Title: Using MIDI files that lack Key and/or Time Signatures
Post by: Rick G. on 2008-05-23 08:15 am
Post by: Rick G. on 2008-05-23 08:15 am
MIDI files can store Key and Time Signatures but they are ignored during MIDI playback. Often they are wrong or omitted. If omitted, NoteWorthy Composer (NWC) assumes Key of C major and 4/4 time. This is often incorrect. MIDI also has no concept of barlines which can be a problem if there are pick-up notes.
There are several ways to solve these problems. I have found that the easiest is to open the MIDI file in NWC, make a few changes and save it back as a new MIDI file. When this new MIDI file is opened in NWC, many of the problems are fixed.
I cannot attach a MIDI file here, so I attached: Carol_00.nwc
Load this file into NWC and save it as a Type 1 Midi File named: Carol_01.mid
This is, of course, the opening line of It Came Upon the Midnight Clear.
If you open Carol_01.mid in NWC it will look like the hideous mess in the first pane of the png attachment, but a few changes will work wonders. These changes are shown in the Carol_02 pane.
On the top staff:
Save the song as a Type 1 Midi File and open it in NWC.
Key, time signature, tie, and barline problems are all corrected! See the Carol_03 pane.
Most of the beaming is also corrected.
A bit of tyding remains:
Delete unneeded staves. The Carol_04 pane shows the final result.
Notes:
Setting Playing Style: Tenuto is not always needed. It keeps whole and half notes intact.
If there are multiple Key/TimeSig changes, they need only be entered on the top staff prior to MIDI save. NWC will add them where needed when the MIDI file is opened.
Related posts:
Help File Error (https://forum.noteworthycomposer.com/?topic=6935.0) (Tenuto works like Legato)
Re: midi file import (https://forum.noteworthycomposer.com/?topic=6934.msg47558#msg47558) (Too many Key and Time Signatures)
There are several ways to solve these problems. I have found that the easiest is to open the MIDI file in NWC, make a few changes and save it back as a new MIDI file. When this new MIDI file is opened in NWC, many of the problems are fixed.
I cannot attach a MIDI file here, so I attached: Carol_00.nwc
Load this file into NWC and save it as a Type 1 Midi File named: Carol_01.mid
This is, of course, the opening line of It Came Upon the Midnight Clear.
If you open Carol_01.mid in NWC it will look like the hideous mess in the first pane of the png attachment, but a few changes will work wonders. These changes are shown in the Carol_02 pane.
On the top staff:
- Delete the incorrect 4/4 Time Signature
- Insert the correct Time Signature (in this case 6/8) where the first downbeat is supposed to be
- Force Accidentals
- Insert the correct Key Signature (in this case B flat major)
- Audit Accidentals (optional)
- Make the Playing Style: Tenuto
Save the song as a Type 1 Midi File and open it in NWC.
Key, time signature, tie, and barline problems are all corrected! See the Carol_03 pane.
Most of the beaming is also corrected.
A bit of tyding remains:
- The time signatures need to be moved.
- The G flat needs to be an F sharp (Then run Audit Accidentals)
- The first B flat in the top staff needs to be 'Lyric Syllable: Never' and have its beaming changed
- The E flat in the prior chord needs to become a quarter note
- The tempo needs to be moved and changed to 'Base: Dotted Quarter'
- The lyrics need to be copied to the top staff
Delete unneeded staves. The Carol_04 pane shows the final result.
Notes:
Setting Playing Style: Tenuto is not always needed. It keeps whole and half notes intact.
If there are multiple Key/TimeSig changes, they need only be entered on the top staff prior to MIDI save. NWC will add them where needed when the MIDI file is opened.
Related posts:
Help File Error (https://forum.noteworthycomposer.com/?topic=6935.0) (Tenuto works like Legato)
Re: midi file import (https://forum.noteworthycomposer.com/?topic=6934.msg47558#msg47558) (Too many Key and Time Signatures)
Title: Re: Using MIDI files that lack Key and/or Time Signatures
Post by: John Kavanagh on 2008-06-12 03:16 pm
Post by: John Kavanagh on 2008-06-12 03:16 pm
Rick, thanks so much for posting this. I do a lot of my arrangements starting from a midi download, and this trick will save me a lot of clean-up time.