Conference napalm::commusic_v1

    Don't know, but $149 is outrageous.  I just got a Mimetics MIDI interface
    for my Amiga (to go with their sampling software - review next week
    after I've had a chance to play with it) for $49!
    
    len.
    

    I can't seem to find one any cheaper than $149, it makes me grit
    my teeth. There was an article in electronic musician a month or
    aso ago on building a midi interface. I figured I'd  just eco it
    to the correct address to be passport compatable since I think I
    want the MIDI 8 package.
    
    Well I'll keep looking.....
    
    PS Does Mimetics make C64 stuff??
    
    dave

    Do 56840 for the status register and 56841 for the data register
    sound reasonable? I brought home a bunch of Keyboard magazines last
    night and found a little Basic program involving the Passport in
    one of them, and I think those were the addresses. Meant to bring
    the magazine in, but you know how it is... Now that I've written
    this, maybe it will stick in my mind a little better - I'll try
    to verify tonight.
    
    -John

     The numbers in .3 (SR=56840, DR=56841) are hereby confirmed.
    Keyboard magazine, May '86, p. 98.
    
    -John

    Thanks, I'll be getting started soon.
    
    dave

Is the $149 Passport interface the MH02C (tape AND drum sync), and where's the 
"best" place to get one (assuming I can't build one myself)?  Or, (the real 
question) where can I get the specs to build a compatible interface?  I haven't
seen electronic musician's interface, so I don't know if that will do it,
but I would be interested in borrowing one or even buying a back issue.  And,
I'd also be interested in other "free" MIDI software in KEYBOARD or other
mags (again, borrow or buy).  (Hope I'm not trying anyone's patience!)

(By the way, the recent synth issue of BYTE carries a MIDI interface project 
with hardware and software for PC compatibles.)

Steve

I want to build one too.  I refuse to pay over $50 for a MIDI interface for
a $150 computer.  How is your design coming along, Dave?  Do you have
a schematic for the necessary external C64 circuitry extrapolated from
the MIDI spec?  

What exactly does the Passport MIDI interface consist of?  Physical and 
Data_link layers that return recieved messages to a buffer and accept
a buffer of info to be transmitted?

Considering there are at least 3 people interested in a do-it-yourself MIDI
interface for the C64, we should be able to build one...

Todd.

    I'm currently not making any progress....I wrote to the guy that
    designed the one Electronic Muscian had the article on and am waiting
    for an answer from him whether or not the control register map is
    the same as passport (or whatever....) no answer yet. I had thought
    to modify his design by changing the address scheme to match passports
    and then testing it with a $29 librian program I saw advertised....if
    it didn't work then the software cost was real minimal.....
    
    Actually this should be real easy just convert parallel date to
    serial and match the data rate to MIDI.....addd optocouplers for
    isolation and drive a 20 mil current loop.....
    
    If and when I get an answer from Tom Dowty (EM Author) I'll post
    the results here...if that fails to pan out maybe we can work something
    out together
    
    dave

Do you have a MIDI spec?

Is there any way of getting one without joining the International MIDI 
Association (~$50)?

Todd.

    I have the MIDI 1.0 spec...I'll send a copy to you....mail stop???
                                                    
    dave
    
    ps: It's friday so you may have to jog my memory to get the copy...

I just took a look again at the Byte MIDI project to get an idea of how an 
interface might be built for the C64.  He used a Z-80B DART, an Intel 8253 PIT 
to generate the 24 PPQ signal for the DART and to generate a drum sync out, a 
NAND gate crystal-controlled oscillator, a Sony PC-900 opto-isolator, MSI TTL
chips, and miscellaneous parts to interface with the PC.  His system gets 
power from the PC, has the sync out, one MIDI in, and 3 MIDI outs.  I think it 
wouldn't take much to modify it and make it work with a C64.  The author says 
it cost him about $75 to build it.  I figure I can build one for about $50:

		8253 PIT	2.00
		Z80-B		15.00
		Xtal osc.	6.00
		PC-900		1.00
		Misc. MSI TTL	3.00
		Cable & wires	5.00
		Connectors	5.00
		Board		5.00
		Plug box	5.00
		Other misc.	3.00
				----
				50.00	

I figure tape sync out can be added by modulating an oscillator running at about
1kHz with the 24 PPQ signal.  Tape sync in might be a hardware-switchable
feature where the 24 PPQ signal is derived from a tape input instead of from 
the PIT.  All this could add maybe $5.00 at most to the cost.  It should also 
be a trivial matter to add a MIDI thru port.  The whole thing could probably 
be powered by the C64, but for about $10 more it could have its own supply.

What features are included in Electronic Musician's version?  Is it much 
different from Byte's version?  I'd be interested in seeing how they interface
with the C64.  And, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if they used many of the
same parts and ideas.

