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Topic: MIDI files (Read 2477 times) previous topic - next topic

MIDI files

Okay, I give up. I don't have the time to do a lot of searching, so instead:

What's the difference (assuming there is one) between a Type 1 MIDI file and a Type 0 MIDI file?

Re: MIDI files

Reply #1 –
A type 0 midi file has all events on a single track, whereas a type 1 midi file has separate tracks, usually one per midi channel plus a "master track" containing tempi and signatures (although not necessarily; NWC for instance creates a separate track for each staff, even if more than one staff shares the same midi channel).

For practical purposes, there is no significant difference between the two types. Both will play identically in most if not all midi players. However, if you intend your midi to be importable into sequencers (or reimported into NWC), retaining your original track structure (or staves, in the case of NWC) then Type 1 is preferred.

The only other factor that sometimes comes into play is that type 0 midis can sometimes be somewhat smaller, if "running status" is enabled (not presently supported in NWC, AFAIK but can be enabled using an external program such as Günter Nagler's "midcompr.exe").
 

Re: MIDI files

Reply #2 –
PS - one possible advantage to type 0 is when concatenating several midis into a single large one using a utility such as "midicat.exe" (concatenates midis), which requires type 0 midi for input.

Conversion between the two types can be readily accomplished using programs by G. Nagler and others. (gee, this is starting to sound like an ad for Nagler!) :)