MIDI out from kx effects - is it possible?

zaboomafoo · Apr 29, 2008, 05:19 PM

Hello,

Is it possible to have MIDI output from a KX effect? Does KX SDK provide functions for MIDI out?

I would like to make a peak FX that sends MIDI messages instead of the GUI display. For example note on + velocity. That would allow for an external MIDI based meter bridge.

If this was already discussed somewhere, please provide a link to the discussion (I was not able to find it).

Regards,
Frank

Maddogg6 · Apr 29, 2008, 08:10 PM

WinAPI has functions for MIDI OUT (and can be used independent of kX SDK)
MidiOutOpen - to open a desired midi port
MidiOutDevCaps - to query the name of the midi ports (useful to select a midi port with a 'friendly' name- but a device# 0 will use the Windows default midi out port)
MidiOutShortMessage can send the typical 3-4 byte midi message (Midi channel/type, Byte 1, Byte2 - like CC#30 with a value of 112 - as a for instance)

Getting the midi device was the hardest part from this noobs point of view - but sending the message was a little tricky too because of byte and nibble orders - as I recall, seemed backwards to the way that I think of how a midi message is sent. Tho, that could just be me... ?? or maybe it was from how PureBasic works..?? its been a while since I did my one project/task
Hope that helps...

Russ · Apr 29, 2008, 08:45 PM

Right, kX functions need only be used to read/write the values from/to the DSP, what you do with those values is up to you (i.e. update a GUI or send MIDI data using Windows functions, etc).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maddogg6

but sending the message was a little tricky too because of byte and nibble orders - as I recall, seemed backwards to the way that I think of how a midi message is sent.

Hehe, it [COLOR=Gray](it is a processor thing)[/COLOR] is due to little-endian memory addressing, which basically stores data in memory in reverse [COLOR=Gray](depending on how you look at it)[/COLOR] order (least significant byte first).

zaboomafoo · Apr 29, 2008, 10:07 PM

Thanks for the replies. That is what I was hoping to hear.

My crazy idea is to make a midi control surface which will control DSP through kxcontrol. Basically something similar to the digital mixers (lets say yamaha 01v). That is already supported in kxdriver. For the midi messages going out off the kxdriver I will have to do the coding myself. That way I can implement meter bridge for the control surface.

Regards,
Frank

stylus02 · May 1, 2008, 09:35 AM

building a digital mixer is a possible idea. next problem, beside the meters, is to have a lot of a/d inputs. there are 4 analog mono in's (2 stereo) on the audigy. additionally the card provides spdif's which have to be connected with (selfmade) a/d converters. the user "travel.rec" (i think it was his name..) did it successfully.

why you want control the meters via midi ? the mixer in's and out's are analog. why not using analog display circuits?
the soundcard does only the low- noise digital mixing & effects (in one box).

stylus

zaboomafoo · May 1, 2008, 06:53 PM

My plan is to stuff 3 audigy cards (or 2 audigy and one live card) into the computer. that gives me 12 inputs. There will be one master card and two slaves which will send their inputs (over spdif) to the master. since audigy (SB0090) has only 3 spdif inputs, that would give me max of 10 separate mono inputs, which will be ok.
There is a thread somewhere here that shows how to connect 3 cards together.

This would give me (all in one):

* 10 ASIO inputs for recording - so I can use this computer as a HD recorder. That would be done by running REAPER and recording 10 ASIO inputs

* a nice 10 input digital (DSP based) mixer, with many outputs (since there are 3 cards). I would control the mixer with some kind of MIDI control surface (working on that now, based on midibox.org project).

* standalone DSP effect box

My goal is to have a standalone HD recorder and mixer in one box. No mouse, no keyboard, no screen. All in and out communication would be done through MIDI. That is why I am looking at the MIDI based meter. It will be easy to build a simple midi device with LCD screen mounted to the computer case which will show the meters and some other information.

Edit: having a DSP / MIDI based meter bridge makes it very flexible: I can switch it between input, post compressor, most EQ, post fader, you name it. Building something like that in analog is way beyond my knowledge

.

I think I have all the pieces, basically merging three great projects: kx driver, REAPER and midibox.org into one.

