GM to XG MIDI File Conversion
(Using Cakewalk Pro Audio Ver. 9)
PART THREE - MORE VARIATIONS
GM to XG MIDI File Conversion
(Using Cakewalk Pro Audio Ver. 9)
PART THREE - MORE VARIATIONS
| CAUTION: All of these exercises require that your Output Device connects to your Yamaha keyboard or module. If, for any reason, you have changed the output to your soundcard wavetable, the Instruments assigned to 0- Yamaha XG will be lost. Your must re-assign all channels to Yamaha XG, and Channel 10 to Yamaha XG Drum Kits, as described in Part One, before proceeding. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Trouble-shooting may still be
required to make your particular model of Yamaha Synth be able to play
the file you have just converted, after adding the xg-reset.syx.
If the file does not play correctly, It may also require a gmsystem.syx.
However, the gmsystem must be in Bank 0 and the xg-reset in Bank 1. DO
NOT ADD THE GMSYSTEM IF IT IS NOT REQUIRED..
With a MIDI file still loaded,
click on View | Sysx. You must first DELETE the xg-reset.syx.
Then with Bank 0 selected, click on the File folder, and select gmsystem.syx.
Click "Open". Don't forget to click the Icon to "Auto-Send Bank"
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| Again, from the main menu, select
File | Save to include the new sysex.
Then File | Close Re-open file from the history list by clicking on File. When the Auto-Send Sysx window opens, click "OK". To confirm your new Sysex, click on View | Sysx and it should appear as follows: |
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| Open the file, "BestOfMyLove.mid".
On the "Auto-Send Sysx" screen, click "Cancel".
At this point, click on View | Sysx. Your will see Bank 0 contains a message that has nothing under the "Name" heading. To see what it actually contains,
click on the "Edit" button (8th. from the left).
Click File | Save As ...
append "-XG" to the name and click "OK".
This file has several tracks with no channels indicated, and the Bank is showing as 0-General MIDI, as illustrated below. This is because the assignment of XG Bank 0 is determined by the channel number. As there is no channel indicated, no assignment has been made. |
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| Under the "Chn" (channel) heading,
you will notice that none are indicated between 2 and 6, and if you scroll
down, none between 6 and 9. There are also 3 Tracks indicating channel
10. Since all the channels seem to have been arranged in numeric order,
we can assume that the missing numbers should follow in sequence.
However, we do not want to "guess" so we have another tool to use which
will confirm or deny our assumption.
On Track 4, click once under the "Chn" heading to select the track. |
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| Selection is indicated above
by the Red square.
Now for our new tool. With track 4 selected, click on View | Event List. This will show all the MIDI events for that track. |
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| This shows every event for the
channel, which you can see by scrolling down. Although it is track
4, under the "Ch" heading you will note that the actual channel is "3".
This confirms our original assumption that the channels would follow in
sequence.
Just to be sure, select each track that has no channel indicated, Open the Event List for each and confirm under the "Ch" heading. You will see that all channels are indeed in order. Now double-click each blank channel and enter the channel number in the Track Properties dialogue box. Click "OK" to close each entry. As you do so, you will notice that the Bank will change from "0-General MIDI" to "0-Yamaha XG". Scroll down so that all three Channel 10 tracks are visible. First one indicates Patch 0, and the next two are blank. Double click Track 11 (Drums) to open the Properties dialogue. Make sure the Bank Select Method is set to "Standard *" as another file may have changed the method to Controller 0. In the Bank: drop-down list box, select "16256 XG Drum Kits". Notice that Patch 0 changes to Patch 1 Standard Kit. Do the same on Tracks 12 and 13. Making sure Bank Select Method is set to "Standard *", select Bank: 16256 XG Drum Kits, select Patch: 1 Standard Kit, in that order. Final step is to add the sysex
or combination that works for you.
