Downloading/Playing MIDI files

Subject: Downloading/Playing MIDI files
From: Animaterra
Date: 30 May 98 - 01:31 AM

OK, I just don't get it about downloading MIDI files. My computer won't let me do it, for some reason, saying that the attempt failed. I've got Windows 95- Whaddo I do?

(transferred from another thread)
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Downloading/Playing MIDI files
From: Joe Offer
Date: 30 May 98 - 01:38 AM

OK, Animaterra, let's see where you sit:
-When you click on a tune link in the database, what happens?
-Can you play MIDIs from other sources?
-Can you hear music when you go to Gene Graham's Web Site
-Did you like it???
....disregard that last question.....
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Downloading/Playing MIDI files
From: Animaterra
Date: 31 May 98 - 10:30 AM

Yes, I can hear music anywhere it happens on the web. I know I have a MIDI card in there somewhere, but I seem to have trouble accessing it for my own use.

Subject: RE: Downloading/Playing MIDI files
From: Joe Offer
Date: 01 Jun 98 - 04:46 AM

OK, animaterra, it sounds like your system is working OK. Now you have to find out how your particular browser downloads files.
Click here for a wunnerful MIDI.
Now, with Netscape or Microsoft Internet Explorer (MSIE) 4.0 on Windows 95, if you point to the link above and click the left mouse button, you will hear wonderful music (if you're a Myron Floren fan). However, if you point to it and click the right mouse button, a menu will pop up and you should have the opportunity to save the MIDI forever. On my MSIE, the menu item I choose is "Save Target As...." I think Netscape is just about the same. Same general procedure for saving pictures from Web pages - click the right mouse button, and a menu should pop up. Hope that helps.
-Joe Offer-

Wunnerful, wunnerful.... Wanna blow some bubbles?

Subject: RE: Downloading/Playing MIDI files
From:
Date: 01 Jun 98 - 02:07 PM

I have a sound card and Cakewalk software, but I haven't downloaded any files. Does anyone know of good sites for MIDI files? Bruce V.

Subject: RE: Downloading/Playing MIDI files
From: Joe Offer
Date: 01 Jun 98 - 02:24 PM

Well, here is a rather nice folk MIDI site. If you're looking for other MIDI files, just do a search at http://www.yahoo.com/ and put MIDI in the search box.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Downloading/Playing MIDI files
From: H.Dulcimer
Date: 02 Jun 98 - 12:59 PM

Joe!! I did a search as you suggested for "midi". I found enough sites to keep me busy all summer!! I use Musictime software, and have really downloaded some wonderful music to play on hammered dulcimer.

Subject: RE: Downloading/Playing MIDI files
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Jun 98 - 02:32 PM

Say, Dulcimer, how does hammered dulcimer music sound on MIDI? Can you give us the location of the hammer dulcimer MIDI sites you found?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Downloading/Playing MIDI files
From: Animaterra
Date: 02 Jun 98 - 04:43 PM

OK, I can hear music all right, but how do I read the red-print gobbledy gook that accompanies lots o 'lyrics 'n chords that people submit?

Subject: RE: Downloading/Playing MIDI files
From: Doc K
Date: 02 Jun 98 - 05:38 PM

Joe Offer or anyone else..

My status is somewhat like Animaterra's. I have Windows 95 and Netscape. I know the speaker system is working because rarely one of the midis will play. Otherwise, there is no audible response. When I click "Click here for a wunnerful midi" nothing happens. What do I need to do to get to where I can listen to the midis?

Thanks, Doc K

Subject: RE: Downloading/Playing MIDI files
From: Jon W.
Date: 02 Jun 98 - 05:51 PM

Animaterra, the red gobbledegook is not for human consumption. What you can do with it is a standard Windows copy and paste operation to Notepad or other word processor, and save it as a plain text file (.txt) and run it through TXT2MID which Alan of Australia has provided for us. This makes a MIDI file that you can play through your standard MIDI software, probably just by double-clicking on the file in Windows Explorer. You can download TXT2MID (and its counterpart MID2TXT) using the link that comes with the red gobbledegook.

