EHARNDEN@AUVM.BITNET (Eric Harnden) (02/11/90)
i'm sure that i've been seeing ads in EM for a while now for disks that have songs in standard MIDI File Format, for playing by most current sequencers. problem, i think, is that they're mostly popular material, as opposed to classical or other non-top-40. Eric Harnden (Ronin) Mailing From: <EHARNDEN@AUVM> Physics Dept./Audio Tech. Transmedia Music The American University (202) 347-8050 Wash., D.C
FNELSON@OBERLIN.BITNET (02/11/90)
Yes, I looked through the January EM too but the only thing I saw was something in the Twelve Tone Systems ad for James Romeos songs in CaleWalk format. These would work for my project but it would involve translation from IBM to MAC (no particular problem) and sorting out CakeWalks encoding method. I did look at DMCS and ConcertWare files with a HexDump DA that came with Think C. DMCS has an export format that seems to be quite simple. After a long header (that you can safely throw away - I think) they settle down to four TRAK's. Each trak is a simple sequence of two byte packets - a key # (same as MIDI's) with key 128 for a rest and a duration = 0 to 5 (whole note to 32nd) - add 8 for a dotted note. There is certainly more but this is a begin My only hesitation in hacking through to the end is that someone has certainly d one this already. ConcertWare's two byte packets put the duration first with values proportional to the duration (whole = 48, 16th = 3, dotted quarter = 18, etc). Pitch codes have 24 for middle C. Add 1 for each scale step so D = 25 and the octave C = 31. Add 64 is you want a sharp on it and 128 for a flat. I haven't been able to figure out anything yet about MusicWorks.
DAIR@SCU.BITNET (Willis Dair) (02/13/90)
With this discussion of MIDI file formatted song files, I was wondering if there is any interest in starting a library of songs. Sometimes I just want to get away from my own stuff and listen to other people's pre-recorded sequences. I have downloaded some sequences from IEMUG and some other BBSs. They are in Cakewalk format. However, I have version 3.0 of Cakewalk and would be willing to convert some of the better ones to Cakewalk's purported MIDI file format for use in the EMUSIC Listserver, if there is room there and if there is interest. Another idea just popped up... I have some PD sequences that only have one track and need to be filled out; percussion, accompaniment... Maybe someone can beef them up, improve on them and resubmit them to the library. What do you say folks? Interested? Willis Dair Santa Clara University
CHRIS@FANDMA.BITNET (02/13/90)
I would be willing to contribute to a midi songbook/library. -chris