Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!att!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!uc!nic.MR.NET!umn-cs!nis!quad!dts
From: dts@quad.uucp (David T. Sandberg)
Newsgroups: comp.music
Subject: Re: MIDI specs...
Message-ID: <231@quad.uucp>
Date: 15 Aug 89 10:01:44 GMT
References: <5791@rpi.edu> <2631@blake.acs.washington.edu> <4220@orca.WV.TEK.COM>
Reply-To: dts@quad.uucp (David T. Sandberg)
Organization: Quadric Systems, Richfield MN
Lines: 35

In article <4220@orca.WV.TEK.COM> stank@anvil.WV.TEK.COM (Stan Kalinowski) writes:
:...................................   Given the bandwith of the MIDI
:format, 16 devices is not an unreasonable number.  It is very likely
:that one would encounter data saturation (objectionable delays etc.)
:on the MIDI interface at around 16 devices for anything but the most
:simple performances.

True.  At that point you begin to approach the saturation point of
the 31Kbaud MIDI spec, particularly if you have lots of controller
data, or, heaven forbid, unfiltered aftertouch.  Where is MIDI Level
II when we need it...  ;')

Actually, it isn't too serious.  A little conscious thought in the
sequencing process, and judicious use of an event editor, can
unclutter tight spots in the MIDI data flow most of the time.

Question: has anyone else experienced problems with the Alesis
MidiVerb II, as in it's randomly missing patch changes?  One time
it will catch any given change, the next time it won't.  Grrr.
Particularly galling when mixing a song to tape which has an
important change right at the end, and going all the way through
the song, only to have to do it again from the beginning.  Bleah.

:..................... Most people get around the 16 channel limit by
:using several MIDI ports on their computer/sequencer.  There is at
:least one manufacturer that makes a sequencer package for the IBM PC
:that claims to support 4 MIDI ports, yeilding a total of 64 channels.

More than one by now, I'd bet.  The latest version of Cakewalk
apparently supports at least four ports, anyway.

-- 
                                  David Sandberg - Quadric Systems
  "Strike Hard, Strike Sure"      PSEUDO: dts@quad.uucp
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