Convert MIDI to WAVE Files
Directions: how to put MIDI files on CD
PC DIRECTIONSBefore I begin to explain this,understand that MIDI files don't contain any sounds so we need to usesome sort of synthesiser-- either an external one, or the one in your computer and recordthis synth as a wave file.
The first question you must answer is:Are you happy with the quality of the sounds of these MIDI files right now? Do youwant to record them as they sound right now in your computer using your computer's synth? If so, then it's simple. Just read on. If not, scroll to the bottom andread the directions below.
You need to open your volume controls(double click the yellow speaker icon in the tray (the tray is the clock area of yourWindows computer)).
Check the 'Mute' check boxes for allsliders except 'Synthesizer Balance.'
Now select 'Options' and 'Properties.'Click 'Recording'. Press OK.
Along the bottom of this"Recording Control" will be Select check boxes. Select 'Mixed Output.'
Now your system is ready to record the synthesizer as a wave file. You need to openup two programs next: the wave file recording program (I recommend CoolEdit2000) and theMIDI program you use for playing MIDIs.
You can adjust the sample rate of therecording using CoolEdit. For other wave packages you'll have to scan the help filesto figure out how high to set the sample rate.
It takes longer, but for the bestquality, record at a high 48000 sample rate, stereo, and 16 bit. The CD won't allowyou to record at this high, so then resample the recording to 44100 quality. You'llget the best sound on your CD this way.
Start recording using CoolEdit, andwhile it's recording, switch to the MIDI program and press 'play.'
When the song is over, press 'stop' inboth programs: CoolEdit and the MIDI program. Save the new wave file in CoolEdit asa PCM windows wave file. Before you save you might want to delete the beginningsilence and the end silence of the wave file. That's up to you.
Now try playing the WAVE file toensure it sounds as good as you hoped. If not, it could be that your recordingsettings need to be changed (maybe the volume on 'Synth' was too high). Some soundcards have a noisy record feature so it might be that.
If you do NOT want the quality ofsound that comes from your sound card, then I assume you'll be using an externalsynthesizer for sounds.
If this is the case, you gothrough the same steps as above, but you'll want to send the external synthesizer soundsINTO your sound card. The way to do this is to get a Mini plug that will go fromyour synthesizer out, or headphone out into the Line In plug on the back of yourcomputer. When you are muting sliders in the Volume Control, mute everything except'Line Balance.'
If you don't have a synthesizer, thenyou'll have to get one if you're not happy with the sounds in your computer.
I hope this helps you. I assumeyou know how to get the wave files onto a CD. If not, let me know.
MAC DIRECTIONS All you need is iTunes.
Add the MIDI to your iTunes library by hitting Command-O (that's 'oh') or by selecting 'Add to Library' from the File Menu. Up pops a file browser window - find and select the MIDI, then hit 'Choose' (or just double-click on the MIDI). The file should appear at the bottom of your music library in iTunes. Move the MIDI track into a playlist with your other MIDIs (assuming you want more than one track on the CD), and then click 'Burn' (upper-right-hand corner). The MIDI is automatically converted into a burnable format (ie. AIFF). If you want to convert it yourself, without burning, follow the instructions below, otherwise, you're done.
Select the MIDI in your iTunes library. Open the iTunes preferences (command-;), and click on 'Importing.' Then select 'AIFF Encoder' from the 'Import Using' pulldown menu. Close the preferences, and go (with the MIDI file still selected) to the 'Advanced' menu. There you will find a menu item called 'Convert to AIFF' (the format depends on what you selected in the 'Importing' preference pane). This will convert the file to AIFF, and you can do whatever you like with it from there.