Does anybody know if there any firm still makes no-frills midi sequencers 
like the old Alesis MMT8(?) and the Roland PMA5 i.e. just outputting midi 
data, simple interface, no fancy gizmos onboard sound banks etc, etc ?

Or is this all one by laptops/netbooks etc running software sequencers 
through USB/midi interfaces, or built into fancy keyboard workstations?

"Mark Williams" <spam.me@your.peril> wrote in message 
news:0amdnSDb7Knn6D_XnZ2dnUVZ8vqdnZ2d@bt.com...
> Does anybody know if there any firm still makes no-frills midi sequencers 
> like the old Alesis MMT8(?) and the Roland PMA5 i.e. just outputting midi 
> data, simple interface, no fancy gizmos onboard sound banks etc, etc ?
>
> Or is this all one by laptops/netbooks etc running software sequencers 
> through USB/midi interfaces, or built into fancy keyboard workstations?
>
>
>

Errr,   MIDI isn't sound. Its data. A sequencer is todays DAW.

So you'll need software to "translate" it the MISI data into sound - either 
a DAW (Sonar, Reaper or a freebie etc) or sound banks (example : that come 
with SoundBlasters etc). Or if you're hard up use MS GW WaveTable SW Synth 
...... from the stoneage !

The choice is boggling.

All MIDI controllers/keyboards today are USB powered or connected.

CASIO still make, AFAIA machines, with onboard "amps" or you could pick up a 
second hand model then plug the audio out into your soundcard or amp.If you 
want something modern, then get a good keyboard that outputs directly to the 
MIDI inputs of your soundcard (USB or other) and then use a DAW - Sonar is 
midi and audio, its expensive but very good, or Reaper = free if you don't 
mind the nag screen.

A full blown sequencer such as Sonar, and has more bells and whistles, than 
Reaper or the freebies on the market.

Another alternative, which is free, is to buy a copy of Computer Musician 
and use the sequencer on the DVD, which is free and can handle MIDI via your 
soundcard. At the end of the day it all depends on what you want to do, and 
how.

Cheers,
Jerry

Mark Williams <spam.me@your.peril> wrote:

> Does anybody know if there any firm still makes no-frills midi sequencers
> like the old Alesis MMT8(?) and the Roland PMA5 i.e. just outputting midi
> data, simple interface, no fancy gizmos onboard sound banks etc, etc ?

Yes, but not as simple as they used to be.
Because it is just as simple to throw some basic sound generators in
them for not much cost, the really simple sequencers (and probably the
cheapest) tend to be the sort of band-in-a-box things, like the yamaha
QYs and the like.
Obviously you can get computer ones, at the basic level (ie, the PMA/MMT
level) normally for free.

There are still hardware sequencers, but the frills are certainly up, so
you have grids of lights, or interesting ways to create music, but quite
frilly and most certainly not cheap. Pretty well all the companies do
the more complicated ones, normally built into controllers.



-- 
Woody

www.alienrat.com

"Orange"  wrote in message 
news:4aa2a20f$0$17769$ba4acef3@news.orange.fr...
>
> "Mark Williams" <spam.me@your.peril> wrote in message 
> news:0amdnSDb7Knn6D_XnZ2dnUVZ8vqdnZ2d@bt.com...
>> Does anybody know if there any firm still makes no-frills midi sequencers 
>> like the old Alesis MMT8(?) and the Roland PMA5 i.e. just outputting midi 
>> data, simple interface, no fancy gizmos onboard sound banks etc, etc ?
>>
>> Or is this all one by laptops/netbooks etc running software sequencers 
>> through USB/midi interfaces, or built into fancy keyboard workstations?
>>

> Errr,   MIDI isn't sound. Its data. A sequencer is todays DAW.

<snip>

Your fascinating insight adds precious little to the sum total of my 
knowledge, but thanks for trying.

Perhaps that I should have explained that I am looking for a hardware midi 
sequencer that will work well live to drive various synth modules/drum 
machines without the hassle of either a laptop or a DAW.  There used to be 
various little boxes like the Alesis and various Roland modules with simple 
interfaces that did nothing more than spew out midi data, but they usually 
had limitations such as only playing on one 1 channel or small capacity.

About 10 years ago there were more sophisticated models with all sorts of 
features that I don't want/need like onboard tone generators and midi file 
edit/quantize functions, and lacking lots of features that I would like such 
as USB/Bluetooth/Ethernet connectivity for file uploads/downloads.  Further 
up market there are sequencers built into grooveboxes like the Roland MC-808 
or various DAWs which is far more than I need.

So I am looking for a box that has:

Plenty of memory and no realistic limit on number of songs or song length.
1 or maybe 2 MIDI out ports, it would probably have the same number of MIDI 
ins
USB connection would be nice, but some decent method of transferring data
Simple interface: stop, go, pause, track#, file transfer and that's about 
it.

A power cable that connects with sockets known in the civilised world or 
slots for battery types available in the UK and a rugged casing would be 
nice too.

"Woody"  wrote in message 
news:1j5l598.r8ng4l19joxwbN%usenet@alienrat.co.uk...
> Mark Williams <spam.me@your.peril> wrote:
>
>> Does anybody know if there any firm still makes no-frills midi sequencers
>> like the old Alesis MMT8(?) and the Roland PMA5 i.e. just outputting midi
>> data, simple interface, no fancy gizmos onboard sound banks etc, etc ?
>
> Yes, but not as simple as they used to be.
> Because it is just as simple to throw some basic sound generators in
> them for not much cost, the really simple sequencers (and probably the
> cheapest) tend to be the sort of band-in-a-box things, like the yamaha
> QYs and the like.

