Would it be possible to utilize the MIOS platform to create a MIDI router?
8*8, ins & outs, like MIDEX8 or MoTU Midi Express lines. I think this may have been proposed before, but I could not find any info on it. I bring this up because of the low latency achieved by these projects. Anyone else interested in this?
Interesting… I really hope this topic doesn’t sink to the bottom; This sounds like a great idea for a project.
That sounds like a great idea (even better if usb could be implemented)…
that is an excellent idea i hope someone with the skill to build suck a box reads this post. =) ;D
***such
Most PIC controllers contain only one UART which can be used as a MIDI interface. Alternative DIY friendly chips are hard to find and require different programming (=burner) and development tools.
A solution could be a board with 8 smaller PIC derivatives (i.E the 16F627), which are attached to a parallel bus for an uncomplicated and fast exchange of MIDI messages. However, if somebody builds me such a board (based on my schematic) I would be able to realize the appr. firmware very quickly. But so long as I have to build the board by myself, it could take much longer (due to higher priority tasks ;-))
Best Regards, Thorsten.
Thorsten - You rock! ;D
excellent thorsen…
now whos the electronic genius who is going to help out? i would but you may end up with a really nice midibox toaster =-D (not very good with electronics).
Hey Thorsen.
If you have a schematic on for a MIDI router with 8 PIC I may be able to make the board for it.
Leave me a message and I will look into it.
Kent.
Hi Kent,
alright, a preliminary schematic can now be found here:
http://www.ucapps.de/tmp/midi_router.pdf
It’s a simple master-slave design. Every slave acts as a IO device and provides a Tx buffer of 64 bytes and Rx buffer of 128 bytes. The slave firmware will be so simple, that it never has to be updated again, therefore a programming socket is not required. The brain of the system is a PIC18F based core which accesses the PIC slaves over a parallel bus. A handshake protocol (Request/Acknowledge scheme) ensures that only one PIC drives the bus at one time. Up to 8 slaves can be connected. The 100k terminators at the end of the bus ensure proper signals for fast accesses (like SCSI). The master core will cyclicaly request every slave for new data. Incoming data streams can be filtered, merged, converted and routed to any MIDI Out(s)
Best Regards, Thorsten.
Hello again
I have made a PCB board for the MIDI Router slave device, but :-/ how do I put it (as image) on the forum.
Or should I email it to you, Thosten.
Kent.
What prog did u design the pcb in? I wudda though a pdf would be good, so peeps can print n etch…
Fast work!!
Best
Dan
I made the PCB in Protel Advenced PCB Design.
I can make a pdf of the layout (It may not be 100% right size, but it should be ok)
The main problem now is how to upload it to the forum.
Kent
If u send me the file I could host it on some space for peeps no problem…
Best…
Dan
BTW: the pdf should export fine in size, just make sure fit to page or ne other ‘sizing’ setting is unchecked.
OK fund a way to get the files in here on the forum.
It is hosted on my company site until I find another way to do it.
This is just a overview, I will make a pdf of the layout later.
Kent
BTW. A litthe idea.
What about making a master with the comming PIC with USB interface, and “upti” (danish expression) we have a USB MIDI inteface with 8 in, 8 out and all sort off filter, merge, translate …
Kent
Hi Kent,
the layout look really great! But I would propose to mount 4 or 8 slave PICs on one board in order to reduce a lot of wiring effort. The junction to the core module should be 1:1 (same pinning like J5/J6/J7) to simplify the soldering. Also the pinning of the MIDI junctions should be the same like CORE:J12 and CORE:J13 so that connectors can be exchanged for testing if necessary.
Best Regards, Thorsten.
BTW. A litthe idea.
What about making a master with the comming PIC with USB interface, and “upti” (danish expression) we have a USB MIDI inteface with 8 in, 8 out and all sort off filter, merge, translate …
one after another… 
Best Regards, Thorsten.
Hi Kent,
alright, a preliminary schematic can now be found here:
http://www.ucapps.de/tmp/midi_router.pdf
Best Regards, Thorsten.
just a little question :
in your schematics it’s a PIC 16F with a 10 MHz crystal.
Is it possible or a mistake ?
thanks RAF
If you look it´s an 16f627-10 MHz…
Just an stupid question what´s the use of an midi router.. :-[
Christoffer