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General Category => Amstrad CPC hardware => Topic started by: TFM on 21:57, 26 February 14

Title: MIDI and CPC
Post by: TFM on 21:57, 26 February 14
Just checked out the MIDI Section of the CPCWiki. Well, it's pretty poor.


Anybody here using MIDI and CPC together? Would there be interest to recreate such an interface, and if yes, which one?



Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: ralferoo on 00:37, 27 February 14
[ot]Midi mit mir?[/ot]  ;D

Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: arnoldemu on 14:01, 27 February 14
Quote from: ralferoo on 00:37, 27 February 14
[ot]Midi mit mir?[/ot]  ;D
time to take another topic off track ;)
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: McKlain on 14:46, 27 February 14
What could you possibly want to control via midi with a CPC and wich software would you have to use? I don't think that currently avalaible midi programs on the cpc have any advanced features.


Using the CPC as a midi sequencer would be more like a curiosity than anything else.
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: Bryce on 15:13, 27 February 14
Maybe you'd want to use it the other way around: Using a midi keyboard to "play" the AY? :)

Bryce.
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: McKlain on 16:32, 27 February 14
You can do that with Arkos and the CPCBooster  ;D
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: TFM on 17:59, 27 February 14
Quote from: ralferoo on 00:37, 27 February 14
[ot]Midi mit mir?[/ot]  ;D


No, wrong! That was 'Musizier mit mir', which finally got released as Soundtrakker (all that can be found in the deleted page).


Back to topic...


Quote from: McKlain on 14:46, 27 February 14What could you possibly want to control via midi with a CPC ...


Pretty much what other computers do with their MIDI interface. :)


If there would be MIDI interfaces available for the CPC then people would also make software for it supporting all desired features.

Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: McKlain on 18:33, 27 February 14
Again, as I said, using the CPC as a midi sequencer would be more like a curiosity than anything else. You need to get a midi interface, or someone needs to create a new one, make the software...
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: arnoldemu on 19:10, 27 February 14
Quote from: TFM on 17:59, 27 February 14

If there would be MIDI interfaces available for the CPC then people would also make software for it supporting all desired features.


In this case, I think not.
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: TFM on 19:17, 27 February 14
Quote from: McKlain on 18:33, 27 February 14
Again, as I said, using the CPC as a midi sequencer would be more like a curiosity than anything else.

For which reason? It worked back the day, so it will still work.

Quote from: McKlain on 18:33, 27 February 14You need to get a midi interface, or someone needs to create a new one, make the software...


We could reproduce this one for example...

EMR MIDI Interface - CPCWiki (http://cpcwiki.eu/index.php/EMR_MIDI_Interface)


About the software...

Quote from: arnoldemu on 19:10, 27 February 14In this case, I think not.


I would do the new software needed, in corporation with CPC users.
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: McKlain on 20:43, 27 February 14
I think that having something like LSDJ for the gameboy on the CPC would be more interesting than having just midi.
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: Munchausen on 20:46, 27 February 14
I don't see why you don't just use a serial interface... it'd be pretty easy to make a midi adapter for the cpc booster or mini-booster. You might need to change the software on there to use a non-standard baud rate though...
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: TFM on 20:50, 27 February 14

Hmmm.... may be well true. But let's stay with the CPC for the moment. Not eveybody has an gameboy.


But where do you see the advantages of LSD over MIDI?

Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: McKlain on 21:00, 27 February 14
Well, I'm more interested in controlling the AY like you can do with the gameboy sound chip on LSDJ (and you can do it live) than having a midi interface on the CPC to control some synth or drum machine.
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: TFM on 21:19, 27 February 14
IMHO both ways would be interesting.

Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: McKlain on 21:23, 27 February 14
Sure, but personally I have almost zero interest in controlling something with the CPC via midi, as I don't have any midi equipment (besides my controller keyboard) and my cpc is a 464 without a disk drive.
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: TFM on 04:03, 28 February 14
That's ok, different people have different interests.


However, there's not much people posting here, so maybe the interest is in general rather low.
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: arnoldemu on 09:54, 28 February 14
Quote from: TFM on 04:03, 28 February 14
That's ok, different people have different interests.


However, there's not much people posting here, so maybe the interest is in general rather low.
I think you are correct.

