CAMD, OS4 and MIDI hardware

I got me a Roland MT-32 MIDI hardware and am now looking for
someone to lend me a hand in installing it properly.

Hardware-wise all is done, i have the cables and the module
hooked up properly.

Most of all i like to know where i can set and save the
default MIDI device for the system (and third party programs)
to see (so that i don't have to choose the device everytime
i boot into Workbench again?)

I like to use it mainly (for now) as a sound enhancement in
ScummVM, but am looking for further possible usage, of course.

Any help greatly appreciated

@Raziel

I don't remember exactly how I did it. Anyway, after installing CAMD you should have in devs/midi a driver and in prefs a prefs thingie named midiports. You'll need it in order to select your hardware (I use the Soundblasters gameport). Some programs like Horny ask you to select the ports you want to use. That's all. But it is a while ago I did it and am not sure I told you everything...

Luca

@Ricossa

I don't seem to find that Prefs Program you referring to
Neither in CAMD.lha, camd_tools.lha or the driver dir...

But that would be exactly what i am looking for

thanks for the hint

edit: Found it!

...now, impatiently waiting for the hardware to arrive and
for time to spend on it...

@Raziel

@Raziel

Please dont!

The MIDIPrefs is no longer used or needed. It was phased
out with the port to OS4.

Each program that uses CAMD is supposed to save it's own
setting and go back there when reopened.

Some of my CAMD tools just use a tooltype in the icon.
Some don't use anything (even if they should).

All the midi drivers in devs:MIDI will be opened when CAMD
is first opened, so you will have access to all your different toys.

Thre is also a USB MIDI driver that installs as a USB driver, but will still show up in CAMD cluster requesters.

Reminder: the via686 driver is OUT only. You can get MIDI IN working by adding a soundblaster card, or by using one or more class-compatible USB MIDI interfaces. I've had success with all of these (even all at once!)

Finally, some developers are hard-coding their programs to require the word "in" or "out" in the cluster name. This is a mistake. Clusters can be created by the user at any time, and can have any name.

As an example, I have a BCR2000 control deck connected to a MIDI controlled mixing board. All the links between them get complicated, and it's harder to add other applications. So I have it all sorted through a cluster called "Mix".

Some of the current MIDI applications will NOT connect to a cluster called "Mix", they either won't let me enter the name, or they change it to "mix.out.0" (which is useless)

This was covered pretty well in the original CAMD documents. The file "camd.intro", section titled "Establishing Links"

Sorry about the rant. Let us know when you get the MT32
playing music!

Lyle

@LyleHaze

So, what your saying basically is

If a program does't know about camd it can't use MIDI?

e.g. ScummVM has no possibility to choose the MIDI driver
to explicitely speak to. It just assumes there is a default
one set and tries to use that one.

Hmm, seems i have to wait for the hardware and try...

Thanks for the clarification

@Raziel

Yes, that is correct.
If it doesn't open CAMD, then CAMD won't work with it.

Exception: In the early days of CAMD there was only "in.0" and "out.0", both from the builtin serial port.

If the program tries to open camd.library and will only connect to "out.0", then yes, you CAN use OS4 camd.. You only have to use the "MidiThru" shell command like this:

midithru out.0 via686.out.0

That command will "create" out.0 and feed everything coming into it to via686.out.0

All of this assumes that your scummVM program is opening camd.library..

Let us know how it works! (or IF it works)

Lyle

@LyleHaze

Quote:
Oh

Then is most defintitely won't work as ScummVM cannot know
about CAMD.library from Amigaland...hmmm

Still, ScummVM relies on the system it runs on to provide a
"default" MIDI port to be opened and use this, so it should
be possible to simply open up the MIDI port with a little
program, then start ScummVM and see if it spits something
out.

I'll try the midithru command you mentioned

Is there a little command that opens via686.out.0?

@LyleHaze

Quote:
To give you an idea what ScummVM is...

I don't code it, i'll do the port (sometimes), maybe i can
even interest you in adding camd.lib support, if nothing helps?

@lylehaze

I received the MT-32 yesterday...sadly without a power adapter.
(I "borrowed" one from my brother which worked but is awfully
loud - guess i have to get me a new one) and with the wrong
sized audio cables (it needs 6.3mm Cinch, i have 3.5) Grrr

Anyway, i just sent in a MIDI song thru DG_MIDIPlayer and it
(the player) actually started counting down the seconds (which
it didn't before when i tried and had NO MT-32 installed on the
GamePort - back then it just silently quit), so i guess it's
finding the hardware?

Although there is no display change in the hardwares display.
Have to check further, when i get my cables...

