Re: Apple IIe and MIDI files

[mjmahon@aol.com (Michael J. Mahon)]

Jay wrote:



>I know that the //e, and even ][+ had MIDI applications, cards, and
>keyboards. 
>What is needed to play MIDI files from the internet on the //e?
>
>I've been having more fun with II.Sound since I learned that the binary sound
>files that it runs include/are the same as .wav files.  I can run about 65
>seconds on a 1 meg card and 3 minutes 16 seconds on a three meg card, but I
>noticed that MIDI files are so much smaller.

Glad you like the sound of II.SOUND, since the sound routine is mine.  ;-)

MIDI files are smaller because they only lists the notes to be played and
their durations, not the waveforms.

To play MIDI files on an 8-bit Apple II, you need to attach a MIDI-capable
synthesizer through a MIDI peripheral card.  Any of the common MIDI
keyboard/synthesizers will work (though some have more voices than
others).

The Apple II provides the MIDI commands to the keyboard/synthesizer
to cause it to play the music.

Sorry, but doing real-time synthesis with an 8-bit Apple II is beyond
its capabilities, unless hardware (like a synthesizer ;-) is added.

-michael

Check out amazing quality sound for 8-bit Apples on my
Home page:  http://members.aol.com/MJMahon/