The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

--- In AN1x-list@y..., Bruce Wahler <bruce@a...> wrote:
> 
> Let me add a bit of information to the fray:
> 
> 2.  I've recently come to learn that MIDIman hardware 
sometimes doesn't follow the "letter of the law" regarding MIDI 
specifications, even though it certainly obeys the "spirit."  I use 
(and sell) MIDI Solutions devices, which are all line-powered.  
Since the MIDI spec doesn't actually support line powering of 
devices, the boxes probably depend on MIDI hardware following 
the published guidelines in the MIDI spec., which give a 
recommended circuit using +5V TTL logic.  Well, guess what?  
MIDI is actually a current-loop interface, and doesn't care much 
about what voltage the current is supplied from, or what kind of 
devices are providing it -- but MIDI Solutions' gear does, because 
they're siphoning off a little of the power.  I've found that some 
M-Sol'n devices work with some MIDIman USB products, but not 
others.  Conversely, I've found that M-Sol'n devices seem to work 
with every keyboard, module, and non-USB interface I've ever 
tried -- in any configuration -- with the exception
>  of the Voce MIDI Drawbar Module, which again varies from the 
published MIDI spec in its hardware.
> 
> Does this have anything to do with your situation?  Hard to say, 
but it demonstrates that MIDIman is not afraid to make changes 
to provide their products at attractive price points.  Perhaps they 
are not following the USB interface spec to the letter, or using 
alternative hardware there, too.

I find this very interesting. I've been trying to help a fellow on the 
ASR-X list sort out his OMS/FreeMIDI configuration on a late 
model Apple PowerBook using a MIDIman MACMAN Serial MIDI 
Interface.

Once we got on the same page for his configuration, i.e., OMS 
Set-up document, the set-up routine failed to identify the 
MACMAN - which is a standard, serial port MIDI Interface. I did 
some research and it turns out there were two potential points of 
failure from which we were going to continue troubleshooting:

First, the PowerBook he was using was a model 1400 which 
had a single, shared serial port for both Printer/Modem 
connections. Obviously this was implemented to reduce the 
costs associated with two serial ports. This was a suspect 
decision on Apple part to begin with. I have a *vague* 
recollection of this being acknowledged as a problem in some 
Mac forums and letter columns of popular music publications 
(Keyboard, EM) some years ago.

The second issue was the power supplied to the MACMAN via 
the PB1400 serial port. Much of the documentation for OMS and 
the MACMAN specifically indicates late model PowerBooks 
provided insufficient power via the serial port for use with a MIDI 
Interface (the doc references the 500 series which was available 
*just about* when Apple introduced USB to its product line.) 

What's curious is that MIDIMAN equipped the MACMAN with a DC 
voltage adapter jack - which, of course the user did not have on 
hand to test with - so, obviously, they (MIDIMAN) were aware of 
this potential pitfall and acknowledged it in the doc no less! Not 
too unsavvy for a PC company, no? ha ha ha :-) Anyway, my 
'feeling' towards MIDIMAN are less harsh than some and kinder 
than others but in a nutshell, I won't spend any more money on 
their MIDI Interfaces for Mac OS. I haven't researched the M-Audio 
(sister company to MIDIman) Audio Interfaces well enough to 
comment but they were early to market with OS X drivers. Go 
figure? 

The other user was going to contact MIDIMAN tech support 
himself and see what they advice - I'm afraid I suspect the 
answer :-( But that PB1400 doesn't have enough horsepower to 
run the MIDI apps he wanted anyway ;-)

regards,

Jon