[PD] Getting Sysex output to work on Linux

[PSPunch]

Does anyone have any opinion on the specs suggested by Martin?
Should [sysexout] behave in this manner, or would it be more suitable to 
make this a new object rather than over write the conventional object 
for compatibility?

I have no idea if I will be skilled to fix this in the near future, but 
I really would love to see some of my MIDI controllers in action.

--
David Shimamoto


> PSPunch wrote:
>> Martin,
>>
>>
>>> I'm looking at the source code in svn, assuming you use [midiout] to 
>>> send sysex.
>>> The midiout object has one method, for floats : midiout_float(), in 
>>> x_midi.c, line 681.
>>> It just calls outmidi_byte() in s_midi.c, line 239. If Pd was 
>>> compiled with USEAPI_ALSA defined, then outmidi_byte calls 
>>> sys_alsa_putmidibyte() in s_midi_alsa.c line 234, otherwise it calls 
>>> sys_putmidibyte() in s_midi_oss.c line 182.
>>
>> Do you mean that theoretically, Pd + ALSA MIDI should be working?
>> hmmm...
> 
> Well it looks like it should but I just tried with a scope on the cable 
> and got messages using [noteout] but nothing using [midiout] with alsa 
> midi and jack. I tried sending bytes singly and in comma-separated 
> messages as well as just lists. Nothing comes out.
> 
>>
>>
>> According to IOhannes,
>>
>>> the problem is rather, that ALSA sequencer does not support MIDI in a
>>> way Pd would like it, mainly: no raw midi.
>>
> 
> Yes, it looks like the ALSA function  being called expects a complete 
> sysex message but instead it's getting one byte at a time. I guess Pd 
> should buffer the message until it gets an F7 (End of Exclusive) and 
> then send the whole thing as one packet. Not too difficult except for 
> anticipating what the the maximum message size is going to be. Maybe a 
> [sysexout] object that takes lists of bytes (and inserts the F0 and F7) 
> is in order...
> 
>>
>> Also I think one of the recent posts which I cannot locate now,
>> mentioned that it was just a matter of Pd using a function in ALSA API
>> other than what is used at the moment.
>>
> 
> Well I think it's better to send a complete sysex packet, otherwise it 
> could be trashed by a noteout or similar that occurs before the F7 goes 
> out. Really Pd should buffer the packet and only then send it to ALSA.
> 
> Martin
>