I suspect that they put the extra features on to differentiate them from the 
free sequencers on a laptop, but if I would rather have a sub £100 box of 
tricks that would take a few knocks, is easy to operate, particularly in the 
dark, and doesn't take 3 minutes to boot up.  The Yamaha QY-100 is probably 
the closest, but is still overkill (guitar input?!?).

This is the sort of application that ought to run on a mobile phone (OK 
that's not sensible for live, say a WinMobilePC), but the problem is 
interfacing the PPC (usually USB slave or Bluetooth) to the MIDI devices. 
MIDI over Bluetooth? Hmm, there's a thought.

"Mark Williams" <spam.me@your.peril> wrote in message 
news:0amdnSDb7Knn6D_XnZ2dnUVZ8vqdnZ2d@bt.com...
> Does anybody know if there any firm still makes no-frills midi sequencers 
> like the old Alesis MMT8(?) and the Roland PMA5 i.e. just outputting midi 
> data, simple interface, no fancy gizmos onboard sound banks etc, etc ?
>
> Or is this all one by laptops/netbooks etc running software sequencers 
> through USB/midi interfaces, or built into fancy keyboard workstations?

Nothing cheap these days:-

http://www.kentonuk.com/keybds_conts_midi-players/midi_file_players.shtml

May be cheaper to combine a netbook with a USB>midi cable.

icarusi
--

remove the 00 to reply

"Mark Williams" <spam.me@your.peril> wrote in message 
news:0amdnSDb7Knn6D_XnZ2dnUVZ8vqdnZ2d@bt.com...
> Does anybody know if there any firm still makes no-frills midi sequencers 
> like the old Alesis MMT8(?) and the Roland PMA5 i.e. just outputting midi 
> data, simple interface, no fancy gizmos onboard sound banks etc, etc ?
>
> Or is this all one by laptops/netbooks etc running software sequencers 
> through USB/midi interfaces, or built into fancy keyboard workstations?
>

There's a Roland MC-50 on eBay.  I used to have one in the early 90's.  I 
think the seller has it on Buy it Now at £75 - sorry it was several hours 
ago when I looked, and a lot's happened since :-)  It was a good machine. 
3.5" floppy drive, but if I remember correctly it needs 720KB double density 
discs

Nick

"icarusi"  wrote in message 
news:5ZWdnYpnhtAmTD_XnZ2dnUVZ8uKdnZ2d@brightview.co.uk...
> "Mark Williams" <spam.me@your.peril> wrote in message 
> news:0amdnSDb7Knn6D_XnZ2dnUVZ8vqdnZ2d@bt.com...
>> Does anybody know if there any firm still makes no-frills midi sequencers 
>> like the old Alesis MMT8(?) and the Roland PMA5 i.e. just outputting midi 
>> data, simple interface, no fancy gizmos onboard sound banks etc, etc ?
>>
>> Or is this all one by laptops/netbooks etc running software sequencers 
>> through USB/midi interfaces, or built into fancy keyboard workstations?
>
> Nothing cheap these days:-
>
> http://www.kentonuk.com/keybds_conts_midi-players/midi_file_players.shtml
>
> May be cheaper to combine a netbook with a USB>midi cable.

It looks that way.  Or maybe something like the Archos tablet devices which 
have host & slave USB ports, so you can hook up to a PC for downloads on the 
slave port and then transmit to the MIDI devices on the host port.

"Mark Williams" <spam.me@your.peril> wrote in message 
news:fZKdnfVFAe1ufz_XnZ2dneKdnZydnZ2d@bt.com...

> It looks that way.  Or maybe something like the Archos tablet devices 
> which have host & slave USB ports, so you can hook up to a PC for 
> downloads on the slave port and then transmit to the MIDI devices on the 
> host port.

What OS does the Archos use, and can you get a midi file player for it?

icarusi
--

remove the 00 to reply

Mark Williams <spam.me@your.peril> wrote:

> "Woody"  wrote in message 
> news:1j5l598.r8ng4l19joxwbN%usenet@alienrat.co.uk...
> > Mark Williams <spam.me@your.peril> wrote:
> >
> >> Does anybody know if there any firm still makes no-frills midi sequencers
> >> like the old Alesis MMT8(?) and the Roland PMA5 i.e. just outputting midi
> >> data, simple interface, no fancy gizmos onboard sound banks etc, etc ?
> >
> > Yes, but not as simple as they used to be.
> > Because it is just as simple to throw some basic sound generators in
> > them for not much cost, the really simple sequencers (and probably the
> > cheapest) tend to be the sort of band-in-a-box things, like the yamaha
> > QYs and the like.
> 
> I suspect that they put the extra features on to differentiate them from the
> free sequencers on a laptop, but if I would rather have a sub £100 box of
> tricks that would take a few knocks, is easy to operate, particularly in the
> dark, and doesn't take 3 minutes to boot up.  The Yamaha QY-100 is probably
> the closest, but is still overkill (guitar input?!?).

Well, there are older ones second hand that have less. I have a Yamaha
QY-21/22 something in that number!

> This is the sort of application that ought to run on a mobile phone (OK
> that's not sensible for live, say a WinMobilePC), but the problem is 
> interfacing the PPC (usually USB slave or Bluetooth) to the MIDI devices.
> MIDI over Bluetooth? Hmm, there's a thought.

