Convert a MIDI file for use by
QuickTime Musical Instruments

• It exists for developers who wish to save space when adding music to their work.
• It cannot create midi files.
• It will only play midi files after they have been created in another application.
• It resides in the extension folder.
• It can only modify voice selections.
• It cannot be played in real time by an external controller without some additional software.

To change the Midi voices in a midi file

"QT player" (at least with the Pro versions)

After opening a midi file with QuickTime Player

1. Choose Get movie properties (Under get Information )
   
2. Choose the Music track from the left pop up menu.
   
3. Choose Instruments from the right pop up menu.
   
4. Double - click on an instrument in the list to change its properties.

QT 2.5, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, and 6.0 voices can also change voices if you download:

QT Midi Player 1.6 allows you to patch to your onboard synthesizer (Macs only) by using Apple Midi Player or OMS. This allows you to play the internal synth from the application you are working on. Many music applications never gave you a choice of using QuickTime Musical Instruments.

I've even gotten QT Midi Player to work on my iMac. Since older applications ask for a serial port (and you iMac users know there is none) this is the only way I could use a couple of my older applications; MusicShop being one of them. I set up QT Midi Player to access QuickTime. I then set up QuickTime to default to an external synth. The set up is a little tricky. Be persistent ..... I know it will work.

Arnold's Midi Player is one of my favorite tools. It allows me to mess around with midi files while using my internal synthesizer. Unfortunately Arnaud (Arnold) stopped supporting versions for 68k Macs. Then, relatively short time later, his site disappeared. (http://www.planete.net/~amasson/amp.html) What this means for us is there is no single site to download versions for PowerMacs and PCs. It is still possible to find and to pay for this wonderful shareware. If you like it (no matter where you find it) I urge you to pay for it. In the mean time I have these two applications for you to try.

These are stuffed and binhexed Arnold's Midi Players for Macs only. (Sorry PC owners.)

QuickTime Musical Instruments is supposed to be installed on all new Macs. You can download 2.1 from here, 2.5 from here. QuickTime 3.0 is no longer available from Apple although it can be found here and there on the net. (I have copies on my hardrive, for instance.) QuickTime 4.0 and 5.0 are still available from Apple, but I recommend 6.0.

Open SimpleText or your movie player (QuickTime Player in 3.0 through 6.0)

• Go to File, mouse down, drag to open, mouse up
• Navigate to the file you wish to convert.
• Hi light a selection, and convert

If you push "options" in 2.5 through 6.0 there are a couple choices you can make before saving. They are self explanatory.

Also if you wish to change the voices and you are using QT Player ...... see above.

** QuickTime 2.1 Only from this point on (Sorry 2.5, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 & 6.0). **

• During conversion a pop up screen has appeared and one of the choices is "options".
• When you push "options" a new screen appears with all tracks over which you have a choice for voice editing.
• Push the play arrow on the slider to hear what the selection sounds like.
• For volume control you will need to go to the control panels, select sound then raise the volume level in "volume".

• Hi light the track with a click,
• Push "instrument" A new window comes up.
  You have a choice of synthesizers
  • Choose Mac, although if nothing else is hooked up it will default to this even when "best synthesizer" is selected.

  You have a choice of categories. (Piano, brass, etc.)

  • Put the pointer on the box, mouse down, drag to your choice, mouse up.

  You have a choice of "instrument".

  • Put the pointer on the box, mouse down, drag to your choice, mouse up. The italicized instruments will default to one of the other voices in that category.

  To hear the voice by itself you can use the mouse and pointer on the screen piano keyboard.

  To hear the voice in ensemble push "o.k." and you will return to the "all tracks" window.

  • Push play.
  When you have the combination of voices you like in the "all tracks" window
  • push "o.k."
  • You will go back to the "convert" window.
  • You can save this converted file to where ever you like.

If you don't like the file you've now saved you have to start all over again.

To get out of this mode keep clicking the "cancel" buttons.

Additional instructions can be found at these sites:

(with illustrations): http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/help/midi.html

A very large resource: http://www.aitech.ac.jp/~ckelly/mmuig.html

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