Test of ABC Format

Subject: Test of ABC Format
From: Jon W.
Date: 08 Oct 97 - 09:48 AM

This thread is to test the posting of tunes in the forum using ABC format. I have posted the following tune by importing an ABC file to my ascii editor and changing all carriage returns (new lines) into the HTML line break tag <br>.

T:Leitrim Fancy, The
R:hornpipe
N:Bars 2 and 6 also played |ADGB A2de|
M:C|
K:D
AG|FAEA DEFG|(3ABA GB A2de|fdge agec|dBAF GBAG|
FAEA DEFG|(3ABA GB A2de|fdge agec|Addc d2:|
|:zg|fefg afeg|fefg a2 (3efg|agec dfec|1 dcAF G3e|
fefg afeg|fefg a2 (3efg|agec dfec|Addc d2:|2 dcAF GBAG|
FAEA DEFG|(3ABA GB A2de|fdge agec|Addc d2||

Subject: RE: Test of ABC Format
From: Jon W.
Date: 08 Oct 97 - 09:58 AM

It worked! I copied the ABC tune to the clipboard and pasted it back into a new file in my editor. I then ran a compare against the original (not trusting my eyes) and it found no differences. Therefore I should be able to play the reconstituted file on my ABC player, except that's on my home computer and I'm at work now.

For more information on ABC notation, go to the ABC Homepage. There is also shareware and a free demo there to download.

Subject: RE: Test of ABC Format
From: Bert
Date: 08 Oct 97 - 01:37 PM

Jon,

The problem that I was having was trying to align the abc with the lyrics.
It seems that the HTML <PRE>, for preformatted text, doesn't work in a thread but works fine in a personal message.

Does anyone have a solution for this?

Subject: RE: Test of ABC Format
From: Carl
Date: 08 Oct 97 - 04:35 PM

Hey, that´s what I´m talking about all the time !
(Look up the Oro Se Do Bheatha Bhaile thread).
- I know, most of you fancy that MIDI-stuff. I´d rather play an instrument than at my computer (which isn´t mine at all, by the way). So I prefer the easy way. That seemed to me something ascii-like: so I shouted out: ABC, let´s have some ABC guys! But Jon, I don´t want you to become disappointed, but the response on my promise on using ABC you can see at the above mentioned thread.

Well, stay tuned, Carl

Subject: RE: Test of ABC Format
From: Jon W.
Date: 08 Oct 97 - 06:25 PM

I see ABC simply as a solution to the problem of including tunes with the lyrics posted in the forum. If a few of us start posting the ABC notation with our songs, more and more people will start to see the usefulness of it and start to use it. If nothing else, the burning desire to hear the tune will send people scurrying over to the ABC home page to download the software and to Notepad to copy and paste the notation so they can play the tune. It's just a matter of spreading the word and being patient.

Bert, I suspect your problem with alignment should be passed on to Max - especially since it works in one place and not in the other.

P.S. Why isn't < working anymore?

Subject: RE: Test of ABC Format
From: Jon W.
Date: 08 Oct 97 - 06:27 PM

well shoot, it worked that time. Lets try it a little different: < br>

Subject: RE: Test of ABC Format
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 08 Oct 97 - 06:40 PM

A VERY neat shareware program for playing tunes written in ABC is ABCMUS: It not only provides a very flexible player but will even figure out chords ov varying complexity. It will also read the SongWright files we supply with the DOS download of the database.

Subject: RE: Test of ABC Format
From: Jon W.
Date: 09 Oct 97 - 03:19 PM

Two things:

1) the sample above needs a line "X:1" added before other lines in order to be complete.

2) I downloaded two more pieces of software from the ABC homepage site. Each took only a few seconds to download. One is called playqabc, which plays abc files through the PC speaker. It runs under DOS. I tested it and it works, but since it only takes a file name, the ABC would have to be saved to a file. This can be done by copying from the forum, pasting to a Notepad document, and saving as ASCII. The other program (actually a pair of programs) converts between MIDI and ABC. I'm going to take them home and try them out, and I'll let you all know how they work tomorrow (I hope). If they work I'll post the two tunes in the TUNES thread I started yesterday, in ABC in that thread.

