[sdiy] midi cable

[J. Larry Hendry]

I am not sure what you are trying to accomplish.  But, I have hooked 2
computers together via MIDI for real time data transfer many times.
Obviously, you have to hook the MIDI IN of one PC to the MIDI OUT of the
other.  I used this method to update old sequenced data from my commodore 64
to my DOS machine.  You have to be careful connecting cables in a
bi-directional mode (2 cables).  Since PCs don't typically have MIDI THRUs,
many software programs echo the IN back to the OUT for user convenience.
You can get a data loop very easily if you do not turn off these echo
settings in the software.

Larry Hendry

----- Original Message -----
From: Christian <Christian at actor.freeuk.com>
To: <synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl>
Sent: Saturday, January 11, 2003 10:23 AM
Subject: Re: [sdiy] midi cable



Have any of you guys linked two PC's together using MIDI.
This is what I am attempting to do at the moment, (for musical
purposes) but for some reason it doesn't work for me.

I have made a DIY cable with two 5 pin DIN Sockets on either end, so
that the two 5 pin DIN outputs of the PC link together.
I am using a short length of cable (1 meter) with 2 wires and a
shield. I link pin 2 to the shield and 5 and 4 to the other wires.

(This is a useful link) :
http://www.philrees.co.uk/midiplug.htm

It doesn't work - I tried swapping (crossing over) pins 5 and 4, and
it still doesn't work. The connections check out fine for continuity
on my multi-meter and do not touch each other.

This is basic in the extreme!!!! Can't understand why it doesn't work.
Anyone any ideas, please?

All the best
Christian