I'm forcing my self to sit down this weekend and try and find a MIDI file I could feel good about playing with...

I have plenty of them, but what's the deal with no uniformity to where things are assigned?

In six different files, I've found the melody track (which has to be muted or this is a deal breaker) all over the place. Sometimes its in 1, 3,6,7, etc...

Am I missing something?

Q: Once I do find it, can I mute a channel and then save it to the file so I don't have to do it every time? How do I do this?

This is like riding a bike backwards for me, lol...

Thanks-

Bill, Melody is on track 4 a lot as well. I seem to find 1 and 4 the melody tracks most of the time.

You should be able to modify the MIDI file anyway you want and then save it...at least all that is piece of cake on the Korg PA2.

The accepted standard for MIDIS is melody on track/ch 4, and bass on track/ch 2 with piano on track/ch 1.

Usually any harmony note tracks (those that will drive harmonisers) can be found on track/ch 5.

ANY commercial file will be set up this way.

Anything else different is an edited file. People who post MIDIS should stick to the standard. But sadly they don't as so you get this confusion with the files downloaded from "non-commercial" sites

Dennis

Why not at first try creating your own SMF using a style omitting the parts you play....just to get the feel of playing along with one.

Bill, I always do a save as after modifying the file. That way I always have the original. For instance, Mustang Sally becomes Mustang Sally 1. When you start playing along, you will want to adjust your volumes so your playing finds its spot in the mix. I don't use many but the ones I do use are very effective.

Joe

Bill, I should have mentioned that I do all of my editing on computer using Sonar 4. It puts everything on the screen so you can see what's going on. The finished product then goes on the thumb drive or floppy.

Joe

I suggest making all edits while listening to the sound system you will play through - then there are no surprises!

MIDI for idiots?...............


whats a midi?..

Donny, many people, including myself, refer to a SMF, or Standard Midi File, as a "Midi".

It's a sort of slang, I guess, but, I haven't had anyone yet misunderstand me when the word was used in the proper context.

Ian

Ian,
I'm sure Donny was poking fun at me. I have a pet peeve about using midi as a stand alone noun, instead of an adjective. I never say "a" midi ... always a midi file or an smf, or something like that. I'm an odd duck, I know, but I rarely use the word gig (I prefer work) and I don't play midis... I play midi files....sometimes.