I would not support midi in any of my games, because so few people have it and I prefer the other devices more.
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: TFM on 18:29, 28 February 14
I wouldn't even think about MIDI and Games. But I think about CPC and making music.  :laugh:
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: TotO on 19:55, 28 February 14
Got an Atari ST!  ;D
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: TFM on 20:38, 28 February 14
Quote from: TotO on 19:55, 28 February 14
Got an Atari ST!  ;D


No thanks, I don't like the 68k much and I am a CPC user, so I will do it with the CPC. And I guess I'm not alone here - in a CPC forum.

Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: TotO on 20:54, 28 February 14
I wouldn't even think about programming. But I think about making music.  :laugh:
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: fgbrain on 23:28, 28 February 14
Here's a Greek guy that makes music (at least he keeps a CPC in the studio)
Garsoniera Ltd. -- Evolution (pt1 improvisation + prt2 stop motion music) - (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FiDqFF-kXM)

and he clearly loves his Amstrad:
Garsoniera Ltd. -- I Want My Amstrad (Saboteur 2) - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OKXISPOuDk)


Back to topic:
I would be interested in buying and using such an interface.. I've uploaded most of the MIDI stuff on the wiki BTW
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: MacDeath on 22:26, 01 March 14
Midi is a nice way to be sure your equipements are synched in rythm.
It also offers some network solution : "Midinet" was a classical Atari ST feature.


the CPC+CTC-AY can have nice AY capabities, so adding a MIDI is natural evolution to add sequencers or samplers or whatever... and make your CPC a chiptune powerstation.


Should ask Ultrasyd or AY riderz what do they use.


Speccy+3 is a nice MIDI machine, but poor display.
Atari ST is perfect.
My 1040STe rulez.


anyway it is a musician's thing.
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: TFM on 00:23, 02 March 14
Quote from: TotO on 20:54, 28 February 14
I wouldn't even think about programming. But I think about making music.  :laugh:


Then get a guitar or a drum kit.  :P   ;)
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: TFM on 00:25, 02 March 14
Quote from: fgbrain on 23:28, 28 February 14
Here's a Greek guy that makes music (at least he keeps a CPC in the studio)
Garsoniera Ltd. -- Evolution (pt1 improvisation + prt2 stop motion music) - (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FiDqFF-kXM)

and he clearly loves his Amstrad:
Garsoniera Ltd. -- I Want My Amstrad (Saboteur 2) - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OKXISPOuDk)


Back to topic:
I would be interested in buying and using such an interface.. I've uploaded most of the MIDI stuff on the wiki BTW


Thanks for the links and thanks for the wiki page!!!  :) :) :)
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: TotO on 09:20, 02 March 14
Quote from: TFM on 00:23, 02 March 14Then get a guitar or a drum kit.  :P   ;)
Said that to Jean Michel Jarre.  :P
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: LambdaMikel on 15:11, 03 July 19
Quote from: TFM on 21:57, 26 February 14
Just checked out the MIDI Section of the CPCWiki. Well, it's pretty poor.


Anybody here using MIDI and CPC together? Would there be interest to recreate such an interface, and if yes, which one?
Pretty old post, but yes - LambdaSpeak 3 and
ubld.it MIDI interface https://ubld.it/products/midi-breakout-board/ (https://ubld.it/products/midi-breakout-board/) 
works well together  :) Just for the record if somebody should search for "MIDI".

As long as USIFAC supports the MIDI BAUD rate 31250, it should also work well with USIFAC.

I was surprised how simple MIDI really is... this is a good little tutorial

https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/midi-tutorial/all

Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: GUNHED on 16:37, 03 July 19
It's amazing!!! Regarding music the LambdaSpeak III is like the Symbiface IV for the CPC.  :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: LambdaMikel on 16:48, 03 July 19
... speaking of Firmware updates... how about if the MIDI interface could trigger the EEPROM PCM sample playing... then we would have a MIDI-controllable CPC drum computer  :)



The EEPROM PCM Sample Play command in LS 3 is already quite similar to the Midi Note on command.
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: ComSoft6128 on 13:36, 04 July 19
Hi,
Hi,

This morning while looking for some info on the "Parroty Plus" graphics package I ran across a three page article on MIDI and the CPC in issue 26 of Amstrad Action, if anyone is interested it is here:

https://archive.org/details/amstrad-action-026/page/n15 (https://archive.org/details/amstrad-action-026/page/n15)

And a little more here:

https://archive.org/details/amstrad-action-027/page/n29 (https://archive.org/details/amstrad-action-027/page/n29)

Cheers,

Peter
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: LambdaMikel on 16:29, 04 July 19
Does anybody have a MIDI file parser that can generate BASIC programs from the data?

