Add a "MIDI" chip

[yohannd1]

I've discussed this briefly on the discord server before but I think it'll be better if I """formalize""" it on here.
The idea is essentially to add a chip that would turn the notes and commands from its channels into MIDI commands, which could be sent to the system's MIDI handler (a synth, a connected device, a soundfont etc.).
Each channel would be responsible for a single playing note at a time.
I honestly don't know how well this can translate into Furnace's workflow, so any suggestions and critics are very much appreciated here.

For the effects/instruments, other than the common ones (Volume, Pitch/Arpeggio, Phase Reset etc.), there should also be Velocity* and Bank+Patch.
I'm not fully sure how well Velocity would work here - should it be the same as the volume or should it be a different parameter?

Since, as far as I know, Furnace has a hardcoded amount of channels per chip, I think we'll have to make a fixed amount of channels for MIDI. I think 8 or 16 is good, since it's not too much and if you need more you can just add another identical chip.

[cyberic99]

I think this could be a good idea, to be able to drive external synths from furnace

[cyberic99]

@MTEVEGITHUB MIDI and VSTs are 2 different things.
MIDI protocol was defined during the the early 80s, like a lot of sound chips used in furnace.

[tildearrow]

Epic is considered spam? I'm just saying it's a good thing/idea.

There are reactions...

[Soulchip]

I wish people would stop asking for MIDI and DAW... if you want to use MIDI and DAW's with VST why don't you just use that...this is a tracker. There are threads like this one every month or so, it feels like spam.

[yohannd1]

Hmm... I didn't see any thread like this one before. Also, note that this is asking for MIDI support, not VST or any other plugin format. I think MIDI is somewhat viable because as far as I know it has a somewhat simple standard, exchanges a small amount of data and can be connected to any synth in the computer - of which Furnace is not responsible for hosting -. Handling the sound generation would then be easier than using an emulation core, I think.

[Soulchip]

MIDI support has been asked a lot of times. This is a tracker for CHIPTUNES.
VST makes no sense since you can create your song, record your channels and import them on any DAW with VST support... It takes literally 1 minute to do this.
About making the interface like a DAW... please just learn how to use a tracker, learning new skills is good for you and it will open the way for many other trackers.

[yohannd1]

There's three different aspects for MIDI support, imo: import, realtime usage and export. I'm focusing on the realtime usage aspect.
As for lines 2 and 3... well, that's not what this proposal is about.

[KlashKontakt]

You may be surprised or not, but I have never used trackers for chiptune because I am infinitely far from that theme. Nevertheless, I love trackers, and in my case, they are the best tool for composing music because the concept aligns perfectly with my creative needs. We only ask for the functions; the authors make the decisions. But it seems to me that it is a tool for creativity rather than an attempt to isolate oneself with personal interests. Many ideas and concepts are the result of extensive creative explorations, and this often leads to unexpected outcomes.

[TheRektafire]

Yeah imo it would be cool to be able to make midis for games like doom/duke nukem/goldeneye/etc in Furnace (or any other game where midis can be used really since that's really the only useful purpose for midi files these days), I've been making content for these games on and off for several years now and being able to export midis in furnace would definitely be useful for me personally. Though of course that would require adding the ability to either import .sf2 files or use the system midi synth (I personally use coolsoft virtual midi synth on windows 10 instead of the default shitty MSGS synth especially since I need to be able to use custom special soundfonts to accurately hear how my songs will sound in some games that don't use standard GM compliant soundfonts anyway, so not sure if that would effect things in any major way that would make things more difficult, sekaiju seems to work fine with it so I guess furnace would too)