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What's new on the MIDI-ZONE?
536 (zipped) midis - 1 day of music
is now available! 41 NEW Christmas midis! We now only
offer top-quality midis. If for any reason you
happen to find a MIDI that can't play, check the site at a later date and
see if you can download it again.
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What's new on the WMA-ZONE?
7 minutes and 5 seconds of EXCLUSIVE WMA files! We encode
files that others don't. Instead of just another song that you can
find a million places else where, in this zone we strive for originality,
so that person find that file that can be found nowhere else in this
format.
Excuse me, I ally linked this to the "MIDI-ZONE".
It now links to the "WMA-ZONE", just like it says.
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What's new on the GUESTBOOK-ZONE?
Don't forget to check out my guestbook! As of December 2000, page-views are getting closer to 2000, but for some reason nobody signing my guestbook!
Any good
URLs [like your website address] you send to me are going to be posted in
THE ZONE!
Sign it | View
it
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MIDI-ZONE : ARTISTS A-Z
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MIDI-ZONE : GAMES A-Z
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MIDI-ZONE : HOLIDAY A-Z
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MIDI-ZONE : THEMES A-Z
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V Go to our new domain V
http://wmc.topcities.com/
Update your bookmarks
"What
is MIDI? What does it do?" - (Bob the www dum
dum)
"I know what bob said but I hear this funky, irritating sound when
I press play. Why does it sound so awful on my speakers?"
- (Christine)
"My favorite song I hear on radio doesn't sound the same on my
computer!" - (Josh the second biggest Metallica fan)
"What is this .mid thing, when I rename it,
it can't
play..."
- (The guy who s "to s.t.o.p.
talking")
As I said
briefly on the MIDI-ZONE, midi is a audio file that is
much like a composition but different from a recording. It allows a song
to be downloaded without you having to wait 30 minutes. In fact,
all websites on GeoCities have a maximum capacity of over 80 hours of
music (when zipped)! One of the
obvious differences is that there is no human voice. In this way,
the file size is greatly reduced by 100's of times. Think of midi
as a set of instructions to be followed by a marching band, orchestra,
et cetera. Not all midis
sound great, however, there are programs which let you compose you own
music, or edit a irritating midi. Well-made midis are great to put on your website.
Not surprisingly this is the least
viewed page here!
MIDI has been out here for so long...
...oh well, here's all the midi info that few need.
Also => What is GM?
| What is GS? | What is XG?
What is MIDI?
"MIDI" stands for "Musical Instrument Digital
Interface", and is a standard digital "language" which
allows musical instruments and related devices from any manufacturer to
communicate with one another via a simple cable. MIDI was created in
1983, with cooperation and agreement between electronic musical
instrument manufacturers from around the world.
MIDI immediately opened up a whole new world of musical possibilities:
several instruments could be connected and played simultaneously, a
sequencer could be used to simultaneously drive several synthesizers
playing different parts of a composition, sequencer playback could be
synchronized with drum machines, and much more. It also became possible
to simultaneously switch voices and control parameters such as pitch
bend on several instruments at once. Of course, it also became possible
to connect computers and musical instruments. In fact, it wasn't long
before computers were being manufactured with built-in MIDI tone
generators, paving the way for advanced desk-top music production,
multimedia, and game software applications.
Simply stated, MIDI is basically a standard set of commands, known as
MIDI "messages", which can be transmitted and received via a
MIDI cable.
What is GM?
The term "GM" is frequently used to refer to "General
MIDI System Level 1". "General MIDI" is another
abbreviation which is often used. This is not a specification or
standard in itself, but a "Recommended Practice" for the MIDI
standard. GM was introduced in 1991 to overcome a common problem: MIDI
song data created for playback on one tone generator would not
necessarily play back properly on a different tone generator. A problem
that was caused primarily by the fact that the same "program
change" number would select completely different voices on
different tone generators. GM provided a standard set of basic voices,
allocated to the same program change numbers, and a few basic rules
concerning the use of the various MIDI channels. By providing this basic
framework for all GM tone generators, it became possible to accurately
reproduce GM song data on any GM-compatible tone generator.
A great number of sequencers and software sequencer applications are
available for the production of song data. Each of these generally has
its own format for storing and manipulating data files. This, naturally,
makes it impossible to play or edit music data created on one sequencer
on anyother. Another standard comes to the rescue: SMF (the Standard
MIDI File format) was created to provide a standard file format that
could be used to transfer music data between all sequencers and software
sequencer applications. Most sequencers now give the user the choice of
saving files in the sequencer's own format, or in SMF for convenient
transfer to other equipment.
SMF actually supports three subtly-different formats:
- Format 0
-
This format assembles all MIDI data on a single track, allowing
playback on even the simplest of sequencers or playback devices.
It stands to reason that this format also offers the greatest
compatibility.
- Format 1
-
Format 1 is capable of handling multiple tracks, and is designed
to work best with sequencers that allow different parts to be
recorded and played back on different tracks - essential for
editing and modifying data as well as simple playback.
- Format 2
-
This little-used format allows multiple tracks and multiple
sequence patterns.
What is GS?
Some companies feel that General MIDI doesn't go far enough, so
Roland created a superset of General MIDI Level 1, which they call GS
Standard. It obeys all the protocols and sound maps of General MIDI and
adds many extra controllers and sounds. Some of the controllers use
Unregistered Parameter numbers to give macro control over synth
parameters such as envelope attack and decay rates.
The new MIDI Bank Select message provides access to extra sounds
(including variations on the stock sounds and a re-creation of the MT-32
factory patches). The programs in each bank align with the original 128
in General MIDI's Instrument Patch Map, with eight banks housing related
families. The GS Standard includes a "fall back" system. If
the Sound Canvas receives a request for a bank/program number
combination that does not exist, it will reassign it to the master
instrument in that family. A set of Roland System Exclusive messages
allows reconfiguration and customization of the sound module.
This means that a GS Standard sound module will correctly play back any
song designed for General MIDI. In addition, if the song's creator wants
to create some extra nuance, they can include the GS Standard extensions
in their sequence. None of these extensions are so radical as to make
the song unplayable on a normal GM sound module.
What is XG?
The Yamaha XG format is basically a set of rules describing how a
tone generator will respond to MIDI data. The current GM (General MIDI)
format is a similar concept, allowing GM music data to be reproduced
accurately on any GM tone generator from any manufacturer.
GM, however, applies only to a limited set of parameters. XG
significantly expands on the basic GM format, providing many more
voices, voice editing capability, effects, external input, and other
features that contribute to enhanced musical expression. And since XG is
totally upwardly compatible with GM, GM data can be accurately
reproduced on any XG tone generator.
XG data will play accurately on any XG tone generator. And, since XG is
upward compatible with GM, GM data will play accurately on any XG tone
generator.
Although the XG format defines an extensive range of parameters and
allows exceptionally fine musical control, not all XG devices need to
conform to the full XG specification. The XG format allows features and
capabilities to be "scaled" according to price and target
applications. When music data is played on a scaled-down XG device,
playback is adapted to the capabilities of the device used. If, for
example, a specified voice is not available for a certain part, that
part will be played using a similar basic voice. On the other end of the
scale, s equipped with a graphic equalizer can be automatically set
to play hard rock pieces or classic compositions with appropriate
overall EQ.
The XG format has been designed to allow future expansion whenever
needed.
Need more info? I suggest these links to satisfy you.
...More
coming soon!
=>
See all MIDI Links here.
<=
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