[alsa-devel] Fwd: USB MIDI Specification Update Proposal
Forwarding this in case anyone is interested in influencing this standard somehow, to make sure they don't do anything problematic for us...? Are we interested?
// David
-------- Original Message -------- Subject: USB MIDI Specification Update Proposal Date: 15 Jul 2014 19:41:23 -0400 From: MMA/IASIG Announcements info@midi.org To:
July 15, 2014
Greetings,
The MIDI Manufacturers Association ("MMA") Technical Standards Board ("TSB") has formed a working group to update the USB Class Specification for MIDI Devices.
The original version 1.0 specification was published in 1999 by the USB Implementors Forum (USB-IF). It has been implemented in hundreds (thousands?) of devices from many different manufacturers, and all of the major operating systems include "class drivers" that allow MIDI devices to connect by USB without the user needing to install a driver.
Meanwhile, the technology and the environment around MIDI and USB have changed:
* Processors are faster, and USB itself is faster * Many music devices are equipped with USB ports for MIDI, and some of those can operate at faster than MIDI-DIN speed (typically via custom USB drivers) * Popular mobile systems now also support MIDI via USB, but do not allow manufacturers to install custom drivers * Mobile has low power requirements
Given all of these factors, we think the USB-MIDI Specification could benefit from an update. We do not propose a major overhaul or any change of basic architecture, but rather a minor update that we expect to label as a version 1.1. The update will be done in collaboration with the USB-IF. Components of the proposed Version 1.1 Update that we plan to discuss include:
* Additional Device Attributes * Bandwidth Descriptors * Add Interrupt Mode * Transfer Non-MIDI Data / Meta Event * Product Identification (Logos)
We would like all commercial manufacturers of USB MIDI hardware and software to join us in this effort. If you would like to comment, ask questions, voice an opinion or suggestion, or simply have early access to the specification, please join the MMA and subscribe to the working group email mailing list.
Regards,
Mike Kent, WG Chair (Roland Corp.) Tom White, President/CEO, MMA
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(C) 2014 MIDI Manufacturers Association Incorporated.
David Henningsson wrote:
Forwarding this in case anyone is interested in influencing this standard somehow
MMA membership is available only for commercial entities, and begins at $500/year.
to make sure they don't do anything problematic for us...?
As long as they call the new version "1.1", it should be compatible.
- Additional Device Attributes
- Bandwidth Descriptors
- Add Interrupt Mode
- Transfer Non-MIDI Data / Meta Event
- Product Identification (Logos)
Are we interested?
Not really. As far as I can see, none of that it something that the driver would really care about (except for interrupt mode, which is a Roland extension already supported by Linux).
Regards, Clemens
On 2014-07-21 10:17, Clemens Ladisch wrote:
David Henningsson wrote:
Forwarding this in case anyone is interested in influencing this standard somehow
MMA membership is available only for commercial entities, and begins at $500/year.
Yup. Not something for a private person, but maybe something for the Linux Foundation?
to make sure they don't do anything problematic for us...?
As long as they call the new version "1.1", it should be compatible.
- Additional Device Attributes
- Bandwidth Descriptors
- Add Interrupt Mode
- Transfer Non-MIDI Data / Meta Event
- Product Identification (Logos)
Are we interested?
Not really. As far as I can see, none of that it something that the driver would really care about (except for interrupt mode, which is a Roland extension already supported by Linux).
Okay, thanks. I guess at some point in the future it could make sense to expose "Product Identification" in sysfs or so.
David Henningsson wrote:
On 2014-07-21 10:17, Clemens Ladisch wrote:
David Henningsson wrote:
Forwarding this in case anyone is interested in influencing this standard somehow
MMA membership is available only for commercial entities, and begins at $500/year.
Yup. Not something for a private person, but maybe something for the Linux Foundation?
This would make sense only if there were some standard we'd want to influence. (Buying a company_id/MAC address block from the IEEE would be a better use of LF's money.)
Regards, Clemens
participants (2)
-
Clemens Ladisch -
David Henningsson