Converting Music Files

[KBMaster]

Is it possible to change a .midi file to a .wma or .mp3 file? I tried to resave my midi as both of these files, but it said (in so many words) that it couldn't.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Linksquest]

There are some programs out there that can do something like this, but I have yet to find a good one. I am also interested to see what other people say in the matter, because I would also like to be able to convert MIDI to .wav or.mp3

[starwarsboy90]

Audiocity is a program that does it, I use it all the time to convert music files.

[TheMelodyMaker]

Let a veteran in MIDI to MP3 conversion explain how. ^_^ Assuming that you're using any version of Windows from 95 to XP:

1. Set the recording source in the Windows mixer to MIDI (it might also be called "SW Synth" or just "Stereo Mix").

2. Open up your MIDI file player and any sound recording program (I recommend GoldWave).

3. Start the sound recorder, and then start playing your MIDI file. Stop the sound recorder when the MIDI file is finished playing.

4. If you use GoldWave, you should be able to save the recording directly as an MP3 file -- but if you use another program, at least you can save it as a wave file to later be easily converted to MP3 or WMA.


Hope all that helps you out!

[Mithrandir]

(If you are using a Macintosh instead of a windows computer, you can import a midi into Dent du Midi and it will break the midi into it's individual componants in Garage Band format. That let's you edit just one midi track using garage band's interface, plus you can do real instrument recording over it. It's a neat trick, but it might be a bit beyond what you are wanting to do. Just thought I'd throw it out there, though.)

[KBMaster]

Let a veteran in MIDI to MP3 conversion explain how. ^_^ Assuming that you're using any version of Windows from 95 to XP:

1. Set the recording source in the Windows mixer to MIDI (it might also be called "SW Synth" or just "Stereo Mix").

2. Open up your MIDI file player and any sound recording program (I recommend GoldWave).

3. Start the sound recorder, and then start playing your MIDI file. Stop the sound recorder when the MIDI file is finished playing.

4. If you use GoldWave, you should be able to save the recording directly as an MP3 file -- but if you use another program, at least you can save it as a wave file to later be easily converted to MP3 or WMA.


Hope all that helps you out!

I looked for the Windows Mixer (also looked for it under the other names), but I couldn't find it. Does it come standard?
Is downloading a program the only way to convert it? Hmm. Maybe I'll bug my mom about downloading one. Thanks for all your help and replies!

[TheMelodyMaker]

I looked for the Windows Mixer (also looked for it under the other names), but I couldn't find it. Does it come standard?

It is a standard utility that comes packaged with Windows. If there's a speaker-shaped icon in the system tray (beside where the clock is), right-click it and choose "Open Volume Control". If it's not there, you can enable it this way:

1. Open up the Control Panel by finding it in the Start menu under Settings.

2. If you use Windows 95/98/ME, double-click the icon labelled "Multimedia Properties". If you use Windows XP, double-click "Sounds and Audio Devices".

3. Somewhere in the dialog that opens up, look for a check box labelled "Place volume icon in the taskbar" and check it.

Again, hope that helps you out -- let me know if you still have trouble.

[Slater]

there is a better way. I recommend you get timidity++ (there's a windows version out there) and try its output redirection option. you can load in any midi and soundfont you want and press the play button... in a minute or two, you'll have a .mp3 of your fav midi in perfect format

[Mithrandir]

Or there's a free trial available at http://midconverter.com/midi-converter.shtml that will probably do the trick.

[KBMaster]

Ohh, thanks! Can I use Realplayer instead of Goldwave(or a similar program)?

[Mithrandir]

To do what? I'm pretty sure realplayer will not do the conversion for you, but real player can probably be setup to do playback of the resulting MP3. If you are looking for a good mp3 player program, I would recommend either iTunes or WinAmp. You'll find people who both swear by and swear at each of these, though.

[KBMaster]

Eh, I'm just going to wait until my sister gets her computer to start downloading things. Lol. Until then, I can put the microphone up to the speakers and user the sound recorder! It's lame, I know, but we don't have that much space left on a computer used by six people. And as long as I do it in the morning when no one's up(including our especially loud parrot) and I'm not sniffing constantly due to allergies, then I should be good to go! Thanks for all your help!

[Slater]

yeah, that's just about the worst way you can do it... no joke. You should never put a microphone to your speakers. Besides getting poor recording quality, it might be dangerous to your hardware.

[KBMaster]

... AW MAN! I guess I won't be doing that again. If I need to do it again, I'll ask mom about the free trial thingie. That way, it won't clutter her computer for too long. Man, I feel stupid now, lol.