Re: Converting MIDI to SynthLab

[spector@vax2.concordia.ca (Mitchell Spector)]

In article skeleton@geko.com.au (David Greenland) writes...
>
>I'd like to convert some Mac MIDI sequences (the standard QuickTime ones)
>into SynthLab files, mainly in order to show my friends that the GS really
>is the best (and also to listen to them myself!).  The sound that comes
>out of the Mac is so crappy I feel I NEED to hear these on a GS before
>I'll be happy!
> 
>One question:  How?  I can't find any utility that will do it.  There has
>to be something, but I've probably skipped over it while scanning
>listings...

	There's quite a few programs available that go the route of 
converting MIDI files into synthLAB format. Here's a few you may want
to investigate:

- MIDI Surgeon, a commercial program available from Ego Systems' GS+
                magazine. Although it was included with a back issue,
		you can order it for $10 US. It's quite powerful, 
                probably the best of MIDI convertors available. Once
		you load in a MIDI file, detailed information is
                given in a window display about the conversation
                process. It also shows you all track information so
                you can see arrangement credits and best of all, the
                recommended instruments for each track. It even allows
                you to see a map of MIDIsynth instruments, so you can
                better match up instruments to the appropriate tracks.
                It also allows you to play back sequences directly
                using Toolset 35, not too mention perform various
                editing and modifications of sequences before saving
                them.

- Music Composer, is a shareware program available on most FTP sites.
                It's main attraction is a spreadsheet-like layout to
                edit synthLAB sequences (and other music formats) but
                also allows you to directly import MIDI, play them and
                of course, save the results.

- MusiX         This is a freeware program from France. It's a bit dated,
                buggy and slow, but it allows you to load in MIDI and
                save the output in synthLAB format. You cannot play
                back sequence from within the program nor can you do
                much tweaking of files. It requires about 1.5-2MB RAM 
                to work, so this puts it out of the reach of some people.

- MIDI Converter, is a freeware program from Japan I believe. Although
                it's limited in that you cannot playback sequences
                directly, or modify them in any way, it's one of my 
                favorites for one simple reason -- SPEED! Unlike 
                most of the programs above, it almost instantly
                converts MIDI sequences into synthLAB format. As
                far as I can tell, the resulting output comes out
                just fine and even assigns each instrument it's own
                track. If you want convert MIDI->synthLAB without 
                any wait or hassles, this program is what you want.
                It also ignores filetypes, so you don't even have to
                bother changing files to '$D7' (standard MIDI).


	Other MIDI to synthLAB programs I've heard of are "MIDI-Mate"
and one which name I can't place, but it rarely worked and used a text
interface. There's also Ian Schmidt's "MIDIZap", although that was never
publically released as far as I know. The latter three programs I've
listed above should be available via FTP (ie, ftp.cco.caltech.edu). 

>Regs,
>Dave

Mitchell Spector
m_spect@vega.concordia.ca / spector@vax2.concordia.ca