Hi Mal,

I'd like to add to David's reply that Psicraft Designs has been maintaining a 'certified' list of MIDI interfaces for use with our Vyzex and Vyzor editors for as long as we've been providing them as bundled and retail software.

Unfortunately, this list is constantly changing so it's an online forum thread at our http://support.vyzor.com site. With regards to putting that content in our documentation, for most of the manufacturers we bundle a software editor to, our mentioning another manufacturer's product on the box or in the manuals is quite problematic: I have had some of our manufacturer partners (not Line 6!) even insist we remove screen capture graphics from our bundled manuals that show rival company USB MIDI driver names listed in the MIDI Ports dialog boxes.

As a general rule, custom driver equipped MIDI devices will work with our editors, and even Windows and Mac class compliant MIDI devices work perfectly well with the Vyzex and Vyzor line of editor software: The Line 6 Pocket POD for example has a built in USB MIDI interface that uses the Windows and Mac class compliant drivers without issues when communicating high volumes of SysEx data to and from Vyzex Pocket POD. Class compliant is really not the issue if you want to run our editors stand-alone (without another app running that wants access to the device too).

The real problem we face these days is one of quality control in the hardware interface market: There has been an explosion in the number of bargain USB MIDI interface cables (the $5 eBay variety) released in the last few years that work for light musical duty (notes, program changes and pitch bends) but can't handle even one longer SysEx message (over 16 bytes long) without dropping bytes. If it's a no-name interface, you should consider it unworthy of connecting an instrument to a software editor.

Secondly, we strongly suggest users employ a dedicated USB MIDI interface: The important word here being "dedicated": If you use an audio interface with a MIDI port added to the back, it will usually not be as reliable for heavy MIDI traffic as a dedicated USB MIDI interface. Corporations tend to focus on only the big stuff these days (not a reflection on Line 6 who are huge on 'total quality') and when the fundamental purpose of the interface is MIDI then they can't cut corners there. If it's an Audio interface, then the audio becomes the main focus and the MIDI only gets a second look when testing for release.

Consequently, we don't recommend anyone that anyone expect their expensive audio interface to also have a top flight MIDI port included in the deal - We've found this is not the case for many of them.

All of this said, your suggestions and positive words are really appreciated - Now that a new generation of retail Vyzor plug-in editors for Line 6 gear is coming we will be sure to put the link to our online interface compatibility list in prominent view of all prospective customers.

Cheers,

Tony Antoniou,

Managing Director,

Psicraft Designs, Inc.

Vyzor Legacy: The Future of Vintage