Re: MIDI files on IIgs?

[aw133@lafn.org (James Poore)]

In a previous article, dalloff@freenet.columbus.oh.us (Dave Althoff) says:

>Something tells me that this should be fairly straightforward, and has
>probably already been done...but I don't know where to look.
>
>I've noticed that many World Wide Web pages now have soundtracks provided
>by MIDI music files...tiny little files with whole multi-voice songs in
>them.  Of course, listening to them through a SoundBlaster 16 is a little
>unfulfilling when I know my IIgs can do better.
>
>So...Does there exist a program to either play these files directly, or to
>translate them from whatever that .MID format is into something that can
>be played by, say, NoiseTracker or SynthLab, or something like that?
>
>Just wondering...
>
>--Dave Althoff, ][.

Here's what I do for playing midi files off the net.

1) Download the midi file
2) Set the filetype to $D7
3) Use the program "Midi.Converter" to convert to a synthLAB file
4) Use synthLAB or Music Composer to play

Note: Music Composer doesnt always make a good conversion of midi files, 
but Midi Converter does (dont know why)

The instrument file "midi.bnk" usually plays the midi files close to what 
they should sound like.  Most midi files have drums in track 10.

Of course, playing around with instrument files is your best bet in 
finding the best 'sound' for each individual song.

I have probably 250 or so midi files downloaded from the net and 
converted to synthLAB format with great sound.

Jim

-- 
James M (Jim) Poore--Apple II's Forever--Especially IIgs's
Los Angeles Free Net---aw133@lafn.org
Here siggy, siggy...Here Boy
Where is that damn SIG?