FreeBSD MIDI support

[zarko bulatovic]

Are there any projects regarding this topic? I recently started coding  
kernel modules, however, there are some design issues involving "way" of  
MIDI implementation, so i hoped to contact somebody who's working on the  
same thing, or to join develop. team if there is any project underway.

Anyways, the first dillema i have is about softsynth rendering, naturally  
early-stage drivers wouldn't use sc's onboard wavetables and their  
hardware means of MIDI rendering, so i would rather use software MIDI  
playback. Usage of hardware functionality should come later. The thing  
that bugs me, is it worth coding this inside of kernel module? Meaning  
that some /dev device inputs midi messages to kern.module, witch uses  
built-in software synthessis based on SF2 specification for MIDI  
rendering. There are already userland programs that do that, like timidiy  
and fluidsynth. Maybe it would be better to start on hardware functionalty  
at once, eg. pure device drivers that control soundcard's MIDI port,  
however, allaround kernel module should bring a decent degree of  
standardization. This is the way software MIDI is implemented on Windows  
and MacOSX, kernel mode rendering through software synthersizer (altrough  
i think they use DLS synthessis rather than SF2, but that really isnt  
important). So the question is, what is the best goal for MIDI on FreeBSD,  
a quickest way of controlling external synths/MIDI hardware (meaning ditch  
the software synth and set your mind on various hardware specs), or an  
all-around MIDI drivers providing playback without "3rd party" userland  
apps?

Thank you in advance.
Zarko Bulatovic