MIDI - complete noob questions

[BeigeFM]

Ok so I'd just left it powered off long enough for it to boot. Usually a power off switch will clear the system ram after a crash but I've not actually had a proper unstable crash since I changed the RAM to non parity.

It's been off a couple of mins, powered on, memory test just passed complete.

I'm trying to understand what happened, as it's took a good couple of mins power off for it to boot cleanly. Is it possible that a capacitor on the midi side was holding power? I even removed all peripherals before i powered on at one point and still had four bombs.

Something strange going on for sure. Anyway this goes beyond my original MIDI question so I will let this thread die off.

Fry me a kipper Ill no doubt be back.

[peters]

Could the extra power draw have affected the psu ?

[BeigeFM]

Power supply was recapped last year and I checked the outputs. It's been fine.
I'm pushing 12v 1amp through the synth. I have a 10v 1amp PSU so I may give that a test.
Midi cables are cheap eBay ones. I could try 5 pin rather than 3 pin Midi cables and see if that helps.

The ST hadn't been powered on long at all. A few mins. I hadn't even loaded any software on it. And on each reboot I was met with four bombs. Tested again this morning... She's fine.

I did find another four bomb thread on this excellent forum. Dma issues were mentioned. Also resistors around the blitter being incorrect value.

I'm going to wait for the drum machine to be delivered on Saturday and see how that behaves.

I could try switching the blitter off as well.

What's worried me is the persistence of the four bombs even after full switch off. I'm concerned power is being fed back through the midi port and this is somehow pushing charge in to the ST which is taking time to dissipate.

I'm lost with this bug to be honest. I guess long term testing will be needed.

[JezC]

The MIDI ports are all supposed to have optical isolation on them, so it shouldn't be drawing too much current via those unless there are multiple faults.

I vaguely remember that there is a current loop through the cables to allow the loss of a cable to be detected (and try to prevent any hanging notes if detected) - but this should only be of the order of tens of mA.

The ST MIDI OUT also have the THRU on the two 'spare' pins on the 5 pin DIN connector, so sometimes that causes operational issues - but that won't be the case with the 3 pin cables (provided they are actual MIDI cables ;))

[BeigeFM]

JezC that's good Information thank you. I was looking at five wire Vs 3 wire midi. I will check the pins for continuity on one cable and if they are five wire I will disable two wires.

Optical isolation. Yes I've read this and good point thanks for bringing that up.

The synth (pss-780) has a midi button, regardless of if it's in midi mode or not I can see the midi input on CUBASE flickering to keys so it's still outputting some data on the cable.


I also have long cables, they are coiled up, so I will uncoil them.

After disconnecting all cables and the SD 4 ST I still got the four bombs until it had sat powered off for a couple of mins while I posted here.

Its unusual behaviour. Perhaps it's RF.

[smoore100]

I had no end of weird problems until I changed my PSU, re-capping didn't help but with the new Exxos PSU most weirdness has gone away.

May be worth considering?

Also I'd buy some more midi cables, and not long ones. I bought a couple from Amazon 2 or 3 meters long, for about a tenner.

Just some thoughts - I don't really know what I'm talking about!

Cheers,

Simon

[BeigeFM]

So last night I got my screwdriver and snips out and cut wires to pins 1 and 5 on both cables.

This looks to have fixed stability problems. I've got to go to work so I'll post in a week or so when I've got things together a bit more.

I've ordered a Roland mt 120 off eBay.to celebrate.

Missus may kill me before I return back here.

More testing, learning and a fair amount of dreaming is going to be required.

I've already looked for a list of ST games that support MIDI. I knew it was a thing but having watched hours of YouTube I didn't realise that MIDI Doom was a thing... And monkey island... And everything else (dos)


Oh dear. What have I become!

[JezC]

So last night I got my screwdriver and snips out and cut wires to pins 1 and 5 on both cables.

