About Our MIDI Files
We've made every attempt to make ourMIDI files as easy to use as possible. Unless noted, there will neverbe more than 16 tracks or MIDI channels used in the files. If you areusing a sequencing application on your computer you will be able tosee what the instrument for each track is, the maximum number ofnotes played at any one time, and information about the sensitivityof the pitch bend(if any has been programmed).
The files are not write-protected soyou can edit them to your particular taste and save the work as a newfile. Tempos can be changed, you can change the key, you can copy andpaste sections to make the song longer, or you can delete sections tomake them shorter. Tracks can be duplicated in order to create fatterparts.
UK HOtelsWe have set up each file for aGeneral MIDI mix, and that is very limiting in the sounds we are ableto use. For example, there is no Pedal Steel Guitar in the GM tonemap. Therefore, we have to use the Jazz Guitar and very occasionallythe Fretless Bass(for some reason it sounds better than the JazzGuitar in certain situations). Also, the selection of ElectricGuitars is lacking in authentic, 'clean' sounds such as those heardfrom a Stratocaster or ES-335 when being amped without a distortionboost. The Clean Guitar in the GM tone map is not that useful, so wesometimes use the Picked Bass or Clavinet as a substitute sound. Andsometimes we use the Jazz Guitar as a substitute for Bass. You cancertainly reset our settings to whatever sounds you haveavailable.
In the first measure of every trackof our MIDI files is a set-up string of control parameters thatcommunicate with your sound module. You can change our initialsettings to make your own unique mix, or you can leave them the waythey are. If you don't use General MIDI you can eradicate the set-upstring by erasing the first measure of every track.
The controllers we use in our set-upstring are listed below with their position in the track and adescription of what they do. The position we are showing you is basedon a 240 pixels per quarter note sequencer. If your sequencer usessomething other than 240 pixels (many applications do) the numberdenoted in the three right hand columns of the position column willbe off by a few units. The order of the controllers in the string,however, should not change.
| Position | Controller | Value |
| 1:2:000 | #120 | 0 |
| 1:2:005 | #121 | 0 |
Controller #121 resets all Continuousand Switch controllers to their initial default state.
| Position | Controller | Value |
| 1:2:010 | #0 | 0 |
| 1:2:015 | #32 | 0 |
| 1:2:020 | PC | 1 |
These three controllers set up thedesired sound for each part. Controller #0 is for assigning the bankof sounds(the GM tone bank is 0). Controller #32 is part of the bankselection message and it's value will always be 0, no matter whatbank you use. PC is the Program Change message, and it's value willbe something between 1 and 128. And if you wish to change sounds youneed to know the bank number of the sound you want to use, plus it'sprogram change assignment.
| Position | Controller | Value |
| 1:2:025 | #1 | 0 |
Controller #1 controls the modulationof the selected sound. We use Controller #1 sometimes within thetracks of our MIDI files. It helps add realism to the part beingmodulated. However, it is always desirable at the start of every songthat the Modulation be off, therefore Controller #1 is set to"0."
| Position | Controller | Value |
| 1:2:030 | PB | 0 |
PB is short for 'Pitch Bend'. We usePitch Bend a lot. It is desirable that it be set to 0 at the start ofeach tune, otherwise the part may start out in an incorrect key orsound out of tune.
| Position | Controller | Value |
| 1:2:035 | #64 | 0 |
Controller #64 is the sustain pedal,such as you would find on a piano. We set it to '0' at the start ofeach MIDI file so the parts won't sustain in the wrong places. We useController #64 quite a bit in our files.
| Position | Controller | Value |
| 1:2:040 | #7 | 100 |
Controller #7 is for the volumesetting. The default volume of most sound modules is usually set to'100'. However, we set it to whatever is necessary to make the mixsound correct. You can certainly change our settings if you wish.Controller #7 has a value range of 1-127. We seldom use Controller #7anywhere in the track after the initial setting.
| Position | Controller | Value |
| 1:2:045 | #10 | 64 |
Controller #10 is the pan pot. Theusual default is 64, which places the sound in the middle of a stereofield. We usually set each track to where we want it at the top ofthe MIDI file. Sometimes we use Controller #10 after the initialsetting in the track.
| Position | Controller | Value |
| 1:2:050 | #11 | 127 |
Controller #11 is referred to asexpression, much like the expression pedal on an organ. We think ofthis controller as a volume control within a volume control. We setit to 127, or full out, at the top of each track to ensure that allpossible harmonics and tones of the sound can be tapped into. We useController #11 a lot on organ parts, pedal steel parts, string partsand horns. It can be used for any instrument.
| Position | Controller | Value |
| 1:2:055 | #91 | 40 |
Controller #91 sets the amount ofreverb for the part. The range is 0-127.
| Position | Controller | Value |
| 1:2:060 | #93 | 0 |
Controller #93 sets the amount ofchorus for the part. The range is 0-127. The following string ofcontrollers is grouped together to make one message. The message setsthe Pitch Bend sensitivity for the part. Pitch Bend sensitivity iswhat tells a Pitch Bend wheel how it will affect a note. For example,if the PB sensitivity is set to equal '2' then the Pitch Bend wheelat it's highest or lowest point will affect the note by a whole step.If it is set to equal '12' it will affect the note by an octave atit's highest or lowest point. For the most part, we set thesensitivity to equal '2', but there are times that we set it to equal'12'. A full octave allows a greater flexibility ofexpression.
| Position | Controller | Value |
| 1:2:065 | #101 | 0 |
| 1:2:070 | #100 | 0 |
The first two controllers of thestring identify what is supposed to happen, in other words, a PBsensitivity is to be set.
| Position | Controller | Value |
| 1:2:075 | #6 | 2 |
Controller #6 actually specifies theamount of the sensitivity. In this example, the sensitivity will be awhole step up and down.
| Position | Controller | Value |
| 1:2:080 | #101 | 127 |
| 1:2:085 | #100 | 127 |
The last two controllers lock themessage into place until it sees another complete message.
cheap hotel in MontpellierThe default setting for Pitch Bendsensitivity in most modules is 2. The majority of our files also usea sensitivity of 2 for the Pitch Bend activity. However, we'vestarted using a sensitivity of 12 for some of our more recent filesbecause it offers a broader range of expression. In files where weuse a sensitivity of 12, we put the above string at the end of thefile and have it reset the sensitivity at 2. This helps preventproblems in the next file you play in the event that file uses pitchbend, but has no sensitivity setting.
We'll be happy to assist you in anyway we can on the subject of controllers. Leave us a message in theguest book or send an e-mail to us at info@worksmidi.com.
