Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!jarthur!ucivax!orion.oac.uci.edu!ucsd!ucbvax!MACC.WISC.EDU!gilmore
From: gilmore@MACC.WISC.EDU (Neil Gilmore)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.m68k.pc
Subject: Re: "Real world" interfaces
Message-ID: <1991Jan14.033929.9849@macc.wisc.edu>
Date: 14 Jan 91 05:33:51 GMT
Sender: mwm@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: University of Wisconsin Academic Computing Center
Lines: 18
Approved: info-68k@ucbvax.berkeley.edu

In article <1991Jan12.104807.26069@canon.co.uk>,   writes...

>I have in mind a project which requires a "real world" interface, ie
>the ability to do things like switch on/off mains-powered devices,
>adjust the volume on an audio amplifier, fade up/down mains-powered
>lamps, etc.  All actions cued by time.

Since nobody I know except sound engineers and the like us the word 
'mains' like that, and as you also mention a 'high quality' amp, I'm 
going to assume (wrongly, naturally) that that is the sort of setting 
you will be operating in.

All the functions you need can be had through MIDI, with some extra 
hardware. Several companies produce MIDI lighting packs, and MIDI sound 
mixers. Just about any software will do, but make certain that if your 
gear requires SysEx messages, your software can produce them. For more 
specific information about a MIDI system of thsi magnitude, 
rec.music.synth is probably a better group to ask in.