OS X: Reader laments lack of MIDI support

In replying to our review of Mac OS X, Peter Kirn notes:

"I think you overlooked to me what is one of the largest incompatibilities in OS X, one which wipes out an entire key market segment for Apple: MIDI and audio. I've reported a little on this, but I've done some research and the picture is bleaker than even I thought:

• OS X lacks audio input support configuration of any kind.
• Core MIDI and audio services appear unfinished, cannot be accessed by an end user, and are currently unsupported by ANY application. Not even a minor utility supports advanced audio or MIDI services. The only exception is Sound Studio, a very basic stereo audio editor, but there is no hardware-level audio access support and even something as simple as selecting an audio input proves to be impossible.
• MIDI support in Classic does not work, including OMS and FreeMIDI, meaning that while some applications theoretically work in Classic, the moment they attempt to access MIDI (which can be difficult to turn off, even if you don't need MIDI support). This is unlikely ever to be fixed according to most music/audio developers.
• Hardware audio access is impossible from Classic. Again, this is unlikely ever to be fixed.

At this point, there is not a single announced audio/MIDI driver for OS X, or a single announced OS X application. I mean, announced. Digidesign and Steinberg are on Apple's 'good list' of developers, but there hasn't been a product announcement yet, let alone a ship date!"

Update: Check this page for more information on OMS ("MIDI Services") for OSX. One reader noted that sample MIDI code is included on the OS X Developer CD, so OS X support of MIDI appears at least to be in the planning stages.