Subject: RE: Test of ABC Format
From: Jon W.
Date: 10 Oct 97 - 12:37 PM

I used the program MIDI2ABC to convert the tunes for Sleepy Peedie Laddie and The Handcart Song to ABC, and posted the results to the TUNES thread as advertized. This is a DOS application which best runs from a DOS prompt, not the "Run" thingie on the Start menu of Win '95. You have to be in DOS to get the redirection command to work right, so the tune will go to a file instead of the screen.

Subject: RE: Test of ABC Format
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 Oct 97 - 09:16 PM

Well, I downloaded the ABCMUS program from the ABC Home Page, and I have to say I'm really impressed. I do wish it could convert MIDI files to ABC, but it otherwise seems like a very good program. And at a $10 registration fee, it's the cheapest way to get something you can use to play around with the Digital Tradition Songwright tune files. I'd say it's definitely worth a try.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Test of ABC Format
From: Jon W.
Date: 20 Oct 97 - 11:39 AM

I have now started testing the "MUSE" program for windows. It seems to do a fairly good job converting ABC to normal music notation - one song I tried had some problems (maybe something unexpected in the ABC file) but the other one seemed to work just fine. The really nice thing about it is that it beams the notes together just as the ABC file specifies, something that seems to be lost in converting ABC to MIDI with ABCMUS. I downloaded it from the ABC site or from the Ceolas music archive, I don't remember which (probably available both places). It gives you a 30 day free trial, then costs about $17 (10 pounds) to register - still a real bargain.

Subject: RE: Test of ABC Format
From: alison
Date: 20 Oct 97 - 06:17 PM

Hi

Before you all rush out and spend your money , I know Alan of Oz is working on something...............Watch this space............

Slainte

Alison

Subject: RE: Test of ABC Format
From: Joe Offer
Date: 20 Oct 97 - 08:07 PM

Well, I'll certainly wait for Alan's contribution, Alison. In the meantime, I think it would be worthwhile for some of us to download ABCMUS or MUSE and play around with them. With ABCMUS, I can highlight and copy a tune from the forum, and then play it right from the clipboard without having to save it as a separate file. Most of the ABC tunes I've found online seem to be music for folk dances, not singable songs - anybody know where I can find more actual songs in ABC? I'm having fun with this. Oh, and I unzipped all the Digital Tradition Songwright tunes, and I've found that they play very nicely with ABCMUS. Still and all, I'll betcha our Very Own Alan will come up with something worth waiting for.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Test of ABC Format
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 21 Oct 97 - 03:32 AM

G'day,
Since Alison has dropped me in it I'd better explain that I've modified a couple of programs I wrote a few years ago to convert MIDI to text and back. So what I'm doing is of interest to MIDI type people (I have a large hardware and software commitment to MIDI). I'm still testing but this will allow Mudcat users to share MIDI files without using up too much bandwidth.

MIDI and ABC people can talk to each other by means of the ABC2MIDI and MIDI2ABC programs mentioned by Jon W, although these programs seem to be pretty buggy. Hopefully my programs will prove to convert more accurately.

Gotta go, I have a class of C students waiting for me.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: Test of ABC Format
From: John (Brisbane Australia)
Date: 24 Oct 97 - 12:09 AM

Hi All,

I've been playing with ABC and MIDI files for a little while. My initial aim was to pick up some tunes that I did not know, as I don't read sheet music very well.

Some observations along the way about MIDI files I have found on the Web.

- There are lots of Celtic tunes, but relatively few come from songs.

- There are lots of other tunes around from classical and popular culture. There are quite a few G&S scores for example.

- It might just be my setup (a Soundblaster 16 Bit stereo soundcard) but the volume mix on many MIDIs that I play is not very palatable/or some of the arrangements are not to my taste. And there are lots of good ones.

- There is an awful lot of shareware out there to play MIDI. I picked up one package on ZDNET called MIDIMADE which allows you very easily to adjust the volume on each MIDI track, revise instruments, change key and change speed of replay. I have tried lots of others which don't seem to do this. In particular if some part of the MIDI arrangement gets up your nose then you can mute it. The registered version allows you to save the revised MIDI files, but I have not gone that far yet. I don't recall the cost.

