ﾒMidi it!ﾓ is a Macintosh utility which changes the file type and creator of a standard MIDI file so the file can be used by your sequencer. You can change selected files or all files in a folder by dragging and dropping them onto the ﾒMidi It!ﾓ icon. If a file is not a standard MIDI file, it will not be changed.
I guess the scene ﾒMidi It!ﾓ can participate most actively is when you import Standard MIDI Files from DOS using a tool such as Apple File Exchange, or, when you download Standard MIDI Files through computer network that were created other machines other than Macintosh.
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In those cases, the file types of the files may be set to 'TEXT' or 'BINA' and average sequencer program for Macintosh canﾕt read them. The file type of Standard MIDI Files is defined as 'Midi' and other types arenﾕt recognized even if the files' contents are correctly constructed as Standard MIDI Files format. In such cases, you may just set the types to 'Midi'.
It's a simple answer but how do you actually change the type? Youﾕve already had several solutions.
1) Use ResEdit, open the file using ﾒGet File Infoﾓ menu, and set the type to 'Midi'.
2) Use general purpose type changing utilities such as File Typer.
3) Use Standard MIDI Files specific type changing utilities such as MIDI File Converter.
I havenﾕt been satisfied, however, with any of those ways.
1) ResEdit requires too many procedures and it is dangerous when I wrongly operate them.
2) General purpose utilities change any files to 'Midi', even though the files are totally different from Standard MIDI files.
3) That's the same on the dedicated utilities. Some of them recognize extension mark of ﾒ.MIDﾓ as 'Midi' but it doesn't allow me to name files freely and itﾕs not likely Macintosh style.
At last, I decided to write my own program that checks the file is really a Standard MIDI File before changing the file type.
Thatﾕs the ﾒMidi It!ﾓ.
2. How to use it?
2.1. Drag and Drop
If you use System 7, you can use ﾒMidi It!ﾓ by common ﾒDrag and Dropﾓ operation.
Just drag and drop your Standard MIDI file onto ﾒMidi It!ﾓ icon on the Finder screen. Then ﾒMidi It!ﾓ will read the file, checks the contents of the file and change the file type.
When it recognizes the file is Standard MIDI file format, it shows the file info and asks you to go ahead. If you hit the OK button, then it really changes the file type.
It also can catch a folder dropping. At this case, ﾒMidi It!ﾓ checks all the file in the folder and if it finds Standard MIDI Files, change the types of them.
ﾒMidi It!ﾓ checks the dropped file whether if itﾕs a Standard MIDI file beforehand. You wonﾕt get a wrongly converted file even if you drop other type of files. (The author has tried to write ﾒMidi It!ﾓ to do so. In case it fails, please let me know what went wrong.)
From the version 1.2, ﾒMidi It!ﾓ applies Macintosh Drag and Drop. Try dropping files or folders directly to the ﾒOpenﾓ button. (It requires System 7.5 or greater.)
2.2. Press ﾒOpenﾓ button on the button window
You can select files using ﾒOpenﾓ button. You will see a file select dialog and , using this, you can select any files or folders. When you choose a locked file, you can unlock using a checkbox below the ﾒOpenﾓ button in the file select dialog.
2.3. Select ﾒOpen...ﾓ of the ﾒFileﾓ menu
This operation is identical to the ﾒOpenﾓ button.
You can also use ﾒCommand + Oﾓ shortcut. You can even abbreviate just pressing ﾒOﾓ key.
3. Are there any options?
3.1. English/Japanese language sets
ﾒMidi It!ﾓ was born in Japan. It is natural that is has Japanese messages as well as English ones.
You can select one of those using ﾒLanguageﾓ menu.
However, if you haven't installed Japanese System such as KanjiTalk or Japanese Language Kit from Appleｨ, you can't get Japanese messages.
3.2. Options
ﾒMidi It!ﾓ offers you five kinds of options. To choose those options, open ﾒPreferencesﾓ window by pressing the ﾒPrefsﾓ button or ﾒOpen Preferencesﾓ in the ﾒPreferencesﾓ menu. You can select options in the window using dedicated check boxes.
