Pete C
Tip: The i30 and SMFs
Wed Feb 6 19:52:37 2002
194.196.100.55

Hi all

A Tip I hope is useful....

I have recently been doing a lot of work on SMFs (Standard MIDI Files) 
downloaded from the internet. I have needed in all cases to "re-arrange" 
these MIDI files as a backing for live performances. This has been my 
approach:-

1. Download the SMF
2. Load the SMF into the i30 into a SONG location (remember to "check" 
the "Load as GM" box")
3. Go into SONG mode and play the song - make many notes like programs 
used, volumes used, panning, bar locations for choruses/verses/bridge etc.
4. Most SMFs will have program changes and many controllers (like volume 
panning etc..) embedded in each track - usually in the first or second bar 
of the song. A lot of people create SMFs and use the first couple of bars 
as a count-in and set-up.
5. Having made all the notes I need, I erase ALL of the program changes in 
ALL tracks
6. I then erase ALL of the volumes controller events in ALLl tracks 
(Controller #7)
7. I then erase all the panning controller events in ALL tracks 
(Controller #10) - 
8. I now replay the song several times and dynamically change the 
volumes and panning using the i30 mixer screens. These setting will 
not change at all now because you have erased all the controller events.
9. I replay the song again several times dynamically changing the programs 
until I get the right sounds etc..
10. remember to save the SONG to disk regularly whilst doing this.
11. When I am completely happy with the sounds etc... I will save my 
SONG(s) to disk (Note: a normal SET save but probably just selecting 
SONGS and PROGRAMS to save)
12. Anytime I reload that SONG it will play exactly as I want it (as 
I left it) because the i30 saves all the i30 volumes/pannings/etc 
settings in the SONG file (.SNG). 
13. IMPORTANT NOTE: If I want to save this song as a SMF then I have 
some more work to do first. I load the SONG SET as normal, select the 
song and do the following:
o Note all of the volumes/pannings and programs for all tracks.
o Track by track, edit in the program change/panning and volume 
controllers (usually at the start of bar one). 
o Now I can save the SONG as a SMF - when that SMF is played on another 
sequencer or keyboard, all the volumes/panning and programs will be setup 
correctly.
14. The only thing to be aware of is that other keyboards/sound modules 
etc will recognize and select GM programs OK but if you have a track which 
might have program D33 for example, you can guarantee that another sound 
source will not know what to do with it. So if you are creating SMFs for 
anyone, stay within the GM programs (I.e. Banks A&B).

Hope this is of some use

Cheers

Pete