- I did turn up my nose at MIDI somewhat until I realised that I now have the ability to focus on in on a particular musical part, be it a harmony, bass, rhythm or percussion line and hear it properly - something that is not possible on a recording or similar.

- Basically I'm more interested in the music that went in rather than the noise that comes out but I would welcome any feedback on whether the 32 or 64 Bit boards make folk instruments such as fiddle sound any better than the crappy noise my wife complains about on my system.

Regards John

Subject: RE: Test of ABC Format
From: John (Brisbane)
Date: 24 Oct 97 - 12:21 AM

OOPS!!!!! The shareware package I referred to above is actually titled "Midiart". The main distinction from other players is that it contains a fairly realistic looking audio mixer on screen. I note that it costs $59US. On reflection this seems like it's moderately expensive.

Regards

John

Subject: RE: Test of ABC Format
From: Joe Offer
Date: 24 Oct 97 - 01:35 AM

Yeah, John, it does seem that it's hard to get a good music software package at a reasonable price. I got an ad in the mail from a tax program from Intuit for $16, but Noteworthy Composer wants $40 US. Heck, SongWright is still a hundred bucks, and Cakewalk costs about the same. Seems to me there should be a good $25 program that will play, read, convert, and print any type of music file. When I consider the sophistication of other types of programs, I think the music programmers could come up with something that gives us more for our money. Maybe Alan will be able to help us out.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Test of ABC Format
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 24 Oct 97 - 02:58 AM

John,
To get a better sound from a sound card you need a WAVETABLE card. You might be able to get a daughter card to plug into your existing card. They're a bit expensive. My sound card is a Roland and the sounds for most instruments are extremely good. Roland also make daughter cards.

Wavetable means that the instuments are real instruments that have been digitally recorded. This works better for some instruments than others. e.g. piano, drums etc. sound great. Fiddle is not so good - it is a real fiddle but doesn't sound like it's being played by a real fiddler. Still it's a lot better than the FM synthesis that most cheaper sound cards give you

All sound cards are 16 bit. Cards such as AWE32 etc. are 32 CHANNELS.

Joe,
I'm still working on a couple of programs, virtually finished but need more testing. There's a lot they won't do, but they will allow Mudcat users to post MIDI files in text form, and convert the result back to MIDI. The MIDI to text program also produces an ABC text of the melody so the posted text should please most users. I'll be away for the weekend but should get this finished early next week. You'll be able to download from my homepage but not yet!

The main program I use is a commercial one called Musicator Audio which does a great job of playing, printing, creating MIDI files and all the things mentioned by John. It is also a multi track digital recorder capable of recording voices & real instruments in CD quality, mixing down to stereo in real time just like a real mixing desk. Also mixes any MIDI instuments into the final product. Costs hundreds though, software prices are a ripoff in this country.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: Test of ABC Format
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 24 Oct 97 - 04:26 AM

Alan,

Thanks for the tips. I have been stumbling about a bit in my experimentation.

Joe,

Have you tried YATOMID to convert MIDI to ABC. As I recall from the description in Ceolas it is supposed to do it. Because I have an acceptable MIDI player I have not bothered to try.

Regards John

Subject: RE: Test of ABC Format
From: Jon W.
Date: 24 Oct 97 - 10:27 AM

Alan, I take it from your description of your program that it converts MIDI to both ABC and to some other form of text - sounds interesting. I can't wait to try it out.

Joe, I paid the $40 for Noteworthy Composer nearly a year ago and I haven't regretted it. But you're right, there needs to be something that converts between the various formats and also plays the music. MIDI seems to be the lingua franca but (someone correct me if I'm wrong) I don't think there are ways of representing some of the subtleties of music notation such as tied notes, stem direction, grace notes as such, etc.

Now how about a real challenge? I've been wondering if there was any software for converting scanned music notation (bit mapped image) into MIDI or any other symbolic "language." Seems I heard years ago about a robot that could "read" sheet music and play an organ, that was developed at some university somewhere. Such an "Optical Music Recognition" algorithm would be necessary for that project. If I didn't have to make a living, I'd be tempted to write one myself.

