DA, if you click the "Initialize" button, it warns
you that if the interface has already been initialized that other
programs using the interface may crash.

What I want to do is to try to figure out if the interface is already
initialized.  Is it reasonable to read the interface for a couple of
MIDI sense bytes, and if they are seen within, say, 100ms, assume that
the interface is already ready, and otherwise initialize?

NOTE: I realize that the Apple Mac MIDI Management tools probably
      make this easy, but until I see them on my system, they're as
      good as vaporware.

-- 
David Elliott		...!pyramid!boulder!stan!dce
"Splish splash, I was rakin' in the cash"  -- Eno