🚀 go-pugleaf

Hi ..  I'm having some problems getting MIDI gear running with my A1000..  
Here's the scoop.  

I bought a MIDI interface from a local Amiga dealer.  The Interface
is made by a company called "ECS".  The interface has 5 I/O connectors,
two serial ports, and three 5-pin (at 45 degrees) DIN ports.   One serial
port to attach to Amiga, the other is for a separate serial device (via
switch-selectable serial pass-thru ...  A nice feature).    The DIN 
ports are for MIDI "IN", "OUT", and "THRU".

I am using a standard null-modem cable for the serial attachment of the 
A1000 to the MIDI Interface.

The musical device I am implementing is a Casio CT-460 keyboard.  The 
Casio has MIDI IN/OUT ports only.

My cabing goes from MIDI-OUT on the Casio to MIDI-IN on the Interface,
and MIDI-IN on the Casio to MIDI-OUT on the Interface.  Serial out on
the A1000 to Serial in on the Interface.    Serial out of the Interface
to my modem.

I rented "Music Construction Set" to see how well it worked with the 
MIDI interface.    I have no other MIDI-compatible software.

In trying to be cost effective about this, I decided to build my own
cables.  Near as I can tell MIDI uses only three of the 5 assigned pins.
In this configuration:


		 3
	      2     4             <-- Use your imagination and picture
	     1       5                these in a semi-circle.

Pin 3 seems to be the ground, pin 2 is +5V, and pin 4 is the signal.
On the knowledgeable advice of several in comp.sys.amiga, I wired
pin 1 to 1, 2 to 2, ... 5 to 5. 

The problem: Nothing works.

   When I activate MIDI mode with Deluxe Music Construction Set (DMCS),
   RTS and DTR go high on the serial bus.  (I've  got one of those
   cute little tester deals with the LED's). 

   When I "play the keyboard" (using the mouse) in DMCS, data *IS*
   transmitted to the interface, but is NOT transmitted to the Casio..
   (i.e. The transmit data lite on my tester deal flashes, but, the
   keyboard does not respond. Voltages on the MIDI-out pins of the
   Interface do NOT appear to change.)

   When I play the Casio keyboard, data may or may not be transmitted
   to the interface, and is definitely not transmitted to the Amiga.
   (i.e.  The "receive data" lite on my tester deal does NOT flash.
   Volatages on the MIDI-IN pins of the Interface do NOT appear to 
   change.)


I've tried to check voltages and such on each pin, but, without any
hardware documentation (the docs that came with the Interface say,
"Will provide hours of fun and entertainment.  By the way, there is
no warranty.", and that's about it.) I have no clue what I'm testing
for.

I've got some INCREDIBLY limited documentation on how all this MIDI
stuff works.  I assumed that, as usual, I'd plug it together and it
would magically work.  Wrongo.    When I tell the software to accept
input form the Casio, data is not received (by the software).  When I
tell the software to play on the attached MIDI device, data is not
received (by the keyboard).  I can't get anything to work, anytime, or
anywhere.    I've narrowed it down to either being the Amiga, the
Interface, the keyboard, the cabling, or the software, but am not sure
which is at fault ..  8^)

If there's anyone out there who's had experience dealing with MIDI,
this type of Casio keyboard, or Deluxe Music Construction Set, please
get back to me, either by posting here, or via e/mail.  There's
a digital musician in me just dying to get out.

Thanks in advace. ..

	-Jeff

--
Jeff A. Wabik       E/Mail: jwabik@shamash.cdc.com   AT&T: +1 612 853 6811
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