Hi Cloudschatze,

Good points.

The serial configuration of the Amiga tops at 31250, believe that to be the limit on base Amiga model (68000), on which I would actually suggest to use 19200 on PC bridgeboard not to overload the Amiga CPU with serial activity. This latter works pretty well with DOS games MIDI, and MPU-232 and COM2 also set to 19200.

My understanding of Amiga MIDI implementation is that games (at least the ones I tried in WHDLoad, e.g. SQ3, and ScummVM, e.g. SQ4) go through a system library (camd.library), which takes care of setting the serial port to a MIDI compatible configuration (31250). Believe the original one was binary only, but there seems to be an updated open-source implementation in Aminet. Will take a look to see how to modify to use 19200, so it's compatible with both DOS and Amiga games, when using MPU-232 😀

In relation to "RS232-supporting tone generators" is that something available on the market or a DIY project ?

And for gmidi.msd...that would be great! GM on the talkie version of Sam & Max, is plagued by hanging note (type 2), on multiple setups, and the serial implementation hopefully will work it around.

Btw: do we know why SoftMPU doesn't sort the hanging note (type 2) ? doesn't it internally implement a buffer, which should prevent the off command to be overwritten by the next ?

Thanks for your help!
-max

sunmax wrote on 2022-01-13, 18:46:

In relation to "RS232-supporting tone generators" is that something available on the market or a DIY project ?

Yes, any tone generator with an 8-pin mini DIN, "To Host" or "Computer" port. I prefer Yamaha's MU devices for this kind of setup, as they provide some additional functionality beyond most of Roland's RS-232 implementations.

Btw: do we know why SoftMPU doesn't sort the hanging note (type 2) ? doesn't it internally implement a buffer, which should prevent the off command to be overwritten by the next.

That behavior is generally related to the SB MPU being "busy" for a duration that exceeds a given wait threshhold, resulting in a particular MIDI driver or routine dropping the byte. My understanding is that SoftMPU reflects the DRR status of the hardware, so any MPU "busyness" related to SB "DSP" operations would persist.

As mentioned i will make a video about the MPU-232 where i am not using SoftMPU.
In that regard i have consolidated all patches i could find from Cloudschatze in this group and vcfed.org. See attached file.
If you want me to remove that file, just let me know.
If you have comments or anything to to add, please do. That goes for all.

I have these questions that i hope someone can help me with:
- Does SER38400.COM configure any other serial port settings? 7 bit 8 bit, parity etc.
- Can i use any tool to set the serial port to 38400baud?
- Is there a list of games that support MIDI over Serial Port without patches or SoftMPU?
- Is the list of patched games in the attached zip file complete? - UPDATE: File is removed. Look for new file in later posts.

Jinxter wrote on 2022-01-23, 00:26:

- Does SER38400.COM configure any other serial port settings? 7 bit 8 bit, parity etc.

Yes, the "8-N-1" serial format (8 data bits, no parity bit, 1 stop bit) is also configured.

- Can i use any tool to set the serial port to 38400baud?

Yes, as long as the aforementioned format is also set.

- Is there a list of games that support MIDI over Serial Port without patches or SoftMPU?

I'm not aware of a single Western game title that supports MIDI via the serial port. Several Japanese titles do however (for those relevant systems), where it's generally referred to as "RS-MIDI" support.

- Is the list of patched games in the attached zip file complete?

No, several patches from the VCFed thread are missing, including those for the Microprose games. There is also yet a fair amount of stuff that I haven't gotten around to making available...

Cloudschatze wrote on 2022-01-26, 05:25:

No, several patches from the VCFed thread are missing, including those for the Microprose games. There is also yet a fair amount of stuff that I haven't gotten around to making available...

I skipped page 2 on the VCFed thread - it was very late when I consolidated the files.
Attached is a new version of the package.

Kamerat wrote on 2021-05-11, 22:41:

Neat little device. […]
Show full quote

Neat little device.

Roland has some Windows drivers for serial MIDI that could be useful:
Serial MIDI driver for Windows 95/98/ME.
Serial MIDI driver for Windows 2000/XP.

here is a message with a link to a roland serial midi driver pack that also contains win 3.x drivers:

darry wrote on 2020-12-23, 12:08:

MPU-401 compatibility is only required for DOS applications. […]
Show full quote

MPU-401 compatibility is only required for DOS applications.

Windows applications can use any MIDI port for which Windows has a driver installed . An MPU-401 compatible interface is not required for Windows .

To use a serial MIDI cable under Windows 3.1, the proper driver is required . The only Windows 3.1 driver package for Roland serial MIDI drvices that I have found is this . It contains drivers for both serial MIDI and MPU-401 . You must use the serial MIDI one, not the MPU-401 one . Contrary to what the file name says, this should not be SCC-1 specific and should work for all serial MIDI equipped Roland devices as far as I know. In fact, the serial MIDI part likely does not even apply to the SCC-1 as I has no serial port interface as far as I know .

Roland-SCC-1-MPU401-Windows-Drivers.zip

EDIT : Source is http://www.houseofsynth.com/roland-scc-1-wind … ndows-95-driver

ultramars wrote on 2022-01-31, 20:32:

Roland-SCC-1-MPU401-Windows-Drivers.zip

Thank you.
Here is a working link: download/file.php?id=98825

I made a video on using serial MIDI on an 8088 / NECV20: Take a look: https://youtu.be/-bk_dpQA750
And since my computer also supports Plantronics CGA - i have both 16colors and MIDI music on an my favourite PC/XT.

This is absolutely amazing. Just finally got a SC-55 after decades. This will let me use it with my Toshiba Tecra 720CDT. I am ordering one right now and am so happy.

I've loved this idea since the start, but they appear to be out of stock now. Anyone know a way to reach Serdashop? I sent them a message a week ago with no luck.

RiverBoa wrote on 2022-09-16, 01:31:

I've loved this idea since the start, but they appear to be out of stock now. Anyone know a way to reach Serdashop? I sent them a message a week ago with no luck.

This thread is as good as anywhere. @dreamblaster will see your post. 😀

Pierre32 wrote on 2022-09-16, 01:39:

RiverBoa wrote on 2022-09-16, 01:31:

I've loved this idea since the start, but they appear to be out of stock now. Anyone know a way to reach Serdashop? I sent them a message a week ago with no luck.

This thread is as good as anywhere. @dreamblaster will see your post. 😀

Good to know. I've lurked here for years and didn't know if this was a good place to look. I'm good for at least 2-3 of those when they're back. I want to pair them up with a CM-32LN for a totally portable MIDI solution. I saw the thread about the mod to get rid of the vibrato bug, but I don't have an EPROM programmer.

RiverBoa wrote on 2022-09-16, 01:31:

I've loved this idea since the start, but they appear to be out of stock now. Anyone know a way to reach Serdashop? I sent them a message a week ago with no luck.

Hi

Expecting a small amount in about 3 weeks

dreamblaster wrote on 2022-09-16, 04:31:

RiverBoa wrote on 2022-09-16, 01:31:

I've loved this idea since the start, but they appear to be out of stock now. Anyone know a way to reach Serdashop? I sent them a message a week ago with no luck.

Hi

Expecting a small amount in about 3 weeks

Thank you! Looking forward to giving it a try.

ooh, cloudschatze made a video showing MPU-232 and OPL3LPT, on tandy 1000 hx :
https://youtu.be/GDwH1-HnkhE