Thread: Midi question

Hey, I downloaded this program called "Direct MIDI to MP3 converter" and when I play the midi files, they sound much more realistic than they would in winamp. Why is this?

MIDI files are not sound files

they are a list of instructions

play this note
play that note
play these 2 notes at the same time

there is no sound in a midi file

The "more realistic" sounding program has better sounding instruments
so the instruction file, when played using the "more realistic" program, sounds better


*edit*
Thought this felt familiar,
you asked this once before
http://www.dreamviews.com/community/...highlight=midi

Originally Posted by Ynot

MIDI files are not sound files

they are a list of instructions

play this note
play that note
play these 2 notes at the same time

there is no sound in a midi file

The "more realistic" sounding program has better sounding instruments
so the instruction file, when played using the "more realistic" program, sounds better

Thanks Ynot, that helped alot... could this be done in winamp using a plugin?

yeah, probably
midi's as old as the hills, most music programs support it in some way or other

what you need is a nice place to get instrument sound sets from
then map the instrument sounds to the midi keys, and record the output

Originally Posted by Ynot

yeah, probably
midi's as old as the hills, most music programs support it in some way or other

what you need is a nice place to get instrument sound sets from
then map the instrument sounds to the midi keys, and record the output

well, I have a Yamaha keyboard, with general midi, would that be of some assistance?

all that means, is you can connect the keyboard to your machine, play the midi file, and the keyboard would play the file using it's in-built sound sets

if that's what you want to do
and you have the means to record the sounds off of the keyboard, then great

Originally Posted by tekmo

well, I have a Yamaha keyboard, with general midi, would that be of some assistance?

Hey tekmo!

MIDI is hard to grasp when you're new to it. Basically the sound of the MIDI data depends on what program or synthesizer you are using for it, more known as "Controlling" the MIDI data. For example: Your soundcard's synthesizer may play MIDI of a different quality to another's, because of their settings or even simply by the soundcard's age, but this is only speaking of the "General MIDI" instruments, which are default necessities.

If you connect your keyboard to the computer, and route it to MIDI OUT, the computer MIDI songs will "play" your keyboard. So depending on what voice your keyboard is set to, the MIDI will sound like. This is called "MIDI control". You may not be able to get all tracks playing through your keyboard because it may have limitations. It may sound terrible if you get the MIDI drum track, and play it on your keyboard as "Grand Piano", wouldn't it? Because drum voices are not focused on pitch; every note is a different percussion instrument.

The MIDI IN means that you can record yourself playing on the computer, or perhaps "play" a program, known as a Virtual Instrument. If you get a good MIDI program, you may be able to use Virtual Instruments instead of the General/Wavetable program which is built into your sound card. They can also control MIDI data without your Yamaha keyboard, as software on its own. Virtual Instruments can be found all over the net, and can emulate any sound you wish.