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Topic: MIDI to CD audio format (Read 47400 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: MIDI to CD audio format

Reply #50
I'mcomputer dumb and trying to convert a midi file from pgmusics band in a box to something that is playable on a cd player.i have a macintosh a yamaha burner and adaptec toaster software.can this be done?i've sorta seen the answer in other peoples questions but if anyone could help me more specifically i would be gratefull,considering that finding software if needed for macintosh seems difficult. thank you

Re: MIDI to CD audio format

Reply #51
I have permission to make a midi from a CD from a Gospel Artist in Nigeria. I need to know how to make a midi. How do I make a midi from a CD???? Thanks for your help!!!

Re: MIDI to CD audio format

Reply #52
This may sound like a flip answer, but the easiest way may be to play the CD and use NoteWorthy Composer to write down what you hear.

The problem boils down to how to convert data representing the sounds of a real musical performance into a file containing MIDI instructions for mimicking that performance. This is by no means trivial.

For a number of lengthy discussions of this issue, see (among others!!) https://forum.noteworthycomposer.com/?topic=850, https://forum.noteworthycomposer.com/?topic=1036, https://forum.noteworthycomposer.com/?topic=1295, https://forum.noteworthycomposer.com/?topic=1756.

Re: MIDI to CD audio format

Reply #53
My apologies. The first 2 links I gave are useless - they refer to conversion *from* MIDI.

Re: MIDI to CD audio format

Reply #54
I have converted MIDI to WAV using Cakewalk Pyro. The results are good, but not musically acceptable. And the quality diminishes when recorded to CD. As a former programmer (retired), my intuition tells me that it is possible to convert a MIDI file to standard (Redbook?) CD audio format WITHOUT MAKING WAV(ES), i.e by direct conversion of the MIDI binary data to CD data. However, I also realize that if it is feasible, some CD recording software would already do it, i.e. allow midi files in a playlist. I would like to know if such software exists.
If you have a suggestion, please e-mail.

Re: MIDI to CD audio format

Reply #55
It is important to understand the difference between a MIDI file and a WAV file.

A MIDI file basically contains data about which notes are played (C, C# etc), for which time (1/2 1/8 notes), volume, instrument (guitar, piano, grand piano) and on what channel (in the case you have more than one MIDI instrument).
The size is relatively small as a song may only have a few 1000 notes.

A WAV file is a digital sampled sound. It is the format used on audio CD's. Every second 44.100 samples are taken of the sound and translated to a signal level from 0 tot 65.535 (16 bits). And that for left and right channel.
Per second you get 44.100 * 2 * 2 = 176400 bytes.

The only way to convert from a MIDI file to a WAV file (which can be burned on an audio-CD) is to have the MIDI file played by a MIDI instrument and have the resulting stereo sound signal sampled into a WAV file.

The instrument that is used to play the MIDI file is responsible for the quality of the sound. A Yamaha instrument will probably sound much better then an on-board PC soundchip!

Connect the line-out of the instrument (he output that you otherwise would connect to an amplifier) to the line-in of your soundcard.
Then use the on-board A/D converter (analog to digital) to make the WAV by using a WAV recording program.

The quality of the A/D converters could be an issue. If that is the case you need a better card to do that.
Professional cards offer the possibility to have many instruments separately converted to WAV files which can then be digitally mixed.