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Author Topic: Playing mid files  (Read 1900 times)

Offline kimmer

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Playing mid files
« on: July 01, 2015, 07:16:38 PM »
Need something better than RealPlayer (which tries to take over things and wants to snoop and on and on) to play mid files (short music pieces). I thought QuickTime might, but it says "not a movie file" and won't open it. Any suggestions?
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Offline jchuzi

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Playing mid files
« Reply #1 on: July 01, 2015, 07:31:22 PM »
I have Default Apps installed in System Preferences and, when I checked, it said that the default application for midi files is Garage Band. Give it a whirl. (You do mean midi, not mid?)
« Last Edit: July 01, 2015, 07:52:35 PM by jchuzi »
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Jon

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Offline kimmer

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Playing mid files
« Reply #2 on: July 01, 2015, 11:04:18 PM »
QUOTE(jchuzi @ Jul 1 2015, 04:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I have Default Apps installed in System Preferences and, when I checked, it said that the default application for midi files is Garage Band. Give it a whirl. (You do mean midi, not mid?)

Tried Garage Band and it won't open the file.

It says that it is a ".mid" file, but getting info does say it's a midi file. Created on an electronic piano by a win user is the only other info I have. According to the "Get Info" box the default apps on my iMac are:
  • RealPlayer
  • FlipPlayer
  • QuickTime (and it shows 2 versions but I only have 1 installed?)
  • VLC

The only app that opens and plays the file is RealPlayer.
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Offline Highmac

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Playing mid files
« Reply #3 on: July 02, 2015, 05:43:09 AM »
A search has led me to the fact there is an Apple "Audio MIDI Setup" on the Mac. It's in the Utilities folder on our iMac (ML) and MBP (SL) so guess it's a standard part of X. There's a piece on the Sound Studio app website user manual which may or may not be of help. Just search the page for MIDI.
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Neil
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Offline Highmac

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Playing mid files
« Reply #4 on: July 02, 2015, 05:50:42 AM »
And Make an MP3 from MIDI using free Audacity. I'd actually forgotten we've had that on the MBP for years, only used occasionally but can't actually recall what for  whistling.gif
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Neil
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Offline kimmer

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Playing mid files
« Reply #5 on: July 02, 2015, 06:28:36 PM »
QUOTE(Highmac @ Jul 2 2015, 02:43 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
A search has led me to the fact there is an Apple "Audio MIDI Setup" on the Mac.

Found this, but this is for using something like the electronic keyboard with the Mac; not playing a file received from someone.

QUOTE(Highmac @ Jul 2 2015, 02:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
And Make an MP3 from MIDI using free Audacity. I'd actually forgotten we've had that on the MBP for years, only used occasionally but can't actually recall what for  whistling.gif

I downloaded the latest version and can't get it to recognize this file.

I appreciate the offers of help. I think I'm stuck launching RealPlayer weekly, clicking through their annoying set up stuff, playing the files and then repeating the whole process the next time.  dry.gif
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Offline Xairbusdriver

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Playing mid files
« Reply #6 on: July 02, 2015, 11:09:40 PM »
Try adding an "I" to the end of the file extension name. You will get a nasty response from the OS, because it doesn't think you should do that. wink.gif Normally, that is correct, but in this case, I think none of your apps are recognizing ".mid" as a ".midi" file.

Of course, you can probably find some application that actually uses the ".mid" extension...but it's probably a Windose app... wallbash.gif
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Offline kimmer

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Playing mid files
« Reply #7 on: July 03, 2015, 02:11:26 PM »
QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Jul 2 2015, 08:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Try adding an "I" to the end of the file extension name. You will get a nasty response from the OS, because it doesn't think you should do that. wink.gif Normally, that is correct, but in this case, I think none of your apps are recognizing ".mid" as a ".midi" file.

Of course, you can probably find some application that actually uses the ".mid" extension...but it's probably a Windose app... wallbash.gif

Well, Neil beat you to the suggestion on changing the file name. wink.gif I hadn't thought about doing that. Duh! So I gave it a try and got the same results.