Keep up the good work, Jon

Subject: RE: Test of ABC Format
From: Joe Offer
Date: 24 Oct 97 - 03:09 PM

Jon - I believe there are a couple of "Optical Music Recognition" programs available, but I haven't looked into them because they cost well over a hundred bucks - and I'd also have to invest in a flatbed scanner to read my songbooks. I'm on the prowl for one, though. I don't read music very well and I've failed at playing every instrument I've attempted. I have lots of great songbooks, but the only way I can teach myself a song is to enter it into Noteworthy, which is a tedious process.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Test of ABC Format
From: Jon W.
Date: 24 Oct 97 - 04:03 PM

Joe -
I picked up a flatbed 24bit 300dpi scanner several months ago for around $200US. The price fell to between $150 - $170 immediately after that (just my luck). Don't know if that will fit your budget or not.

Can you recall the names of the optical music recognition programs you've heard of? I've never seen anything like that (except the research project I mentioned earlier).

Thanks,
Jon

Subject: RE: Test of ABC Format
From: Joe Offer
Date: 25 Oct 97 - 05:15 AM

Jon, maybe I was dreaming. I looked through several Web sites and every software catalogue in the recycling bin, and didn't find a music-reading program. I've wanted something like that forever, and maybe I just wished it into existence. Darn.
I'm a little afraid to try to run a flatbed scanner from my PC. The boss provided me with one of those HP Office Jet Fax/Printer/Scanners, and I think a second scanner might cause conflicts. Unless I want to use a 386SX laptop, I have to provide my own computer. Guess I'll have to learn to read music and transcribe it into ABC at lightning speed, eh?
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Test of ABC Format
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 26 Oct 97 - 09:44 PM

John,
Haven't tried YATOMID if I get time I'll track it down.

Jon,
Watch this space. I hope to use Alison as a non-technical guinea-pig to try out the programs tomorrow. In her words if she can use them anyone can. They should become available soon after that. The ABC part is simple minded, without bells & whistles, the whole idea is to be able to share melodies in ways that most of us can use.

Jon & Joe,
Have a look at this thread

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: Test of ABC Format
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Oct 97 - 12:45 AM

Thanks, Alan. As I rapidly approach the age of 50, it's a great consolation to know that I'm not totally delusional - yet.
As for growing older, do you expect to live much longer if you go around saying things like, "If alison can do it, ANYBOBY can." I'd say you're cruisin' for a bruisin'.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Test of ABC Format
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 27 Oct 97 - 06:07 AM

Joe,
You're still a young bloke - I passed 50 a couple of years ago. On the other hand Alison's a cheeky Irish youngster with no respect for age & if there's any justice I owe her a whole lot of insults.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: Test of ABC Format
From: alison
Date: 27 Oct 97 - 07:06 AM

I'm with you Joe!

Can you please tell Alan of Oz that I'm not speaking to him........

Cheeky youngster am I? (I'll probably let him away with that seeing as I am still young.....)

Computer thicky am I?

I have to admit though I am looking forward to this program, there hve been so many good lyrics on this site, it'll be great to get the tunes.

Slainte

Alison

Subject: RE: Test of ABC Format
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 28 Oct 97 - 04:24 AM

Ignore this - it's just a test!