Now, File | Save
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| The next screen shot is of a file that is next to impossible to fix. I have not included the MIDI file for that reason. It is my guess that someone has messed with this file since I can not believe a professional backing tracks MIDI would be in this condition. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| The only clue to instruments
(Patch) is on track 1, Rock Organ, but you will notice that no channel
is assigned. Also there are no clues under the "Name" heading for any of
the channels.
With Track 1 selected, click on our new tool, View | Event List. |
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| Here is a clue! Channel is indicated
as 4, but there is no note data!! There is a Bank Select, control
0 with data of 0, and control 32 with data of 46. This is invalid
for a Yahama instrument. Both lines must be deleted. However,
go immediately to Channel 4 and double-click to reveal track properties.
For Bank, select 0-Yamaha XG and for Patch, select 19 Rock Organ.
Now try and find a channel that could be a Bass track. Select Channel 1. View | Event List. |
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| Scroll down a little until you
come to several notes. You will see they are in the range of
F6, Bb4, G#5, D6, Bb5, AND all were played at the same starting time of
3:02:128. This could be a Piano track, Guitar chords, or?
Now select Channel 2 - Track 3. View Event List. |
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| Looks like it could be a Bass.
Low range of Bb2, and each note is at a different time, indicating a single
note instrument. I Tried this and it seems to be true, we just don't know
which type of Bass was used.
Select Channel 3 - Track 4. View Event List with file right at beginning. |
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| I find this track confusing.
The Sysex file was a GS Reset. However the two Bank selects are not
typical for Roland. Continuous Controller 0 (the MSB) is 127, and
Continous Controller 32 (the LSB) is also 127. This could be
for a Korg, or a non-GS compatible Synth. The author did not have
GM/GS compatibility in mind.
As I scroll down, the note events are single notes in the upper range, and there are many Pitch Wheel, Channel Aftertouch, and Modulation events, indicating it could be one of the Wind instruments, but who knows which one. I tried a Tenor Sax, after deleting the two Bank Select controllers. The file still sounded pretty
"terrible" so I just gave up on this one.
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| Final Example. Open "Winelight_Cm.mid". Append "-XG" to name and Save AS. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Scroll down all the tracks,
checking them for completeness as you go, until you reach Track 16, channel
10. The author has kindly noted that a Jazz Set is to be used for
the drum track. This is showing as Patch 32, and a Bank of 0-No Drums.
Since ch. 10 has not yet been assigned to a Yamaha instrument, the 0-127 numbering system is used by Cakewalk. the Jazz Set should be 33. Cakewalk will fix this. Double-click track 16 to open the Track Properties. With Bank Select Method still set to Standard, select Bank: 16256-XG Drums, and the Patch will automatically change to 33 Jazz Kit, the Yamaha equivalent of Roland Jazz Set. View | Sysx. Delete the
GS - Reset, add XG - Reset.
To get an education on the use
of MIDI controllers on a specific track, click on Track 1, Channel 1, Soprano
Sax. View | Event List. Play the song and watch the large number
of Modulation and Pitch Bend events that give an authentic sound to the
Sax. This is a professional MIDI File, well organized and well balanced.
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| Following is a partial listing/comparison of the various Drum Sets available. There are available by Program Change (Patch #), and a Bank Select. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Please note that a MIDI file has to be created using a particular Drum Set, otherwise the notes would not be correct. Switching from a Stadard Kit to an Electro Kit will NOT change the original notes, so will not sound right. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| As you progress through the
conversion of other files, you will find many uses for the Event List,
both as a learning tool and to make actual repairs to certain tracks.
I am quite sure you will run into other variations that you can not fix 100%, but in most cases you will be able to play them on your Yamaha equipment. Many MIDI authors create Sysex files specifically designed to set up their own synthesizer, and do not take into consideration that other users will not have the same equipment. They many not have been authored for use on the internet, but many times they end up there and we have the frustating job of making them playable on many types of equipment and a variety of sound cards. Good Luck as your knowledge increases. We sincerely hope this has given you a little insight into some of the problems with MIDI files that can be purchased or downloaded from the internet. Les Gorven, MIDI Studio Consortium |
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