Also, does anybody know if some company, such as PAIA, offers a MIDI interface
kit for the C64?

What issue of Byte has the article?  Is it the computer music issue?

Is the interface compatible with the Passport interface?

todd.

The interface is in the June '86 "Computers and Music" issue of Byte.  No
mention is made of whether it is Passport compatible.

I just found out that a company called SONUS makes 2 MIDI interfaces
for the C64 that are both Passport and Syntek compatible - and one of
them is CHEAP...

The first one has only 1 MIDI in and 2 MIDI outs.  No other inputs/outputs.
It lists for *$75*.  Not too bad - can probably get one for ~$60.

The second one has all the goodies including tape sync, etc. and goes
for $175.

Soooo, now I wonder whether it is worth making one for $50 when one can
be bought for $60-$65...

Todd.

Future Music carries Passport and Syntech interfaces for 100.00 (basic with
drum sync) and 169.95 (same plus tape sync).  Are there any better prices for
drum and tape sync?

Steve

I don't know about tape sync, but drum sync can be done with a MIDI clock
(except Linndrums), so drum sync is not really a necessity...

Todd.

    
    What is the address for the $70 interface company?

Don't know Sonus' address, but their phone number is:

818-702-0992  (somewhere in California)

Todd.

Manny's carries the Sonus basic interface for $60 and the Passport interface
(with tape sync) for $160.  I've sent off to PAIA and Xerbitron (another kit 
company) for catalogs.  Hopefully, I'll find a C64 MIDI interface kit with 
Passport compatibility (and maybe even tape sync) for less.  If anybody's
interested, I'll post any findings.

Steve

Oh, We're interested.  

Todd.

Newsgroups: net.music.synth
Path: decwrl!pyramid!hplabs!tektronix!orca!hammer!andrew
Subject: RS232 <-> MIDI: followup
Posted: 8 Sep 86 17:19:47 GMT
Organization: Tektronix, Wilsonville OR
 
WARNING.  This is starting to look like a product announcement.  If you
don't like product announcements, don't read on.
 
A month or two ago I announced that an RS232 to MIDI (and back again)
converter had been designed and would become available, and I asked for
mail from interested parties.  Well, I got a lot of mail, including a
lot of addresses that I can't reply to!
 
For those of you who missed that posting, this converter talks MIDI in
both directions (this takes two MIDI cables, one IN and one OUT) and
talks RS232 at 9600 baud.  RS232-in is passed directly to MIDI-out.
MIDI-in is passed to RS232-out as fast as possible, and there's a FIFO
queue to handle bursts of MIDI-in (as when the synth is asked to dump
its voice data).  The queue is either a 2K or an 8K RAM; I've been
using a 2K RAM with my Casio CZ-101 and haven't yet experienced an
overflow.  Power is supplied by a large wall-bug that we picked up
cheap at Radio Shack.  I think that both +5 VDC and +12 VDC are
involved, so if you wanted to make an equivalent battery pack you would
have some work to do.
 
My wire-wrap board bit the dust and so now I have a strong personal
interest in getting boards fabbed.  We don't want to get involved in
the complexities of EMI certification, so we have decided to offer a
product consisting of a bare printed-circuit board, a schematic, a
parts list, some rudimentary how-to-build-it instructions, and a
source+object listing of the code for the ROM.  (The ROM is a control
store for an on-board 6800 family processor which does the work.)  The
cost of this product has not yet been determined but will almost
certainly not exceed fifty dollars US and may be much lower; it depends
on the eventual cost to us of the boards.
 
We have selected a board fabricator and will soon begin laying out the
board.  It will be at least a month, maybe two, before we can start
shipping; the design engineer is involved in both buying a house and
getting married out-of-state.
 
We have no plans to sell software.  I may give mine away free, but it's
nothing special ... a CZ-101 voice librarian, a CZ-101 keyboard
splitter (left hand and right hand play two different voices), that
sort of thing.  Easy hacks if you have the Casio documentation.  I'm
developing the lot on a Tektronix 6130 workstation running 4.2BSD Unix,
but my goal is to get it all working on an Epson PX-8 laptop so I don't
have to perform in my computer room.
 
When we have a price and are ready to take orders, I will both post to
the net and send to my mailing list.
 
  -=- Andrew Klossner   (decvax!tektronix!tekecs!andrew)       [UUCP]
                        (tekecs!andrew.tektronix@csnet-relay)  [ARPA]
    

    re 429.14
    
    Just ordered the $75 interface from Sonus. Delivery expected by
    Monday. It's to go between my C64 and Casio 230-S.
    
    They are also sending me a bunch of info about their MIDI hardware
    and software. I will post info when I get it, if there is any interest
    (?)
    
    Jimi.
    
    p.s. I'm pretty impressed with the 230-S. Cost was $399.