Well, many mobiles can have USB so it should be easy enough. Otherwise,
something like a small tablet device, such as a nokia n770-810 should
work. After all, there was one on the newton!




-- 
Woody

www.alienrat.com

in ,
   Mark Williams <spam.me@your.peril> said:
> 
>  "Orange"  wrote in message 
>  news:4aa2a20f$0$17769$ba4acef3@news.orange.fr...
> >
> > "Mark Williams" <spam.me@your.peril> wrote in message 
> > news:0amdnSDb7Knn6D_XnZ2dnUVZ8vqdnZ2d@bt.com...
> >> Does anybody know if there any firm still makes no-frills midi sequencers 
> >> like the old Alesis MMT8(?) and the Roland PMA5 i.e. just outputting midi 
> >> data, simple interface, no fancy gizmos onboard sound banks etc, etc ?
> >>
> >> Or is this all one by laptops/netbooks etc running software sequencers 
> >> through USB/midi interfaces, or built into fancy keyboard workstations?
> >>
> 
> > Errr,   MIDI isn't sound. Its data. A sequencer is todays DAW.
> 
>  <snip>
> 
>  Your fascinating insight adds precious little to the sum total of my 
>  knowledge, but thanks for trying.
> 
>  Perhaps that I should have explained that I am looking for a hardware midi 
>  sequencer that will work well live to drive various synth modules/drum 
>  machines without the hassle of either a laptop or a DAW.  There used to be 
>  various little boxes like the Alesis and various Roland modules with simple 
>  interfaces that did nothing more than spew out midi data, but they usually 
>  had limitations such as only playing on one 1 channel or small capacity.
> 
>  About 10 years ago there were more sophisticated models with all sorts of 
>  features that I don't want/need like onboard tone generators and midi file 
>  edit/quantize functions, and lacking lots of features that I would like such 
>  as USB/Bluetooth/Ethernet connectivity for file uploads/downloads.  Further 
>  up market there are sequencers built into grooveboxes like the Roland MC-808 
>  or various DAWs which is far more than I need.
> 
>  So I am looking for a box that has:
> 
>  Plenty of memory and no realistic limit on number of songs or song length.
>  1 or maybe 2 MIDI out ports, it would probably have the same number of MIDI 
>  ins
>  USB connection would be nice, but some decent method of transferring data
>  Simple interface: stop, go, pause, track#, file transfer and that's about 
>  it.
> 
>  A power cable that connects with sockets known in the civilised world or 
>  slots for battery types available in the UK and a rugged casing would be 
>  nice too.

maybe an entry-level akai mpc? folks tour with them.

"icarusi"  wrote in message 
news:VdudnU3Fz70ddj_XnZ2dnUVZ8qOdnZ2d@brightview.co.uk...
> "Mark Williams" <spam.me@your.peril> wrote in message 
> news:fZKdnfVFAe1ufz_XnZ2dneKdnZydnZ2d@bt.com...
>
>> It looks that way.  Or maybe something like the Archos tablet devices 
>> which have host & slave USB ports, so you can hook up to a PC for 
>> downloads on the slave port and then transmit to the MIDI devices on the 
>> host port.
>
> What OS does the Archos use, and can you get a midi file player for it?

I think it is Android, and there are open source midi sequencers around the 
interweb.  The only issue would be making sure you had drivers that worked 
for your USB/MIDI interface.

"nickm"  wrote in message 
news:4aa2d8c4$0$2481$db0fefd9@news.zen.co.uk...
>
>
> "Mark Williams" <spam.me@your.peril> wrote in message 
> news:0amdnSDb7Knn6D_XnZ2dnUVZ8vqdnZ2d@bt.com...
>> Does anybody know if there any firm still makes no-frills midi sequencers 
>> like the old Alesis MMT8(?) and the Roland PMA5 i.e. just outputting midi 
>> data, simple interface, no fancy gizmos onboard sound banks etc, etc ?
>>
>> Or is this all one by laptops/netbooks etc running software sequencers 
>> through USB/midi interfaces, or built into fancy keyboard workstations?
>>
>
> There's a Roland MC-50 on eBay.  I used to have one in the early 90's.  I 
> think the seller has it on Buy it Now at £75 - sorry it was several hours 
> ago when I looked, and a lot's happened since :-)  It was a good machine. 
> 3.5" floppy drive, but if I remember correctly it needs 720KB double 
> density discs

Saw that, but I can't remember the last time I used a 1.44Mb diskette let 
alone a 720kb, and I don't really want to get caught out by obsolescence.

"Woody"  wrote in message 
news:1j5lhjp.1mry6du105ecd3N%usenet@alienrat.co.uk...
> Mark Williams <spam.me@your.peril> wrote:
>
>> "Woody"  wrote in message
>> news:1j5l598.r8ng4l19joxwbN%usenet@alienrat.co.uk...
>> > Mark Williams <spam.me@your.peril> wrote:
>> >
>> >> Does anybody know if there any firm still makes no-frills midi 
>> >> sequencers
>> >> like the old Alesis MMT8(?) and the Roland PMA5 i.e. just outputting 
>> >> midi
>> >> data, simple interface, no fancy gizmos onboard sound banks etc, etc ?
>> >
>> > Yes, but not as simple as they used to be.
>> > Because it is just as simple to throw some basic sound generators in
>> > them for not much cost, the really simple sequencers (and probably the
>> > cheapest) tend to be the sort of band-in-a-box things, like the yamaha
>> > QYs and the like.
>>
>> I suspect that they put the extra features on to differentiate them from 
>> the
>> free sequencers on a laptop, but if I would rather have a sub £100 box of
>> tricks that would take a few knocks, is easy to operate, particularly in 
>> the
>> dark, and doesn't take 3 minutes to boot up.  The Yamaha QY-100 is 
>> probably
>> the closest, but is still overkill (guitar input?!?).
>
> Well, there are older ones second hand that have less. I have a Yamaha
> QY-21/22 something in that number!
>
>> This is the sort of application that ought to run on a mobile phone (OK
>> that's not sensible for live, say a WinMobilePC), but the problem is
>> interfacing the PPC (usually USB slave or Bluetooth) to the MIDI devices.
>> MIDI over Bluetooth? Hmm, there's a thought.
>
> Well, many mobiles can have USB so it should be easy enough. Otherwise,
> something like a small tablet device, such as a nokia n770-810 should
> work. After all, there was one on the newton!