MIDI file: G:\TURBOC\MIDI\BLCKTHRN.MID

Timebase: 480

Name: Blackthorn Stick
TimeSig: 6/8 24 4
Key: G
Tempo: 210 (285714 microsec/crotchet)
Start
1200 1 74 107 0238 0 74 107 0002 1 79 107 0238 0 79 107 0002 1 78 107 0238 0 78 107 0002 1 79 107 0238 0 79 107 0002 1 76 107 0238 0 76 107 0002 1 79 107 0238 0 79 107 0002 1 76 107 0238 0 76 107 0002 1 74 107 0238 0 74 107 0002 1 71 107 0238 0 71 107 0002 1 67 107 0238 0 67 107 0002 1 69 107 0238 0 69 107 0002 1 67 107 0238 0 67 107 0002 1 64 107 0238 0 64 107 0002 1 62 107 0238 0 62 107 0002 1 67 107 0238 0 67 107 0002 1 67 107 0238 0 67 107 0002 1 66 107 0238 0 66 107 0002 1 67 107 0238 0 67 107 0002 1 69 107 0238 0 69 107 0002 1 71 107 0238 0 71 107 0002 1 67 107 0238 0 67 107 0002 1 71 107 0238 0 71 107 0002 1 69 107 0478 0 69 107 0002 1 74 107 0238 0 74 107 0002 1 79 107 0238 0 79 107 0002 1 78 107 0238 0 78 107 0002 1 79 107 0238 0 79 107 0002 1 81 107 0238 0 81 107 0002 1 79 107 0238 0 79 107 0002 1 76 107 0238 0 76 107 0002 1 74 107 0238 0 74 107 0002 1 71 107 0238 0 71 107 0002 1 67 107 0238 0 67 107 0002 1 69 107 0238 0 69 107 0002 1 67 107 0238 0 67 107 0002 1 64 107 0238 0 64 107 0002 1 62 107 0238 0 62 107 0002 1 67 107 0238 0 67 107 0002 1 67 107 0238 0 67 107 0002 1 66 107 0238 0 66 107 0002 1 67 107 0238 0 67 107 0002 1 69 107 0238 0 69 107 0002 1 71 107 0238 0 71 107 0002 1 67 107 0238 0 67 107 0002 1 67 107 0238 0 67 107 0002 1 67 107 0478 0 67 107 0002 1 74 064 0238 0 74 064 0002 1 76 127 0238 0 76 127 0002 1 74 127 0238 0 74 127 0002 1 74 127 0238 0 74 127 0002 1 79 127 0238 0 79 127 0002 1 74 127 0238 0 74 127 0002 1 74 127 0238 0 74 127 0002 1 76 127 0238 0 76 127 0002 1 74 127 0238 0 74 127 0002 1 74 127 0238 0 74 127 0002 1 79 127 0238 0 79 127 0002 1 74 127 0238 0 74 127 0002 1 74 127 0238 0 74 127 0002 1 76 127 0238 0 76 127 0002 1 74 127 0238 0 74 127 0002 1 74 127 0238 0 74 127 0002 1 79 127 0238 0 79 127 0002 1 78 127 0238 0 78 127 0002 1 79 127 0238 0 79 127 0002 1 76 127 0238 0 76 127 0002 1 74 127 0238 0 74 127 0002 1 71 127 0238 0 71 127 0002 1 69 127 0478 0 69 127 0002 1 74 127 0238 0 74 127 0002 1 79 127 0238 0 79 127 0002 1 78 127 0238 0 78 127 0002 1 79 127 0238 0 79 127 0002 1 81 127 0238 0 81 127 0002 1 79 127 0238 0 79 127 0002 1 76 127 0238 0 76 127 0002 1 74 127 0238 0 74 127 0002 1 71 127 0238 0 71 127 0002 1 67 127 0238 0 67 127 0002 1 69 127 0238 0 69 127 0002 1 67 127 0238 0 67 127 0002 1 64 127 0238 0 64 127 0002 1 62 127 0238 0 62 127 0002 1 67 127 0238 0 67 127 0002 1 67 127 0238 0 67 127 0002 1 66 127 0238 0 66 127 0002 1 67 127 0238 0 67 127 0002 1 69 127 0238 0 69 127 0002 1 71 127 0238 0 71 127 0002 1 67 127 0238 0 67 127 0002 1 67 127 0238 0 67 127 0002 1 67 127 0478 0 67 127
End

ABC format:

X:1
T:Blackthorn Stick
M:6/8
Q:1/4=210
K:G
d2|g2f2g2e2g2e2|d2B2G2A2G2E2|D2G2G2F2G2A2|
B2G2B2A4d2|g2f2g2a2g2e2|d2B2G2A2G2E2|D2G2G2F2G2A2|
B2G2G2G4d2|e2d2d2g2d2d2|e2d2d2g2d2d2|e2d2d2g2f2g2|
e2d2B2A4d2|g2f2g2a2g2e2|d2B2G2A2G2E2|D2G2G2F2G2A2|
B2G2G2G4||

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: Test of ABC Format
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 28 Oct 97 - 04:33 AM

So far so good, I converted a MIDI file into the text above. After posting it I copied back from the forum and converted back to MIDI. It worked, keep watching.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: Test of ABC Format
From: alison
Date: 28 Oct 97 - 05:28 AM

Hi Alan,

Unfortunately it didn't work here. got a message saying

not ready, reading drive g

cannot open g:\TURBOC\MIDI\BLCKTHRN.MID

Got Mark to check it he reckons you've hard coded it, (by the way g is my CD ROM.)