    
    
    Re.-1
    
    What's a 230S
    
    				Paul.
    

I talked to Sonus over the phone and am very pleased with their interest
in the customer.  They have a Sequencer that is supposedly much easier to
use than the DR. T's (they apparently concentrated on the human interface
end of things).  It will apparently store system exclusive data as well, and
they claimed that the system exclusive stuff could be saved to disk in such
a way that it can be used as a librarian for any synth as well as a sequencer.
Does this sound realistic?

The person on the phone also stated that they advertise in Keyboard, and
that I should check out their ad to get a jist of their other available 
products.  They are sending me out info as well...

Todd.

Oh yea - let us know what you think of the $70 interface when you get it...

    I got my reply from the EM author, it seems he is Xernatron or whatever
    that was (catlog is at home) the Em interface to work with Passport
    or Sequencial software need s to have clock circuitry added, that
    appears to be no problem....more when I remember to bring the stuff
    in....
    
    dave

    The SONUS MIDI C-64 interface arrived yesterday. It looks just like
    a standard C-64 cart, except for the 3 DIN-type sockets on top.
    It has (as noted earlier) 2 outs and 1 in. So far I have only tried
    it via the MUSIC STUDIO software which only sends 3-note poly on
    channel 1, however I am impressed. I am driving my CASIO CZ-230S
    with this setup.
    
    It appears that SONUS are now using DADDY'S as a dealer. I am going
    up to the Manchester (NH) store this afternoon to see demos of more
    of their C-64 stuff - in particular the "Super Sequencer 64". (Rick
    from the NSH store will be up in MCH today setting-up their C-64/SONUS
    demo stuff. Some info on this sequencer follows:-
    
    o Multiple sequences (16)
    o Multiple tracks (8)
    o Tempo increments by beat
    o System exclusive mode / resident librarian
    o Track modification mode
    o Auto/live punch
    o Channel send control / Play thru with indicator / 16 MIDI channel
    o Transpose tracks / sequences / entire song
    o Non-destructive bounce, shft tracks, step mode, auto correct,
      Set ending, Appending, Set begining, Tape sync
    o Programmable cue points
    
    They also do a bunch of other editors/librarians for DX/TX/RX/CZs
    
    I'll find out prices later today.
    
    I am looking forward to trying the Super Seq-64 - it should meet
    my simple needs.
    
    As a keyboard player I make a good guitarist.
    As a guitarist I make a good recording engineer.
    As a recording engineer I have fun.
    :-)
    
    Jimi.

    OK, so I am now the owner of a SONUS SuperSeq-64. The 'demo' got
    me interested - reading the user guide convinced me. This package
    is (I think) pretty powerful, although I am not familiar with other
    packages (Dr T's, etc) enough to compare deails. I got about 3 hours
    of playtime with it last night - if there is any interrest out there
    I will post a review...
    
    List price is $225, my cost was $190.
    
    Jimi (who_is_now_a_MIDI_convert_but_who's_keyboard_playing_leaves_
          something_to_be_desired_like_someone_else_to_do_it_for_him)

    
    Interest.
    
     Get to know it first.
    
    Ron (who-thinks-that-noone's-ever-content-with-the-way-they-play)
    

    
    I also got a SONUS this weekend at DADDY's in BOSTON for $75.  I
    have been trying it out with my C-128 and YAMAHA DZ27 and so far
    so good...

    
    How bout a demo sometime after you get
    to know the beast...
    
    Ron
    

    A demo? Sure, that sound do-able, but it will have to be after DECUS
    (a coupla weeks from now). I am in Merrimack NH (work/live).
    
    I plan on probably 2 reviews of the SuperSeq to be written over
    the next few days...
    
    (1) Concepts/terms/capabilities, or "Jimi paraphrases a 60 page
    User Guide into 2 pages"
    
    (2) Subjective review, or "Jimi plays Bach with a C-64...Bach loses"
    
    I really like the software. I've tried both POLY single-channel
    and SOLO multi-channel stuff with it. I wish I had multi-timbral
    capability and/or a coupla MIDI sound modules...oh well. A multi-synth
    demo would *really* show what the package can do! So would a competent
    keyboard player (the C-64 I can handle).
                                            
    Jimi_who_is_still_mystified_by_black_keys

Since this has basically become a C64/MIDI note, I will put this reply here.

I bought a Dr. T sequencer for the C64 this weekend from a guy in the want-ads
for a reasonable price.  I don't have a MIDI interface for the C64 yet, though,
and would like to try out the S/W to make sure that it loads/operates
correctly.  Does anyone living in the Marlboro/Framingham area have a C64
with a MIDI interface (Passport, Syntec, Sonus, SCI)?

Todd (who_still_needs_a_C64_MIDI_interface).