3.2.1. Open dialog on double-click startup
It is a switch to let ﾒMidi It!ﾓ open the file select dialog on startup.
If it is set to on, ﾒMidi It!ﾓ immediately shows file select dialog.
3.2.2. Show SMF Info. before changing type
If it is set to on, ﾒMidi It!ﾓ shows Standard Midi File Info before changing file type and asks you to change it.
It may make you feel safe and comfortable to see this information before changing a file.
If you donﾕt want to have to hit the ﾒOKﾓ button each time, then turn off this function.
3.2.3. Remain after drag & drop
It sets ﾒMidi It!ﾓ to remain after ﾒdrag and dropﾓ operation.
If it is set to on, it stays after type-changing. Otherwise, it quits immediately.
3.2.4. Sound effects on during change
If it is set to on, ﾒMidi It!ﾓ lets you know when it finished the changing procedure by playing a bell sound.
If this is annoying, set it to off.
3.2.5. Use left cursor
You can choose right or left cursor.
Frankly speaking, I donﾕt have any real reason for implementing this other than personal desire.
3.3. Default Application
ﾒMidi It!ﾓ does not change only a file type but also a file creator that represents which application has created the file. Utilizing this signature, you can launch the application you always use just by double-clicking the type-changed file.
Iﾕve already register two applications I purchased, Visionｪ and Performerｪ. You can add other applications as you like up to 10 kinds.
3.3.1. Registering a new application.
Choose an empty button and double-click it or choose the ﾒNew Application...ﾓ item of ﾒPreferencesﾓ menu.
Then the file select dialog will appear. Please select your application to register.
You will see the application icon on the button when registration is successfully done.
From the version 1.2, you can drag and drop applications directry onto the button.
3.3.2. Removing a registered application.
When you want to removed a registered application, choose the button of the application and select the ﾒCutﾓ or ﾒClearﾓ item of the ﾒEditﾓ menu. You can also use the ﾒCommand + Xﾓ or ﾒDelete Keyﾓ shortcuts.
3.3.3. Changing the default application
I think you donﾕt need further explanation. Just click an application button you want to select. The buttonﾕs color will change to green.
Next time you change the file type, the creator will also be changed as you designate.
3.3.4. Launching the registered application.
You can launch the registered application from ﾒMidi It!ﾓ.
Double-click an icon of the registered application or select the ﾒLaunchﾓ item of File menu.
Those are all of the options of ﾒMidi It!ﾓ.
4. On what Macintosh does it work?
ﾒMidi It!ﾓ works on Macintosh Plus or greater.
Up to version 1.0.1, ﾒMidi It!ﾓ needs color QuickDraw but, from version 1.0.2, it can run on Macintosh Plus even without the color environment.
From version 1.2, ﾒMidi It!ﾓ becomes a FAT application. Now itﾕs fully compatible to PowerMacintosh. Instead, it only supports System 7 or greater since it is too hard to catch up the latest technology while supporting old versions. Hence ﾒMidi It!ﾓ no longer runs under Systen 6, sorry.
5. How much do I pay for it?
ﾒMidi It!ﾓ is a freeware program. You can use it without any charge.
You can also copy it and distribute it for personal use without permission of the author.
Note that the author reserves all copyrights of ﾒMidi It!ﾓ. Under the copyright laws, the author prohibits the following manners.
･ To use ﾒMidi It!ﾓ for commercial purposes such as selling and lending without the authorﾕs permission.
･ To modify or revise ﾒMidi It!ﾓ without the authorﾕs permission.
The authorﾕs request:
If you distribute ﾒMidi It!ﾓ through a commercial network, please inform the author either beforehand or afterwards.
If you wish to include ﾒMidi It!ﾓ into a CD-ROM disc for selling, please contact the auther beforehand. The author will basically agree with your request.
If you wish to include ﾒMidi It!ﾓ in your software package as a help utility, the author will agree with you as far as you are responsible to any kinds of problem from the market.
Always attach this document when you distribute ﾒMidi It!ﾓ.
