Tech: Saving Mudcat MIDI Files

Subject: Tech: Saving Mudcat MIDI Files
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Jul 18 - 03:45 AM

Somebody ask me how to save a Mudcat MIDI file instead of just playing it. Here is my response:

If you have a Mac computer, let me know and I'll ask my sister.

But with Windows or Linux computers, I can do it in my sleep:

• Put your mouse over the MIDI link and click the RIGHT mouse button. A menu will appear.
• Left-click the selection that says "save file as" or "save target as" - and the file will save to your computer.

This technique works on almost every Web link - but some Websites have fancy programming that blocks you from doing that. Believe me, we ain't fancy. If you have any trouble, let me know and I'll talk you through it. It's really easy once you get used to the Glories of the Right-Click.

But now I'm wondering about Mac computers, since we do owe Mac users a modicum of respect. How does one save a Mudcat MIDI file on a Mac?

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Tech: Saving Mudcat MIDI Files
From: Stanron
Date: 13 Jul 18 - 04:48 AM

Nice one Joe. I've just tried it and on my Linux it says "Save Link As".

Cheers.

Subject: RE: Tech: Saving Mudcat MIDI Files
From: leeneia
Date: 13 Jul 18 - 11:30 AM

Is that good or bad?

Subject: RE: Tech: Saving Mudcat MIDI Files
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 13 Jul 18 - 12:16 PM

Just a means of reliably downloading a file, Leenia. I seem to remember a debate a few weeks back were a couple of us questioned a problem (mime type) with a left click here.

Right click (on systems that have it which at least include Windows and popular Linux desktop systems such as Gnome, KDE, etc) is often a good tool. The "click and see what it offers me" one.

Subject: RE: Tech: Saving Mudcat MIDI Files
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Jul 18 - 01:53 PM

But how's it done on a Mac?

Subject: RE: Tech: Saving Mudcat MIDI Files
From: DaveRo
Date: 14 Jul 18 - 02:00 AM

how's it done on a Mac?

Probably the same if you have a 2-button mouse. Mac use the phrase 'secondary button' with their own mice. Old macs had single-button mice - you had to control-click. On any operating system the actual right-click (context) menu will depend on the browser so Safari may have different options.

Macbook touchpads don't have buttons. Control-tap probably works there too.

On this Android tablet, using Firefox, I can long-tap and 'share' the link, which gives me various options one of which is saving it. But that might depend on having a file manager app installed. I could also send it to Dropbox or Google Drive. Other Android devices may be different.

On iOS you can't just save a file to the filesystem - you have to send it somewhere. On my wife's old iPad in Safari long-tap offers me 'open' which then offers a list of apps to open it in. One of these is Dropbox so I could save it there. Other cloud services are probably similar. Some apps might be able to save it locally in their own storage.

Mudcat midi files

Subject: RE: Tech: Saving Mudcat MIDI Files
From: leeneia
Date: 15 Jul 18 - 09:39 AM

Thanks for explaining, Jon.

This is good to know in case you want o learn a new song. Save the MIDI and you can play the tune while looking at the lyrics or the sticks & dots.

BUT if you own a setup like mine, with a MIDI editor [in my case, Noteworthy Composer] and a MIDI keyboard, you can go supernova. You can download that file and change the key, change the time, type chords in, write additional parts, print it.

You can also start from scratch and be your own composer.

Subject: RE: Tech: Saving Mudcat MIDI Files
From: leeneia
Date: 16 Jul 18 - 06:27 PM

I shouldn't say MIDI keyboard, I should say MIDI controller, which is the industry term. It looks like a very thin piano, and it plays like a piano. However, it differs from a piano because it can communicate sounds to a computer.