plog

hi 2 all. Jidis, im glad that you finally got the CHIP :) The main problem why, you can get your MIDI IN to work, i hope, is for F819 features. IT HAS BUILT IN RC OSCILLATOR. So this chip can work without any external oscillators :) Make sure, that you selected right mode, it need to be HS OSC2 or something like that, cause as i remember the default is internal_RC. - You must have exactly 20.000 Hz frequency. My midi controller is based on PIC16F819, so here is my configuration line: __CONFIG _CP_OFF & _WRT_ENABLE_OFF & _CPD_OFF & _CCP1_RB2 & _DEBUG_OFF & _LVP_OFF & _BODEN_OFF & _MCLR_ON & _WDT_OFF & _PWRTE_ON & _HS_OSC try to use this. :) - But first off all, do you get ON/OFF led near multiplexer when using the device in DAW app. ? Do you get error led blinking while sending midi events to device and device is ON (mux led = OFF) ? If so, then you definitely are using INTERNAL RC :) try to change your configuration and try again. ---------------- Next problem, MIDI OUT. This is known problem :) cause it was made as backward capability =) And i really do not recommend to use it, because: 1) i'm using KeStallProcessor() API to make 31250 bit rate. 2) i'm rising IRQ level to make sure that no ones interrupts my process (cause i need to send a bits in 32ms intervals, so i cant let CPU to do some operations while timing) so at one MIDI BYTE, i need to send 10 bits (1 - start bit, 8 - data bits, 1 - stop bit), so it tooks 320ms to send a byte. in that time, CPU IS FREEZED. so on every byte you lost 320ms of cpu time. the shortest midi event consists of 3 bytes, so you lost: 960 ms of CPU time on midi event. Its only theoretical calculations, but it should do sense in real world :-) ------------- Why dont you get your MIDI OUT perfectly? Im using 1.6Ghz intel celeron M. and i calibrated that output loop which sends midi byte over LPT, exactly at 32ms. ( KeStallProcessor(TIME) + time of instructions), TIME - this is a constant, i'll add this variable into Property Sheet, when you could comfigure it as you wish. this value is 0 < TIME <= 32ms. it depends on CPU frequency. Hope this help, helps you =) Stryd_one, hi mate. I haven't seen you long time :) How is you doing ? Do you do some further research on that project? maybe built some prototype -) sorry that i cant join to it right now. i have a lot of midterm tests and to give an account of study. so i haven't spare time. I didn't go to lectures so i need to learn the stuff of half-semester at home ;D i hope it don't run too long... cya 8)

for now the MIDI OUT is coming directly from LPT pin :) (look at circuit)

Jidis, yes its the simple led diodes=) on RB7 - indicates error, led near 8bit_register, indicates NOT ENABLED (means that if on, then device is OFF, and 8bit register is in high impedance state, the all 8 bit data leds, show value comming from LPT port, so dont be scare then you see randomly lighted leds =) about midi i/o you are right :) but im just using common ground between converter and my midi ctrl without any optos & resistors. you do not need a resistor on MIDI IN, cause its open collector (RA4 is input pin), you don't need a resistor on MIDI OUT too, cause its pin is from LPT control port, which means that they are already with 4.7kohm pull-up resistors :) if you made some PCB's you may share it with us =)

Well, i wanted to connect my midi controller to my laptop :) PCMCIA sound cards doesn't have a game port, so the only way was to buy a midi interface. But why to buy then you can do it yourself=) I made it over LPT because my laptop doesn't have any other ports :) Im planning to rewrite firmwire to support midi in & midi out in one PIC16F84A, or try to make more midi in's. The current firmwire source isnt optimized very well, and i have idea how to make it faster =) In future i'll try to port driver to win98/me, acctually i tried it but unsucessfuly =) programming and testing on separated PCs is confusing.

Jidis, just make sure that you have 16f84A, or others which can run on 20Mhz :] the 4Mhz is too slow :) please report me about your work in future :]

Hi there, i needed to receive MIDI over LPT (parallel) port, but cant find any DIY solutions on the net. So, I decided to do it myself. After one month of research, i has finally built first version of LPT2MIDI. Here is a link: http://h4x0rz.ath.cx/plog/lpt2midi/ I hope, it will help to someone. =)