Mobiles with USB usually have slave ports not host ports, so you need to 
connect to a laptop, which rather defeats the point.  The alternative would 
be a small netbook or tablet device with a host port

My research indicates that some people have looked at Bluetooth to midi 
converters, but it is pricey because of the need to adjust to the MIDI data 
speed.

I have a USB/MIDI unit (UA-100), so the best route for now is a laptop.  A 
stand alsone Linux box would be nifty, but they seem to start ata round $300 
http://microcontrollershop.com/product_info.php?products_id=1439

"Mark Williams" <spam.me@your.peril> wrote in message 
news:Y5GdnVXIe46GkTnXnZ2dnUVZ8qqdnZ2d@bt.com...
>
> "Woody"  wrote in message 
> news:1j5lhjp.1mry6du105ecd3N%usenet@alienrat.co.uk...
>> Mark Williams <spam.me@your.peril> wrote:
>>
>>> "Woody"  wrote in message
>>> news:1j5l598.r8ng4l19joxwbN%usenet@alienrat.co.uk...
>>> > Mark Williams <spam.me@your.peril> wrote:
>>> >
>>> >> Does anybody know if there any firm still makes no-frills midi 
>>> >> sequencers
>>> >> like the old Alesis MMT8(?) and the Roland PMA5 i.e. just outputting 
>>> >> midi
>>> >> data, simple interface, no fancy gizmos onboard sound banks etc, etc 
>>> >> ?
>>> >
>>> > Yes, but not as simple as they used to be.
>>> > Because it is just as simple to throw some basic sound generators in
>>> > them for not much cost, the really simple sequencers (and probably the
>>> > cheapest) tend to be the sort of band-in-a-box things, like the yamaha
>>> > QYs and the like.
>>>
>>> I suspect that they put the extra features on to differentiate them from 
>>> the
>>> free sequencers on a laptop, but if I would rather have a sub £100 box 
>>> of
>>> tricks that would take a few knocks, is easy to operate, particularly in 
>>> the
>>> dark, and doesn't take 3 minutes to boot up.  The Yamaha QY-100 is 
>>> probably
>>> the closest, but is still overkill (guitar input?!?).
>>
>> Well, there are older ones second hand that have less. I have a Yamaha
>> QY-21/22 something in that number!
>>
>>> This is the sort of application that ought to run on a mobile phone (OK
>>> that's not sensible for live, say a WinMobilePC), but the problem is
>>> interfacing the PPC (usually USB slave or Bluetooth) to the MIDI 
>>> devices.
>>> MIDI over Bluetooth? Hmm, there's a thought.
>>
>> Well, many mobiles can have USB so it should be easy enough. Otherwise,
>> something like a small tablet device, such as a nokia n770-810 should
>> work. After all, there was one on the newton!
>
> Mobiles with USB usually have slave ports not host ports, so you need to 
> connect to a laptop, which rather defeats the point.  The alternative 
> would be a small netbook or tablet device with a host port
>
> My research indicates that some people have looked at Bluetooth to midi 
> converters, but it is pricey because of the need to adjust to the MIDI 
> data speed.
>
> I have a USB/MIDI unit (UA-100), so the best route for now is a laptop.  A 
> stand alsone Linux box would be nifty, but they seem to start ata round 
> $300 http://microcontrollershop.com/product_info.php?products_id=1439
>

Would an 80's Yamaha qx5 or qx21 do? They are pretty rugged.

Andrew(lefty)

