MidiPlay
A Windows program to play Midi files

To view the score:

• If the MIDI file contains just the choir parts with piano accompaniment then click on the button on the toolbar, or in the Midi menu click on Full score (all tracks).
• If the MIDI file contains all the orchestral parts then you probably want to see just the choir parts (or whatever instruments you're interested in), so select them (by clicking on each one in turn), then click on the button on the toolbar, or in the Midi menu click on Full score (selected tracks).
• The other score buttons and menu options display a short score or scores of the individual parts.
• If, when you click on one of the score buttons, a window opens but no music appears, then the music probably doesn't fit in the window. Try making the window bigger, or the music smaller (see next).
• The music in a score window can be made bigger or smaller by hitting Alt-B or Alt-S (multiple times if necessary).
• On the left side of the score window are volume controls for each track. Adjust the volume of each part by clicking and dragging its slider (as you make one part louder the others get quieter). Or just click on the Play button for your part to play the music with your part emphasised and the other parts playing quietly.
• The music in a score window can be printed - click on the button on the toolbar, or in the File menu click on Print.... Alt-B and Alt-S affect the size of the printed music as well as its appearance on the screen.
• To preview the printout, click on the button on the toolbar, or in the File menu click on Print Preview.
• The score window displays a vertical dark line, showing the current position, while the music is playing. This can be toggled on and off in the Midi menu by clicking on Follow score.
• Note that the score display is not perfect. In particular it has to guess what accidentals to use (eg. is it a G-sharp or an A-flat?) and sometimes it makes the wrong choice.

To change the volume of the various parts:

• If the Volumes dialog box is not already open then click on the Volumes... button to open it.
• In the Volumes dialog box (see below) you can use the following buttons and controls:
• Check a Solo box to hear just that part. (Click on a box to toggle the check mark on or off.)
• Check a Mute box to mute that part. (Click on a box to toggle the check mark on or off.)
• Adjust the volume of each part by clicking and dragging its slider (as you make one part louder the others get quieter).
• Click on the Revert All button to play all the parts at the normal volume.

To play some parts on different instruments:

• If the Instruments dialog box is not already open then click on the Instruments... button to open it.
• In the Instruments dialog box (see below) you can change the instrument for each channel by clicking on the instrument and choosing from the drop down menu, or by using the up/down buttons. This will check the Lock box for that channel to prevent the MIDI file from using its own instrument for that channel. Click on the Revert button to revert to the instrument settings in the MIDI file.
• You might prefer to hear all the parts on the piano. Just check the All Channels - Override box. Or you can use a different instrument by clicking on the All Channels - Instrument and choosing from the drop down menu, or by using the up/down buttons. Uncheck the All Channels - Override box to use the individual instruments for the parts.

To choose which MIDI output device to use:

• In the Output Devices menu click on All Output Devices on - this will open all your MIDI output devices.
• Or you can use a particular MIDI output device in the Output Devices menu by clicking on Select Output Device... and choosing one from the drop down list.
• Or you can use a combination of MIDI output devices by clicking on Output Devices on the menu bar, then clicking on individual output devices in the drop down menu to toggle them on or off.
• Note that if you have more than one MIDI output device turned on then you might hear an echo effect while the music is playing.

All text and images on this website are © Copyright Chris Hills 1982 - 2008.