I am familiar with MIDI since about 1982.  I have used many MIDI
keyboards and controllers, with and without computers.  I have used
about 10 different MIDI software packages - Cakewalk Pro Audio being
the one I depend on most often.

I know how to plug standard MIDI-ized hardware together - synthesizers,
sound cards, MIDI computer interfaces and the like.  I can solve MIDI
problems by remapping and software and hardware utilities.

I can (just barely - when motivated) program in C+ .

What I would like to do is learn to design MIDI hardware.  I would like
to be able to MIDI-ize a mechanical keyboard.  I would like to be able
to design a circuit that would convert MIDI data into TTL (or any)
triggers.

I am aware that kits and boards exist that will do the above, but I want
to be able to move beyond that.

I have a good technical education.

I have MIDI-ized several band and fairground organs - but this was
always using someone else's kits.  I always ran into problems because
the kits were aimed at player pianos and the like.  I just want to
move past the kit stage and am willing to invest the time to learn
more general solutions.

Where do I start? Can anyone recommend reading material or lessons that
are aimed at this kind of thing? Has anyone published a MIDI hardware
cookbook? I hate to reinvent the wheel.

Any suggestions?

Bill Finch