John_Swenson

I have some questions about MIOS in regards to my attempt at making a MIDI to DMX converter. I can easily make the UART do the DMX output (its really simple), but then its not available for MIDI in. I read about the MIDIMerger which uses a regular DIN as a second MIDI in, is this available from MIOS? I see several functions in MIOS relating to MERGE, are these them? If so can they be used WITHOUT using the UART for MIDI in as well? Does a MIDI message from the MERGE input get sent to the user app just like a regular one? Would it be best to do the DMX out as a new MIOS device driver or put it in user code? If its in user code it has to configure the UART and talk to it without the standrd MIOS reseting it back to normal MIDI use. That bring up another question, looking at the sample MIOS apps it doesn't look like there is any explicetly called MIDI initialization from user code. Is this done automatically when MIOS is started? If so there would have to be some sort of "disable MIDI uart" function so it wouldn't step on the toes of the DMX output. I have no problem writing a DMX out device driver or module, but it would help to see the MIOS source code to see how others are written. Is this available? Thanks for any help with this. John S.

I'll try this again ;) I'm working on a lighting system at church in which I want to use DMX dimmer packs with several remote control stations using MIDI. The MBHP and MIOS system look like they can do everything I need except for two things: MIDI to DMX and long distance MIDI. The MIDI to DMX is conceptually very simple and the PIC processor should be able to handle it fine, but it will need RS-485 line drivers. The Maxim tranceivers look like they will work fine for this, and can also be used for the long distance MIDI. What I propose is to make a new MBHP module which has the Maxim tranceiver(s), opto-isolator and regulator on one board. This board can be used with a core module for DMX out, or long distance MIDI in and OUT. With the opto-isolator on board it can be used by itself as a long distance MIDI driver/receiver, no core module needed! I have several questions about getting MIOS to support this, so I guess I'll go over to the MIOS forum to ask those. PS if anybody knows an already existing MIDI lighting protocol, particularly for supporting multiple control stations, please let me know. I have no problem inventing this from scratch, but it might be nice to support standards if they exist. I appreciate any comments on this rather amitious use of MidiBox. John S.