Or source code in Python that I could hack to parse the .MID and emit the note on / off messages and such in a BASIC progam?

Or, even better, a CPC BASIC MIDI file song player / parser?

EDIT - maybe this:
https://mido.readthedocs.io/en/latest/index.html (https://mido.readthedocs.io/en/latest/index.html)
or this
https://github.com/vishnubob/python-midi
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: zhulien on 16:12, 07 July 19
Quote from: TFM on 21:57, 26 February 14
Just checked out the MIDI Section of the CPCWiki. Well, it's pretty poor.


Anybody here using MIDI and CPC together? Would there be interest to recreate such an interface, and if yes, which one?


i can lend you a ram music machine if you need.
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: LambdaMikel on 18:58, 18 July 19
Does the RAM Music Machine support MIDI in?
Can you play instruments on it via MIDI in?
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: zhulien on 11:03, 19 July 19
The reason i have the cpc midi interface is to use the db50xg daughterboard. It makes an awesome soundcard so much better than the typical msx ones i have seen. Of course it comes down to software using it which there isnt much. Its nice to see the midi protocol looks not too complicated though.
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: zhulien on 11:06, 19 July 19
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F333228802069

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com.au%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F282553877449

That i think is a clone board but both together makes an awesome cpc soundcard.
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: LambdaMikel on 16:13, 20 July 19
Hmm... "Waveblaster" and "Wavetable" synthesis.Is it really Wavetable Synthesis (-> Palm PPG / Waldorf Microwave and legacy), or merely PCM / AWM (2) sample playing?

There were a couple of PC sound cards that had real Palm PPG & Waldorf Wavetable synthesis but I am not sure this is one of these?

Unfortunately, Creative / SoundBlaster messed up the meaning of the term when the had a couple of products claiming to be Wavetable synts wereas in fact they were just sample players.
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: zhulien on 19:37, 20 July 19
Actually the xg is a series of yamaha synthesizers which also are based on an extension to general midi. They made several daughterboard variants of their keyboard synths. The db50xg was one of the more common cheaper ones but the sound is exceptional studio quality sounding. The little other board is an aftermarket one to turn the daughter board into a stand alone midi card so you no longer need a pc or sound card. There was a cheaper way to use the daughter board which was published in one of the amiga magazines but i dont remember which magazine.


http://www.cucug.org/amiga/aminews/1997/970710-cuamiga.html
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: zhulien on 19:45, 20 July 19
https://youtu.be/U1Cuq1pDafk
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: LambdaMikel on 19:57, 20 July 19
Sounds great!
For the record, here is the sound card that uses real "Waldorf Microwave" Wavetables:
Terratec EWS64xxl

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_GfuINC2_0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-zeP5iGduU


Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: LambdaMikel on 22:36, 02 August 19
Instead of this one


https://hackaday.com/2019/07/30/chiptunes-via-usb-midi-with-the-ay-3-8910/ (https://hackaday.com/2019/07/30/chiptunes-via-usb-midi-with-the-ay-3-8910/)

https://vimeo.com/332946151
... let's use our CPCs, LS3 and MIDI IN  ;)
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: LambdaMikel on 17:10, 03 August 19
I tried to do this with LambdaSpeak 3 and the MIDI IN capabily over the serial interface

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roo17c8FmlA
Unfortunately, the current hardware setup cannot support that, because the signal routing for the UART mode conflicts with the SPO256 routing, and switching between serial and SPO mode is too slow and cancels the SPO allophone.

So that will have to wait for LS4.

However, hope to have the MIDI IN to play the AY in the CPC working soon, that seems to be feasible. Will post a video when it works.

Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: LambdaMikel on 04:51, 08 August 19
LambdaSpeak 3 MIDI IN CPC Synthesizer:

https://youtu.be/RRG1JTxKXD8 (https://youtu.be/RRG1JTxKXD8)
LS3 serial interface is fast enough now for seamless and (almost) latency free real time processing of MIDI messages - requires a machine code program on the CPC side though. No BASIC  ;) BASIC works for MIDI OUT though!

Currently, only monophonic, but will add 3 channel polyphony, pitch bend support, and also velocity soon.

