D8Bridge Version 2.0 is progressing - Good news!

[Marc Girard]

Hello all,

Just wanted to post some updates. It might not sound like much but I successfully interfaced the LoopMIDI DLL. What does that mean in plain English? It means that D8Bridge 2.0 will be *A LOT* more simple to setup. There won't be any weird 6 ports to configure in and out. In fact, there won't be no ports to configure at all! Simply run D8Bridge and bam, 6 virtual MIDI ports are automatically created for you... Just configure your DAW to talk to those virtual MIDI ports and D8Bridge works right away. I'm super excited about this feature because I imagined D8Bridge to do this from day one.

Now, for those who think the development on D8Bridge has stopped, well let's just say it's been hold for a while but I'm motivated to make it happen. I've attached to this post a screenshot of what D8Bridge 2.0 will look like. Thanks to Peter for the excellent graphics!

As you can see, gone is the small, lifeless config window... Now everything is menu driven (like a decent app). Can't sum up all the new features here now because I'm still adjusting stuff but let's just say that I'm seeing big for this one!

That's the news for now, I'll make new videos when I'm ready to show you guys the new stuff! Can't wait!

Cheers,

PS: Click on the picture below to see if full size!

[RustyNotes]

Hell yes!! Goosebumps right now haha. Any estimated date for the release?

[Recording Drummer]

This was from another part of the forum.

You wrote:

What is "Phase 1" you ask? Well, D8Bridge version 2.0 will work quite differently than version 1.x. In v1.x you need my serial cable (custom pinout) and a USB to Serial adapter to interface with the D8B. This will be no more! In D8Bridge v2.0, the D8B will run it's own little "OS" and is converted into an Ethernet connectable appliance.

What's the beauty of this approach? There is NO hardware modification necessary and you can always revert back to your old MackieOS by simply ejecting the diskette that contains D8Bridge's OS. Simply put: I created a bootable floppy that converts any D8B into a connectable network server. The only cable you'll need is a standard RJ45/Ethernet cable!


Question Marc,

Will future versions ever be able to switch back and forth on the fly without a reboot of its original OS? I have a perfectly good working 3.0 console. It would be amazing with that convienience.

Thanks!

RD

[bitSync]

Grateful for the update post.

[ProgKeys]

Hey Marc,

I can help with the MAC side. I am well versed in xcode and the midi implementation on the MAC. Hit me up if you want my help especially now that it becomes a network appliance.

[Marc Girard]

I can help with the MAC side. I am well versed in xcode and the midi implementation on the MAC. Hit me up if you want my help especially now that it becomes a network appliance.

Oh awesome! I might hold you on that! The new code base I'm writing for D8Bridge 2.0 supports mutli-platform/multi-architecture (x32/x64). So, *in theory*, it wouldn't be hard to add Mac support.

I did some tests with CoreAudio last year, I figured out the enumeration of the MIDI ports and such but I need pointers on how the MIDI packets works. If you can help on that matter, that'd be great!

Thanks!

[ProgKeys]

Marc,

This might help:

Declared In
MIDIServices.h

MIDIPacketListAdd
Adds a MIDI event to a MIDIPacketList.
(MIDIPacket *) MIDIPacketListAdd (
MIDIPacketList *pktlist,
ByteCount listSize,
MIDIPacket *curPacket,
MIDITimeStamp time,
ByteCount nData,
const Byte *data
);

MIDIPacketListInit
Prepares a MIDIPacketList to be built up dynamically.
(MIDIPacket *) MIDIPacketListInit (
MIDIPacketList *pktlist
);

MIDIPacketNext
Advances a MIDIPacket pointer to the MIDIPacket that immediately follows a given packet in memory, for packets that are part of a MIDIPacketList array.
(MIDIPacket *) MIDIPacketNext (
MIDIPacket *pkt
);

[MOSHWITZ]

Sup?

Interesting,,, and nice screen Marc.

MOSHON
DAVE

[Marc Girard]

Will future versions ever be able to switch back and forth on the fly without a reboot of its original OS? I have a perfectly good working 3.0 console. It would be amazing with that convienience.

D8Bridge 2.0 will be "Complete D8B Solution". Here's what I mean by this:

Case #1 -> If you have an old D8B with a broken computer, you can still use the serial cable and run D8Bridge 2.0 as a DAW controller. I've got many clients who's using D8Bridge like that. Now, D8Bridge 2.0 will have 3 protocols instead of just one. The classic MCU, HUI (for ProTools users) and generic MIDI Volumes (if you ever wanna control something that's not supported by MCU or HUI).

Case #2-> You have a working D8B computer. D8Bridge 2.0 is able to communicate via ethernet network instead of serial cabling. You'll be able to boot your D8B computer with a special diskette, bypassing the D8B OS (3.0 or 5.x). With the D8B CPU booted in "D8Bridge Mode", you'll be able to control your DAW and have basic audio functions of your board. If you ever need the full features of the D8B (EQs, plugins, etc). Simply eject the D8Bridge diskette and reboot, voila... D8B's back to normal operation.

I hope this clarifies the situation a bit. Let me know if you have questions!

[Marc Girard]

Marc,

This might help:

Declared In
MIDIServices.h

Thanks for the code ProgKeys, we need to talk! A Skype session maybe? Let me know what works for you via a private message. Thanks!