@Raziel

OK, getting you going..
It can be a bit tricky testing your connection, especially if you don't know if the problem is software or hardware, or the MIDI interface.. So here's the easiest way to figure it out.
1> Install your via686 driver into devs:midi (you already did this, I think)
2>Turn OFF the power, then connect the MIDI interface cable to the joystick port. Power back ON and boot up.
3> Connect the MIDI OUT cable from your interface to MIDI IN on the back of the MT32.
4>connect audio cables from the MT32 to an amp and speakers, or connect some headphones.
5>Run the "ShowKeys" program, and set the link to via686.out.0. It should already be in the list of available links.
6> Set showkeys to "All Channels"
7> Open DG_MIDI_Player, set the output to via.686.out.0 also.
8> Load and play a MIDI file from DG_MIDI_Player.

If you see ShowKeys flashing the notes, then you know that the software is working well, and the MIDI should be coming out the MIDI OUT cable.

If you hear music, you'll know that everything is working.

Showkeys is handy for "seeing" the music being played. It can also be used for testing midi inputs (but not on a via686 hookup)

re:Adding support to SCUMM.. I looked over the source. It looks like it won't be too hard to do, but I have no clue how to test it. Does SCUMM come with any apps that I can use to check for MIDI support? So far I only Downloaded the source archive.

Another option is for me to write the code and then pass it on to a SCUMM developer, but they would need MIDI gear, or Showkeys.

Lyle

@LyleHaze

Quote:
Thanks for the hints, will try asap

Quote:

You need a game that makes use of MIDI hardware/emulation
and plays it music/sound thru MIDI to test.

That would be the best solution imo

Luckily there is one game available which a) is supported
by ScummVM and b) freely available for download on the
ScummVM site: Flight of the Amazon Queen
(You need to scroll down a little, there are different versions,
but i believe the disk version [6.7MB] should be sufficient.
I'd gladly betatest with my CD based versions, of course!)

Quote:
You probably need to add your code to ScummVM's patch tracker
anyway, otherwise the devs will regret it most surely.

Then you have the following options:

chat.freenode.net
channel: #scummvm

ask sev and tell him i sent you

or

The ScummVM forums
You can ask anything and they are very fast and helpful

or

you can simply pass me the request and i'll forward it to
one of the main devs...

But i think it would be better if you'd talk coder to coder...

@LyleHaze

Did you had a chance to install ScummVM yet and see if you
get anything going regarding MIDI output?

I still have not received the proper cables nor the power
adapter, but should in the following days.

I'll let you know when i need help again

Thanks for the help so far

Hmm, I have a Roland SoundCanvas SC-55 and a Casio HT-3000 MIDI keyboard that I have used a lot with my A1200 and a proper home-made serial MIDI interface, but now I don't know what kind of interface would I need to hook that equipment to my A1. Any hint, link, images, etc. would be appreciated...

Saluditos,

Ferr?n.

@Ferry

Best would be to use an USB2MIDI adapter.
Check out Lylehaze's website to see which devices are supported

@Ferry

The classic Amigas could do MIDI over serial ports.. this is not workable on the A1.
The gameport (joystick port) of the A1 can do MIDI OUT only(via 686). If you have a soundblaster with a joystick port you can use that for one MIDI IN and one MIDI OUT (emu 10KX driver). There are some sound cards whose Joyport MIDI can work with the envy24HT driver...
All the above connect with a joystick to MIDI cable commonly called "MPU401 compatible".

The other option, IF your A1 has working USB, is to use the USB driver for _compatible_ MIDI interfaces. There is a list and pointer to the support website with the USBMIDI.lha driver. This allows _MANY_ MIDI devices to be connected at once. (I am currently running about 10 MIDI OUT ports, and about nine MIDI IN, each with sixteen channels)

All these are available on OS4Depot.. Just search CAMD and they'll all pop up. The documents with each are pretty complete, I hope.

LyleHaze

@LyleHaze

Ehm, seem my post?#12?

@Raziel

Yes, I saw it.

No, I have not installed the Scumm software or developers files on my Amiga yet.

Yes, I may do so at some future time, but it will be after some other projects that I am already working on.

Any more questions?

LyleHaze

@LyleHaze

Quote:
Yes ... one ...

Don't you just love it when people get annoying?

@LyleHaze

OK, all cables and stuff arrived, plugged in as your post
showed, but i don't get "showkeys" to show any reaction
when playing a MIDI file and of course no sound is played.

But maybe i got the wrong MIDI files?

@lylehaze

Thanks for the info. Now I know I need one of those joystick2MIDI cables for my SB Live, so I'll try to get one locally. If I can't get it, I'll try on eBay. Thanks again.

Saluditos,

Ferr?n.