Apologies for poor keyboard playing capabilities  ;)
I guess we didn't have a new MIDI interface for the CPC in a while, or did we? Well, with LambdaSpeak 3 you can have one for another 10 $ if you buy the MIDI breakout board which I am using here:
https://ubld.it/products/midi-breakout-board/ (https://ubld.it/products/midi-breakout-board/)


Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: zhulien on 14:41, 10 August 19
Thats awesome.  You can also do polyphony with multiple cpcs.  Maybe lukhash will start using a cpc
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: LambdaMikel on 20:07, 15 August 19
Quote from: zhulien on 14:41, 10 August 19
Thats awesome.  You can also do polyphony with multiple cpcs.  Maybe lukhash will start using a cpc


Well, and I also have PlayCity... only need to figure out how to make a sound with it. Anybody knows which output ports etc. it uses?
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: TotO on 20:43, 15 August 19
https://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/PlayCity
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: zhulien on 05:01, 16 August 19
Then you can have 9 chanel polyphony and if you support drum machine mode of lambdaspeak (is it possible) then you have a pretty cool 9 cpc chanels waveform based and 3 drum channels?
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: mahlemiut on 23:26, 16 August 19
I made a thing ;)
https://github.com/mamedev/mame/commit/daa3de1f6ae726b0f642e973eafae63bf86e5f21
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: LambdaMikel on 02:39, 17 August 19
Quote from: mahlemiut on 23:26, 16 August 19
I made a thing ;)
https://github.com/mamedev/mame/commit/daa3de1f6ae726b0f642e973eafae63bf86e5f21 (https://github.com/mamedev/mame/commit/daa3de1f6ae726b0f642e973eafae63bf86e5f21)
Off topic? Is it possible to tell what it does wrt MIDI and CPC without having to read the C sources of the MAME module?  ;D :P
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: TotO on 10:21, 17 August 19
I'm pretty sure the CPC 6128 can already does some MIDI stuffs using the tape port (looks wired as a MIDI OUT) through the PPI and may be an external buffer with a IN/THRU/OUT adapter.
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: LambdaMikel on 18:27, 17 August 19
Quote from: TotO on 10:21, 17 August 19
I'm pretty sure the CPC 6128 can already does some MIDI stuffs using the tape port (looks wired as a MIDI OUT) through the PPI and may be an external buffer with a IN/THRU/OUT adapter.


Interesting idea but impractical and infeasible. Midi comes in at 31250 bauds without buffer the CPC will not be able to do that in software. You could use the Joystck port or printr port which would have the same problems. Afaik nobodY did high speed serial interface purely in software on the CPC side. Serial cards exist for a reason ;-)
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: TotO on 19:20, 17 August 19
Quote from: LambdaMikel on 18:27, 17 August 19Interesting idea but impractical and infeasible. Midi comes in at 31250 bauds without buffer the CPC will not be able to do that in software. You could use the Joystck port or printr port which would have the same problems. Afaik nobodY did high speed serial interface purely in software on the CPC side. Serial cards exist for a reason ;-)
It is why I'm thinking about MIDI OUT (to a SC-55 in example) by default using the existing tape DIN. And an external buffer for a IN/TRU/OUT adapter. (31250 bauds is 4MHz/128)
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: LambdaMikel on 19:42, 17 August 19
Midi out is more feasible yes. Definitely worth trying. Didn't know that the casette port can be used to program digital output I thought it was analog only.


But if you need extra hardware anyhow then You might rather do it right in the first place.


You would also need an opto isolator/ coupler.
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: Bryce on 08:55, 18 August 19
For all you MIDI fans out there or anyone considering creating a new MIDI Hardware/Software, you may not have heard, but after just 36 years!!! The MIDI consortium have released a new MIDI 2.0 standard. Do we want to be the first retro scene to have MIDI 2.0 compatibility?
https://techreport.com/news/34433/after-36-years-midi-is-finally-moving-to-2-0/ (https://techreport.com/news/34433/after-36-years-midi-is-finally-moving-to-2-0/)

Bryce.
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: LambdaMikel on 15:16, 18 August 19
Quote from: Bryce on 08:55, 18 August 19
For all you MIDI fans out there or anyone considering creating a new MIDI Hardware/Software, you may not have heard, but after just 36 years!!! The MIDI consortium have released a new MIDI 2.0 standard. Do we want to be the first retro scene to have MIDI 2.0 compatibility?
https://techreport.com/news/34433/after-36-years-midi-is-finally-moving-to-2-0/ (https://techreport.com/news/34433/after-36-years-midi-is-finally-moving-to-2-0/)

