Midi files and sheet music

[kesi]

Hi all,

I am new to the forum and in the process of buying a CVP 307. I am completely new to using MIDI as I used to only play on acoustic pianos so my questions may seem a bit basic and stupid. Sorry :)

What I am trying to find out is whether traditional midi files come with sheet music. Specifically I was wondering if anyone would know the following:

If I find MIDI files on the Internet and download them will the CVP display the sheet music on the screen? Also can I switch of some "parts" of the MIDI file so that I could play that part myself?

Any advice is very appreciated.

[ericho]

Hello

Your anser is yes, a 307 can do all that and a lot more.

However the free midifiles on the internet are not always properly recorded to the beat, that makes them prety unreadable in the score display, but not to worry even then you assign the guide lights to the part you want to learn.

Kind regards

Eric

[dancaputi]

> free midifiles on the internet are not always properly recorded to the beat

Big time! And this is "key", so I'd like to try and clarify... (and if anyone has any simple solution, let me know)

When a midi file is recorded, it is often done so in "free tempo". What this means is that the artist will turn off the metronome and ignore the tempo setting in the recording sequencer. The resulting song will have a meaningless tempo value embedded in the midi file. When the CVP loads this file into it's internal sequencer, it uses the false tempo value as a basis for creating the notation on the screen. The result is completely unreadable sheet music.

Another common problem that fits into the same category is if the song IS laid out in strict tempo but done so in a loose fitting rhythm to allow for human expression. The resulting score display will then have things such as 64th notes tied to quarter notes where a quarter note alone would suffice. If this is the case, you may be able to adjust the quantization setting on the CVP to help align off beat notes to within a 16th or so.

- Dan C.

[CountJS]

On IDC via your CVP, you will find a ton of MIDI files which have the left and right hand parts perfectly quantized, thus beautifully readable within the score display. 1000 new files went live this week... check it out. Oh, and a lot of the PianoSoft Solo titles will be live when you wake up Thanksgiving 'morn...

your secret IDC Santa,
JS

[ericho]

Yea right... at 5$ a file
IDC ..... it should be free. a 307 is expencive enough as it is.
Maybe the next cvp model will come with a creditcard-slot build in to it.
How do you feel about that ???

Kind regards

Eric

[CountJS]

wow eric...
I just can't post anything on this site without someone flaming me...

IDC is free... the MIDI files have various fees... and compared to other web sites that sell inferior files, IDC's content is a great deal - considering most files are XF, and optimized for your Yamaha instrument...

Happy Turkey Day,
JS

[ericho]

ok JS

I'll reconcider my opinion on IDC's value

Untill now I see it as nothing more then a midifile shop.

I apologise to you for being rude.

Please tell me what else is IDC next to the build-in midifilestore

Kind regards

Eric

[fredsmith99]

Is IDC available to non-CVP 300 customers? I understand the 300s can be connected directly to the internet. But if I don't have a 300, could I go to the website, download the files, then transfer them to the instrument manually?

[wally]

I've been paying around $6.50 for professionaly mastered MIDI files, so $5.00 sounds great to me.

I have a 209, so I won't be able to evaluate the IDC. However, on behalf of those who have the latest models, I would hope (suggest) that Yamaha provide a new subscriber with the opportunity to download three free files to try out. They should be able to pick any three files from the entire library (this is an incentive to motivate new CVP owners to try out the IDC). There should also be a way to "sample" any file in the library to hear how well it's been mastered.

[Joe Harrington]

Hello Everyone, I've been following this site almost since it's inception and have gained loads of knowledge. I must say more than I ever thought possible in terms of depth and detail. This is my first post and I'll probably mess it up somehow, like doing the post to the wrong forum. Now I have a question. I would like to be able to convert some of my specific CD's to MIDI so I can learn to play some of the songs. Specifically, has anyone delt with this type of software? More specifically, the Intelliscore Polyphonic Midi Converter Software found at www.mp3-converter.org. It's about $79.00. Could it be that simple? Surely there has to be a catch somewhere...am I correct? I am new to this type of technology (MIDI). Any feedback would be appreciated.

[dancaputi]

Welcome Joe!

