Table of Contents
MIDI
Versions
General MIDI
Yamaha XG
- https://www.blueman.name/Creations_XG.php - MIDI files
Games with YXG soundtracks:
- PC versions of Final Fantasy VII and VIII.
Setup
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.
Playback
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.
- Install VLC as usual
- Install vlc-plugin-fluidsynth
- Install a soundfont
- 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 :)
See Also
Media for General MIDI Enthusiasts
Songs
- Hey Little Girl, Icehouse.
- When I Spend My Time With You, Model-T.