Bryce.
Well, some things are pretty perfect for what they were intended for from the beginning - MIDI is such a case. Even now many people do NOT see a need for MIDI 2 - maybe the CPC will catch up in 36 years. Some of usmight still be around then - and CPCs will live forever  ;)
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: zhulien on 15:44, 18 August 19
Quote from: LambdaMikel on 18:58, 18 July 19
Does the RAM Music Machine support MIDI in?
Can you play instruments on it via MIDI in?

It has in, through, out, microphone in and speaker out (as it has both ADC and DAC onboard).


Regarding playing instruments via MIDI in, i never tried.  This is my 2nd one actually and this one i don't have the software - i really only used it for the DAC.  In fact, I now have quite a buildup of midi stuff (midi controller / keyboard, piano with midi, msx computers, cpc with ram music machine, lamdaspeak not yet with midi) - of all i really didn't have too much interest until you played cpc with the keyboard, that was the coolest thing so far.  I know msx can do it, but so far I haven't heard anything good out of my msx's - well, really the sound quality is great, but none is my type of music.  I'd rather some of the cool cpc demo musics than things that sound like a general midi from an 80s PC.
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: LambdaMikel on 16:45, 18 August 19
Really, the ultimate MIDI interface should be made with USIFAC, as it is so much cheaper to produce than LS3. Somebody should try porting my MIDI IN code to USIFAC.


Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: Bryce on 19:07, 18 August 19
The new MIDI standard requires both hardware and software changes.

Bryce.
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: LambdaMikel on 05:10, 19 August 19
Quote from: Bryce on 19:07, 18 August 19
The new MIDI standard requires both hardware and software changes.

Bryce.
... and new MIDI controllers / synthesizers / ... everything? Seems it is too early to jump on the MIDI 2 train. I don't have any synths that would require it or understand it.

Seems they were desperately seeking for an application / problem to justify MIDI 2:

Quote
In changes more interesting to musicians, the MMA says it is targeting 32-bit precision for effects in MIDI 2.0. For non-musicians, it's difficult to imagine what the utility of such high precision could be, but music theorist and educator Adam Neely notes (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvJhLQnuktg) that the changes could have great implications for artists working in new styles of music, like microtonal music (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microtonal_music). He further says that they could also help artists discover new ways of creating music. The new standard will also raise the number of instrument channels from 16 in classic MIDI to 256.

Not sure I am into microtonal music  :)
But hey, there has to be some progress after 36 years. It is great that MIDI lasted that long!!
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: ComSoft6128 on 14:03, 19 August 19
Hi LamdaMikel,

While looking for info on CPC graphics I found this article on the "Foundation Musical Spreadsheet" which may be of interest:

https://archive.org/details/AmstradComputerUser53-0489/page/n37 (https://archive.org/details/AmstradComputerUser53-0489/page/n37)

Cheers,

Peter
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: LambdaMikel on 08:21, 20 August 19
Quote from: ComSoft6128 on 14:03, 19 August 19
Hi LamdaMikel,

While looking for info on CPC graphics I found this article on the "Foundation Musical Spreadsheet" which may be of interest:

https://archive.org/details/AmstradComputerUser53-0489/page/n37 (https://archive.org/details/AmstradComputerUser53-0489/page/n37)

Cheers,

Peter
Interesting article, thanks for sharing!

Maybe I'll also work a bit in this direction. Would be nice to have a step and real time sequencer with MIDI IN that uses the CPC sound / built-in AY-3-8912 and maybe PlayCity and LambdaSpeak 3 for PCM / Drums.

A MIDI OUT sequencer on the CPC is pretty much useless these days I would claim; if you want to sequence / conntect to external synthesizers, then there is very capable PC and Mac software of course.
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: LambdaMikel on 08:22, 20 August 19
In the meantime, I have 3channel polyphony for the CPC MIDI IN Synthesizer:

https://youtu.be/QzyooJ6n_CE

Again, apologies for poor synth / keyboard playing, I usually play the Guitar  ;)
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: zhulien on 17:29, 20 August 19
Quote from: LambdaMikel on 16:45, 18 August 19
Really, the ultimate MIDI interface should be made with USIFAC, as it is so much cheaper to produce than LS3. Somebody should try porting my MIDI IN code to USIFAC.


