Join multiple midi files

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Thread: Join multiple midi files

  1. #1
    Sushi
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    Join multiple midi files

    Is there a way to join multiple midi files into one large midi file? I want to play back a collection of Christmas midi's on my Yamaha Digital Piano continuously without having to start each one by itself.

  2. #2
    Crash Test Dummy SkyDog's Avatar
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    You can do it using any MIDI sequencer program, but it'll take some knowledge of music theory and MIDI.

    To explain it as simply as possible, what you're looking to do is sort of like the music equivalent of combining the text from two documents. You'd need to basically copy content from one file and append it to the end of the other.

    But of course it can't be quite that simple... MIDI files often have tracks for multiple instruments, and chances are the instrumentation would change from each of your MIDI files to the next. To work around this, you could change the MIDI instrument voice on each track at the point where you spliced MIDI files. Or you could add new staves to your MIDI file to accommodate instrument changes, pasting content onto specific instruments.

    If you don't have a MIDI sequencer program, Jazz++ is a free one you can download. (I use other programs, so unfortunately I can't offer any specific help on Jazz++.)

  3. #3
    Reef Shark flynlr's Avatar
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    another option is playlists. lot of programs Itunes/WMP etc allow you to make playlists from midi files. then just let it play through the whole list.
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  4. #4
    NullPointerException rock's Avatar
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    A playlist will be much easier than physically concatonating the files. Each song may have different instrument definitions, which will lead to either an overly complex midi, or else having the wrong instruments used in some songs.

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  5. #5
    Still Alive spamjedi's Avatar
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    Audacity is really good, but I dont work with MIDIs so I dont know how well it does with them. It lets you cut and paste stuff easily enough.
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  6. #6
    Crash Test Dummy SkyDog's Avatar
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    Audacity doesn't do MIDI. Audacity's great for working with recorded sound, but MIDI is an entirely different creature. A MIDI file doesn't contain sounds, but rather information telling your computer (or a MIDI device) how to play a piece of music: which notes to play on what instruments, for how long, and how loud. In a nutshell, MIDI files are like electronic sheet music.

  7. #7
    Still Alive spamjedi's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by SkyDog
    Audacity doesn't do MIDI. Audacity's great for working with recorded sound, but MIDI is an entirely different creature. A MIDI file doesn't contain sounds, but rather information telling your computer (or a MIDI device) how to play a piece of music: which notes to play on what instruments, for how long, and how loud. In a nutshell, MIDI files are like electronic sheet music.
    Ah, good to know. Hence the small file size I suppose
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  8. #8
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  9. #9
    Crash Test Dummy SkyDog's Avatar
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    ...or Finale, Sibelius, or Encore if your primary goal is notation, with MIDI playback quality of lesser importance.

  10. #10
    BozoKiller
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    pretty amazing - the depth of knowledge here folks

    anyway;
    to the OP - way back in the early 90's i used an Alesis(?) 8 track MIDI sequencer to trigger our DX-7 and other rack mounted modules -- you could Quantize, Transpose, and edit (combine/add) to your hearts delight - i'm sure sequencers have come a long way since...so if you plan on ever doing anything else with that yamaha, an external device may be the best (or better) option.

    otherwise, go get yourself a Macintosh
    Last edited by I4one; 10-21-2005 at 02:31 AM.
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  11. #11
    Ultra Great White Shark!! richardginn's Avatar
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    This program is 100% free and can use midi files:

    http://www.anvilstudio.com/

    You also have fruity loops as a cheap program you can buy, they do have a version that sells for 49 bucks.
    Last edited by richardginn; 10-21-2005 at 09:10 AM.
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