The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

I picked up this link to a recent article by Paul Lehrman "Bigger
Bytes and Faster Too" on the Opcode users list at Topica. While much of 
the article may be Macintosh specific most of it is relevant to both 
Win & Mac MIDI users.

http://industryclick.com/magazinearticle.asp?magazineid=141&releaseid=
5553&magazinearticleid=64736&SiteID=

To summarize, it's an interesting commentary on the potential benefits 
of IEEE-1394 (Firewire, iLink) vs. USB for MIDI and how the advent of 
this protocol, i.e., through Yamaha's non-proprietary mLAN, provides
an opportunity to advance a MIDI v2.0 spec. Whew - that's a mouthful.
The latter half of the article devolves into an anti-Henry J. of Gibson 
rant...not that he doesn't deserve it >:^( 

I hope some of you enjoy reading the piece - I know I did. 

regards,

Jon

Hello Jon, I haven't read the article yet, but it is interesting that
you mention the MIDI v2.0 spec., There was an article in 'Computer
Music' Magazine about 'OMPS' which is being brought forward by Yamaha
and other Hard/Software manufacturers, quite a list was quoted.  OMPS
may be the MIDI v2.0 spec that you are talking of, it certainly looks
like it could really shake up the Midi side of the sequencer/Audio app.
scene.  It should bring about a new standard for all manufacturers
hopefully doing for Midi what Direct-X has done for Audio Plugs.  The
best bit about it is anyone will be able to develop software for it as
long as they can Code C++.  For the user it will bring forth better midi
facilities for your kit inside your sequencer of choice (As long as OMPS
is implemented in the software, I think the majors are looking at it by
the end of the year BTW.).

The architecture also has some Mlan stuff in it too, but I can't
remember all about it at the moment, all of this is what I read about a
month and a half ago, I'll dig up the Mag. And post a bit more detail
about it.

I think that it is due to be released quite soon, and I think Yamaha may
have a few things in the pipeline, it would stand to reason, as they are
the main push behind this.



In article <98ud6a+hbhn@...>, jondl@... writes
>I picked up this link to a recent article by Paul Lehrman "Bigger
>Bytes and Faster Too" on the Opcode users list at Topica. While much of 
>the article may be Macintosh specific most of it is relevant to both 
>Win & Mac MIDI users.
>
>http://industryclick.com/magazinearticle.asp?magazineid=141&releaseid=
>5553&magazinearticleid=64736&SiteID=
>
>To summarize, it's an interesting commentary on the potential benefits 
>of IEEE-1394 (Firewire, iLink) vs. USB for MIDI and how the advent of 
>this protocol, i.e., through Yamaha's non-proprietary mLAN, provides
>an opportunity to advance a MIDI v2.0 spec. Whew - that's a mouthful.
>The latter half of the article devolves into an anti-Henry J. of Gibson 
>rant...not that he doesn't deserve it >:^( 
>
>I hope some of you enjoy reading the piece - I know I did. 
>
>regards,
>
>Jon
>
>
>
>
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>
>

See ya,

Reggie

Hi Reggie,

Lets not confuse MIDI v2.0 with Open MIDI Plugin System (OMPS).

MIDI v2.0 is likely to be an enhancement to the transmission protocol.
Basically this will change the recommended Media (i.e. moving from the
31.25Kbits/s serial cable to 1394 bus at 400Mbits/s or more) and enhance the
actual protocol (i.e. break the 16 channel/port limit, 7bit/data limit and
add reliable time stamping). All of this is well overdue and therefore
thoroughly welcome. Yamaha appear to be at the forefront of this technology
with their mLan proposals.

[its worth noting that the article referenced in Jons post, highlights the
technical problems associated with the current crop of USB devices. There
have been several discussions on the reliability of USB devices within the
AN1x forum. During those discussions I have never been an advocate of MIDI
over USB. So I find it refreshing to see an independent article that lays
down the facts. Hopefully this will encourage more manufacturers to move to
1394 solutions and to stop pushing USB solutions that for the most part do
not work reliably under stress]

OMPS on the other hand does not affect the MIDI spec in any way. It is
simply a software plugin format (similar to DirectX or VST plugins for
audio). I have been working with Yamaha/Microsoft/Cakewalk on this format.
The aim is really to allow the MIDI functionality of sequencer products to
be enhanced by third party plugin components (So for instance third parties
can provide device editors, enhanced edit views, MIDI processors and other
MIDI data manipulation functions as simple plugins to existing sequencer
software). This will deliver timely support for new devices/MIDI formats etc
to end users within their chosen sequencing environments.  OMPS can also
potentially deliver more flexible softsynths than are currently possible
under VST. This does not mean OMPS is intended as a replacement for
VST....its more of a complimentary technology.

