About: MIDSLC.SHK 
(A ShrinkIt IIgs v1.1 archive)
Archive size: Around 186k
Status: Public Domain

MIDI Conversions PC -> Mac -> IIgs (SynthLAB Seq)

By Charles T. 'Dr. Tom' Turley

6/4/99

I've found hundreds of PC public domain MID files available on the Internet and
I decided to give a try at converting a few of them from their PC platform file
format to the Mac and then converted them from the Mac to SynthLAB seq. files
for use with the IIgs.

I selected six titles (from the hundreds that I've downloaded) from the PC
public domain collection of MID files, which I consider to reflect the current
state of the IIgs platform and it's users today. Maybe somebody could use these
six SynthLAB sequence files for a new IIgs game.  We could sure use one and the
SynthLAB music (IMHO) would make nice sound tracks for a NEW game. They are all
unique. You will find no others like them in any IIgs synthLAB music collectives.


The SynthLAB sequences all have a strange,slow pulsating, almost hypnotic,
trance-dance like beat to them, with a repetative but, progressive 'NEW WAVE'
styled tempo, featuring exotic drums, flutes and a multiple of many other unique
sounds, some have rich vibrant strings fading in and out, with a touch of
oriental flavor. They kind of have a one step forward, two steps back nature to
them. I will take no credit for their content, only for their conversions. If
you don't like they way they sound, change or modify them any way you like.  The
titles of the six MID files are listed below.

DethToll
FatCmdr
GutWench
Tribal1
Tribal2
Tribal3


Conversion Process

First, using my Mac PPC, I load the PC MID file and converted it using
MoviePlayer, (a Mac program that will convert and save a PC MID file and/or Mac
.mov sound track as a as a standard MID file) which is a part of the most
current version of QuickTime Pro's bundle. The MID file is saved by MoviePlayer
on the Mac as an unknown file type(as far as the IIgs is concerned) and I put
the files on a proDOS 3.5 800k data disk, loaded that disk into my IIgs and
changed each of them on the IIgs to the standard IIgs MID file type (D7) using
'Disk Access' (a fantastic NDA from Seven Hills Software). After converting each
MID file to the standard IIgs MID file type (D7), I loaded each one for
conversion and save to the IIgs, as a SynthLAB (seq) file type:D5, AuxType: 0001
using Dave Tribby's GS/OS program, MIDISurgeon. I instructed MIDISurgeon to do
all it could to improve the conversions, then saved each to my Focus hard drive
on my IIgs.

Note: It's essential to convert the unknown file type of the MID file to the
standard IIgs MID file type (D7) in order for MIDISurgeon to see it as a MID
file and load it.

After MIDISurgeon did all it could do to translate, enhance, convert the MID file
and save each one as a SynthLAB (.seq) file, I loaded each one with SynthLAB
(using the MIDI.bnk and MIDI.wav files for each SynthLAB seq. file - both of
which are included in this ShrinkIt archive and were assigned to each saved
SynthLAB .seq file with the MIDISurgeon conversion process.

Next, I used SynthLAB to enhance each seq. file to the maximum abilities of the
program and saved each SynthLAB .seq file, replacing the old SynthLAB .seq file,
over and over again - with each enhancement process.

After listening to each IIgs SynthLAB conversion and comparing it with the
QuickTime sounds of the original MID file on the Mac as played via the
MoviePlayer program, I considered both to have virtually the same play and sound
quality in most respects.  How long did it take to do all this?  About four
hours total - for all six file conversions. You don't need a MIDI external
device to do any of this.  What you do need to do this and listen to it is;

(1) A standard MID file
(2) An Apple IIgs (with 4MB's of RAM - suggested)
(3) GS/OS v6.0.1 - with all of it's tools installed (including it's tool 35).
(4) Any file type converter program
(5) The MIDISurgeon program
(6) The SynthLAB program

The programs and files required can be downloaded from the following url's;

MIDISurgeon

  ftp://apple.cabi.net/pub/applegs/Monthly.Disks.Collections/GS.PLUS/gsp.v6.n6.shk
  http://apple.cabi.net/pub/applegs/Monthly.Disks.Collections/GS.PLUS/gsp.v6.n6.shk

GS/OS v6.0.1 and SynthLAB

  ftp://apple.cabi.net/pub/applegs//System/Sys601INSTALL
  http://apple.cabi.net/pub/applegs//System/Sys601INSTALL
  
(If the above ftp url is busy with a maximum number of anon. users, then access
via http)
 
MIDI files in the public domain, freeware and shareware are all over the WWW -
Internet in abundance and on any of the major online services you may subscribe
to such as; AOL, CompuServe Genie and Delphi.  Use any search engine and type in
MID and/or MIDI and you should find a large selection to download for any of
your conversion needs. They can also be found on most of the active BBS'.


You really don't even need a Mac or the MoviePlayer program or the QuickTime Pro
software bundle for the conversions.  I just used the Mac and programs as an
extra step to be able to listen to the conversion results for comparing the play
and sound quality.

For best listening results - I'd advise using a stereo card with your IIgs
connected to a stereo amplifier system and a good set of headphones to listen to
them with but, this is not really required.  It's just an option I suggest you
use for the best sound output from your IIgs.

It seems to me that there is very little interest with the existing IIgs users
today for such PC and Mac MID files to SynthLAB sequence file conversions. At
least I haven't seen anybody doing any, which is a real shame considering the
IIgs abilities with these programs of allowing anybody to do such MID file to
SynthLAB sequence conversions with very little effort.

It's all a fairly simple process to do really.  At least it was for me and I'm
certainly no MID to SynthLAB file conversion expert. But, I think I did a fairly
good job with my FIRST attempt. And, I see no reason why other IIgs users
couldn't do the same. The programs are all available to all IIgs users - as
listed above with their URL's for public download. So, what do you say
folks...anybody else care to give it a try?

If I get any request by email to do any more such conversions and make them
available like I did with these six files in this ShrinkIt archive - then I
will. If I don't then I won't.

Enjoy & Cheers,
Tom

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Charles T. 'Dr. Tom' Turley
Email: cturley@grin.net

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