[comp.sys.next] MIDI on NeXT??

murray@csli.Stanford.EDU (Peter Murray) (03/07/91)

Hi everyone,

I would like to know what is available MIDI-wise for the NeXT.  I am working
on a performance art piece with a friend and would like it to be driven by
a NeXT (or NeXTs).  Is there a sequencer that has capabilities like
Studio Vision for the Mac?  Is there any sequencer available?

Specifically we would like to combine synthesized sound with digitized so 
the ability to trigger a digital file within the sequencer would be great!

Also, what of digital sound file editing?  What is the best tool available?

It seems that the NeXT would be a SUPERTREMENDOUS platform for this project,
but I don't have a good feel for what's available.

Thanks for any help!

Please send mail to murray@csli.stanford.edu

- Pete  

War not make one great!  -Yoda

				   

howie@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu (Howie Kaye) (03/10/91)

I used to have a midi keyboard hooked up to my 030 NeXT through an
Apple Midi Interface.  I was just able to plug it in, and the basic
midi stuff on the NeXT worked.  I just got my 040 upgrade, and since
the serial ports changed from rs422 to rs423, this stopped working.

I was able to get things to work again by building a new cable, and
treating the midi side the same as an 030 next serial port.  I thought
i'd make it available to anyone else who needs to do this.  the cable
is a din8--din8 with the following pinouts:

From the NeXT documentation (man zs):
	     Mini-din signals on 68030 systems

	     Pin   Signal
	     1     DTR       Data Terminal Ready
	     2     DCD       Data Carrier Detect
	     3     TXD-      Transmit Data Minus
	     4     GND       Signal Ground
	     5     RXD-      Receive Data Minus
	     6     TXD+      Transmit Data Plus
	     7     A: RTXC   Receive Clock
		   B: +5v    +5 volts
	     8     RXD+      Receive Data Plus

	     Mini-din signals on 68040 systems

	     Pin   Signal
	     1     DTR      Data Terminal Ready
	     2     DCD      Data Carrier Detect
	     3     TXD      Transmit Data
	     4     GND      Signal Ground
	     5     RXD      Receive Data
	     6     RTS      Request To Send
	     7     RTXC     Receive Clock
	     8     CTS      Clear To Send



        68040 side      --      MIDI side
      (DTR,RTS)	1,6     --      1	(DTR)
	  (DCD)	2       --      2	(DCD)
          (TXD) 3       --      3	(TXD-)
      (GND,CTS)	4,8     --	4,6,8	(GND,TXD+,RXD+)
	  (RXD)	5	--	5	(RXD-)

Note, this cable is not symmetrical, and won't work if plugged in backwards.

------------------------------------------------------------
Howie Kaye				howie@columbia.edu
Columbia University 			hlkcu@cuvma.bitnet
UNIX Systems Group			...!rutgers!columbia!howie