Turning a micro computer system into MIDI device

[kortezzzz]

Hi oddson, thanks for the detailed comment.

Since I have no idea how to work with these boards, I I'll need some (if you don't mind) answers to do things right.
Should my FS made application be installed **on this board**? is that board a micro-computer with it's own CPU?
Or maybe it only receives midi signal and sends it to the outside world?

Or in other words: How should I build my midi chain? which part comes first and which is last considering
The wanted final result? Is that's the way my chain should look a like?:

FS app creates midi sequence=>sends it to the "outside world" through the USB port=>the dedicated midi receiver gets that sequence from the USB=>sends it to the 3th party midi input that has recognized it as independent midi device

It's very tricky for amateurs like me

[oddson]

I'm not sure I'm on your wavelength...

...Should my FS made application be installed **on this board**? is that board a micro-computer with it's own CPU?
Or maybe it only receives midi signal and sends it to the outside world? :

Teensy is a micro-controller board that runs Arduino software -- not a Windows machine. But it's cheap enough to use as a MIDI interface and it can be programmed to do more than just pass MIDI.

But I think I'm not quite clear on what your trying to do.

So here's my question; why can't you just use any old MIDI interface to pass MIDI from your Flowstone app running on your all-in-one box from your first post?

[kortezzzz]

why can't you just use any old MIDI interface to pass MIDI from your Flowstone app running on your all-in-one box from your first post?

Looks like I didn't described my desired results clearly. I know that what I'm trying to achieve is a little complicated,
so I made a little diagram that explains my needs. Take a look at this picture

[img][img]http://s25.postimg.org/hjivrxx3f/fs_app_micro_pc_setup.jpg[/img][/img]

My first question:
Can the midi sequence find it's way out from the micro-pc's USB slot?

If so, can the entire setup be recognized by other devices as independent midi controller?

[kortezzzz]

Tried to find a simple 1 USB input\1 USB output midi interface that would function as a midi transmitter\receiver because this is the most actual solution for the my desired hack. All I found is USB to midi interfaces like those:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/USBtoMIDI

They might be useful in some cases, but not in case that you wanna connect 2 computers together and route midi from one to another.

The closest solution to my need is this one:

http://www.iconnectivity.com/products/midi/iConnectMIDI2plus

This midi interface allows midi integration between 2 computers so technically, you can use one computer as a midi controller and transmit midi signal to another computer or device that receive it. My only wish is that this device would become tiny as possible without those unnecessary midi ins\outs. only the 2 usb inputs. If any one knows about such a solution please, say something

[oddson]

This midi interface allows midi integration between 2 computers so technically, you can use one computer as a midi controller and transmit midi signal to another computer or device that receive it.

Ah... I finally get what you want... you don`t want to send MIDI to synths etc. but to another computer.

You would think a USB A to A cable would be all you need but I'm not sure how you'd manage the serial communications between the two.

For commercially available products I think you would have to have USB to MIDI interfaces on both computers and tie them together with MIDI cable. (One 'box' and one 'cable' version would be simplest)

You could build this kind of setup with two Teensies (one for each machine) and the only connection between the two Teensies would be the Tx and Rx pins would have to be (cross) connected. You'd still have to program the Teensies to pass the MIDI data but it would be fairly cheap to build and much more compact than all that cable...(Teensy 2.x are $16 each!)

I'll think about it a bit.

[RJHollins]

as we all ponder ...

Have you already perused those forums that have these virtual instrument products?

We know there are writers/composer using a 'farm' network to link multi computers for major audio production.

Somebody there would have to know, with direct experience, how and what is required to do this.

Then tell us

[strangeChild]

Maybe something like this? http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/connecti ... usb-cable/

[kortezzzz]

@oddson

Yes, it's hackable with 2 Teensies, but I think it would be a lot easier to use a ready to go commercial usb midi interface because It's made especially for routing midi and both the FS software and the receiving computer recognize it without any problem as a midi device and no other special managing or driver is needed ( same method used by "iConnectMIDI2". I added a link to the product in my previous post). Building this project could be so much easier and fun to use if I only could find same iConnectMIDI2 interface in a tiny package, similar to the standard "usb to midi" intefaces; one cable with midi pins on it's both sides and a small interface in the middle...

@strangeChild

The cable you linked show exactly how the interface I'm looking for should built like!
That's the right concept!
But this cable allow sharing data between computers and its not a dedicated product for midi routing and won't be recognized by FS app or the other computer as midi device. I believe it won't work.

[strangeChild]

http://www.sevillasoft.es
There's a device on this page (in spanish) that looks like it's the very thing. Can't find any others besides the big box ones you already know about.

[oddson]

@oddson

Yes, it's hackable with 2 Teensies, but I think it would be a lot easier to use a ready to go commercial usb midi interface because It's made especially for routing midi and both the FS software and the receiving computer recognize it without any problem as a midi device and no other special managing or driver is needed...

Of course that's easiest but you could do the Teensy thing for about $40USD and the entire 'build' is basically three wires and six solder joints.

TLCx2serialXover.png (203.61 KiB) Viewed 15854 times

And because its USB-MIDI compliant you don't need drivers on either computer to make it work.

Because you don't need 5V for DIN MIDI and you don't need high speed for MIDI baud rate but you do want a USB-MIDI compliant board the Teensy LC (low cost) is the obvious choice for this.

The BoM is:
* Teensy LC X2
* 2 USB A to micro cables; ~$26
* USB micro cables X2; ~$10
* Tiny enclosure; ~$4

You'd likely want the USB micro plugs to sit inside the box with the cords existing from notches on the body where the lid fits so it would need to be quite a bit longer than the 35mm the board requires -- but it could still be quite inconspicuous compared to the iConnection thing.

So... unless soldering is out of the question for you then the only real question is the programming.

All you really need to do there is to take each supported MIDI event (or all if them, but if you're controller doesn't do sysex or polyphonic after-touch you probably don't need to pass them!) and read all incoming messages then send out the same outgoing message passing on the parameters.

While all the data may be one way you could still put the same sketch on both Teensys and it should still work (and that way you could connect the cable in either direction).

I can't really write the code now as I don't have a Teensy that isn't in a project box all wired up at the moment but I suspect it would be very easy.

If the Spanish device isn't available (or doesn't do what it seems to say on the box - en Español) and you REALLY want a smaller footprint or REALLY want to save $60 I think it's a viable option.