These are small files and I'll get 2-4 of them each week, play them several times as I prepare the slides for church and then dump the files. I'm just going to deal with realplayers intrusive alerts and go with it. I was hoping there was a simple answer to all this.

Thanks for all the helpful suggestions!
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Offline Xairbusdriver

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Playing mid files
« Reply #8 on: July 03, 2015, 03:31:38 PM »
Oops! I missed that. OTOH, if these came from a Windows platform, they may only use the three letter suffix, anyway. I haven't seen a midi file in years... dntknw.gif

I thought they'd pretty much been 'taken over' by the music creation folks. A midi file usually contains note-by-note details (decay, vibratos, harmonics, etc.) and sometimes even the lyrics of a song. They can be created by using a keyboard (piano style) or with software. They are then great for playing back on many different kinds of electronic instruments. The files can even be loaded into most instruments and played back when a particular key is pressed. I just don't understand why they would be used for sending to people not creating or playing music. Kind of like using Word to write an email. wallbash.gif rolleyes.gif
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THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF COUNTRIES
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And the United States = The Banana system
CAUTION! Childhood vaccinations cause adults! :yes:

Offline kimmer

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Playing mid files
« Reply #9 on: July 03, 2015, 04:29:16 PM »
QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Jul 3 2015, 12:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Oops! I missed that.

Sorry he sent me an email, so you didn't really miss anything -- you were just beat by an email. biggrin.gif

QUOTE
I thought they'd pretty much been 'taken over' by the music creation folks. A midi file usually contains note-by-note details (decay, vibratos, harmonics, etc.) and sometimes even the lyrics of a song. They can be created by using a keyboard (piano style) or with software. They are then great for playing back on many different kinds of electronic instruments. The files can even be loaded into most instruments and played back when a particular key is pressed. I just don't understand why they would be used for sending to people not creating or playing music. Kind of like using Word to write an email. wallbash.gif rolleyes.gif


He uses his electric "piano" (slightly fancier than a keyboard because it actually looks like a smallish piano) to record the piano intro (usually the last few measures of the song), and then he plays once through the song. Enough to give the singers what they need to practice with (they can loop or whatever), and for me it gives the tempo so that I know where to break the words for the slides. I use these for a few hours and trash them. I just hate dealing with RealPlayer trying to take over my browsers and computer every time I launch it. wink.gif
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Offline Xairbusdriver

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Playing mid files
« Reply #10 on: July 03, 2015, 07:20:37 PM »
QUOTE
you were just beat by an email.
I've been wondering why I've felt that way the last few days...

QUOTE
He uses his electric "piano" to record...
Ah HA! Guess we'll have to include you in that "music creation folk" group! laughhard.gif

Have a great Fourth! Just stay away from those 'fifths'! Groaner.gif
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THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF COUNTRIES
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Offline Highmac

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Playing mid files
« Reply #11 on: July 04, 2015, 03:01:29 AM »
For the record*, Jim should be given the credit for suggesting changing the file suffix. My email followed his suggestion and was because I felt Kim was reluctant to "mess" with the status quo*.


*musical puns intended...
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Neil
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Offline Xairbusdriver

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Playing mid files
« Reply #12 on: July 04, 2015, 09:17:26 AM »
Thanks, Neil, I'm going to print out your response and see if I can get a discount at a local coffee shop. laughhard.gif

Perhaps we need to have a high-level meeting of the Admins to discuss rules for posting puns on the Tech forum! rant.gif tomato.gif scram.gif
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THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF COUNTRIES
Those that use metric = #1 Measurement system
And the United States = The Banana system
CAUTION! Childhood vaccinations cause adults! :yes:

Offline kimmer

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Playing mid files
« Reply #13 on: July 04, 2015, 12:44:42 PM »
Well, I did read the email first ... just sayin' .  toothgrin.gif

As to puns ...

What did one flag say to the other flag?
Nothing. It just waved!
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