Program to create .mid files

[*b*]

Hey Everyone,

I've written a track for a student game producer and he wants me to rather send him a MIDI version instead of the Mp3 version due to the file size. Now I've only managed to create a midi file where every channel is bounced down to a standard midi piano... does anyone know of a program where I can seperate each channel into it's respective instrument and then bounce down as the complete midi file?

For example...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vv5tK8SdAL8

Thank you very much!

B

[mazz]

I think you want to create a type 1 midi file. Your daw should have this capability, most do. It should give you a choice between type 0 and type 1. Choose type 1.

http://www.midi.org/aboutmidi/tut_midifiles.php

Good luck!

Mazz

[*b*]

Hey Mazz,

I know how to output to midi file, however my daw doesn't contain the basic midi soundbank of instruments e.g. piano / bass / drums / strings etc. If I output it to midi, it automatically writes each file as a piano midi track, which drums converted to a piano sound, sound a little confusing...

I'm looking for something that allows me to input each individual midi instrument to it's own channel and then assign it its instrument and then output it as a midi track containing all seperate instruments rather than everything being piano - if this makes sense at all?

B

[mazz]

As far as I know, you'd have to check the General MIDI spec and put in the correct bank and program change number for the instrument that you want to play on that track right at the beginning of the track. This way, the playback device, either hardware or software, as long as it conforms to the General MIDI spec, should be able to play back at the very least something that sounds like the instrument you used. Of course, the final sound will depend on what playback engine the receiving person has.

I'm pretty sure this will work, although I haven't tried it myself.

http://www.midi.org/techspecs/gm.php

Good luck!

Mazz

[Len911]

B, midi doesn't have soundbanks. The drum tracks would contain notes, but there are certain notes in general midi that correspond to a drum piece. For example, C# might be a kick drum, C2 a snare, etc etc. If you were to assign an instrument like a piano to the midi drum track, it would for sure sound strange, and hit the c2 as a c2 piano sound. If you label your midi tracks, then the person who receives the midi tracks will know to put a drum on a drum track, piano on piano track etc. You really shouldn't have to do anything other than export to a midi file and make sure your tracks are named correctly. It might be helpful though if your drum track was on channel 10.
Make sure you aren't doing a midi merge function where all midi tracks are combined into one. I know cubase has such a function, but that is not what you want.

[greatmoves]

Hey B,

Here's an Important question... What DAW program(s) are you using on this project? I can't believe no asked this, or did I miss that.

Cubase has the ability to do what you are talking about.

BB

[*b*]

I'm still a little confused :]

Here's the full scenario...

I'm using Reaper, inside reaper I have multiple tracks loaded with PLAY etc... now I can obviously render it all down as a .wav / mp3 etc... however the developer said it's too big and that he would prefer a rendered midi file to use... When converting it to midi through reaper, every instrument is automatically bounced down as a piano sound (mixed together, 8 piano sounds doing separate things sounds, errr... ummm special)

I know a program like Guitar Pro allows you to input a midi file which it then automatically separates the channels, then you can choose a general midi sound (drum, strings, brass etc) for each track and then bounce it down to a midi file which sounds like the original .wav / mp3 just in cheesy midi sounds...

I know in Reaper you can set the channel of each midi input between 1 - 16 (10 being default for drums), but I don't see how this is going to change the sound of the midi note being processed...

I guess basically I'm asking how people make midi back tracks...

Thank you so much everyone for all your time responding to this thread, I really do appreciate it.

B

[rld]

I'll try.
A midi file doesn't contain "sounds"...just information, like note on/off, etc.
The sounds of the instruments is totally dependent on what the end user has.

You say, "When converting it to midi through reaper, every instrument is automatically bounced down as a piano sound (mixed together, 8 piano sounds doing separate things sounds)" that's because you have piano sounds assigned to those tracks.
If you changed the instruments assignments for each track they would not be all piano.

You say, "I know in Reaper you can set the channel of each midi input between 1 - 16 (10 being default for drums), but I don't see how this is going to change the sound of the midi note being processed..."
You determine what sound the midi file plays by assigning an instrument patch for each track.

For instance,
Track 1/midi channel 1 = piano patch
Track 2/midi channel 2 = bass patch
Track 3/midi channel 3 = strings
Track 4/midi channel 10 = drums...etc.
These patch assignments can be part of the midi file, or you can leave it to the end user.

[greatmoves]

Hey B,

How's it going? I thought about your problem a bit and I would like to know are you comfortable in the midi environment... you understand and know how to use MIDI right? if not help is here.

Being that your collab partner wants only midi, is it possible that you don't have any existing midi tracks, can you verify that midi material is there, if it's there your problem is fairly easy to solve.

but... if you only have audio, then you will have to try an audio to midi conversion program. I am not sure if these programs will work to your satisfaction, but they do exist.

Here's to finding Solutions...

BB

[mojobone]

The usual method involves inserting a MIDI program change one measure before the downbeat on each MIDI sequencer track before outputting/collapsing to a Type 1 MIDI file. (this gives the end user's synth time to load the sounds before play begins) Roland's SoundCanvas is the most ubiquitous General MIDI synth; a software version of it might be helpful in determining which patches to assign/what the end user hears, OR you could use the GM bank of the free version of Emu's Proteus, if you're on a PC. Either way, check the manual for instructions on how to add the program changes to the individual channels.