Converting existing MIDI loops

Question

Converting existing MIDI loops

Hi,

I have a bunch of previously acquired and used MIDI loops, which I should like to import and use in GarageBand. When double-clicked, the MIDI loops open in QuickTime, with which I can export to an AIF file - but these are full-lenth, 3-4 minute long AIF sound files repeating the 5-10 second loop over and over.

How can I reliably extract a single cycle to save as an AIF file and import to GarageBand? Preferably, as I have a boatload of these, I am looking for a utility/script that can do this in batch mode... 🙂

Thanks, Tristan

G4 PowerBook Mac OS X (10.4.4)

Posted on Mar 16, 2006 12:53 PM

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Answer 1

HangTime

Level 9

53,853 points

Mar 16, 2006 3:33 PM in response to Tristan Hubsch

Is there a particular reason you don't want to just drop the MIDI loops into GB?

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Answer 2

Mar 16, 2006 9:43 PM in response to HangTime

Hi,

...because nothing happens when I do. Dragging individual xxx.mid files to the Loop Browser doesn't make the cursor switch to a "+", indicating that the files, as I have them, are not directly importable. Their type is "MooV", creator "TVOD" and the UTI (in case it means something to anyone reading this) is
"dyn.ah62d425try1gc6rudvww66pzrfv007dmrzww45pts3y0nsvvhz00w3a".
When I drag the whole folder containing them, GB3 says it's importing loops, but then none of these xxx.mid files show up in the Loop Browser, nor does the Loop index get updated.

Oh, and I have successfully imported AIF loops.

Thanks, Tristan

G4 PowerBook Mac OS X (10.4.5)

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Answer 3

xs4is

Level 4

2,800 points

Mar 16, 2006 10:51 PM in response to Tristan Hubsch

I believe Hang means drag the Info into the track screen, not the loop browser. If you drag it into the track screen, you can edit any section you want and make the shorter music pieces loops.

The 3-4 minute loops might not be showing up because they are so long.

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Answer 4

Mar 16, 2006 11:39 PM in response to xs4is

Hi,

...well, that didn't work either: dragging those files over onto the track portion of the window (either an existing instrument or the empty area) did not turn the cursor into "+"; upon releasing, the files would jump back to the Finder window.

That got me thinking, that perhaps these were somehow not proper MIDI files (they came from a cross-platform program). Upon opening one of them with QuickTime, I exported it as "Music to Standard MIDI", and that file indeed can be dropped into the track, and creates its "Software instrument" and the full repetitive track. The created file has the type "Midi", creator "????" and UTI "dyn.ah62d4rv4ge8044pe"; and, just changing the type of the original file from "MooV" to "Midi" doesn't make it work.

From this, I can now indeed cut down to a desired cycle, and save that in GB's library. So, I now do have a method for importing these files:
(1) Open in QuickTime & export as standard MIDI file.
(2) Drag to GB's track, cut and save the result.
(3) Tweak the velocity information, since the setting obtained is disproportionate: the sounds of lesser volume are barely audible.
(4) Repeat. ...great...

Well, that answers my original question; thanks for insisting that GB should be able to use the (standard) MIDI files.

Thanks, Tristan

G4 PowerBook Mac OS X (10.4.5)

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