Midi in for CD32

deathbypixel · 25 May 2021, 15:17

Hi folks,

So I jumped on a TF330 for my CD32, thinking it would be perfect for me as I can connect external keyboard and get a nice memory boost for music.

My problem now is that I realise that I would like to connect a midi keyboard to the CD32 - but it lacks a serial port. Is there some modification or anything I can do to make this a possibility?

Thanks in advance

robinsonb5 · 25 May 2021, 15:33

The six pin keyboard connector on the left of the machine is also a serial port - so there's the potential to connect a MIDI interface there.

I think the levels are TTL rather than RS232, though - so you can't just cut the plug of an Amiga MIDI interface and rewire it to the port - it'll need to be designed specifically for the CD32.

deathbypixel · 25 May 2021, 16:32

Thanks for your reply! Unfortunately my knowledge of electronics is limited.

I found this post which I assume touches on the same subject but midi out rather than in https://forums.overclockers.com.au/t...i-out.1299848/

"The AUX port also has "serial" transmit and receive lines on the 2 unused pins, and there are various commercial and homebrew circuits for hooking up the CD32 with serial networking to other computers and devices. So you could buy a CD32->serial adapter, and a serial->MIDI adapter, and use the CD32 to MIDI to an MT32."

Daedalus · 25 May 2021, 17:03

Yeah, it's TTL serial so it would need to be converted. Such a conversion is trivial, there are lots of chips that will do that, but a basic level of soldering would be needed. I'm sure adaptors did exist; finding one might be tricky though.

It feels like the sort of things that someone has probably thrown together as an open-source thing at some point. Maybe you could persuade someone to build one for you if you can't find one?

deathbypixel · 25 May 2021, 18:24

Thanks, happy to pay for someone to build me something. Where would I post such a request?

Nobby_UK · 25 May 2021, 18:52

There was a device called The Communicator for CD32
which gave:
1x MIDI In, 1 x MIDI Out and 1 x MIDI Thru.
It also has a pass-through for connecting a keyboard.

HelloBeautiful · 26 May 2021, 15:03

I've had the communicator and i've used it just like that.
You can also buy a serial / keyboard splitter from Amibay am.i.goun and then you just need to plug a midi cable there. I believe I've done that myself.

deathbypixel · 01 June 2021, 20:54

oh wow awesome thanks for your replys! communicator seems to be quite difficult to come by - will try am.i.goun

25 May 2021, 15:17	#1
deathbypixel Registered User Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: Stockholm Posts: 20	Midi in for CD32 Hi folks, So I jumped on a TF330 for my CD32, thinking it would be perfect for me as I can connect external keyboard and get a nice memory boost for music. My problem now is that I realise that I would like to connect a midi keyboard to the CD32 - but it lacks a serial port. Is there some modification or anything I can do to make this a possibility? Thanks in advance

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25 May 2021, 15:33	#2
robinsonb5 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Norfolk, UK Posts: 1,153	The six pin keyboard connector on the left of the machine is also a serial port - so there's the potential to connect a MIDI interface there. I think the levels are TTL rather than RS232, though - so you can't just cut the plug of an Amiga MIDI interface and rewire it to the port - it'll need to be designed specifically for the CD32.

25 May 2021, 16:32	#3
deathbypixel Registered User Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: Stockholm Posts: 20	Thanks for your reply! Unfortunately my knowledge of electronics is limited. I found this post which I assume touches on the same subject but midi out rather than in https://forums.overclockers.com.au/t...i-out.1299848/ "The AUX port also has "serial" transmit and receive lines on the 2 unused pins, and there are various commercial and homebrew circuits for hooking up the CD32 with serial networking to other computers and devices. So you could buy a CD32->serial adapter, and a serial->MIDI adapter, and use the CD32 to MIDI to an MT32."

25 May 2021, 17:03	#4
Daedalus Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Dublin, then Glasgow Posts: 6,334	Yeah, it's TTL serial so it would need to be converted. Such a conversion is trivial, there are lots of chips that will do that, but a basic level of soldering would be needed. I'm sure adaptors did exist; finding one might be tricky though. It feels like the sort of things that someone has probably thrown together as an open-source thing at some point. Maybe you could persuade someone to build one for you if you can't find one?

25 May 2021, 18:24	#5
deathbypixel Registered User Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: Stockholm Posts: 20	Thanks, happy to pay for someone to build me something. Where would I post such a request?

25 May 2021, 18:52	#6
Nobby_UK Registered User Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Liverpool Posts: 2,595	There was a device called The Communicator for CD32 which gave: 1x MIDI In, 1 x MIDI Out and 1 x MIDI Thru. It also has a pass-through for connecting a keyboard.

26 May 2021, 15:03	#7
HelloBeautiful Registered User Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Helsinki Posts: 84	I've had the communicator and i've used it just like that. You can also buy a serial / keyboard splitter from Amibay am.i.goun and then you just need to plug a midi cable there. I believe I've done that myself.

01 June 2021, 20:54	#8
deathbypixel Registered User Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: Stockholm Posts: 20	oh wow awesome thanks for your replys! communicator seems to be quite difficult to come by - will try am.i.goun

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