MIDI

• Yamaha XG
• XG Central
• https://www.blueman.name/Creations_XG.php - MIDI files
• http://www.megatrade.ru/Russian/Midi.html - 〃 〃
• https://archive.org/details/yamaha-xg-midi-library - 〃 〃
• A #WebMidi editor for old #Yamaha XG #synthesizers, explained - Floyd Steinberg's video on making a simple, browser-based parameter editor.
  • mrfloydst/webxgmidi - Github repo. NB I have to actually put it online as you need HTTPS to do webmidi in Firefox.
• Introduction Yamaha XG: Discover the enormous possibilities of XG programming ! - Details info. on STUDIO4ALL.
• Introduction: Discover my 20 sets of Cubase 5 mixer maps - designed for Yamaha XG synthesizers ! - 〃 〃 〃 〃

Games with YXG soundtracks:

• PC versions of Final Fantasy VII and VIII.
• Various Falcom games?

Setting up MIDI for music making.

I had these videos bookmarked, they're all by popular Youtubers:

• USB & MIDI: Everything you need to know to get it right (USB MIDI Host vs Interface explained) - By Loopop, who usually does a good job of comprehensively covering music making hardware.
• How to Sync your Synthesizer Setup using MIDI - By JAde Wii, who has a DAWless setup (I've switched to using a DAW for sequencing).
• HOW I SEQUENCE & SYNC 15 SYNTHS — midi routing and DAW integration - By BoBeats, who has a very big, Youtuber-budget, setup with hardware and software.

Personally I use a Roland USB→MIDI cable to communicate between my computer and an 8-in/8-out MIDI Router, and everything else goes into that router too. I find the MIDI Router such a hassle saver, you just tell it what signals to send where. You can get old ones like mine for $100 and less, or new fancy ones for much more if you really want. If you want to record audio on your computer get an audio interface in place of the Roland cable.

I'm using Reaper to send Sysex messages for synths that need them (mostly the yamaha_tx81z), but some other options for Linux are:

• amidi - Command line tool you might fidn handy if you want to make your own scripts.
• SysExxer and SysExxer NG - GUI tools for sending and receiving sysex messages.
• There are various Patch Editor and Patch Librarian programs that combine organising and transmitting patches in various formats. Lots of the big ones are Windows only, and I haven't really explored any of them. MIDI-OX seems to be the most recommended.

I'd thought VLC had dropped support for MIDI, but I've found it to be the easiest way to get hassle-free MIDI playback.

1. Install VLC as usual
2. Install vlc-plugin-fluidsynth
3. Install a soundfont
4. Point VLC to that soundfont via Tools > Preferences > Input/Codecs > Audio codecs > FluidSynth

Now you can play a MIDI file just like it's any other audio or video file :)

• MIDI

• Hey Little Girl, Icehouse.
• When I Spend My Time With You, Model-T.

• Johnny To films.
• Mechanical Violator Hakaider.
• Rocky VI (don't watch this, it sucks).

• https://letterboxd.com/rjt/tag/general-midi/films/

• https://midi.guide/ - MIDI CC & NRPN database