Well sometime back when I'd first built, an Atari 1088XEL, I added the upgrade to include MIDI. https://ataribits.weebly.com/midi.html The board I built also allowed the addition of a wavetable driven synth. This is driven by software and the hardware attached to a pin header within the XEL, allowing access to the SIO port. The particular board set I ordered from OSH'Park allowed me to attach a Dream S2 synth https://www.serdashop.com/waveblaster . Module to the wavetable presented interface. Upon completing the 1088 XLD, I added a similar module to this, all the interface being built in. https://atariage.com/forums/uploads...view.png.c0320be114eaad90a22d5541a3e7ac8c.png I've had a great deal of fun downloading MIDI files off the internet, and trying them out, some are very very good others, probably a waste of download time. The nice thing is that the Atari 8 bits, are more than up to the data rates that MIDI requires, although some of the programs seem 'basic' in their appearance , things are happening in the background. Recently I decided to purchase the X2 version of this synth https://www.serdashop.com/DreamBlasterX2 , this included a USB interface, so can be used on a PC or Mac, but it also works fine in the Atari 8 Bit as well, I've been so impressed I've even purchased an AKAI keyboard, unfortunately USB like so many, but with a USB host controller I've got this working as proper old school MIDI, with connections via 5Pin DIN leads. I'm in the process of designing a housing for the X2 synth. MIDI in, Power and Stereo out this is what gave me that idea, https://www.serdashop.com/Webwinkel...eamblaster-S2-General-MIDI-Module-Bundle.html the X2 requires a bigger housing and dealing with USB for updates. I'll be able to attach this to either and Atari, or the keyboard. I can also use the inbuilt MIDI interfaces with both the internal S2 synth along with the X2, and having loaded (via USB for a Win10 computer) a different set of instruments. Unfortunately whilst I appreciate good music, It's not something I can profess to be any good at myself, nearest was me playing the Organ and Christchurch Cathedral. And that's only because someone left it switched on and I'd walked across the pedals.. I was only 5 at the time... I did have a good voice though as I'd won a scholarship to enter the Royal School of Church Music., which I'd been entered into by my choir master. As it was a boarding school and I was 11... I choose not to take that up. Has anyone else played with MIDI , even on an ST platform ??
Not in years, but back in the early 90's, while at college, I had my 130XE with Hybrid Art's MIDI-mate and MIDI Track 3 and a Yamaha keyboard. I mostly just messed around with it and listened to midi tracks with it. I actually bought the Midi Track 3 from a music store I went into with a friend to browse guitars, and I saw the display model sitting there. A sales associate noticed my interest and gave me a great deal (which I cannot remember now) on that last display model (this was around '92) along with a handful of floppies with music one of the employee musicians created. I sold off the Midimate/Track about 15 years ago as I no longer had a keyboard and it was just collecting dust for the last decade. I wish I had kept it now though, and I intend on buying another. It will be Midimate and Midi Track 3 again though because I think it's the best midi hardware and software ever made for Atari 8-bit, and because, unlike MidiMax and these new Midi boards the homebrew community is making, MIDImate had MIDI in/out and sync in/out. I will be removing it from the case this time around and installing it internally in an Atari when I get another.
Hi Matt I know that the hardware I have is all MIDImate compatible at the software level, but I don't know enough about MIDI sync, something I'll go and look up. I guess we have all moved on and sold stuff we thought we would never use, to add to the money to buy something better. I regret selling on the Atari 1200, I don't even remember using it very much, was more of a tool to add my call sign to any amateur TV transmissions, such a shame now. Likewise about 3 years ago I scrapped a load of old PC motherboards video cards etc. 386,486 early Pentiums etc. I now wish I had those, especially looking at how much they are going for It would have been likely I could have replaced the A1200 in effect for free. Who could have known? Going back to MIDI I know IVOP on AA has had a lot of input to MIDI project that Mytek (AA) chose to use built within the XLD. I look forward to you getting all your gear back up and working, and being able to add these extra's.
I think I got that wrong re software compatiability "The 4MHz/128 clock is indeed built into the MidiMate. Activating the motor control line enables two features on the MidiMate, one being the 31.25KHz clock for POKEY to use, and another connecting the SYNC input to the SIO INTERRUPT line for synchronization purposes. Software written for the actual MidiMate will not work with an adapter that doesn't provide this external clock, as it'll set POKEY to use the nonexistent serial clock and serial output will never complete." Mind you that dosnt mean to say that a 4MHz clock divided down by 128 could not be added... And the Sync sockets "The MidiMate has SYNC IN and SYNC OUT connectors to allow an audio tape to be used for a clock track. The SIO INTERRUPT line is connected to PIA CB1 and thus SYNC IN allows the tape signal to trigger CB1 interrupts. On the output side, the SIO CLOCK OUT signal from the computer is used to record a clock track on tape. " Not sure you would find a use for this or not. ?
I've no idea if I'd ever use the sync I/O's or not, but I'd rather have them there than not, and I definitely have seen nothing to compare to MIDI Track III software-wise (on Atari 8-bit), though I could have missed some other good MIDI 8-bit software. I just remember things like using extended memory, 16 tracks to use that can then be combined, all into one track even, to open up more tracks, etc.
Be nice to see if the software has been archived someplace now that Hybrid Art's are no more. it's not that difficult to arrange a perfect 31.2KHz clock source, so that Pokey uses this, i'll have to see how the software in the tiny PIC chip works.
Quoted from :- https://ataribits.weebly.com/midi.html " MIDITRACK III MIDI Recorder, ect. Run your own multi-track recording studio using this software application created by Hybrid Arts. Originally designed to be used with their MIDIMATE instrument interface, but it will also work with any of the MIDI interface products on this page. Requirements: System RAM 128K Minimum. "