"Andrew(lefty)"  wrote in message 
news:56Uom.76356$OO7.50255@text.news.virginmedia.com...
>
> "Mark Williams" <spam.me@your.peril> wrote in message 
> news:Y5GdnVXIe46GkTnXnZ2dnUVZ8qqdnZ2d@bt.com...
>>
>> "Woody"  wrote in message 
>> news:1j5lhjp.1mry6du105ecd3N%usenet@alienrat.co.uk...
>>> Mark Williams <spam.me@your.peril> wrote:
>>>
>>>> "Woody"  wrote in message
>>>> news:1j5l598.r8ng4l19joxwbN%usenet@alienrat.co.uk...
>>>> > Mark Williams <spam.me@your.peril> wrote:
>>>> >
>>>> >> Does anybody know if there any firm still makes no-frills midi 
>>>> >> sequencers
>>>> >> like the old Alesis MMT8(?) and the Roland PMA5 i.e. just outputting 
>>>> >> midi
>>>> >> data, simple interface, no fancy gizmos onboard sound banks etc, etc 
>>>> >> ?
>>>> >
>>>> > Yes, but not as simple as they used to be.
>>>> > Because it is just as simple to throw some basic sound generators in
>>>> > them for not much cost, the really simple sequencers (and probably 
>>>> > the
>>>> > cheapest) tend to be the sort of band-in-a-box things, like the 
>>>> > yamaha
>>>> > QYs and the like.
>>>>
>>>> I suspect that they put the extra features on to differentiate them 
>>>> from the
>>>> free sequencers on a laptop, but if I would rather have a sub £100 box 
>>>> of
>>>> tricks that would take a few knocks, is easy to operate, particularly 
>>>> in the
>>>> dark, and doesn't take 3 minutes to boot up.  The Yamaha QY-100 is 
>>>> probably
>>>> the closest, but is still overkill (guitar input?!?).
>>>
>>> Well, there are older ones second hand that have less. I have a Yamaha
>>> QY-21/22 something in that number!
>>>
>>>> This is the sort of application that ought to run on a mobile phone (OK
>>>> that's not sensible for live, say a WinMobilePC), but the problem is
>>>> interfacing the PPC (usually USB slave or Bluetooth) to the MIDI 
>>>> devices.
>>>> MIDI over Bluetooth? Hmm, there's a thought.
>>>
>>> Well, many mobiles can have USB so it should be easy enough. Otherwise,
>>> something like a small tablet device, such as a nokia n770-810 should
>>> work. After all, there was one on the newton!
>>
>> Mobiles with USB usually have slave ports not host ports, so you need to 
>> connect to a laptop, which rather defeats the point.  The alternative 
>> would be a small netbook or tablet device with a host port
>>
>> My research indicates that some people have looked at Bluetooth to midi 
>> converters, but it is pricey because of the need to adjust to the MIDI 
>> data speed.
>>
>> I have a USB/MIDI unit (UA-100), so the best route for now is a laptop. 
>> A stand alsone Linux box would be nifty, but they seem to start ata round 
>> $300 http://microcontrollershop.com/product_info.php?products_id=1439
>>
>
> Would an 80's Yamaha qx5 or qx21 do? They are pretty rugged.
>
Neither seems to handle data transfer well or .mid files, although I like 
the interface.  They just don't build them like they used to.

"Andrew(lefty)"  wrote in message 
news:56Uom.76356$OO7.50255@text.news.virginmedia.com...
>
> "Mark Williams" <spam.me@your.peril> wrote in message 
> news:Y5GdnVXIe46GkTnXnZ2dnUVZ8qqdnZ2d@bt.com...
>>
>> "Woody"  wrote in message 
>> news:1j5lhjp.1mry6du105ecd3N%usenet@alienrat.co.uk...
>>> Mark Williams <spam.me@your.peril> wrote:
>>>
>>>> "Woody"  wrote in message
>>>> news:1j5l598.r8ng4l19joxwbN%usenet@alienrat.co.uk...
>>>> > Mark Williams <spam.me@your.peril> wrote:
>>>> >
>>>> >> Does anybody know if there any firm still makes no-frills midi 
>>>> >> sequencers
>>>> >> like the old Alesis MMT8(?) and the Roland PMA5 i.e. just outputting 
>>>> >> midi
>>>> >> data, simple interface, no fancy gizmos onboard sound banks etc, etc 
>>>> >> ?
>>>> >
>>>> > Yes, but not as simple as they used to be.
>>>> > Because it is just as simple to throw some basic sound generators in
>>>> > them for not much cost, the really simple sequencers (and probably 
>>>> > the
>>>> > cheapest) tend to be the sort of band-in-a-box things, like the 
>>>> > yamaha
>>>> > QYs and the like.
>>>>
>>>> I suspect that they put the extra features on to differentiate them 
>>>> from the
>>>> free sequencers on a laptop, but if I would rather have a sub £100 box 
>>>> of
>>>> tricks that would take a few knocks, is easy to operate, particularly 
>>>> in the
>>>> dark, and doesn't take 3 minutes to boot up.  The Yamaha QY-100 is 
>>>> probably
>>>> the closest, but is still overkill (guitar input?!?).
>>>
>>> Well, there are older ones second hand that have less. I have a Yamaha
>>> QY-21/22 something in that number!
>>>
>>>> This is the sort of application that ought to run on a mobile phone (OK
>>>> that's not sensible for live, say a WinMobilePC), but the problem is
>>>> interfacing the PPC (usually USB slave or Bluetooth) to the MIDI 
>>>> devices.
>>>> MIDI over Bluetooth? Hmm, there's a thought.
>>>
>>> Well, many mobiles can have USB so it should be easy enough. Otherwise,
>>> something like a small tablet device, such as a nokia n770-810 should
>>> work. After all, there was one on the newton!
>>
>> Mobiles with USB usually have slave ports not host ports, so you need to 
>> connect to a laptop, which rather defeats the point.  The alternative 
>> would be a small netbook or tablet device with a host port
>>
>> My research indicates that some people have looked at Bluetooth to midi 
>> converters, but it is pricey because of the need to adjust to the MIDI 
>> data speed.
>>
>> I have a USB/MIDI unit (UA-100), so the best route for now is a laptop. 
>> A stand alsone Linux box would be nifty, but they seem to start ata round 
>> $300 http://microcontrollershop.com/product_info.php?products_id=1439
>>
>
> Would an 80's Yamaha qx5 or qx21 do? They are pretty rugged.
>
> Andrew(lefty)

Then again this would do the trick at a price with WMP and a USB/MIDI 
connector
http://www.myrugged.com/downloads/pdf/UltraMobileRugged/Spec_Sheet_CF-U1_Engl.pdf

"Mark Williams" <spam.me@your.peril> wrote in message 
news:Y5GdnVXIe46GkTnXnZ2dnUVZ8qqdnZ2d@bt.com...
>
> "Woody"  wrote in message

>> Well, many mobiles can have USB so it should be easy enough. Otherwise,
>> something like a small tablet device, such as a nokia n770-810 should
>> work. After all, there was one on the newton!
>
> Mobiles with USB usually have slave ports not host ports, so you need to 
> connect to a laptop, which rather defeats the point.  The alternative 
> would be a small netbook or tablet device with a host port

That is what the n770s-n810s are.
I don't think the n770 does host midi, but I know the 810 does. I have one 
but haven't given it a try.
I suppose for ease of use a netbook would be good, but they have fairly 
lousy battery life at the best of times.

