Hi,  Answer on MIDI question: "If one wants to drive a MIDI instrument
from across a large room, how long a cable can one use before running
into problems?".

Some excerpts from "The Complete MIDI 1.0 Detailed Specification:"
"Cables shall have a maximum length of 50 feet (or 15 meters) and shall
be terminated on each end by a corresponding 5-pin DIN male plug".

We have exceeded 50 meters without problems, but this is without
guarantees.  You can overcome any distance if you include something
like fiber optics or the like.

The Decap Bros. from Herentals, Belgium.