I would love to hear what that software could do. It could very well save you time with simple musical sources such as classical chamber music or traditional jazz quartet. I'm sure any popular music with thick arrangements would come through sounding mostly unrecognizable and would require hours (if not days) of post editing. Here's what they say about that:

It cannot at this time differentiate one instrument from another. No software currently exists that can separate instruments ... Additionally, intelliScore recognizes only those instruments that have a strong pitch. Therefore, it cannot recognize most drums and percussion (nor can any other software).

If your interested in doing the simple stuff, then go for it (although you'll probably find out that anything simple is already out there in MIDI format so why bother).

- Dan C.

[Joe Harrington]

Dan C,

Thanks for your prompt reply. Being an older fella, I was quite skeptical to begin with. I didn't think things could be that easy. I missed the part that indicated they could not decern individual insturments. You're right, it may very well turn out to be garbage in garbage out, my term. The Midi's I was after, and Wally might be interested in this, was some CD's that Vince Madison has made. Well, he made a personal appearence today at one of the nearby shopping malls. I asked about the possiblilty of marketing his music (piano of course) in the a Midi format for use as a learning tool. He indicated yes, and furthermore he could couple this with the sale of the back round accompaniment on a seperate CD. Now this really perked my interest. he indicated a lot of his songs were already in the midi format but not offered yet. May be available sometime early next year. I can't wait. For those that may be interested, his website is www.vincemadison.com Thanks again for the reply.

[jjm542]

free midifiles on the internet are not always properly recorded to the beat

There is software that tries to improve the printing of scores from "free-form" midi files. For example, try:

www.midiIllustrator.com

The program gives you a number of choices about printing for readability by minimizing rests, keeping note in one measure, forcing chords, etc. It isn't perfect, but does help. Program costs about $50.

jim

[dalgety]

Can anyone answer Fred's question above (and I've seen it asked previously) - Is IDC available to non-CVP 300 customers? Can a CVP 2xx owner download IDC midi files to PC, and transfer to CVP 2xx?

I suspect strongly that no news is not good news, in this case... Technically, I can't imagine why this wouldn't be possible. Though I suspect since Yamaha are hoping for IDC to become another revenue stream, they will probably limit to IDC-enabled instruments for copy protection reasons. I read somewhere that if you download a midi to your CVP, then later copy it to external media, it is automatically deleted from the CVP. Seems it could still be copied to multiple instruments afterwords. I must not understand something.

-Ross (still stewing over which model to buy...)

[dancaputi]

There's no reason to think Yamaha is creating new and exclusive MIDI sequences for IDC. I have no doubt, if you can get a specific selection over IDC it's also available for download from YamahaMusicSoft.

I am curious about the permissioning (copy protection?) on the IDC downloads. The newer XF and XG downloads from YMS are standard midi files and can be copied or backed up without complication. In my opinion, adding some kind of non-standard file format and copy protection scheme will require more support on their part than it's worth. I guess in 20 years if we all have IDC then they'll be able to shutdown YMS :eek:

- Dan C.

[CountJS]

Hello fans of CVPeees...
Currently, Yamaha is making content exclusively for IDC – educational mainly. [secret cool stuff] However, all of the new smash hit MIDI files that are popping up weekly on IDC, are also available for individual download at music soft. When you download a XF/XG MIDI file via IDC, you can save that file, and play it in any XG capable keyboard – i.e.: no copy protection… However, the files are watermarked. All the new files are XF – thus, you get sound-a-like content with lyrics, chords, and a lead sheet. The files are not model specific, but XG specific, so none of the panel voices are used. But, the programmers that Yamaha hires are trained artisans in the XG/XF programming realm – making those cool 480 XG voices sound just like the panel voices… Of course, the beauty is, once you buy a file – you can tweak to your heart’s desire! It’s pretty amazing. PianoSoft Solo titles will be available soon. If I didn’t have a cold, they would have been live this week… Ahh-chooooo

Your IDC secret Santa,
JS

[Andreas]

Dear count,
could you give us an example please of one midifile you bought through IDC (title and artist), so that I can look for that title at musicsoft and compare it to a free SMF. I won´t spend any money on a wireless (because my instrument is too far from my DSL) connection or on a musicsoft file, if I can get the same title as free SMF. All free SMF voices are changed to panelvoices if you do it right, so for me free SMF are great for study and learning opportunities.

[peggy_walters]

I have several free samples from the books I have put together. What I have is easy to moderate level classical sheet music with accompaning MIDI files and MP3s.

Please try them out - I would like some feedback!

Thanks!

Peggy
http://www.midimasterpieces.com/