Amiga MIDI File Transfer

Transfer files between Amiga and Linux, using a MIDI serial link.

Protocols

Data is packed into MIDI SysEx messages:

0xF0 0x7D data bytes go here 0xF7

Data bytes must have the highest bit clear, as per MIDI standard.

8

Payload not encoded in any way, only safe for 7bit data (eg ASCII text).

4

Each payload 8-bit byte split into two 4-bit nibbles, transmitted as bytes (MSB first). Simple to implement, but inefficient.

7

Each payload 8-bit byte is concatenated into a bitstream, which is split into 7-bit nuggets transmitted in order. Complex to implement, but efficient.

Prerequisites

Linux

• MIDI interface and cables
• amidi tool
• C build system
• optional: FS-UAE with VBCC (to compile C programs for Amiga)

Amiga

• MIDI interface and cables
• Blitz Basic 2

Bootstrap

0. run make on Linux
1. type in recv8.bb2 to Blitz Basic 2 on Amiga and compile it to recv8
2. run recv8 on Amiga
3. run ./send8.sh < recv4.bb2 on Linux
4. move RAM:out to recv4.bb2 on Amiga and compile it to recv4
5. run recv4 on Amiga
6. run ./send4.sh < recv7 on Linux
7. move RAM:out to recv7 on Amiga
8. run recv7 10100 > send7 on Amiga
9. run ./send7.sh < send7 on Linux

Usage

Sending from Linux to Amiga

• run recv7 100100 > file on Amiga, change maximum size if necessary
• run send7.sh < file on Linux

Sending from Amiga to Linux

• run recv7.sh > file on Linux
• run send7 file on Amiga

Bugs

• no way to interrupt sending or receiving on the Amiga side
• recv7 error messages go to output file instead of console
• Linux scripts may need additional arguments (e.g. amidi -p hw:1,0,0)

Legal

This is free and unencumbered software released into the public domain.

Anyone is free to copy, modify, publish, use, compile, sell, or distribute this software, either in source code form or as a compiled binary, for any purpose, commercial or non-commercial, and by any means.

In jurisdictions that recognize copyright laws, the author or authors of this software dedicate any and all copyright interest in the software to the public domain. We make this dedication for the benefit of the public at large and to the detriment of our heirs and successors. We intend this dedication to be an overt act of relinquishment in perpetuity of all present and future rights to this software under copyright law.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED “AS IS”, WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.

For more information, please refer to http://unlicense.org/