Xref: utzoo rec.music.synth:16382 comp.music:1951
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From: rlw@ttardis.UUCP (Ron Wilson)
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth,comp.music
Subject: Re: MIDI protocol and ISDN network
Message-ID: <2637@ttardis.UUCP>
Date: 3 Oct 90 17:44:04 GMT
Organization: Gallifrey
Lines: 48

In article <2707b24b.3dd1@petunia.CalPoly.EDU>, sseidman@polyslo.CalPoly.EDU (The MIDIman) writes:
>I am writing a paper about communications this quarter, and I have chosen
>to talk about the MIDI protocol.  My teacher has refined it a bit to cover
>new topics he hasn't received before.  Sooooo, does anyone have any info on how
>MIDI and ISDN may someday work together?  How does ISDN accomodate MIDI?
>How closely does MIDI fit into ISDN?  What needs to be done to change MIDI
>to fit ISDN?    Any articles, magazines, people, or even speculation will be
>welcome.  Thanks.

Please excuse the technical language - I will try to explain as cleary as I can.

The MIDI standard is a 2 layer specifation: The physical transmission, and the
data protocol itself.

As far as ISDN, OSI, TCP/IP, SNA, and other communication protocols suites are
concerned, the MIDI data protocol is "just another application protocol" - ie,
ISDN et al will treat the MIDI messages as data.  As such, MIDI messages can
be presented as data to ANY communication protocol at the sending end, and will
be delivered to the receiver as MIDI data.

Examples:

1.  Two programs could send MIDI data to each other via ISDN or other data com
    protocol and not even be "aware" that they are using this other protocol.

2.  Two MIDI devices could talk to each other other an ISDN or other network
    by means of MIDI<->Network servers.

3.  A program could talk to a MIDI device in a like manner.

In short, a communications server program (which could be running in a computer
or in a dedicated "box" (similar to dedicated sequencers like the MC-500))
would provide a "front end" that acts like a MIDI interface - ie: it accepts
data bytes from the program or "real" MIDI interface, and delivers data bytes
to the program or "real" MIDI interface.  The communications servers are
responsible for the details of the network protocols - nothing need be done
to the MIDI data protocol.


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