I got side tracked once again the other day, and found myself studying some posts on various websites about MIDI-CAR and it's player. I had seen some things about this a couple years back, but at the time it appeared to be focused on a PBI based hardware device only. And because my focus had been centered around SIO based MIDIMATE devices, I wasn't all that interested. However when I was having a discussion with AtariAge member flashjazzcat and the subject came up about how it would be nice if there were a new and better MIDI player on the Atari 8-bit, AtariAge member PeBe popped in and said MIDI-CAR now had an SIO driver designed for MIDIMATE and its clones, and that I should check it out.
Well long story short, I did check it out and I was quite impressed at what I saw. So much so, that I decided to package it in an ATR and put it on my MIDI page as a download to take the place of that less than desirable MIDIPLAY program.
MIDI-CAR is a full featured player. It accommodates multiple drives, and works very well with SpartaDos and SDX, as well as other DOS'es. The interface is very intuitive to use, and it has an easily accessible help screen that can be viewed anytime for specific command shortcuts, and brief descriptions of what they do.
This player also fully supports the MIDI-CLK output as generated by MIDIMATE and compatible SIO2MIDI devices for proper syncing and timing, something that MIDIPLAY did not do.
However in my testing I ran across a problem with that last aspect when trying to launch the player from FujiNet. It seems that an issue has existed with FujiNet's firmware which has been pulling the SIO CLK-IN line low during its idle state, and holding it there. This defeated the MIDIMATE's MIDI-CLK output which also shared that same SIO pin. The end result was that MIDI-CAR was not able to actually send MIDI data to the end device, thus there was no music being heard from a connected synthesizer. Luckily AtariAge member mozzwald got right on the problem and very quickly provided a test version containing a fix. Since that worked, we'll be seeing an update coming soon in the next FujiNet firmware build to come (V1.4 and before will exhibit this problem). Until that update occurs, here's a link to the patched version of the firmware.
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This MIDI player diversion gave me renewed interest in MIDIMATE devices, and I finally found time to upload some of the MIDI related stuff from previous contributors like AtariAge members Montezuma and Fierodoug5 in the form of new firmware and a new 3D printed case. Montezuma provided a SILENT "no intro" and MULE theme music version for the PIC MIDI Controller, and Fierodoug5 customized one of Mr Robot's 3D case designs for the SIO2MIDI-S2 system. Check out the MIDI page for these updates.
That covers the MIDI changes and related innovations for now.
- Michael
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