Is there new Amiga hardware (running OS 4.x) which supports MIDI?

[garyg]

I wonder if my Amiga OS 3.x setup can be ported to a new Amiga computer.

Can a new Amiga running OS 4.2 emulate OS 3.x software?

I raise this question because I see that some new hardware has an RS-232 port.
I assume this would mean it could run MIDI applications IF the software can
run under OS 4.2

Regards to all,
Gary

[MagicSN1]

I assume you mean AmigaOS 4.1 Update2.

Yes, new Amiga's (PowerPC machines running OS4.x) can run OS3.x software in Emulation. It might not run everything but usually things run.

I don't know much on MIDI, but if this is on MIDI files, you can actually run them in software, and do not need hardware over RS-232 for it. I think there is a software
which plays MIDI files over AHI on os4depot.

[garyg]

OK, thanks, that sounds good.

I asked about the RS-232 port because I play my MIDI files through external
sound modules, not by using software sound samples.

Does anyone know anything about potential timing problems?

Regards,
Gary

[MagicSN1]

Hi!

Please note that this is not an Emulation like UAE but a pure CPU Emulation.

This means it would depend if the software is done OS-friendly (through parallel.device). If it instead accesses the custom chips directly to access the parallel interface this would not work (and likely crash).

What software are you thinking of ?

Note there is also some MIDI software available for OS4. Myselves I just don't know much about MIDI software, so not sure what supports attaching a keyboard to the parallel interface.

See here:

http://os4depot.net/index.php?function=search&tool=simple

Barsnpipes, Horny and seq would be MIDI Software available.

Best regards,
Steffen

[garyg]

Thanks, Steffen! Yes, Bars&Pipes is what I intend to use.

I assume that the OS4 version created by Alfred Faust smoothly
moves MIDI data to the RS-232 serial port, where it is correctly
sent to external sound modules. Logically, the Triple Play Plus MIDI interface, dependent
for communication on Bars&Pipe's MIDI Out tools, which are also
part of Alfred's software, should work, but I'd have to spend a lot of
money to be sure.

Regards,
Gary

[MagicSN1]

Maybe the documentation in the lha archive gives some info ?

The requirements listed in the readme lists "AmigaOS4, camd.library, a hardware or software synthesizer" which sounds to me like a hardware synthesizer is supported.

Author of the OS4 version is Lyle Hazelwood.

Myselves I do not know enough on MIDI stuff to help (as is seen that I before talked about parallel port and it is appearently serial port, right ? ^^)

If I download the software and start it is there any way how I can find out for you - starting it on my OS4 machine - what is supported as to MIDI hardware ? If you can explain to me to which menu to go or whatever I could try it out (I do not have any MIDI hardware, but my assumption - not sure if correct - would be that you have to select something in the program somewhere ?

[garyg]

Steffen, I would think that a MIDI interface and sound module/synthesizer
would be needed to properly verify that such a hardware/software combination
works as expected, but thanks for your thoughts.

Regards,
Gary

[MagicSN1]

Hi!

I see. Hmmm, maybe best then to ask the author. But from what I read (with my non-knowledge on MIDI) I suspect it is supported.

Note appearently there are two independent (?) OS4 ports of Barsn Pipes. One by the author I mentioned (on os4depot.net) and one by the author you mentioned, on his homepage.

My understanding though is that you attach MIDI Hardware to be used in Bars&Pipes using this software

http://os4depot.net/?function=showfile&file=driver/misc/usbmidi.lha

to the USB Port (which is adding CAMD Driver for compatible MIDI Devices). This driver has been written by the same author like one of the two B&P Ports.

It is also mentioned on this wiki page

https://wiki.amigaos.net/wiki/Bars_and_Pipes_Professional

that this software would be used to access MIDI devices from B&P, with a link to os4depot.

Best regards,
Steffen

[garyg]

Thanks so much for the links and information. You're one of the reasons
that this Board is so useful, Steffen!

Regards,
Gary

[ncafferkey]

What hardware are you using currently? Especially, what MIDI interface?

[garyg]

An Amiga 4000 desktop running OS 3.9 and the Triple Play
Plus with the One Stop Music Shop with 3 additional MIDI Outs.

[Hans_]

My understanding though is that you attach MIDI Hardware to be used in Bars&Pipes using this software

http://os4depot.net/?function=showfile&file=driver/misc/usbmidi.lha

to the USB Port (which is adding CAMD Driver for compatible MIDI Devices). This driver has been written by the same author like one of the two B&P Ports.

There are a few other CAMD drivers on os4depot. A USB MIDI device is probably the best bet for most people, as the others are for older sound cards.

Hans

[garyg]

Yes, I would expect that a USB MIDI interface would work,
but what I like about my present (classic Amiga) setup is that
I have up to 112 possible channels. However, this is made possible
partly by classic Amiga hardware (the One Stop Music Shop) and
the classic software that comes with Bars&Pipes Pro that "bangs the
hardware" of the Triple Play Plus and the OSMS.

Regards,
Gary

[ncafferkey]

There’s a good chance your current MIDI interface will work, as long as the software accesses it via either a serial.device or camd.device. But you’ll need to check if the OS4 machine has a serial port. You’ll probably also need an adapter from 9-pin to 25-pin serial.

[garyg]

The OS4 machine I've read about has an RS-232 port.

Regards,
Gary