On 6/21/06, Marcos Guglielmetti <[email protected]> wrote:
El Miércoles, 21 de Junio de 2006 15:32, MNO escribió:
Hmmm, now i don't understand why ALSA (who is under GNU GPL) can say on their site that the Midiman products are supported... (and same with the Echo Audio Gina...)
It realy would be nice if this issue was a bit clearer. So that people
know what to buy... and what NOT. Hardware is essential, and i hope Richard Stallman can convince them of the fact that they have a bigger market if they also can sell hardware to 'GNULUX' users. :-)
(i just invented a new word!!!)
Fowarded to RMS
:-) i want to get a GNU licence for that word!
BTW, how is this with other hardware like RME? Is their firmware redistributable?
Yes:
apt-cache show alsa-firmware-loaders Package: alsa-firmware-loaders Status: install ok installed Priority: extra Section: contrib/sound Installed-Size: 212 Maintainer: Mikael Magnusson <[email protected]> Architecture: i386 Source: alsa-tools Version: 1.0.9rc3-0.demudi1 Depends: libasound2 (>> 1.0.8), libc6 (>= 2.3.2.ds1-21) Conffiles: /etc/hotplug/usb/tascam_fw.usermap 1ca0da7c40ccb70d771c8ba6fd788406 /etc/hotplug/usb/tascam_fw 5fd0ca2efb9077554d9bf44c98226b28 /etc/hotplug/usb/tascam_fpga 8b6058e0372750914de51ff78dbe23b1 Description: collection of firmware loaders for ALSA cspctl - Sound Blaster 16 ASP/CSP control program
hdsploader - Firmware loader for the RME Hammerfall DSP cards
mixartloader - Firmware loader for Digigram's miXart board sound drivers pcxhrloader - Firmware loader for Digigram pcxhr compatible soundcards sscape_ctl - SoundScape control utility and firmware loader usx2yloader - Firmware loader for Tascam USX2Y USB soundcards vxloader - Firmware loader for Digigram VX soundcards
I SEEEEE ... hope i can find a used one. but until then i'll first try to get GINA24 at work.
And what if 'we' start building our own USB-MIDI hardware with a firmware under GNU licence?
How?
I see already mention the existence of hardware under GNU. Then best not to re-invent the wheel... (it might be a good idea to start a list on the website that contains all the GNU GPL hardware)
Still this would be about the same thing, right?
No: if you build your hardware, you could make it GNU GPL, in an easy way!
What about doing the same thing to MIDI hardware as what they do to routers like Linksys... And build new firmware... The old Roland MKS and D series synths also have alternative firmware available in the form of a EPROM. Replacing a firmware for USB devices is just flashing it into the flashrom i hope someone with knowledge on that matter will give it a try. You can forget about warranty then, but noone can forbid us to upgrade hardware that we own. Just like putting new tires on a car if the old are worn down...
.... I'm stuck... Should i ditch my hardware, and if i do then what to buy? (and can i affort it)
The hardware will work with the firmware, but Musix could not deliver this midisport midiman package yet, until it could be free-softwar. We dont forbid you to use your hardware.
But you can buy a 100% compatible (and GNU GPL) USB MIDI hardware too.
I know you don't forbid, but i'm still puzzled how ALSA (under GNU) can say they support something if they dont seem to suppurt it 100%. It's like ofeering a kid a chocolate cookie without any cocolate... :-) but you helped me just fine to understand things so far... I'm off to the ALSA hq to find out more.
Or is that to radical, since ALSA is telling me that they support it.
Well, we will see.
yup.... i'll let it rest here for now and hope to be able to come back on topic with good news from the ASLA corner. Mano.