I think that is not a bad idea, is it possible to make a programming examples for both, but with a focus on the USIFAC but with patches for LambdaSpeak?  I am thinking perhaps for any midi software, if people coded it with USIFAC being the focus, but ensuring compatability with the LambdaSpeak via a config file, then anyone who really wanted a cheap MIDI option would naturally go for USIFAC, but those who do happen to have LambdaSpeak and wanted that as a MIDI option, could just use that?  If we can get programming docs for some of the other CPC MIDI interfaces, then additional patches could be made - Music Machine etc.  It seems there are a few around, would be nice if software on CPC did allow plugin drivers - it's not that hard always.


http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/MIDI (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/MIDI)

Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: zhulien on 17:30, 20 August 19
Quote from: LambdaMikel on 08:22, 20 August 19
In the meantime, I have 3channel polyphony for the CPC MIDI IN Synthesizer:

Again, apologies for poor synth / keyboard playing, I usually play the Guitar  ;)


Now all you need is a recording facility to banked ram then a way to save them as MIDI files for game developers to make CPC midi music.
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: LambdaMikel on 17:58, 20 August 19
Quote from: zhulien on 17:29, 20 August 19

I think that is not a bad idea, is it possible to make a programming examples for both, but with a focus on the USIFAC but with patches for LambdaSpeak?  I am thinking perhaps for any midi software, if people coded it with USIFAC being the focus, but ensuring compatability with the LambdaSpeak via a config file, then anyone who really wanted a cheap MIDI option would naturally go for USIFAC, but those who do happen to have LambdaSpeak and wanted that as a MIDI option, could just use that?  If we can get programming docs for some of the other CPC MIDI interfaces, then additional patches could be made - Music Machine etc.  It seems there are a few around, would be nice if software on CPC did allow plugin drivers - it's not that hard always.

http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/MIDI (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/MIDI)

Great idea! The MAXAM sources for MIDISYN.BAS are online in the LS3 Github, LS300.DSK for anybody that wants to take a look.

For LS3, receiving MIDI IN is pretty simple:
- enable serial mode
- set baud rate to 31250, 8N1
- send 255, 10: this enters the so-called Serial Monitor mode, which is serial input only.
- do the byte processing

In this mode, the CPC constantly polls port &FBEE and checks if a serial byte has been buffered. If yes (1 is found), then receive the next byte from the serial / UART input ring buffer, via out &fbee,<arbitrary>: byte = inp(&fbee): out &fbee, <arbritray>. <Byte> is then a MIDI message byte. And this whole loop / process runs lightning fast, so that real time processing is possible (-> Z80 machine code).

The out's act as "handshake" and synchronization commands. LS3 only decodes one port, &fbee. I believe this is different in USIFAC. This one has 2 ports, one for checking if a byte is available in the buffer, and the other port for requesting / retrieving it. So it might be even easier with USIFAC, but I haven tried yet. It really depends on how fast and robust you can get the MIDI message bytes to the CPC, and dispatch and interpret them there.

Btw, wrt MIDI messages, the biggest surprise was the "Running Status" feature of MIDI. One has to understand that aspect of the protocol thoroughly first in order to get MIDI IN running. This aspect of the procotol isn't really discussed well in many of the MIDI tutorial online. I spend hours trying to figure out why LS3 was skipping / missing bytes from MIDI messages and figured it wasn't fast enough, before I finally realized that it was caused by that 'Running Status' feature of the protocol. I spent a lot of time hunting red herrings there... ::)
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: zhulien on 11:00, 21 August 19
what is your preferred way to create plugins?  with fixed entry points randomly everywhere, or a small jumpblock at the start? with a version number attached? and... keeping the plugin within a certain memory size?  (but perhaps big enough that if people ran out, they have enough room for bankswitching to put all new plugin in an additional bank)?


i have been thinking of whether a driver ROM type standard could be followed, either ROMbased or RAMbased - but with consistency - if ROMbased, someone could go to the website choose what drivers they want present in the ROM, and the ROM would download ready-built.  This does require relocation (which can be done at ROM build time before the download), or perhaps a 16kb RAM-based ROM?  with a system like AMSDOS that wasn't really designed with drivers in mind beyond BASIC RSXs, but it doesn't mean we can't start somewhere and expand upon it - then end up with an AMSDOS 2 one day.


an example driver...



            dw jumpblock_entry
            db 1 ;version, should only increment if future is no longer backward compatible
                ;and should be reflected in the jumpblock entries available
            db 0 ;minor version, just for tracking
            text 'Midi Interface Device',0 ; device name
            db 10 ; 10 = midi device, 0 = ram device, 1 = rom device, 2 = trackdisc device, 3 = mass storage, 4 = serial etc...


