MIDI files
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Bands, Artists and Genres Appreciation
Forum Description: Discuss specific prog bands and their members or a specific sub-genre
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=14630
Printed Date: March 06 2025 at 16:45
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: MIDI files
Posted By: Arnold
Subject: MIDI files
Date Posted: November 18 2005 at 15:24
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Does anyone know where I can find MIDI files from Transatlantic and Neal Morse? Please help me... |
Replies:
Posted By: cobb
Date Posted: November 18 2005 at 17:32
| Just did a quick search on musicrobot and it doesn't appear that neal or transatlantic (or spock's beard) are popular enough that anyone has attempted to produce any midi's. |
Posted By: Arnold
Date Posted: November 18 2005 at 17:34
I know that spock's beard have some MIDI files on theire homepage. But i couldn't find anything from Transatlantic or Neal, that's to bad. |
cobb wrote:Posted By: cobb
Date Posted: November 18 2005 at 17:36
| Yeah, I was just gonna add that after visiting the spocks beard site and checking out the disography |
Posted By: cobb
Date Posted: November 18 2005 at 17:44
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Here's a link to All Of the Above. http://tinpan.fortunecity.com/vanishing/958/various_t-u.htm This is an excellent 28 minute midi. Wow- where do these people find the time to do this? [edit] just listening to this- all those naysayers to midi should listen to this to see the possibilities of midi. Guitar as usual is poor (sound wise), but everything else is truly amazing and true to form. Whoever did this knows his stuff. What an excellent backing for a singer. |
Posted By: Arnold
Date Posted: November 18 2005 at 17:54
Thank you! if you find some other links please post 'em here 
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Posted By: ElwoodHerring
Date Posted: November 18 2005 at 18:04
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Only 28 minutes? I can beat that...
www.herring/pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/music/odyssey.mid www.herring/pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/music/ultimate.mid Okay one's 26 and the other 23 1/2 but put together that's nearly 50 minutes there - and all my own work! ------------- [IMG]http://www.herring.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/DRMkillb.JPG"> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4816930.stm - Right the Copyright Wrongs (Bill Thompson's BBC blog - essential reading!) |
Posted By: cobb
Date Posted: November 18 2005 at 18:14
| I would love to listen to them Elwood, but the URL's return a 404 error |
Posted By: ElwoodHerring
Date Posted: November 18 2005 at 18:24
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Get them from this page in that case:
http://www.herring.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/musicmidi.htm You can right-click on the links to save them Let me know what you think! ------------- [IMG]http://www.herring.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/DRMkillb.JPG"> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4816930.stm - Right the Copyright Wrongs (Bill Thompson's BBC blog - essential reading!) |
Posted By: cobb
Date Posted: November 18 2005 at 18:52
| Just listening to Odyssey now in Sonar. Do you play the tracks in or write them in? |
Posted By: ElwoodHerring
Date Posted: November 18 2005 at 19:12
I played them originally, but wrote them in for the MIDI files. Back in the 1980's I formed my own band and wrote all the songs; these "suites" were put together recently from all the music I wrote back then. I would like to get them performed again now but I don't know any musicians good enough to play them and besides, I'm getting a bit too old now!  ------------- [IMG]http://www.herring.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/DRMkillb.JPG"> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4816930.stm - Right the Copyright Wrongs (Bill Thompson's BBC blog - essential reading!) |
Posted By: cobb
Date Posted: November 18 2005 at 19:45
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Okay, Firstly, the compositions are quite sound. Did the original band lineup involve a singer, cause there are long sections that need something else in them, especially the metal pad (my sonar and edirol information may not match the original instrument allocation, so forgive me if I am quoting the wrong instruments) section around the 9 minute mark. Overall, the file lacks finishing. You know how to change the pan and volume, but you are not doing this enough. Also I don't know what you author the midis with, but if you have access to DXi synths (soft synths) you can get better sounds than the standard GM2 varieties. Edirol gives access to most of the standard Roland sounds. The polysynth becomes a bit annoying. Using DXi synths can also give you access to a lot more layering. If you insert two DXi synths you can access 30 unique instruments, etc. Again, depending on your authoring tool, you can play with the effects more. The drums for the main part sound like a disco backbeat. I know drums are hard to master when writing them out on a midi staff, especially for non drummers (as I am). Also, You can allocate as many track 10s as you like, the standard midi 15 channels don't count when allocating tracks with the same instrument ie. 11 tracks allocated to channel 10 only count as one unique midi channel used. This way you can split out the different drums and get a more realistic feel by playing with the effects and pan on an individual drum/cymbal basis. Not enough use of basic controllers such as pan, chorus and volume. And there other other effects as well, that can be used to advantage. I hope this has been constructive and not hurtful. If you can play and compose like this, stop dicking around and get back in a band! You have skills that any band would welcome. |
Posted By: ElwoodHerring
Date Posted: November 18 2005 at 20:00
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Thanks for your comments, and no it wasn't painful!
The originals did have lyrics, and I have made some versions with the lyrics mixed in. Of course these have to be mp3 files rather than MIDI. I am still "polishing" these pieces, and I do intend to add more effects, so you have picked up on what I already know I need to do! Your comment about the percussion is useful though, I will have to experiment more with that - thanks. Try some of my other pieces too - I have been composing for years; it's only recently that I tried my hand at MIDI. As for being in a band; I've thought about it but I've already been through all that 20 years ago and had enough of the arguments! I've had three nervous breakdowns since then and nowadays I simply can't put up with any more stress. If I can find some decent musicians who are willing to play what I've written then fine, but it doesn't look likely. But then again, you never know...  ------------- [IMG]http://www.herring.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/DRMkillb.JPG"> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4816930.stm - Right the Copyright Wrongs (Bill Thompson's BBC blog - essential reading!) |
Posted By: cobb
Date Posted: November 18 2005 at 20:18
| That info on the drums is the same for any channel- I noticed you have two tracks allocated to metal pad. These can be both directed to same the channel and it will free up one of the midi channels |
Posted By: ElwoodHerring
Date Posted: November 18 2005 at 20:35
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To be honest I wasn't concerned about filling up all 16 channels, I just orchestrated where necessary, and switched instruments at certain points instead of using a new track (something I have only recently discovered I can do!) I have also written a full orchestral symphony in MIDI format - the MIDI version sounds quite good but of course it would nowhere near fill a real orchestra, to say nothing of awkward instrument transpositions I would have to do to get an orchestra to play it.
MIDI is great for jotting ideas down and hearing them instantly; that's what I use it for mostly. The trouble is that every time I play back a "finished" piece I spot something else that can be improved, so none of my pieces are ever really finished - I have to move on at some point otherwise I'd have one highly polished work and nothing else! 
Anyway - time for bed. Thanks for listening and commenting. ------------- [IMG]http://www.herring.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/DRMkillb.JPG"> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4816930.stm - Right the Copyright Wrongs (Bill Thompson's BBC blog - essential reading!) |