[Musix-users] FW: > That is not free.

Wed Jun 21 23:36:24 CEST 2006

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

> 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 <mikma at users.sourceforge.net>
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

> And what if 'we' start building our own USB-MIDI 
> hardware with a firmware under GNU licence?

How?

> 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!

> .... 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.

> Or is that to radical, since ALSA is telling me that they support it.

Well, we will see.

> Mano.
>
> On 6/21/06, Marcos Guglielmetti <marcospcmusica at gmail.com> wrote:
> > De: Richard Stallman <rms at gnu.org>
> >   Para: marcospcmusica at gmail.com
> >   CC: musix-users at lists.ourproject.org
> >   Fecha: 20/06/06 19:56
> >
> > > Please note that I have absolutely no idea what program you're talking
> > > about, or what job it does.  Your message mentions names such as
> > > Demudi and Midisport without telling me what they are.  The previous
> > > messages are buried inside each other in a way that is very hard to
> > > understand.
> > >
> > > All I understand is the following license:
> > >
> > >     "The firmware files (*.ihx) are copyrighted by Midiman, and can be
> > > used and redistributed only as part of this package.
> > >
> > > That is not free.
> > >
> > >
> > > Which package includes these files?  What package is "this package"?
> > >
> > > What is Midiman?  Is there any chance we could convince Midiman
> > > to change this policy?
> >
> > --
> > Marcos Guglielmetti
> > * Director del desarrollo de Musix GNU+Linux, 100% Software Libre
> > * Descarga el CD de Musix: (www.musix.org.ar)
> > (www.pc-musica.com.ar/musix) * Videos, programas y otras cosas en:
> > ftp://musix.ourproject.org/pub/musix/ * Reporte de errores a:
> > https://www.musix.org.ar/wiki/index.php?title=Problemas-Bugs
> > *IRC: #musix channel on freenode
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Musix GNU+Linux - www.musix.org.ar
> > Musix-users mailing list
> > Musix-users at lists.ourproject.org
> > https://lists.ourproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/musix-users

-- 
Marcos Guglielmetti  
* Director del desarrollo de Musix GNU+Linux, 100% Software Libre
* Descarga el CD de Musix: (www.musix.org.ar) (www.pc-musica.com.ar/musix)
* Videos, programas y otras cosas en: ftp://musix.ourproject.org/pub/musix/
* Reporte de errores a: 
https://www.musix.org.ar/wiki/index.php?title=Problemas-Bugs
*IRC: #musix channel on freenode