Just obtained my first SMF files and am amazed at the quality. One is of Bill Evans by Roland and the other a collection of BIG Band pieces (Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller) by Labyrinth. The arrangements sound so authentic which makes me wonder if these are audio recordings converted by computer to midi data, or are programmed note by note by some whizz kid programmer, which seems to me to be impossible when considering all the nuances etc of the music.

Can anyone answer this one please?

Peter

Hi Peter, You said ...'which makes me wonder if these are audio recordings converted by computer to midi data'... This is not really an option. I know of no software which is capable of faithfully converting a complex audio file into a MIDI file. If enough time and effort is put into compiling a midi file, with something like cubase or other editing programs, then it is surprising what can be done.
I've got a couple of really great files, suitable for KN6000 which demonstrate just what can be done. I believe they were originally MIDI files but converted to KN format. If you would like a copy, email me
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Willum

[This message has been edited by Bill Norrie (edited 05-20-2002).]

Hi
I wondered if you could tell me how to conver a midi file into technics format
I do not yet fully understand the techology
yet
many thanks
jan

Hi Jan, There is a splendid description of just how to do this in Alec's Book. If you haven't got a copy yet, it is worth it's weight in gold - highly recommended !

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Willum

thanks, Bill.
the reason the good midis sound so good is simple... skill and musicianship!

AND
quality of soundcard
Bebop

no, what I am talking about has nothing at all to do with the soundcard.

that is like saying a great performance becomes less great as a performance when you listen on a car stereo rather than a top quality hi fi. The quality of performance transcends the means of delivery.

besides, who listens to midis through the soundblaster compatible supplied with most run of the mill computers if you have a KN available?

It is most likely that these MIDI were files were MIDI recorded realtime by someone who has a great feel for the music and can really play. That is how the best MIDI files are created, not by note by note programming.

precisely what I'm talking about... it is possible that the results can be helped substantially by using midi guitar or breath controller, giving playing envelopes very difficult if not impossible to achieve via keyboard input, no matter how much post production has been applied. But these would require just as much playing skill.

Nevertheless I am constantly amazed at some of the results of the best of my collection, especially given the limitations of controller functions in GM1 spec. To be able to produce results like these without pattern generators and quantisation shows real musicianship.

Thanks to all for plugging another gap in my knowledge zone. Entirely agree with you Alec, many of these files are incredibly good.

Peter

By coincidence I was having a conversation with someone who earns a living in part making midi files for retail organisations. He mentioned in passing how he hoped to finish the job soon to be within budget. This is something that is easy for us to overlook.

At home I can spend as long as I like practising and perfecting the patterns for a song because I do it for my own pleasure and personal sense of achievement. Learning the melody and chords is relatively fast compared to the time I spend perfecting the pattern backings so it sounds just right. Presumably these guys work in a similar way, only without so much pattern backing, maybe listening to the audio track while trying to figure out how the backing needs to be played.

If these guys are paid fixed contracts they can't spend days on each song because they have to get on to the next job and earn some more money. That makes the skill involved making these superb files all the more remarkable in my book.

Just noticed that the Bill Evans Trio SMF has(invery small print) "Piano - Mashashi Hirashita and Music Data Pro - Kazuko Hirashita." So the piano must have been played live and the bass and drums programmed. Mashashi is obviously a very talented piano player as I could have sworn it was Bill Evans playing. Remarkable.

Peter