So for example in future, it may be possible for me to provide editors
similar to XGedit/AN1xEdit that run directly within your sequencer.....no
more Hubi cables or device conflicts etc and no need to export data to MIDI
etc for transfer to your sequencer. Instead the editor would be capable of
directly reading and writing the sequencers tracks, automating from playback
data and sending data directly via the sequencers MIDI ports.

Really the only tie in between OMPS and MIDI v2.0 is that OMPS has been
specified so as to be extensible and can accommodate larger numbers of
channels/higher data widths than the current MIDI specification.

The good news is ....that contrary to popular belief....MIDI is not dead!
For some time MIDI has appeared to be the poor relation to Audio
technologies as far as development is concerned. However with these recent
developments MIDI will get some of the attention it deserves and continue to
be a relevant factor in music production.

Regards

Gary Gregson

Email:gary@...
http://www.yme.co.uk/yme

Thank you for clarifying all of that for me, I had not heard about midi
2, but I had read a bit about OMPS, I had a feeling that you might be
lurking on this thread, so I had hoped that you would clear things up.

I still haven't read the article, so I was making a wild guess that they
maybe had something to do with each other, When are both of these likely
to be implemented?


In article <BDEGIENFICEGELEJDBEEGECCCAAA.gary@...>, Gary Gregson
<gary@...> writes
>Hi Reggie,
>
>Lets not confuse MIDI v2.0 with Open MIDI Plugin System (OMPS).
>
>MIDI v2.0 is likely to be an enhancement to the transmission protocol.
>Basically this will change the recommended Media (i.e. moving from the
>31.25Kbits/s serial cable to 1394 bus at 400Mbits/s or more) and enhance the
>actual protocol (i.e. break the 16 channel/port limit, 7bit/data limit and
>add reliable time stamping). All of this is well overdue and therefore
>thoroughly welcome. Yamaha appear to be at the forefront of this technology
>with their mLan proposals.
>
>[its worth noting that the article referenced in Jons post, highlights the
>technical problems associated with the current crop of USB devices. There
>have been several discussions on the reliability of USB devices within the
>AN1x forum. During those discussions I have never been an advocate of MIDI
>over USB. So I find it refreshing to see an independent article that lays
>down the facts. Hopefully this will encourage more manufacturers to move to
>1394 solutions and to stop pushing USB solutions that for the most part do
>not work reliably under stress]
>
>OMPS on the other hand does not affect the MIDI spec in any way. It is
>simply a software plugin format (similar to DirectX or VST plugins for
>audio). I have been working with Yamaha/Microsoft/Cakewalk on this format.
>The aim is really to allow the MIDI functionality of sequencer products to
>be enhanced by third party plugin components (So for instance third parties
>can provide device editors, enhanced edit views, MIDI processors and other
>MIDI data manipulation functions as simple plugins to existing sequencer
>software). This will deliver timely support for new devices/MIDI formats etc
>to end users within their chosen sequencing environments.  OMPS can also
>potentially deliver more flexible softsynths than are currently possible
>under VST. This does not mean OMPS is intended as a replacement for
>VST....its more of a complimentary technology.
>
>So for example in future, it may be possible for me to provide editors
>similar to XGedit/AN1xEdit that run directly within your sequencer.....no
>more Hubi cables or device conflicts etc and no need to export data to MIDI
>etc for transfer to your sequencer. Instead the editor would be capable of
>directly reading and writing the sequencers tracks, automating from playback
>data and sending data directly via the sequencers MIDI ports.
>
>Really the only tie in between OMPS and MIDI v2.0 is that OMPS has been
>specified so as to be extensible and can accommodate larger numbers of
>channels/higher data widths than the current MIDI specification.
>
>The good news is ....that contrary to popular belief....MIDI is not dead!
>For some time MIDI has appeared to be the poor relation to Audio
>technologies as far as development is concerned. However with these recent
>developments MIDI will get some of the attention it deserves and continue to
>be a relevant factor in music production.
>
>Regards
>
>Gary Gregson
>
>Email:gary@...
>http://www.yme.co.uk/yme
>
>
>
>
>Community email addresses:
>  Post message: AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com
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>
>Shortcut URL to this page:
>   http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AN1x-list
> 
>
>Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ 
>
>

See ya,

Reggie

Reggie wrote:
>>
I still haven't read the article, so I was making a wild guess that they
maybe had something to do with each other, When are both of these likely
to be implemented?
<<

MIDI v2....who knows...the MMA is not know for its speed in addressing
changes :-(

mLan already exists...the specs/chipsets are available from Yamaha under
license.

OMPS v1.0 is pretty much finalised...a full SDK should be available shortly.
Its more a case of if/when third parties will implement. Yamaha expect to
have some OMPS based products available by the end of the year.

Regards

Gary Gregson

Email:gary@...
http://www.yme.co.uk/yme