That Korg PC/IF interface idea..

[The Dong]

Got round to piddling with this today.
Working fine.
I used a hacked up USB to serial interface PCB (the size of a thumbnail) 
connected to a PIC 16F628/A USART. A real serial port would work too.
The PIC simply ignores the $FF filler and command bytes and spews out 
the real midi data on another port wired for MIDI.

As to why? Korg/Yamaha type serial driver is an old standard, but it is 
supported in linux too and may even be expanded there. USB retrofit for 
midi devices? (One USB cable instead of two midi cables)
I had the bits lying about..I wanted a USB midi I/F.
My eeePC may need a midi interface.
I'm not bothered about MIDI in, but may try to squeeze it in, maybe even 
with a separate dedicated pic. They are only 90p or so each and I have a 
few.

Yes. I know ebay has Chinese sourced IN/OUT Midi interfaces for less 
than £10, but I can't guarantee they will work particularly well, or in 
Linux, where's the fun in that? :)
Plus I get to make a potentially very small case for it..

I would list the code, but it's in basic and is embarrassingly sparse ;)