Automatically broadcast MIDI service using ESP8266

[svanimisetti]

I want ESP8266 to broadcast its service on the network. When I start MIDI network app - it automatically lists the rtpMIDI session from my desktop (Tobias' app). However, for ESP8266 I have to manually enter the address and port. Is there a way I can make ESP8266 "broadcast" its service so that I don't have to enter IP/port manually. The reason being that when I connect to my wifi network - the router assigns a different IP to ESP8266 everytime - and with the current example - I have to obtain the IP address from text printed to serial port. I want to make my MIDI device standalone - and not have to use a PC attached to it. Is this even possible?

[lathoub]

Broadcasting the RTP-MIDI service is a mDNS function, and not a core part of the RTP-MIDI spec (albeit very handy and useful).

See the mDNS example for SAMD in this lib. ESP8266 mDNS example (and lib) here

[svanimisetti]

Thanks for clarifying. I assumed that since apple-midi is already a part of the Bonjour service list, it would be automatically detected if any node on my network is running the Bonjour service. For example, I have it running on my Win10 desktop running iTunes+Bonjour, which automatically detected my iPhone whenever I connect it to my network. I will try to cook up an example and see if it works. If I get it working, I will add both the SoftAP (#117) and auto-discovery/broadcast examples to your repo.

[lathoub]

it would be automatically detected

Bonjour works the other way around: devices announce themselves (they are not discovered).

I look forward to your PR for ESP8266 SoftAP with mDNS

[svanimisetti]

@lathoub - just sent a PR creating a new example file for ESP8266. Tested on iOS (iPad/iPhone) and Win10 (rtpMIDI - although may need to relook this).