The author does not require any compensations when you use ﾒMidi It!ﾓ. However, any of returning thanks will be appreciated. E-Mails, post cards or any tiny gifts will greatly encourage the author.
6. Where to send requests or bug reports
Please send your messages to the following address via E-Mail or traditional mail.
E-Mail Address:
Internet: rokkaku@roland.co.jp
NIFTY-Serve: PXL01437@niftyserve.or.jp
Posting Address:
Fumio Rokkaku
1158-3-106, Hatsuoi-cho
Hamamatsu, Shizuoka
JAPAN Postal Code 433
7. Technical information
7.1. Standard MIDI File Format and Info.
ﾒMidi It!ﾓ recognizes Standard MIDI File Format 0 and Format 1. Regarding the ﾒStandard MIDI Files Infoﾓ when you drop a Format 1 file, the ﾒMidi It!ﾓ searches only within Sequence Track 1. You wonﾕt see any info of other tracks.
7.2. Locked File
ﾒMidi It!ﾓ will change the file type and creator of locked files. This may violate the Apple Human Interface Guideline but I have reasons to do so. Before arresting me, please give me a chance to explain why I wrote this way.
First, it doesnﾕt modify any contents of the file.
Second, I think itﾕs too annoying for the users to unlock files just to change the type; I even think itﾕs unreasonable.
In most cases, locked files come from commercial-based DOS format disks. These merchandise data are set to Read-Only permission because of the copyright protection. Apple File Exchange automatically sets lock bits on such files when it copies from DOS disks. Do the Read-Only permission on DOS and Lock Bit on Macintosh have exactly the same meaning?
All the user wants is to listen to the data on Macintosh. For this purpose, the user uses the Apple File Exchange, then realizes his or her sequencer doesnﾕt read the files, so he or she tries to change the type and is warned that ﾒthe file is lockedﾓ. Then the user selects the file and opens the Get Info window and unlock the file. Finally, the type can be changed.
I think trying to eliminate this hassle is permissable. Of cause ﾒMidi It!ﾓ restores these files to their locked status.
I decided to ignore the lock bit because of the aforementioned reasons. I couldnﾕt make Finder stop its warning before passing the file over to ﾒMidi It!ﾓ.
7.3. Development Environments
Machine: Macintosh IIvx with System 7.5.1 and Japanese Language Kit
Compiler: Metrowerks CodeWarrior 7
8. Other comments
The auther works at Roland Corporation which is somewhat related to Standard MIDI Files. ﾒMidi It!ﾓ is, however, a totally independent program from Roland Corporation.
The auther wrote the program using his own private funds, equipment and time. All the copyrights and the related property rights are reserved by the author.
Please ask or request regarding ﾒMidi It!ﾓ directly to the author. Please donﾕt ask to Roland Corporation instead.
9. Revision history
Version 1.0: August 28 1994
The first release.
Version 1.0.1: September 3 1994
Minor revise such as update procedure while modal dialog.
Version 1.0.2: September 15 1994
Now Midi It! runs on Macintosh Plus or greater.
Version 1.0.3: September 20 1994
Fixed a bug occurs on Preference Window when chaning language.
Quickened window redrawing under System 6.
Version 1.2: July 22, 1995
Now it's FAT Application.
Now it's Macintosh Drag & Drop applicable.
Now it can launch applications.
Changed Finder icons.
Version 1.2.1: July 29 1995
Fixed grow icon problem in the Preferences dialog while using Copland WDEF.
Avoided using Chicago font in the SMF Info dialog when displaying Japanese.
Corrected errors of this document.
Version 1.2.2: September 24 1995
Fixed a bus error promlem on Macintosh 660AV.
Version 1.2.3: November 27 1995
Fixed a CDEF conflict promlem when registering MoviePlayer.
Fixed a problem that the only one file is acceped when several files are drag-and-dropped onto the button.
Other minor updates.
10. Special thanks
I would like to express my thanking to the following persons. They greatly helped me when developing and releasing ﾒMidi It!ﾓ.
