USB synthesizers

[Zachary Kline]

Hi All,
Since the topic of serial ports has come up, I thought I might inquire 
about the possibility of interfacing directly with those USB hardware 
synthesizers that do exist.  I'm thinking especially of the Dectalk USB, 
which I happen to own.
I don't know much about USB protocols, but I'd guess the one it uses isn't 
just an encapsulation of the one used over the serial port?  I just think 
that if we could either reverse-engineer or better yet pursuade the 
manufacturers to give us the specs for those protocols, we'd dodge the 
serial port problem entirely.
I'm probably raising the same question that bugs free software people 
everywhere, but I thought it should be asked.
Thanks much,
Zack.