<anything in here>


jumpblock_entry: dw init_device
            dw open_device
            dw close_device
            dw blah_device


<anything in here>


init_device:
open_device:
close_device:
blah_device:

Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: XeNoMoRPH on 14:48, 21 August 19
@LambdaMikel
Can you do the sequencer effect so ... from the external instrument keyboard is played from a midi file in the amstrad?
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: LambdaMikel on 17:49, 21 August 19
Quote from: zhulien on 11:00, 21 August 19
what is your preferred way to create plugins?  with fixed entry points randomly everywhere, or a small jumpblock at the start? with a version number attached? and... keeping the plugin within a certain memory size?  (but perhaps big enough that if people ran out, they have enough room for bankswitching to put all new plugin in an additional bank)?


Good questions... have no answers yet. For now, I am just going to try my MIDI code with USIfAC... after that experiment I'll have a better idea.
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: LambdaMikel on 17:52, 21 August 19
Quote from: XeNoMoRPH on 14:48, 21 August 19
@LambdaMikel
Can you do the sequencer effect so ... from the external instrument keyboard is played from a midi file in the amstrad?


MIDI out is definitely possible. Currently I only have a MIDI out BASIC demo program that playsrandom notes. It would be interesting to implement a MIDI file player for the CPC. The format is involved though. I guess I would rather work on a hybrid solution:
- converter: a Python program uses one of the MIDI file processing libraries there and creates a simple binary file for the CPC
- CPC MIDI player: the CPC MIDI player plays the (simplified) converted version

MIDI IN, record and playback should be easy as well, maybe with a simple track / pattern sequence in MC. It should also offer quantization of course.
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: LambdaMikel on 06:25, 22 August 19
Stay tuned...


Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: LambdaMikel on 06:29, 22 August 19
https://youtu.be/960FIh6B_3g
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: LambdaMikel on 19:17, 24 August 19
Play your LS3 SP0256-AL2 with USIfAC MIDI IN

https://youtu.be/MVEXi7fGHyc
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: LambdaMikel on 06:49, 07 October 19
One with MIDI SOFT THROUGH (-> MIDI OUT) implemented in assembler:

https://youtu.be/6QqvawZSxjA

Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: LambdaMikel on 09:26, 05 December 19
Since this is the MIDI thread - a new inexpensive (55 €) MIDI interface for the CPC: CPC Speak&SID.
Demo of a SID + AY soundchip MIDI IN synthesizer - the MIDI messages received from the Speak&SID UART are translated into AY + SID sounds by the CPC, running a machine code program (MAXAM + Speak&SID sources available):

https://youtu.be/4esnHlCg138 (https://youtu.be/4esnHlCg138)
Title: Pure MIDI and CPC - the ultimate board
Post by: GUNHED on 14:31, 04 July 21
You want MIDI - pure MIDI? Maybe this can be of interest to you?  :o

See there:
https://www.sellmyretro.com/offer/details/the-ultimate-cpc-midi-board-%26amp%3B-interface-61167
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: PulkoMandy on 13:20, 14 July 21
So, did anyone write a MIDI file player yet? I have connected a Serdaco S2P synth to my CPC (using the Willy interface), it accepts MIDI commands, but I don't have any software to play music with it :(
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: XeNoMoRPH on 14:34, 14 July 21
Quote from: PulkoMandy on 13:20, 14 July 21
So, did anyone write a MIDI file player yet? I have connected a Serdaco S2P synth to my CPC (using the Willy interface), it accepts MIDI commands, but I don't have any software to play music with it :(
Hi !!! , maybe can you try with this software ? : https://cpcrulez.fr/applications_music-miditrack_performer_AA.htm
With Symbiface III + midi adapter i'ts possible.
https://youtu.be/YXQ2acY_SA0


Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: GUNHED on 15:50, 14 July 21
Ultimate MIDI Board...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUlP0QqeuhA
Title: MIDI and CPC: Ultimat MIDI Board
Post by: GUNHED on 18:20, 27 January 22
Two new videos, showing MIDI playback in BASIC:


With the CPC6128:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhgFmPhj5Qk


And with 512 KB RAM Expansion:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_mGHsPevzE
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: TotO on 20:36, 27 January 22
That remember me I have to sell my SC-50 and SB-55 sleeping into a box.  ;D
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: GUNHED on 01:58, 28 January 22
Quote from: TotO on 20:36, 27 January 22
SB-55 sleeping into a box.  ;D
Could be a great title for a game.  ;) :)
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: PulkoMandy on 14:51, 29 January 22
LambdaMikel wrote just the code I needed, then I could easily get it running on Willy+S2P as well  :D


https://twitter.com/i/status/1487378687242690561
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: GUNHED on 23:30, 02 March 22
Convert MIDI files for the Ultimate MIDI and LambdaSpeak FS, also working for Willy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yT8KKJtXutI
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: zhulien on 16:11, 18 March 22
I have only recently started playing with Midi, I had some ideas for CPC but then ultimately I think the CPC is best as "a sound producer", it has a unique sound when compared to other Midi instruments.  If you listen to some of the awesome CPC musics such as the playcity demo songs hopefully you will agree.

Perhaps something like this from Michael Wessel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qN9ypJHENk0&t=4s

Could evolve into an up to 9 channel MIDI playback with CPC Sound Patches (perhaps with AMDRUM support too, but... the CPC sound is the unique bit from the CPC so not a high priority for digital samples).  Then a CPC can be added with an awesome sound to a set of Midi devices to actually play some cool music.

The AYs in the CPC really have a fantastic sound

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXEE5Zcsjbc

Have you heard anything as good as that from a SID before?  (Although there are some awesome SID songs), they are both uniquely awesome!
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: XeNoMoRPH on 07:14, 21 March 22
https://vimeo.com/688360373
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: TotO on 08:06, 21 March 22
Sure, I have some Roland SC, SB devices and I love their sound comming from the 80s. Now, any computer with a little Serial/MIDI interface can do the same. On the video, all come from the external of the CPC that "only" use its keyboard to RUN that. ;)
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: XeNoMoRPH on 20:16, 08 April 22
More music !!! :D

https://files.fm/f/fu3zrfpdn
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: andyt31 on 21:55, 18 June 22
Quote from: GUNHED on 23:30, 02 March 22Convert MIDI files for the Ultimate MIDI and LambdaSpeak FS, also working for Willy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yT8KKJtXutI


Could this player be modified to work with the ElectroMusic research interface?
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: ComSoft6128 on 06:13, 19 June 22
I've had WACCI issue 26 (November 1988) scanned recently and it contains a comparative review of the four MIDI packages available for the CPC at that time. It should be available to download from the Wiki in a week or so.

WACCI:
https://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/WACCI
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: GUNHED on 14:13, 19 June 22
Quote from: andyt31 on 21:55, 18 June 22
Quote from: GUNHED on 23:30, 02 March 22Convert MIDI files for the Ultimate MIDI and LambdaSpeak FS, also working for Willy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yT8KKJtXutI


Could this player be modified to work with the ElectroMusic research interface?
Don't know that interface, but if it has a MIDI compatible serial interface, it should be not problem to use the software for it too. Of course, it need to be adapted for the SIO of the ElectroMusic
Title: Re: MIDI and CPC
Post by: zhulien on 09:03, 02 December 22
I finally tested my lambdadpeak midi with a korg keyboard. I got interesting results.  Record and playback worked fine but recording only the notes and not instrument changes, I guess a limitation of the sample recording software.  Or perhaps more likely even playback of sample songs only played the selected instrument, perhaps as the korg wavestatr is not a general midi device.  Playback of the sample songs however had a different oddity, a long delay before the korg kicked in and it did stop playing once the cpc stopped the song.

Sorry I haven't found my xg50db card yet.

With the midi I did wonder though.  Would anyone want a keyboard mania style game on cpc?  If songs were in a new cpc song format that let me match the midi notes against the frequency then I could detect a hit vs near miss etc.  Does anyone have a cpc music file in which it would be easy to adapt for such without having to hand-create another format with worst music by me?

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