General-
For Windows programming we strongly recommend that  you
use the Windows MIDI API.
For other applications there are a few things you need to know
before you start programming. For WindowsCE procgramming,k
have look at our WindowsCE page. It is actually very easy to
access the MidiLink hardware as long as you know how to access
the serial port from you program.
You can find general serial port programming info here.
MidiLink hardware should be regarded as a simple baudrate
converting device.
All MIDI messages must be constructed in software and sent
to the serial port Byte for Byte.

Serial Port setup-
Baudrate: 38400
Databits: 8
Paritybit: None
StopBits: 1
Power supply: RTS= Hi, DTR= Hi

Handshaking-
In order to handle Baudrate down-conversion
MIDI-out Bytes are handshaked by a CTS-change. After
sending a MIDI Byte to MidiLink HW the driver must wait
until CTS-Change (Hi->Lo or Lo->Hi) is detected before
next Byte is sent.

In a PC the handshaking is easily handled in User-Mode
with good timing results.

PocketPC-
MidiLink has been successfully interfaced on the PocketPC
platform. Since no installable MIDI drivers so far is supported
the only way to use a external MIDI interface is to program
directly to the serial port.
An example of this is Johannes Freybergers very nice
PocketPC application for the Compaq iPaq.
 
 
 

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