-- 
Woody

"Mark Williams" <spam.me@your.peril> wrote in message 
news:rqKdnVlO85o0vTnXnZ2dnUVZ8nidnZ2d@bt.com...
>

> Then again this would do the trick at a price with WMP and a USB/MIDI 
> connector
> http://www.myrugged.com/downloads/pdf/UltraMobileRugged/Spec_Sheet_CF-U1_Engl.pdf

If it is a panasonic toughbook based machine, it will be quite a price!

-- 
Woody

"Woody"  wrote in message 
news:7gim72F2ot7taU1@mid.individual.net...

> I suppose for ease of use a netbook would be good, but they have fairly 
> lousy battery life at the best of times.

I think the midi-modules Mark wants to use will be mains powered so only an 
extra powersocket for the netbook psu would be required. OTOH if a mobile 
phone would do it, but an n810s isn't cheap unless you've already got it 
with a mobile internet deal.

icarusi
--

remove the 00 to reply

"Woody"  wrote in message 
news:7gim9mF2phutmU1@mid.individual.net...
> "Mark Williams" <spam.me@your.peril> wrote in message 
> news:rqKdnVlO85o0vTnXnZ2dnUVZ8nidnZ2d@bt.com...
>>
>
>> Then again this would do the trick at a price with WMP and a USB/MIDI 
>> connector
>> http://www.myrugged.com/downloads/pdf/UltraMobileRugged/Spec_Sheet_CF-U1_Engl.pdf
>
> If it is a panasonic toughbook based machine, it will be quite a price!

About the same as a top of the range Roland workstation or a Clavinova, both 
of which have built in sequencers although the latter has ivory keys too :-)

"Woody"  wrote in message 
news:7gim72F2ot7taU1@mid.individual.net...
> "Mark Williams" <spam.me@your.peril> wrote in message 
> news:Y5GdnVXIe46GkTnXnZ2dnUVZ8qqdnZ2d@bt.com...
>>
>> "Woody"  wrote in message
>
>>> Well, many mobiles can have USB so it should be easy enough. Otherwise,
>>> something like a small tablet device, such as a nokia n770-810 should
>>> work. After all, there was one on the newton!
>>
>> Mobiles with USB usually have slave ports not host ports, so you need to 
>> connect to a laptop, which rather defeats the point.  The alternative 
>> would be a small netbook or tablet device with a host port
>
> That is what the n770s-n810s are.
> I don't think the n770 does host midi, but I know the 810 does. I have one 
> but haven't given it a try.
> I suppose for ease of use a netbook would be good, but they have fairly 
> lousy battery life at the best of times.

It looks like the n810 supports USB on-the-go, so that is halfway there. 
All I would need then would be the correct cable, an app that would play 
midifiles to a USB/MIDI device and appropriate drivers for the 
operating/system USB/MIDI device.

Mark Williams wrote:
> "Woody"  wrote in message 
> news:7gim9mF2phutmU1@mid.individual.net...
>> "Mark Williams" <spam.me@your.peril> wrote in message 
>> news:rqKdnVlO85o0vTnXnZ2dnUVZ8nidnZ2d@bt.com...
>>> Then again this would do the trick at a price with WMP and a USB/MIDI 
>>> connector
>>> http://www.myrugged.com/downloads/pdf/UltraMobileRugged/Spec_Sheet_CF-U1_Engl.pdf
>> If it is a panasonic toughbook based machine, it will be quite a price!
> 
> About the same as a top of the range Roland workstation or a Clavinova, both 
> of which have built in sequencers although the latter has ivory keys too :-) 
> 
> 

I must treasure mine more than. They look very like plastic to me :-)

NB: I got some old piano keys with ivory. The ivory makes good saddle 
inserts and I've also used it (joined to bone) for nuts.

A few years ago a house which was one a piano maker's workshop was sold 
near here (Scottish Borders). In cellar, the buyer found three pairs of 
elephant tusks, bought for use for key top making. One of these turned 
out to be over 100 years old, and the largest pair of tusks extant in 
Britain.

The tusks fetched a price which exceeded the cost of the house.

David

Mark Williams <spam.me@your.peril> wrote:

> "Woody"  wrote in message 
> news:7gim72F2ot7taU1@mid.individual.net...
> > "Mark Williams" <spam.me@your.peril> wrote in message 
> > news:Y5GdnVXIe46GkTnXnZ2dnUVZ8qqdnZ2d@bt.com...
> >>
> >> "Woody"  wrote in message
> >
> >>> Well, many mobiles can have USB so it should be easy enough. Otherwise,
> >>> something like a small tablet device, such as a nokia n770-810 should
> >>> work. After all, there was one on the newton!
> >>
> >> Mobiles with USB usually have slave ports not host ports, so you need to
> >> connect to a laptop, which rather defeats the point.  The alternative
> >> would be a small netbook or tablet device with a host port
> >
> > That is what the n770s-n810s are.
> > I don't think the n770 does host midi, but I know the 810 does. I have one
> > but haven't given it a try.
> > I suppose for ease of use a netbook would be good, but they have fairly
> > lousy battery life at the best of times.
> 
> It looks like the n810 supports USB on-the-go, so that is halfway there.
> All I would need then would be the correct cable, an app that would play
> midifiles to a USB/MIDI device and appropriate drivers for the 
> operating/system USB/MIDI device. 