Better luck next time.

Here's one for you to try.

MIDI file: C:\MUSIC\MW2\ALLGROG.MID

Timebase: 480

Name: ALL FOR ME GROG
TimeSig: 4/4 24 8
Key: G
Tempo: 100 (600000 microsec/crotchet)
Start
1440 1 71 036 0320 0 71 036 0043 1 69 028 0117 0 69 028 0000 1 67 032 0478 0 67 032 0002 1 71 029 0345 0 71 029 0010 1 69 021 0115 0 69 021 0010 1 67 029 0838 0 67 029 0002 1 66 023 0118 0 66 023 0002 1 64 030 0358 0 64 030 0002 1 66 027 0118 0 66 027 0002 1 67 033 0358 0 67 033 0002 1 64 026 0118 0 64 026 0002 1 62 030 0718 0 62 030 0002 1 71 041 0238 0 71 041 0002 1 74 034 0336 0 74 034 0019 1 74 032 0125 1 74 036 0015 0 74 032 0346 0 74 036 0002 1 74 032 0117 1 74 046 0014 0 74 032 0344 0 74 046 0002 1 74 052 0118 0 74 052 0002 1 72 032 0322 1 71 034 0006 0 72 032 0134 0 71 034 0018 1 71 035 0358 0 71 035 0002 1 69 026 1078 0 69 026 0002 1 71 027 0358 0 71 027 0002 1 69 015 0118 0 69 015 0002 1 67 031 0478 0 67 031 0002 1 71 029 0358 0 71 029 0002 1 69 023 0118 0 69 023 0002 1 67 033 0478 0 67 033 0002 1 67 029 0345 0 67 029 0010 1 66 019 0125 0 66 019 0000 1 64 028 0347 1 66 018 0006 0 64 028 0117 0 66 018 0010 1 67 035 0355 1 64 029 0014 0 67 035 0101 0 64 029 0010 1 62 031 0478 0 62 031 0002 1 67 035 0336 0 67 035 0027 1 69 028 0117 0 69 028 0000 1 71 030 0353 0 71 030 0018 1 74 029 0109 1 72 030 0014 0 74 029 0316 1 71 029 0006 0 72 030 0134 0 71 029 0010 1 72 030 0396 1 69 027 0014 0 72 030 0070 1 67 022 0047 0 69 027 0298 0 67 022 0010 1 66 022 0125 0 66 022 0000 1 69 038 0690 1 71 033 0039 0 69 038 0111 1 69 038 0014 0 71 033 0104 0 69 038 0002 1 67 042 0478 0 67 042
End

To download the MIDItext software click here

ABC format:

X:1
T:ALL FOR ME GROG
M:4/4
Q:1/4=100
K:G
B4/3z/6A/2|G2B35/24z/24A/2z/24G7/2F11/24|
-F/24E3/2F/2G3/2E/2D3B23/24|-B/24d17/12z/12d49/24d/12d2d/24d/2c11/8B5/12|
-B/6z/12B3/2A9/2B3/2A/4|-A/4G2B3/2A/2G2G35/24z/24F/4|
-F7/24E35/24F/2z/24G37/24E/2z/24D2G17/12z/8A/12|
-A5/12B35/24z/12d/2c17/12B7/12z/24c41/24A13/24G5/4|
-G5/24z/24F13/24A73/24B2/3A/2G2||

Slainte

Alison

Subject: RE: Test of ABC Format
From: alison
Date: 28 Oct 97 - 05:42 AM

HI

tried with "All for me grog" and it seemed to work. Send me another tune.

Alison

Subject: RE: Test of ABC Format
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 28 Oct 97 - 06:47 AM

Thanks Alison, the bugs should be fixed now.

