Creating compostion via MIDI importing files
Hi there. I'm a first time user. I've created a simple midi file as a test (C major scale). When I open the file in Musescore, all I see is a blank page. Any ideas on what I'm doing wrong? Musescore seems not to be importing anything. Thanks in advance for the help.
Comments
Can you post your example file, please?
Fifist
In reply to Can you post your example by Fifist
See attached
In reply to example file by dwfleig
Hi dwfleig -
Does this file play for you in other applications, such as Windows Media Player, Nero Show Time or Quick Time Player?
I couldn't get it to play for me. I'm not an expert at the internals of these files, so I can't tell what's wrong.
If other applications can't play it, that would explain why MuseScore has difficulty with it. If it works OK for you, please let us know and someone can look further.
Fifist
Sally
In reply to Can you play it in other apps? by Fifist
MuseScore 2.0 says its broken (unexpected EOF), and no other app (Windows Media Player, IrfanView, Quicktime, MS 1.2) will touch it. I would say its not a valid MIDI file.
In reply to MuseScore 2.0 says its broken by schepers
I used the following midi recorder, which was recommended by others on this site http://code.google.com/p/virtualpiano/ Virtual piano creates the .mid file. I'm recording using a basic Yamaha 88 key electronic piano.
In reply to MIDI recorder by dwfleig
Finale says it is empty... Can you reopen the file with virtual piano and listen? may be a problem of virtual piano software
In reply to Finale says it is empty... by Daniel Fajardo
YUp - it's deffinitely empty.
Sonar 3 rejected it with a "Cannot read file" error
Here is the text dump of the file produced by MIDI2TXT:-
// miditest.midmthd
version 1 // several tracks with seperated channels to play all at once
// 2 tracks
unit 480 // is 1/4
end mthd
mtrk // track 1
trackname "MidiPiano Record File"
tact 4 / 4 0 8
key "Cmaj"
beats 120.00000 /* 500000 microsec/beat */
copyright "MidiPiano.net"
end mtrk
mtrk(1) // track 2
trackname "Record Track"
program GrandPno
// error: end of sysex not found
miditest.mid: midi error at 0x0075
On checking the VirtualPiano website it the feature list says: Play and Record MIDI file with a virtual keyboard.
Judging by the lack of Note on data in the file, that, to me indicates that this app does not allow the recording of MIDI from an external keyboard.
I presume that the recommendation of this app was for entering notes into MuseScore from the app - not using it as a MIDI sequencer, which is obviously beyond its limited capabilities.
You may find this list of sequencers helpful: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_MIDI_editors_and_sequencers
HTH
MIchael
In reply to YUp - it's deffinitely by ChurchOrganist
Thanks for the info. Virtual piano plays back the files just fine, but maybe this is an artifact of virtual piano. I'll check out the other sequencers.
In reply to YUp - it's deffinitely by ChurchOrganist
Thanks again for the wiki list. Since I'm just getting started, any suggestion as to which sequencers will work well with piano? I'd like to experiment with freeware before investing in something more extensive such as Sebelius or similar.
What have others used from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_MIDI_editors_and_sequencers with good results?
In reply to Suggestions for midi sequencers by dwfleig
I would forget Sibelius, at least until its present upheaval has settled down.
AS far as Midi Sequencers go the 3 main ones are Logic (now sadly just for MAcs), CUbase and Sonar.
All proprietary, but all well worth the money - if you are doing serious sequencing then I would look at their demo version first.
Sadly, I have yet to find any decent freeware or open source sequencers on the WIndows platform.
LInux seems to have the monopoly on these, so if you want freeware/open source I would consider installing Ubuntu Studio on a partition on your PC.
HTH
Michael
In reply to I would forget Sibelius, at by ChurchOrganist
Thanks for the tips Michael. What's up with Sebelius? I haven't been able to find pro or con when researching reviews. For the time being I'm limited to Windows 7.
In reply to MIDI Sequencer by dwfleig
Sibelius is currently in a state of flux due to it's owners (Avid) making the entire development and technical support team redundant in July.
Consequently there is a big question mark over it's continued existence as no development team=no further development.
Avid claim that they are hiring a team of Eastern European programmers to take over development, but without the expertise of the original development team this is going to be a non starter, akin to getting halfway through the Empire State building then sacking the builders and architect and then not giving the replaement build team the plans to work to :)
That's it in a nutshell - a Google search should give you further information on the current situation.
In reply to Sibelius is currently in a by ChurchOrganist
I tend to agree. Over the years, I've observed Avid overprice and underwhelm. Sonar seems similar though. I'll roll the dice with a 30 day trial.
In reply to State of affairs by dwfleig
I use Sonar, and have since the 1990's. IME it is a very solid sequencer and will do everything you need it to, including audio recording and the mixing of MIDI and Audio tracks.
I would look at Cubase too, which again is well established and the choice of many professional musicians.
I went the Sonar route purely because I didn't like the UI, although it is less arcane than Logic - now that is a nightmare to work with until you are used to it!
In reply to I use Sonar, and have since by ChurchOrganist
It's too bad Avid is changing the Sebelius business model. I read some of the threads and responses posted by others. Now I know what you mean by "upheaval." Turning Sebelius over to their "audio team" will probably wreck it, at least in the short term. My background is primarily in video. I've watched what Avid has done with their products in this segment of the industry. I expect the same with their foray into music composing applications.