None of which would be very hard on its own. However, a fair bit more
work than using a netbook, but would be a nice system when it worked.


-- 
Woody

www.alienrat.com

"David Kilpatrick"  wrote in message 
news:gL-dna7Gaoh3xTnXnZ2dnUVZ8gRi4p2d@bt.com...
> Mark Williams wrote:
>> "Woody"  wrote in message 
>> news:7gim9mF2phutmU1@mid.individual.net...
>>> "Mark Williams" <spam.me@your.peril> wrote in message 
>>> news:rqKdnVlO85o0vTnXnZ2dnUVZ8nidnZ2d@bt.com...
>>>> Then again this would do the trick at a price with WMP and a USB/MIDI 
>>>> connector
>>>> http://www.myrugged.com/downloads/pdf/UltraMobileRugged/Spec_Sheet_CF-U1_Engl.pdf
>>> If it is a panasonic toughbook based machine, it will be quite a price!
>>
>> About the same as a top of the range Roland workstation or a Clavinova, 
>> both of which have built in sequencers although the latter has ivory keys 
>> too :-)
>
> I must treasure mine more than. They look very like plastic to me :-)

It is an option.  I have often toyed with the idea of starting a clavinova 
tuning service on the basis that if anyone would go to the lengths of buying 
a synthesizer dressed up as a piano beacuse:

a) they need a piano tuner to complete the effect and
b) chances are they don't really know what is under the hood.

"Woody"  wrote in message 
news:1j5nyfk.4j1psf1orv2glN%usenet@alienrat.co.uk...
> Mark Williams <spam.me@your.peril> wrote:
>
>> "Woody"  wrote in message
>> news:7gim72F2ot7taU1@mid.individual.net...
>> > "Mark Williams" <spam.me@your.peril> wrote in message
>> > news:Y5GdnVXIe46GkTnXnZ2dnUVZ8qqdnZ2d@bt.com...
>> >>
>> >> "Woody"  wrote in message
>> >
>> >>> Well, many mobiles can have USB so it should be easy enough. 
>> >>> Otherwise,
>> >>> something like a small tablet device, such as a nokia n770-810 should
>> >>> work. After all, there was one on the newton!
>> >>
>> >> Mobiles with USB usually have slave ports not host ports, so you need 
>> >> to
>> >> connect to a laptop, which rather defeats the point.  The alternative
>> >> would be a small netbook or tablet device with a host port
>> >
>> > That is what the n770s-n810s are.
>> > I don't think the n770 does host midi, but I know the 810 does. I have 
>> > one
>> > but haven't given it a try.
>> > I suppose for ease of use a netbook would be good, but they have fairly
>> > lousy battery life at the best of times.
>>
>> It looks like the n810 supports USB on-the-go, so that is halfway there.
>> All I would need then would be the correct cable, an app that would play
>> midifiles to a USB/MIDI device and appropriate drivers for the
>> operating/system USB/MIDI device.
>
> None of which would be very hard on its own. However, a fair bit more
> work than using a netbook, but would be a nice system when it worked.

Agreed, and most of the software compnents may be there already, depending 
on what is in the Maemo Linux distribution.

Woody wrote:
> "Mark Williams" <spam.me@your.peril> wrote in message 
> news:Y5GdnVXIe46GkTnXnZ2dnUVZ8qqdnZ2d@bt.com...
>>
>> "Woody"  wrote in message
> 
>>> Well, many mobiles can have USB so it should be easy enough. Otherwise,
>>> something like a small tablet device, such as a nokia n770-810 should
>>> work. After all, there was one on the newton!
>>
>> Mobiles with USB usually have slave ports not host ports, so you need 
>> to connect to a laptop, which rather defeats the point.  The 
>> alternative would be a small netbook or tablet device with a host port
> 
> That is what the n770s-n810s are.
> I don't think the n770 does host midi, but I know the 810 does. I have 
> one but haven't given it a try.
> I suppose for ease of use a netbook would be good, but they have fairly 
> lousy battery life at the best of times.

I have the Samsung N110 and I usually get 6-7 hours, and that's with the 
Wi-Fi on.

That's certainly less than a mobile phone or an internet tablet but more 
than you get from a normal laptop.

Cheers,
        Kari

Mark Williams wrote:
> "Woody"  wrote in message 
<snip>
>> None of which would be very hard on its own. However, a fair bit more
>> work than using a netbook, but would be a nice system when it worked.
> 
> Agreed, and most of the software compnents may be there already, depending 
> on what is in the Maemo Linux distribution. 

...or if you choose to run WinXP all software is of course easily 
available already.

   -- Kari

"Kari"  wrote in message 
news:1252323839.789202@vanews01...
> Mark Williams wrote:
>> "Woody"  wrote in message
> <snip>
>>> None of which would be very hard on its own. However, a fair bit more
>>> work than using a netbook, but would be a nice system when it worked.
>>
>> Agreed, and most of the software compnents may be there already, 
>> depending on what is in the Maemo Linux distribution.
>
> ...or if you choose to run WinXP all software is of course easily 
> available already.