Here's what mine should have looked like:-

MIDI file: BLCKTHRN.MID

Timebase: 480

Name: Blackthorn Stick
TimeSig: 6/8 24 4
Key: G
Tempo: 210 (285714 microsec/crotchet)
Start
1200 1 74 107 0238 0 74 107 0002 1 79 107 0238 0 79 107 0002 1 78 107 0238 0 78 107 0002 1 79 107 0238 0 79 107 0002 1 76 107 0238 0 76 107 0002 1 79 107 0238 0 79 107 0002 1 76 107 0238 0 76 107 0002 1 74 107 0238 0 74 107 0002 1 71 107 0238 0 71 107 0002 1 67 107 0238 0 67 107 0002 1 69 107 0238 0 69 107 0002 1 67 107 0238 0 67 107 0002 1 64 107 0238 0 64 107 0002 1 62 107 0238 0 62 107 0002 1 67 107 0238 0 67 107 0002 1 67 107 0238 0 67 107 0002 1 66 107 0238 0 66 107 0002 1 67 107 0238 0 67 107 0002 1 69 107 0238 0 69 107 0002 1 71 107 0238 0 71 107 0002 1 67 107 0238 0 67 107 0002 1 71 107 0238 0 71 107 0002 1 69 107 0478 0 69 107 0002 1 74 107 0238 0 74 107 0002 1 79 107 0238 0 79 107 0002 1 78 107 0238 0 78 107 0002 1 79 107 0238 0 79 107 0002 1 81 107 0238 0 81 107 0002 1 79 107 0238 0 79 107 0002 1 76 107 0238 0 76 107 0002 1 74 107 0238 0 74 107 0002 1 71 107 0238 0 71 107 0002 1 67 107 0238 0 67 107 0002 1 69 107 0238 0 69 107 0002 1 67 107 0238 0 67 107 0002 1 64 107 0238 0 64 107 0002 1 62 107 0238 0 62 107 0002 1 67 107 0238 0 67 107 0002 1 67 107 0238 0 67 107 0002 1 66 107 0238 0 66 107 0002 1 67 107 0238 0 67 107 0002 1 69 107 0238 0 69 107 0002 1 71 107 0238 0 71 107 0002 1 67 107 0238 0 67 107 0002 1 67 107 0238 0 67 107 0002 1 67 107 0478 0 67 107 0002 1 74 064 0238 0 74 064 0002 1 76 127 0238 0 76 127 0002 1 74 127 0238 0 74 127 0002 1 74 127 0238 0 74 127 0002 1 79 127 0238 0 79 127 0002 1 74 127 0238 0 74 127 0002 1 74 127 0238 0 74 127 0002 1 76 127 0238 0 76 127 0002 1 74 127 0238 0 74 127 0002 1 74 127 0238 0 74 127 0002 1 79 127 0238 0 79 127 0002 1 74 127 0238 0 74 127 0002 1 74 127 0238 0 74 127 0002 1 76 127 0238 0 76 127 0002 1 74 127 0238 0 74 127 0002 1 74 127 0238 0 74 127 0002 1 79 127 0238 0 79 127 0002 1 78 127 0238 0 78 127 0002 1 79 127 0238 0 79 127 0002 1 76 127 0238 0 76 127 0002 1 74 127 0238 0 74 127 0002 1 71 127 0238 0 71 127 0002 1 69 127 0478 0 69 127 0002 1 74 127 0238 0 74 127 0002 1 79 127 0238 0 79 127 0002 1 78 127 0238 0 78 127 0002 1 79 127 0238 0 79 127 0002 1 81 127 0238 0 81 127 0002 1 79 127 0238 0 79 127 0002 1 76 127 0238 0 76 127 0002 1 74 127 0238 0 74 127 0002 1 71 127 0238 0 71 127 0002 1 67 127 0238 0 67 127 0002 1 69 127 0238 0 69 127 0002 1 67 127 0238 0 67 127 0002 1 64 127 0238 0 64 127 0002 1 62 127 0238 0 62 127 0002 1 67 127 0238 0 67 127 0002 1 67 127 0238 0 67 127 0002 1 66 127 0238 0 66 127 0002 1 67 127 0238 0 67 127 0002 1 69 127 0238 0 69 127 0002 1 71 127 0238 0 71 127 0002 1 67 127 0238 0 67 127 0002 1 67 127 0238 0 67 127 0002 1 67 127 0478 0 67 127
End

To download the MIDItext software click here

ABC format:

