Xref: utzoo comp.sys.ibm.pc:35721 comp.arch:11632
Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ncar!unmvax!bbx!bbxsda!scott
From: scott@bbxsda.UUCP (Scott Amspoker)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc,comp.arch
Subject: Re: programming the com port
Message-ID: <198@bbxsda.UUCP>
Date: 4 Oct 89 15:35:09 GMT
References: <927@eutrc3.urc.tue.nl> <446@usage.csd.unsw.oz>
Reply-To: scott@bbxsda.UUCP (Scott Amspoker)
Organization: Basis International,  Albuquerque, NM
Lines: 27

In article <446@usage.csd.unsw.oz> troy@mr_plod.cbme.unsw.oz writes:
>From article <927@eutrc3.urc.tue.nl>, by wsdwgk@eutrc3.urc.tue.nl (g.v.kooij):

>>[somebody wants to use com port for MIDI]

>[advises that INT 14H doesn't work very well]

It is true.  There is no standard interrupt service of the com ports
on a PC.  If you intend to *really* use the com ports (especially for
MIDI) you will have to write your own driver that includes interrupt
handling (this shouldn't be a major task).

I can't comment on the ability to run the com port at 31k baud but I
remember reading an article a few years ago describing how to modify
a standard PC communications adapter to support MIDI.  It involved
making a small mod to the card itself (breaking a connection and adding
a jumper).  This left me with the impression that you could not use the
communications adapter in its normal state for MIDI.  I'm sorry I can't
tell you more.  I would advise checking into this further.  If all else
fails then check out the Roland MPU-401.  Not only does this guarantee
you MIDI capability but there is plenty of existing MIDI software that
supports the MPU-401.

-- 
Scott Amspoker
Basis International, Albuquerque, NM
(505) 345-5232