Subject: RE: Downloading/Playing MIDI files
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Jun 98 - 06:36 PM

Doc, Lawrence Welk wouldn't be very happy with you. I think maybe you have the security features on your browser set too high, so that it rejects most binary information. When I click on "wunnerful midi" (I have MSIE), a warning box pops up that asks if I want to open or save the MIDI file. I choose "open," and Myron Floren himself comes out of the speakers of my computer (I could live to regret that). At great personal risk, I just opened Netscape to see what would happen. I clicked on "wunnerful midi" and a little control box opened, and the same smarmy music started coming out of my computer.
So, my guess is that you have the security features set, but it's a little hard to tell since there are so many things that could be set differently. Keep playing with it. Then, if you continue to have problems, come back and describe your situation as clearly as you can, and one of us will try to rescue you. If we can't help, we'll call in the Big Guns, Alan or Max - they can help, fer sure.
Now, I suppose I'd better close one browser or the other before something crashes.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Downloading/Playing MIDI files
From: Ricky Rackin
Date: 02 Jun 98 - 08:44 PM

My current Fav Set of links: http://www.aitech.ac.jp/~ckelly/SMF.html Love the Yamaha SYG-20 vs my old Crescendo http://home1.swipnet.se/~w-11396/

Enjoy the Trip RiGGy

Subject: RE: Downloading/Playing MIDI files
From: Wilma
Date: 03 Jun 98 - 08:02 AM

Help! I've downloaded the Digital Tradition database, my midi system is fine, but the file is in dos, of which I am completely ignorant. How can I get this file into a language I can understand (i.e. windows 95)?

Subject: RE: Downloading/Playing MIDI files
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 03 Jun 98 - 12:15 PM

Wilma- What's the problem. If you've downloaded and unzipped the file(s) --using WINZIP or PKZIP--just run it. Though a DOS structure, it runs fine under Windows 3.x or 95. Type GO and it unarchives itself; instructions for use are there, and you never have to see the dreaded C:> promp

Subject: RE: Downloading/Playing MIDI files
From: Animaterra
Date: 03 Jun 98 - 05:16 PM

But- but- but- I'm having trouble downloading TEXT2MIDI- that's my problem in the first place! When I try it sez "failed-failed-failed-failed" NOW whaddoeye do?

Subject: RE: Downloading/Playing MIDI files
From:
Date: 03 Jun 98 - 06:06 PM

Dick Greenhaus-I hate to tell you, but the instructions to Wilma are just not adequate. I presume you have done DOS all your life. I am sure it seems totally transparent to someone who already understands, but WHERE do you type 'go'? Remember, there are people who have really never done ANY of this. Instructions for true amateurs need to begin a little further back.

Subject: RE: Downloading/Playing MIDI files
From: Jon W.
Date: 03 Jun 98 - 06:45 PM

Animaterra, there is another thread on the problems of downloading MIDITEXT. It seems they are sporadic. Try again. I was able to get the latest version okay yesterday. You can look at the other thread for more information.

Jon W.

Subject: RE: Downloading/Playing MIDI files
From: Animaterra
Date: 08 Jun 98 - 09:22 PM

And lo, when I had lost all hope, I tried again and there was music!!!!!!! It works!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks, all!

Subject: RE: Downloading/Playing MIDI files
From: Wilma
Date: 17 Jun 98 - 02:22 AM

Hi, I'm back! thank you, (anonymouse) for the advice to Dick Greenhouse on my behalf - appreciated. My problem is, that I can use the dos file (worked it out), but when I try 'play.exe', I am told that there is 'no file' or that I need another type of midi player to play the files (by the way, the midi files do not have an extension). Upon delving further, the best I could come up with was a website which offered to sell me the required program for $99! Help, please, somebody!