This looks to have fixed stability problems. I've got to go to work so I'll post in a week or so when I've got things together a bit more.

:cheers: :thumbup:

I've ordered a Roland mt 120 off eBay.to celebrate.

Missus may kill me before I return back here.

:chairsmack: :hide:

More testing, learning and a fair amount of dreaming is going to be required.

I've already looked for a list of ST games that support MIDI. I knew it was a thing but having watched hours of YouTube I didn't realise that MIDI Doom was a thing... And monkey island... And everything else (dos)


Oh dear. What have I become!

Don't worry - you're in good company on this forum! Plus, there are far more destructive kinds of addiction this keeps you away from!
:awwww:

[BeigeFM]

I've ordered two more midi cables that are five pin again so I can continue to test stability and benefits (if any) of five pin over three pin.

Bombjack on midi was a little disappointing lol, I'd really love to see an Afterburner St port with Midi. I think I saw something along these lines while I was forum hoping so I'll have to go back and check when I get time. Afterburner on MT32 msdos sounds amazing. Ill be in the charity shops in a few months looking for an old pc to dedicate to 90s games.

The MT120 hasn't arrived yet but it's been posted, meanwhile I've been drooling over eBay listings.

I wished I'd been a little more patient I as I saw an MT155 on eBay listed at the same price. I threw all my cares into the F**k it bucket and bought it anyway. Checked my credit card and then cried for a short time. I can always flip the MT120 back and lose a few quid on eBay fees... I have a few items for sale so hoping to cover my costs.

I found that the PSS780 when powered off but connected to the mains is keeping the ST memory from clearing on power off. Reset works tho I think. If I power off both at the plug then the memory of the ST will clear so yes the PSS is causing some power related, memory retention issues.

And so then begins my Midi journey. I guess I know a lot more than I did a couple of weeks back so I will let the thread die off for now. It will be months before I'm somewhat competent In anything MIDI related.

Knowing what I know now I'd of probably not bought the Yamaha toy synths lol. I've been to eager beaver about the whole thing. Still I can't complain too much as the prices of the old 90s tech is pretty cheap.

There's nothing more enjoyable than stripping the electronics out of this stuff, chucking the plastics into a hot bath of soapy water then bringing them back to life with a a cloth and some Novus plastic polish.

[Darklord]

I've already looked for a list of ST games that support MIDI. I knew it was a thing but having watched hours of YouTube I didn't realise that MIDI Doom was a thing... And monkey island... And everything else (dos)

Oh dear. What have I become!

You have become...an Atarian! :cheers:

I have a Roland MT-32 and while the list of ST games that support MIDI isn't huge, it does make a
huge difference in the sound. I've used mine with Ultima III, IV, and anything from Sierra Online.

There's a list that's (sort of) maintained on a handful of Atari forums. I'm not really sure how
complete or incomplete it is. Ultima V is on that list but I never got it to work here... :(

Here's the list that I have:

Eco
Pirates

Ultima III: Exodus
Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar
Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny ?

Albedo
Bomb Jack
Lost Dutchman Mine
Sapiens
Karate Kid part 2

Space Quest 1: The Sarien Encounter
Space Quest 2: Vohaul's Revenge
Space Quest 3: The Pirates of Pestulon

The Adventures of Maddog Williams in the Dungeons of Uridian
Codename: ICEMAN
The Colonel's Bequest
Conquests of Camelot: The Search for the Grail
Cruise for a Corpse
Hero's Quest (aka Quest for Glory)
Hoyle's Official Book of Games: Volume 1

King's Quest II: Romancing the Throne
King's Quest III: To Heir is Human
King's Quest IV: The Perils of Rosella

Leisure Suit Larry II: Goes Looking for Love (in Several Wrong Places)
Leisure Suit Larry III: Passionate Patti in Pursuit of the Pulsating Pectorals

Operation Stealth (aka James Bond 007:The Stealth Affair)

Police Quest II: The Vengeance