X:1
T:Blackthorn Stick
M:6/8
Q:1/4=210
K:G
d2|g2f2g2e2g2e2|d2B2G2A2G2E2|D2G2G2F2G2A2|
B2G2B2A4d2|g2f2g2a2g2e2|d2B2G2A2G2E2|D2G2G2F2G2A2|
B2G2G2G4d2|e2d2d2g2d2d2|e2d2d2g2d2d2|e2d2d2g2f2g2|
e2d2B2A4d2|g2f2g2a2g2e2|d2B2G2A2G2E2|D2G2G2F2G2A2|
B2G2G2G4||

And here's what yours should have looked like:-

MIDI file: ALLGROG.MID

Timebase: 480

Name: ALL FOR ME GROG
TimeSig: 4/4 24 8
Key: G
Tempo: 100 (600000 microsec/crotchet)
Start
1440 1 71 036 0320 0 71 036 0043 1 69 028 0117 0 69 028 0000 1 67 032 0478 0 67 032 0002 1 71 029 0345 0 71 029 0010 1 69 021 0115 0 69 021 0010 1 67 029 0838 0 67 029 0002 1 66 023 0118 0 66 023 0002 1 64 030 0358 0 64 030 0002 1 66 027 0118 0 66 027 0002 1 67 033 0358 0 67 033 0002 1 64 026 0118 0 64 026 0002 1 62 030 0718 0 62 030 0002 1 71 041 0238 0 71 041 0002 1 74 034 0336 0 74 034 0019 1 74 032 0125 1 74 036 0015 0 74 032 0346 0 74 036 0002 1 74 032 0117 1 74 046 0014 0 74 032 0344 0 74 046 0002 1 74 052 0118 0 74 052 0002 1 72 032 0322 1 71 034 0006 0 72 032 0134 0 71 034 0018 1 71 035 0358 0 71 035 0002 1 69 026 1078 0 69 026 0002 1 71 027 0358 0 71 027 0002 1 69 015 0118 0 69 015 0002 1 67 031 0478 0 67 031 0002 1 71 029 0358 0 71 029 0002 1 69 023 0118 0 69 023 0002 1 67 033 0478 0 67 033 0002 1 67 029 0345 0 67 029 0010 1 66 019 0125 0 66 019 0000 1 64 028 0347 1 66 018 0006 0 64 028 0117 0 66 018 0010 1 67 035 0355 1 64 029 0014 0 67 035 0101 0 64 029 0010 1 62 031 0478 0 62 031 0002 1 67 035 0336 0 67 035 0027 1 69 028 0117 0 69 028 0000 1 71 030 0353 0 71 030 0018 1 74 029 0109 1 72 030 0014 0 74 029 0316 1 71 029 0006 0 72 030 0134 0 71 029 0010 1 72 030 0396 1 69 027 0014 0 72 030 0070 1 67 022 0047 0 69 027 0298 0 67 022 0010 1 66 022 0125 0 66 022 0000 1 69 038 0690 1 71 033 0039 0 69 038 0111 1 69 038 0014 0 71 033 0104 0 69 038 0002 1 67 042 0478 0 67 042
End

To download the MIDItext software click here

ABC format:

X:1
T:ALL FOR ME GROG
M:4/4
Q:1/4=100
K:G
B4/3z/6A/2|G2B35/24z/24A/2z/24G7/2F11/24|
-F/24E3/2F/2G3/2E/2D3B23/24|-B/24d17/12z/12d49/24d/12d2d/24d/2c11/8B5/12|
-B/6z/12B3/2A9/2B3/2A/4|-A/4G2B3/2A/2G2G35/24z/24F/4|
-F7/24E35/24F/2z/24G37/24E/2z/24D2G17/12z/8A/12|
-A5/12B35/24z/12d/2c17/12B7/12z/24c41/24A13/24G5/4|
-G5/24z/24F13/24A73/24B2/3A/2G2||

To other users: this should work. To get your copy of the MIDItext software click where it says "click here" above.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: Test of ABC Format
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 28 Oct 97 - 09:50 AM

Discussion of the MIDItext software has moved to a new thread "Now you can post MIDI files".

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: Test of ABC Format
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 28 Oct 97 - 09:59 AM

Alison,
I should have mentioned that your "All for me grog" MIDI file converted without problems once I fixed the software.

Cheers,
Alan