QuickTime is system software
developed by Apple for both Macintosh and
Windows computers. It allows developers to write software that will
present digital video, sound, virtual reality movies, and -- MIDI
music files. Amazingly enough, the QuickTime software incorporates many
of the standard 128 instruments of General MIDI, so that MIDI files can be
played on a computer without an external synthesizer.
QuickTime music format has these advantages:
You can communicate a lot of music in a small file.
You don't need a synthesizer to play it.
The software is free.
The software works on both Apple and Windows platforms.
It has amazingly good quality, if you just remember that you're
working without an external synthesizer.
Instructions for Using QuickTime to Play a MIDI File
These instructions are for QuickTime 2.1. QuickTime 2.5 is now
available.
Before proceeding, install QuickTime.
Apple is generously giving away the QuickTime software. If you do not
yet have QuickTime 2.1, download it from the Apple FTP site and then
follow the accompanying instructions to install it.
Step 1. Launch the QTVRPlayer.
The Macintosh version comes with QTVRPlayer. This player is like
earlier QuickTime players (SimplePlayer and MoviePlayer), but it also allows
you to see QuickTime VR
files. Both MoviePlayer and QTVRPlayer will allow you to hear MIDI files,
if you have QuickTime 2.1 installed. I'll assume you're using QTVRPlayer
on a Macintosh.
Step 2. Open the MIDI file.
Go to the File menu and choose Open. Select the MIDI file you
wish to turn into a movie. Click the Convert button.
If the MIDI file is not visible, then you need to turn it into a MIDI
file. (I'll include instructions for this later. Put briefly, you need
to change the file's file type to "Midi". )
Step 3. Change instruments
If you wish, take this opportunity to change instruments. Otherwise, skip
to step 4.
You'll see the following dialog box.
Click the Options button. You'll see a dialog box like this.
It lists each track of your MIDI file with the instrument currently
selected to play it. Select an instrument you would like to change by
clicking on it. Then click on the Instrument button. Now, you'll see a
dialog box that looks like this.
Choose the category of instrument and then a new instrument. You can
listen to the instrument play notes by clicking on the keys of the keyboard.
When you've selected an appropriate instrument, click the OK button and
you'll be returned to the previous dialog box.
Notice that you use the QuickTime movie controls at the bottom of the
dialog box to play the MIDI file. When you've finished changing
instruments, click the OK button.
Step 4. Save the new (QuickTime) file.
You're looking at this dialog box.
Click the Save button to save the file.
Step 5. Play the QuickTime file.
The QTVRPlayer will open the MIDI movie with controls like this.
Use the controls as you would for any QuickTime movie. Of course, there
is no video component.
Step 6. Enjoy the music.
Step 7. Reuse the File
You've created a QuickTime file that you can open any time. If you want
to publish it on the World Wide Web, be sure to go to the File menu and
Save As a self-contained movie playable on non-Apple computers. Its name
should end with ".mov" like this example, boice.mov.
