arfarf's New Writeupshttp://everything2.com/?node=New%20Writeups%20Atom%20Feed&foruser=arfarf2002-11-23T08:02:59ZMIDI running status (idea)http://m.everything2.com/user/arfarf/writeups/MIDI+running+statusarfarfhttp://m.everything2.com/user/arfarf2002-11-23T08:02:59Z2002-11-23T08:02:59Z<a href="/title/MIDI">MIDI</a> 'events' are transmitted using strings of <a href="/title/byte">byte</a>s.
Each event can be sent as a <a href="/title/MIDI+status-byte">MIDI status-byte</a> (value 128 to 255 <a href="/title/decimal">decimal</a>) followed by one or more <a href="/title/MIDI+data-bytes">MIDI data-bytes</a> (value 0 to 127).
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The purpose of the status-byte is to describe the kind of data that is about to be sent. Generally, the same number of data-bytes is sent after each particular status-byte
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Often, the same kind of data is sent repeatedly, and sending the status-byte repeatedly would be redundant and reduce the <a href="/title/bandwidth">bandwidth</a> of the MIDI stream. Examples would include a series of <a href="/title/MIDI+note-on">MIDI note-on</a>s or <a href="/title/MIDI+pitch-bend">MIDI pitch-bend</a> events.
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So most modern MIDI hardware (e.g. synths) and software use 'running-status'. It's assumed that, once the expected number of data-bytes has been sent/received, IF the next byte is *not* a status-byte, THEN the last status-byte received should be used to <a href="/title/decipher">decipher</a> the following data bytes.
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Typically this results in about a 1/3 reduction in the number of bytes sent.Coordinated Universal Time (thing)http://m.everything2.com/user/arfarf/writeups/Coordinated+Universal+Timearfarfhttp://m.everything2.com/user/arfarf1999-11-13T14:40:51Z1999-11-13T14:40:51ZClock readings are provided by two US time agencies, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, <a href="/title/NIST">NIST</a>, and its military counterpart, the U. S. Naval Observatory, <a href="/title/USNO">USNO</a>. These readings contribute to <a href="/title/world+time">world time</a> or <a href="/title/UTC">UTC</a>. Very accurate times are maintained with <a href="/title/atomic+clock">atomic clock</a>s.<p>
UTC can be heard on <a href="/title/Colorado">Colorado</a> shortwave station <a href="/title/WWV">WWV</a> at 2.5, 5, 10, 15 and 25 MHz. Or you could just <a href="/title/bip">bip</a> over to <a href="/title/www.time.gov">www.time.gov</a>.<!-- close unclosed tag --></p>cacao (thing)http://m.everything2.com/user/arfarf/writeups/cacaoarfarfhttp://m.everything2.com/user/arfarf1999-11-13T14:39:45Z1999-11-13T14:39:45Z<a href="/title/Chocolate">Chocolate</a> bean of <a href="/title/South+America">South America</a>, which the <a href="/title/Mayan">Mayan</a>s and <a href="/title/Aztec">Aztec</a>s ground into hot water and drank. They also used it as <a href="/title/currency">currency</a>.<p>The beans grow on a tree <a href="/title/cacao+theobroma">cacao theobroma</a> pollinated by midges and bats. Each <a href="/title/pod">pod</a> contains 20 to 50 beans.<p><a href="/title/Columbus">Columbus</a> brought cacao back to <a href="/title/Europe">Europe</a> in 1502. It wasn't popular until they learned to add <a href="/title/sugar">sugar</a> to it.<!-- close unclosed tag --></p><!-- close unclosed tag --></p>Oscar satellite (thing)http://m.everything2.com/user/arfarf/writeups/Oscar+satellitearfarfhttp://m.everything2.com/user/arfarf1999-11-13T14:39:34Z1999-11-13T14:39:34ZOne a long series of generally <a href="/title/low-earth+orbit">low-earth orbit</a> satellites constructed and operated by <a href="/title/amateur+radio">amateur radio</a> operators. Most were accessible to any radio <a href="/title/ham">ham</a> for experiments and communications, with relatively low-cost equipment.<p>
To date well over 30 Oscars have been orbited, including AMSAT-OSCAR 10, operating since its launch in <a href="/title/1983">1983</a>.<!-- close unclosed tag --></p>Packet radio (thing)http://m.everything2.com/user/arfarf/writeups/Packet+radioarfarfhttp://m.everything2.com/user/arfarf1999-11-13T14:39:33Z1999-11-13T14:39:33ZA form of <a href="/title/radio">radio</a> communications popular in <a href="/title/amateur+radio">amateur radio</a>. Commonly uses the <a href="/title/AX-25">AX-25</a> (or sometimes <a href="/title/TCP%252FIP">TCP/IP</a>) <a href="/title/protocol">protocol</a> to transmit short <a href="/title/packet">packet</a>s of characters, which can be repeated if not <a href="/title/receive">receive</a>d correctly the first time.<p>
<a href="/title/VHF">VHF</a> and up packet&<a href="/title/TNC">TNC</a>s still typically operate at 1200 <a href="/title/baud">baud</a> in the US, though 9600 baud is common elsewhere, and much higher rates are possible on good <a href="/title/link">link</a>s upwards of <a href="/title/UHF">UHF</a>.<!-- close unclosed tag --></p>frown (thing)http://m.everything2.com/user/arfarf/writeups/frownarfarfhttp://m.everything2.com/user/arfarf1999-11-13T14:39:32Z1999-11-13T14:39:32Z<a href="/title/Body+language">Body language</a>. A <a href="/title/facial+expression">facial expression</a> which includes a <a href="/title/wrinkle">wrinkle</a>d <a href="/title/forehead">forehead</a> and <a href="/title/squint">squint</a>y eyes and indicates <a href="/title/disapproval">disapproval</a>.<p>
But take away the squint and you get something like <a href="/title/consternation">consternation</a>.<p> You <a href="/title/wear">wear</a> a frown, yet it isn't clothing. Go figure.<p>One of those <a href="/title/tacit+knowledge">tacit knowledge</a> things, something everyone understands yet noone has ever <a href="/title/explain">explain</a>ed it to us.<!-- close unclosed tag --></p><!-- close unclosed tag --></p><!-- close unclosed tag --></p>