Problems with Mudcat Midi's

Subject: RE: Problems with Mudcat Midi's
From: Genie
Date: 28 Nov 02 - 06:34 PM

I used to be able to play DT MIDIs without downloading them. I think it was QuickTime that played them. I never tried the Mudcat MIDIs until a few weeks ago.

Now I have to download both to hear them, and I can play them with my Mac Powerbook's MoviePlayer and, I think, with Finale NotePad Plus, as well. (For some reason, my computer doesn't offer QuickTime as an option in the list of programs that pop up as suggestions for opening the MIDI files.)

It was nice when I could hear the MIDIs without downloading them. I hope that option will be back at some point.

Genie

Subject: RE: Problems with Mudcat Midi's
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 Nov 02 - 01:19 PM

I posted this in another thread, but perhaps it should be here, too. This is a separate issue from the problem of some MIDIs not playing on some computers, which is a more individualized situation. There's something I don't understand - some people can't get our Digital Tradition MIDI files to play on a click, but they can get tunes to play from our two Mudcat MIDI pages. They all work for me, most of the time. That makes it particularly hard to figure out why they don't work for some people.
Our MIDI files are rather scattered. When the server they're on isn't working, the MIDIs don't work. Our newest MIDI collection is the one you'll find in Quicklinks that is also crosslinked to threads and Digital Tradition entries - that's Mudcat MIDIs. Some of the MIDIs MMario and I uploaded most recently aren't working, and we can't get in to upload more - I'm waiting for Jeff to fix that for us.
We have moved most of the original Mudcat MIDIs to the new collection and crosslinked them, but we haven't completed and perfected that project. For the time being, the Alan of Oz MIDI Page is still working.
Then there are the Digital Tradition MIDI files (the Click to Play links at the bottom of DT lyrics), which don't seem to be working today.
If you want to submit tunes, e-mail them to me or to MMario.
-Joe Offer (click to e-mail)-

Subject: RE: Problems with Mudcat Midi's
From: nutty
Date: 22 Nov 02 - 12:24 PM

Like you Malcolm ...nothing has changed on my machine.
I'm an 'if it works don't try to fix it' type of person.
One day I clicked on a Midi file and instead of it playing I got the download box ...... strange

Subject: RE: Problems with Mudcat Midi's
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 22 Nov 02 - 10:34 AM

I can't speak for Nutty, but in my case nothing in my setup has changed, and, as I said, midis on all other sites continue to behave normally. For some reason, Netscape's native plugin no longer recognises midis here as files which it can open; if I save them to disk, however, I can open them with that plugin if I particularly feel like it.

One particularly puzzling thing is that I made quite a lot of the midis on the Mudcat Midi Pages myself. I certainly didn't use up-to-date software! I can't play them from there any more; but in quite a few cases there are links in old threads to copies of the same midis at the South Riding Folk Network site (I used to put them there in the days when the midi pages here were not being maintained) and they play perfectly happily through those links.

I can only guess that the Upgrade is responsible, but I can't think how. Altogether rather baffling.

Subject: RE: Problems with Mudcat Midi's
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 22 Nov 02 - 08:49 AM

What File association do you have set up for file type .mid ?

I don't have any problem playing the MIDI files off the net version of DT. Try just double clicking on a MIDI file from Windows Explorer - if it brings up an application and plays OK then it should do from a Web page file. If not, then you may need to check out the association for .mid files.

Quite a lot of applications automatically "hijack" file types when you install them - esp. Media and Graphics type applications.

Subject: RE: Problems with Mudcat Midi's
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 Nov 02 - 12:57 AM

Well, I don't think it has to do with the MIDI files themselves. Most people can play them if they download them. For me, they play on a click. The only time I had trouble is when I had Crescendo on my machine.
Usually, it seems I've had the best luck if I make sure that Windows Media Player is the MIDI player most recently installed on my machine. If I install a Quicktime update or something that uses MIDI and then end up having problems, I can usually resolve it by reinstalling Windows Media Player. I don't like the big box that pops up when I run Windows Media Player - but it works.
I'm sorry I didn't answer your question in the Help Forum - but I didn't really have an answer. Our MIDIs have been quite stable, ever since we started posting them in 1998 or earlier. Whether you can play them, depends on the configuration of your machine.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Problems with Mudcat Midi's
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Nov 02 - 11:18 PM

If the mudcat NEVER upgraded their midi file configuration

If would be possible to read it with any reader.

However, since their system is more "modern" than yours...you must now upgrade ...in order to read theirs.

It is all part of the internet marketing insanity.

Subject: RE: Problems with Mudcat Midi's
From: nutty
Date: 21 Nov 02 - 05:51 PM

Thanks guys ....glad to know its not just me.

Never had any problem with the old Mudcat so this has come as a bit of a surprise.

Malcolm ...... Crescendo normally works like a dream (I am touching wood) I much prefer it to Media Player

Subject: RE: Problems with Mudcat Midi's
From: MMario
Date: 21 Nov 02 - 04:30 PM

Mary - I have never been able to play the midis off the midi page without downloading - and some days I can play the ones in the DT - some days I can't; - never have figgered out why.

Subject: RE: Problems with Mudcat Midi's
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 21 Nov 02 - 04:28 PM

I have exactly the same problem, though I wouldn't touch Crescendo with a bargepole and generally use Netscape's native plugin for midis.

All the other sites I use which have midis continue to behave normally. It is only Mudcat which has started to behave oddly; and that in Netscape (4.7.9) only. Using IE, Winamp plays DT midis quite happily, though I can't access the Mudcat Midi Pages through IE. Opera plays DT midis using some native plugin or other so far as I can tell, but again cannot access the Midi Pages. Hmmm...

Subject: Problems with Mudcat Midi's
From: nutty
Date: 21 Nov 02 - 04:19 PM

I posted this in the "Help" forum but no one appeared to be able to help.

Are there any mudcatters out there with similar problems or can anyone suggest a solution ?

Cheers

I've just discovered that I can't play a Mudcat Midi without downloading it. This has never been a problem before. I have
windows media player, real player and crescendo loaded on my computer but none will work in Mudcat. Any advice will be
gratefully received.