Rhapsody
APDL/ProAction
MIDI Files
Rhapsody can load and save MIDI files. In brief, a MIDI file is a standard format for storing time-stamped MIDI and other forms of data. Many different machines can read and write MIDI files and so it is an important means of providing a degree of compatibility between different computers. There are, in fact, a number of standard formats. Rhapsody reads formats 0 and 1 and saves data in format 0. Note that you do not have to have a MIDI instrument, or even a MIDI interface in order to use MIDI files.
A MIDI file contains all the information necessary to play a piece of music and it is relatively easy to write a program which plays MIDI files on a MIDI instrument. It is important to realise, however, that a MIDI file does not contain all the necessary information to define a score. When you load a MIDI file into Rhapsody, it has to be converted into a Rhapsody file. Rhapsody does its best but the same problems occur with MIDI files as occur with transcribing from a keyboard. In particular, although different channel numbers will be put on different staves, upstalks cannot be distinguished from downstalks, G#'s cannot be distinguished from Ab's, tied notes cannot be distinguished from dotted notes, bass clef notes cannot be distinguished from treble clef notes etc. etc. Most MIDI files contain key signature, time signature and tempo information, but only at the start and having universal application. Although information about dynamics is stored with each note in the form of key velocity data, in the interests of not cluttering up the converted score, Rhapsody chooses to ignore this information. Also, Rhapsody will not (currently) recognise triplets.
It must be accepted that the facility to read MIDI files is a very basic one and that, in practice, a lot of editing will be necessary in order to knock the Rhapsody file into good shape.
Of course, none of these problems arise when saving MIDI files. Any other program or computer which can read or play MIDI files should work happily with MIDI files produced by Rhapsody.
Loading a MIDI file
This is done in exactly the same way as loading a Rhapsody file. The conversion is done automatically, though it takes a little time with a long file.
Saving a MIDI file
To save a file in MIDI format, choose the save-MIDI option from the main Score menu. This leads to a standard save file window with a MIDI file icon instead of a Rhapsody file icon. Fill in the filename or drag the icon in the usual way. By default, MIDI filenames are given a suffix 'M'. This is to help you avoid overwriting an important Rhapsody file with a MIDI file by mistake.
APDL/ProAction