I'm not getting the chance to contribute to this forum as much as I used to, but will still try as much as I can. The (In)Frequently Asked Questions below are all designed to help those who may wish to enjoy existing tunes or add new tunes to the Mudcat.

I don't have a sound card or fancy speakers connected to my PC (or my PC at work).  How can I listen to the tunes in the database?

Some time ago Henrik Norbeck, the author of ABCMUS, sent me a little utility that allows you to listen to single channel Midis (as per the database).  It is called MIDIEXT, can be easily installed on any Windows PC (I suspect even those installed in Mudcatters' places of work) and uses that tiny loudspeaker that make warning noises that you've committed some form of PC misdemeanour.  I know it won't sound like the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, but it will reproduce the tune quite faithfully.

Here's the rub - It must be somewhere on the Web as free software, but I can't locate it (or similar).  If another Mudcatter can't help with the location I'll put it on my Web page - but I don't have a lot of time at the moment.  I will gladly mail it to anyone who asks.  Contact me at johninbrisbane @hotbot.com

I have some Cakewalk files (.wrk) which I would like to convert to Midi but don't have Cakewalk.  Is there software to do this?

Very similar to the above.  I have the conversion software known as CAKE2MID.  If you need it just ask - it's a very small utility.  Again I know it's out there on the Web somewhere?

I would love to contribute tunes to the Mudcat but not being able to read music is a bit scary.  Is there an easy way to add tunes and gain spiritual enlightenment?

I have written a User Guide to ABC Notation which I placed in the Help Forum a large number of weeks ago.

Help please Joe Offer!  At your discretion should this be included in this thread, or a separate thread?.  I'll be out of town for 5 days, so would appreciate if you could please move it as appropriate.

Is there a guide to Everything You Need To Know About Submitting Tunes To Mudcat?

No, but I have started writing one.  Please encourage me to finish it!

I'd love to submit a few tunes to Mudcat, but how do I know which songs in the database are missing their respective tunes?

Send me an email and I'll forward you a list in Excel.  If you don't have access to a spreadsheet program which can read Excel, let me know and I'll send it in Word format (I think I can do that?)

Regards

John

johninbrisbane@hotbot.com