LMACS help site

All about MIDI music

Brief description (use the links on this page for more adequate information)

MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a standard format with which different kind of electronic instruments (synths, keyboards, computers etc.) can communicate. DOS suffix is .mid.
MIDI does not contain any sound files but is more like "notation" for digital instruments (synthesizers).

MIDI Karaoke is MIDI files with song lyrics put on one channel which is synchronized with the channel that contains the lead melody. DOS suffix is .kar. If the suffix is changed from .kar to .mid all programs that can play MIDI also can play these files.
There are other, special, formats for karaoke (like Star3).

To be able to play MIDI one must have a PC with sound card (or a Macintosh) and a good internal synthesizer or an external synthesizer connected. Sorry to say, the internal PC-synthesizers and synthesizers that comes with most sound cards sounds likes music boxes, while the synthesizer that comes with MacOS (QuickTime Musical Instruments) gives the same sound as a simpler Roland synthesizer but without reverb and chorus.
PC-owners really should try out Yamaha Soft Synthesizer.

Special page for Macintosh owners only

Useful programs:

REALORCH (Real Orchestra) is a good MIDI and MIDI Karaoke player for Windows. It can also play Star3 karaoke. It has functions for editing.
Midi-oke! is also a good MIDI and MIDI Karaoke player for Windows.
ARNOLD'S MIDI PLAYER is a good MIDI and MIDI Karaoke player for Macintosh.
To be able to create karaoke files, EasyKar is a very useful program (only available for Windows).
MIDI Graphy is a good editor for MIDI files on the Macintosh.
NoteWorthy is a good notation program, one can create a MIDI file by simply write a piece of music in ordinary notation. Evaluation version is available. (Only available for Windows.)
MusicTime from Passport is a fairly good notation program, one can create a MIDI file by simply write a piece of music in ordinary notation (available for MacOS and Windows).
Encore from Passport is the real professional program for notation and related (available for MacOS and Windows).
Several MIDI-plugin for web readers are available.

Related MIDI utilities and help links for Windows and MacOS:
For all beginners: ABC's of Using MIDI Files
Computer Music	vanBasco Karaoke Player
Passport Music Software (MusicTime, Encore and more)	Links for Writers of 'MIDI File' Pages
Music Discussion & Help	Midi toolkit for Macintosh
NoteWorthy Composer

Any questions? Complaint? Suggestions? New material? Mail Bengt Lundberg
Last update of this page: 14 April 2004. Updates are now discontinued.

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