Hi According to the responses to my previous post. There does not seem to be a way in linux to send MIDI command from my shell to a MIDI output interface. The closest response I got was to use a MIDI controller (keyboard) press the note and then pull the keyboard cable so it cannot send a stop (it works but, I do believe there is a better way in linux). For reference I want to be able to generate drone tones on my MIDI. I am looking for a simple application (MIDI shell??) that would let me turn a particular note on. I already have a sound card with the wavetable, this sound card understands midi. Alsa is supposed to have a good midi api, so how so I insert a midi event into my souncards midi output interface!! FT