From owner-freebsd-hackers@FreeBSD.ORG Mon Jul 10 02:09:55 2006 Return-Path: X-Original-To: freebsd-hackers@freebsd.org Delivered-To: freebsd-hackers@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 73A9F16A4DA for ; Mon, 10 Jul 2006 02:09:55 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from zb10948@oss.unist.hr) Received: from palunko.srce.hr (palunko.srce.hr [161.53.2.67]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id DBBD643D49 for ; Mon, 10 Jul 2006 02:09:54 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from zb10948@oss.unist.hr) Received: from cmung5680.cmu.carnet.hr (cmung5680.cmu.carnet.hr [193.198.150.92]) by palunko.srce.hr (8.13.7/8.13.6) with ESMTP id k6A25wwC024732 for ; Mon, 10 Jul 2006 04:05:59 +0200 (CEST) Date: Mon, 10 Jul 2006 04:09:15 -0700 To: freebsd-hackers@freebsd.org From: "zarko bulatovic" Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; delsp=yes; charset=iso-8859-15 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Message-ID: User-Agent: Opera M2/8.50 (Win32, build 7700) X-Scanned-By: MIMEDefang 2.55 on 161.53.2.67 Subject: FreeBSD MIDI support X-BeenThere: freebsd-hackers@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: Technical Discussions relating to FreeBSD List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Mon, 10 Jul 2006 02:09:55 -0000 Are there any projects regarding this topic? I recently started coding kernel modules, however, there are some design issues involving "way" of MIDI implementation, so i hoped to contact somebody who's working on the same thing, or to join develop. team if there is any project underway. Anyways, the first dillema i have is about softsynth rendering, naturally early-stage drivers wouldn't use sc's onboard wavetables and their hardware means of MIDI rendering, so i would rather use software MIDI playback. Usage of hardware functionality should come later. The thing that bugs me, is it worth coding this inside of kernel module? Meaning that some /dev device inputs midi messages to kern.module, witch uses built-in software synthessis based on SF2 specification for MIDI rendering. There are already userland programs that do that, like timidiy and fluidsynth. Maybe it would be better to start on hardware functionalty at once, eg. pure device drivers that control soundcard's MIDI port, however, allaround kernel module should bring a decent degree of standardization. This is the way software MIDI is implemented on Windows and MacOSX, kernel mode rendering through software synthersizer (altrough i think they use DLS synthessis rather than SF2, but that really isnt important). So the question is, what is the best goal for MIDI on FreeBSD, a quickest way of controlling external synths/MIDI hardware (meaning ditch the software synth and set your mind on various hardware specs), or an all-around MIDI drivers providing playback without "3rd party" userland apps? Thank you in advance. Zarko Bulatovic