Comparison of Different Analog to MIDI interfaces

Manufacturer		BeeHive Technologies Inc.	Ircam - Centre Pompidou	DIEM	Infusion Systems	NOTAM	PAiA	York Electronics Centre	B.Donzel- Gargand & A. Lefèvre	STEIM
Platform		Macintosh	Any (with MIDI input)	Any (with MIDI input)	Any (with MIDI input)	Any (with MIDI input)	Any (with MIDI input)	Any (with MIDI input)	Any (with MIDI input)	Any (with MIDI input)
Max. Sampling Rate		< 90 Hz (15 Hz recommended)	1kHz (max for 1 input)	-	200 Hz (max for 1 input) for 12 bits 225 Hz (max for 1 input) for 7 bits	Approx. 400 Hz in one channel (limited by the MIDI speed)	-	120 Hz	< 50 Hz	250 Hz (nominal)
Inputs	Analog	4 each (0 to 5V) [16 max. for 4 ADBs]	32 (0 - 5V)	- ? - (0 to 5 V)	32 (0 to 5V)	8 (0 to 5 V)	8	8 (0 to 3.2V/ 12.5mV per bit)	8 (+-5V)	32 (+- 6V) plus 2x3 ultrasound
Inputs	Digital	4 (+ 4 analog) or 6 (+ 2 analog) or 8 (no analog) - (max 32 (4 ADBs) with no analog input)	8 + MIDI IN	-	MIDI IN	16 switch inputs	-	8 (TTL voltage levels) + MIDI IN	-	8x16 diode matrix key scanning (128 keys)
Input Resolution		8 bits	8 bits	-	12 bits or 7 bits	8 bits	-	8 bits	8 bits	8 bits (32 inputs); 14 bits (2x3 ultrasound)
Outputs		Each channel is configured either as input or output -> max 8 per unit	4 independent MIDI OUTs + 8 digital outputs (10 mA max) (independent of the number of inputs)	MIDI OUT	8 switch outputs * + MIDI OUT	6 digital + MIDI OUT	MIDI OUT	MIDI OUT (Audio out optional)	MIDI OUT	MIDI OUT
Type of MIDI Message		-	Sysex / CtrlChg / Pitchbend / Note	CtrlChg	Sysex / CtrlChg / Pitchbend / Note	Note on/off (for switch inputs) ControlChange (for analog inputs)	-	Note/CtrlChg/ ChPressure/ Pitchbend (from inputs) + Note (on/off) (to outputs) + PgrChg (config. initialisation) + Sysex (config. programming)	-	Standard or higher precision MIDI messages (System exclusive supported)
Software provided or available		Downloadable MAX object, LISP interface for Macintosh Common Lisp, Scripting addition to AppleScript, C interfaces, XCMDs for HyperCard, etc.	Macintosh - setup patch for interface configuration and visualization of the interface's status (by dump of SysEx messages)	-	Macintosh - iCube and oCube MAX objects, help, etc.; PC - Windows 3.1/Windows 95 Application	-	-	Config Builder for Windows 95/98/ NT4/2000 Allows selection of configuration for each socket: MIDI channel, instrument (General MIDI), volume, pan; arbitrary length scale, single or multiple chord, control change, channel pressure or pitch bend "User Defined Sequence" allows users to put in a tune to be played	Existing standard patch in Max, Sami is configurable with Midi SysEx, and return value controler	Spider (for Macintosh)- a resident interpreter that allows programming of alternate MIDI maps, level detection, etc.
Other Features		Four relay outputs with a timer function that can be optionally set to 0 to 25.5 seconds	Liquid crystal display with 4 lines of 20 characters, backlight. User Interface on board - 4 navigation keys, 2 parameter change keys, 1 validation key and 1 switch (backlighting on/off) Permanent memory inside the interface for storing up to 20 configs. Extra module allows the use of Infusion sensors.	-	Real-time control - dynamic change of configuration and re-route, scaling, zooming and quantization of signals, trigger detection, MIDII mapping, etc. Designed to use with Infusion sensors Various sensors available for purchase	Possibility of development of assembler programs for simple operations such as delays, counting, randomness, etc. The card is made in two versions: One with 16 switch inputs and 8 analog inputs, and one with 24 switch inputs only.	Allows multiple Brain cards to be daisy- chained in applications requiring more than eight inputs	Configuration stored on plug-in smart cards Digital inputs may be configured as outputs MIDI merge of generated MIDI data & MIDI In Optional internal MIDI wavetable synthesiser (Midicreator +)	-	Dynamic Scaling of Analog data, merging of external MIDI with outgoing sensor data stream, dynamical selection of alternate MIDI maps, 32K battery backup RAM, etc. ASCII DISPLAY option (DLG2416)
Power Supply Requirements		Powered from the Apple Desktop Bus	External Power Supply	-	External Power Supply (100-240 VAC accepted)	External power supply, 8-20 VDC unregulated, 400 mA.	+5V @ 150 mA	8-15 VDC at 750mA (maximum, including sensors) from external plug-in supply (supplied, UK and EU available)	Integrated Power Supply	External Power Supply
Size (HxWxD) [mm]		29x122x65	38x165x225	-	34x121x94	20x100x100 (PCB only)	-	41x227x166	Standard rack dimension * 50mm	35x200x100 plus 150x100x70 (power supply)
Price (indicative) * For the correct price, please contact the correspondent manufacturer *		US$ 199 each	US$ 665.00 AtoMIC Pro (All costs included)	-	US$ 615 (Digitizer, I-CubeX software plus a sensor (potentiometer) and an actuator (led), plus power supply	NOK 1,500 Built and specially adapted on order and costs	US$ 87.75 MIDI Brain kit (includes circuit board,MIDI Jacks and electronic parts exclusive of power supply)	325 UKP (+ VAT inside EU) without sound module 375 UKP (+ VAT inside EU) with sound module	US$ 700	N/A

This table is merely indicative. It was assembled from information available from the manufacturers respective home-pages,
from the I-Cube and AtoMIC specification sheets and from information by A. Lefèvre on SAMI, Tom Whitehouse on Midicreator.
Extra information has been provided by Axel Mulder on I-Cube, Oyvind Hammer on the MIDIbox and Emmanuel Fléty on AtoMIC Pro.

Lots of interesting comments and suggestions were made by Aymeric Willier and Neil Farwell (check his page!).

Please feel free to correct any imprecision orsend a comment on the use of one or more of this interfaces.

Thanks,
Marcelo.

Gesture Research in Music

Notes:

* Even if you use the last 8 as switch outputs you can still use the last 8 inputs (it only requires that you get the power supply from one of the other connectors for the sensors plugged in these inputs) (Remark from A. Mulder on March/10/2000).