True.  If you can show me a rugged machine (probably a built-in screen, 
screen size not important) that runs WinXP (are WinXP drivers guaranteed to 
work on Embedded XP) for less than a few hundred notes, that would fit the 
bill.

Mark Williams wrote:
> "Kari"  wrote in message 
> news:1252323839.789202@vanews01...
>> Mark Williams wrote:
>>> "Woody"  wrote in message
>> <snip>
>>>> None of which would be very hard on its own. However, a fair bit more
>>>> work than using a netbook, but would be a nice system when it worked.
>>> Agreed, and most of the software compnents may be there already, 
>>> depending on what is in the Maemo Linux distribution.
>> ...or if you choose to run WinXP all software is of course easily 
>> available already.
> 
> True.  If you can show me a rugged machine (probably a built-in screen, 
> screen size not important) that runs WinXP (are WinXP drivers guaranteed to 
> work on Embedded XP) for less than a few hundred notes, that would fit the 
> bill. 

http://www.tegatech.com.au/products/rugged_tablets/SunPad_XPT_8GB.htm

Not quite in that price range though ;-)

"Kari"  wrote in message 
news:1252328933.421382@vanews01...
> Mark Williams wrote:
>> "Kari"  wrote in message 
>> news:1252323839.789202@vanews01...
>>> Mark Williams wrote:
>>>> "Woody"  wrote in message
>>> <snip>
>>>>> None of which would be very hard on its own. However, a fair bit more
>>>>> work than using a netbook, but would be a nice system when it worked.
>>>> Agreed, and most of the software compnents may be there already, 
>>>> depending on what is in the Maemo Linux distribution.
>>> ...or if you choose to run WinXP all software is of course easily 
>>> available already.
>>
>> True.  If you can show me a rugged machine (probably a built-in screen, 
>> screen size not important) that runs WinXP (are WinXP drivers guaranteed 
>> to work on Embedded XP) for less than a few hundred notes, that would fit 
>> the bill.
>
> http://www.tegatech.com.au/products/rugged_tablets/SunPad_XPT_8GB.htm
>
> Not quite in that price range though ;-)

Cheaper to get a £300 Asus tablet PC and a plastic bag.

"Mark Williams" <spam.me@your.peril> wrote in message 
news:0amdnSDb7Knn6D_XnZ2dnUVZ8vqdnZ2d@bt.com...
> Does anybody know if there any firm still makes no-frills midi sequencers 
> like the old Alesis MMT8(?) and the Roland PMA5 i.e. just outputting midi 
> data, simple interface, no fancy gizmos onboard sound banks etc, etc ?
>
> Or is this all one by laptops/netbooks etc running software sequencers 
> through USB/midi interfaces, or built into fancy keyboard workstations?
>
>

I have an MMT8 or two for sale at the moment. If interested, drop me a mail 
on info at well-tech dot co dot uk

Cheers,

Ally.

"Well-Tech.Ltd"  wrote in message 
news:54mdnQGQZtLVFTjXnZ2dnUVZ8lOdnZ2d@bt.com...
>
> "Mark Williams" <spam.me@your.peril> wrote in message 
> news:0amdnSDb7Knn6D_XnZ2dnUVZ8vqdnZ2d@bt.com...
>> Does anybody know if there any firm still makes no-frills midi sequencers 
>> like the old Alesis MMT8(?) and the Roland PMA5 i.e. just outputting midi 
>> data, simple interface, no fancy gizmos onboard sound banks etc, etc ?
>>
>> Or is this all one by laptops/netbooks etc running software sequencers 
>> through USB/midi interfaces, or built into fancy keyboard workstations?
>>
>>
>
> I have an MMT8 or two for sale at the moment. If interested, drop me a 
> mail on info at well-tech dot co dot uk

Unless that is an MMT8 with 1 GB memory, a USB port for downloads, .MID file 
support, 2 MIDI OUT ports, 32 channels and no practical limit on the number 
of songs, I think I'll pass, but thanks for asking.

"Mark Williams" <spam.me@your.peril> wrote in message 
news:9uKdnYnT6LqVJDvXnZ2dnUVZ8o6dnZ2d@bt.com...
>
> "Well-Tech.Ltd"  wrote in message 
> news:54mdnQGQZtLVFTjXnZ2dnUVZ8lOdnZ2d@bt.com...
>>
>> "Mark Williams" <spam.me@your.peril> wrote in message 
>> news:0amdnSDb7Knn6D_XnZ2dnUVZ8vqdnZ2d@bt.com...
>>> Does anybody know if there any firm still makes no-frills midi 
>>> sequencers like the old Alesis MMT8(?) and the Roland PMA5 i.e. just 
>>> outputting midi data, simple interface, no fancy gizmos onboard sound 
>>> banks etc, etc ?
>>>
>>> Or is this all one by laptops/netbooks etc running software sequencers 
>>> through USB/midi interfaces, or built into fancy keyboard workstations?
>>>
>>>
>>
>> I have an MMT8 or two for sale at the moment. If interested, drop me a 
>> mail on info at well-tech dot co dot uk
>
> Unless that is an MMT8 with 1 GB memory, a USB port for downloads, .MID 
> file support, 2 MIDI OUT ports, 32 channels and no practical limit on the 
> number of songs, I think I'll pass, but thanks for asking.
Ahhh.....you young guys all like your new fangled machinery :-)

Just imagine if Gary Numan had taken that attitude when he was your age LOL