Regards,
Frank

stylus02 · May 3, 2008, 02:44 PM

mm.. the "midibox" is a very impressive midicontroller- project with microchip 18f452 pic. additionally there are daughterboards like lcd- display, synthesizer ic's (sid, opl), merger, processors, usb-, com connectors, pic- burner..
this could interest a lot of people. www.uCApps.de

Apr 29, 2008, 05:19 PM	#1
zaboomafoo DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 28 Rep Power: 0	MIDI out from kx effects - is it possible? Hello, Is it possible to have MIDI output from a KX effect? Does KX SDK provide functions for MIDI out? I would like to make a peak FX that sends MIDI messages instead of the GUI display. For example note on + velocity. That would allow for an external MIDI based meter bridge. If this was already discussed somewhere, please provide a link to the discussion (I was not able to find it). Regards, Frank

May 1, 2008, 09:35 AM	#5
stylus02 HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: germany, sb0090 Posts: 242 Rep Power: 26	building a digital mixer is a possible idea. next problem, beside the meters, is to have a lot of a/d inputs. there are 4 analog mono in's (2 stereo) on the audigy. additionally the card provides spdif's which have to be connected with (selfmade) a/d converters. the user "travel.rec" (i think it was his name..) did it successfully. why you want control the meters via midi ? the mixer in's and out's are analog. why not using analog display circuits? the soundcard does only the low- noise digital mixing & effects (in one box). stylus Last edited by stylus02; May 1, 2008 at 12:24 PM.

May 1, 2008, 06:53 PM	Thread Starter #6
zaboomafoo DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 28 Rep Power: 0	My plan is to stuff 3 audigy cards (or 2 audigy and one live card) into the computer. that gives me 12 inputs. There will be one master card and two slaves which will send their inputs (over spdif) to the master. since audigy (SB0090) has only 3 spdif inputs, that would give me max of 10 separate mono inputs, which will be ok. There is a thread somewhere here that shows how to connect 3 cards together. This would give me (all in one): * 10 ASIO inputs for recording - so I can use this computer as a HD recorder. That would be done by running REAPER and recording 10 ASIO inputs * a nice 10 input digital (DSP based) mixer, with many outputs (since there are 3 cards). I would control the mixer with some kind of MIDI control surface (working on that now, based on midibox.org project). * standalone DSP effect box My goal is to have a standalone HD recorder and mixer in one box. No mouse, no keyboard, no screen. All in and out communication would be done through MIDI. That is why I am looking at the MIDI based meter. It will be easy to build a simple midi device with LCD screen mounted to the computer case which will show the meters and some other information. Edit: having a DSP / MIDI based meter bridge makes it very flexible: I can switch it between input, post compressor, most EQ, post fader, you name it. Building something like that in analog is way beyond my knowledge . I think I have all the pieces, basically merging three great projects: kx driver, REAPER and midibox.org into one. Regards, Frank Last edited by zaboomafoo; May 1, 2008 at 07:00 PM.

Apr 29, 2008, 08:10 PM	#2
Maddogg6 Tail Razer Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bernyurass, AZ - USA Posts: 4,027 Rep Power: 50	WinAPI has functions for MIDI OUT (and can be used independent of kX SDK) MidiOutOpen - to open a desired midi port MidiOutDevCaps - to query the name of the midi ports (useful to select a midi port with a 'friendly' name- but a device# 0 will use the Windows default midi out port) MidiOutShortMessage can send the typical 3-4 byte midi message (Midi channel/type, Byte 1, Byte2 - like CC#30 with a value of 112 - as a for instance) Getting the midi device was the hardest part from this noobs point of view - but sending the message was a little tricky too because of byte and nibble orders - as I recall, seemed backwards to the way that I think of how a midi message is sent. Tho, that could just be me... ?? or maybe it was from how PureBasic works..?? its been a while since I did my one project/task Hope that helps...

Apr 29, 2008, 10:07 PM	Thread Starter #4
zaboomafoo DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 28 Rep Power: 0	Thanks for the replies. That is what I was hoping to hear. My crazy idea is to make a midi control surface which will control DSP through kxcontrol. Basically something similar to the digital mixers (lets say yamaha 01v). That is already supported in kxdriver. For the midi messages going out off the kxdriver I will have to do the coding myself. That way I can implement meter bridge for the control surface. Regards, Frank

May 3, 2008, 02:44 PM	#7
stylus02 HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: germany, sb0090 Posts: 242 Rep Power: 26	mm.. the "midibox" is a very impressive midicontroller- project with microchip 18f452 pic. additionally there are daughterboards like lcd- display, synthesizer ic's (sid, opl), merger, processors, usb-, com connectors, pic- burner.. this could interest a lot of people. www.uCApps.de