[Coco] How to play MIDI files

[Bill Pierce]

First, you can't play standard MIDI files from a Coco (for the most part), and if you are referring to the folder of "*.mid" files in the archives, then these cannot be played.
All Coco MIDI programs use their own propriety file formaats and are not compatible with anything else with almost no conversion between them. These are Lyra (RSDOS), CocoMIDI Pro (RSDOS) and Ultimuse3 (OS9). You can find both Lyra and Umuse3 files in the archives.
The one exception is "MFPlay" (OS9) that has a converter to convert "*.mid" file to "*.cmf0" files which MFPlay cam load.
There is a small MIDI player written by Mike Knudsen called "PlayMIDI" (OS9) which will actually play standard MIDI files but is VERY limited in memory and will only load small files. Anything larger it will trenunciate to the last voice (channel) successfully loaded.
As for what is needed... Ultimately, the Coco MIDIPak is the best method, but both Lyra and Umuse3 will play through the serial port (bitbanger) as well but require a special cable. With these you will need a MIDI keyboard or a PC with a MIDI port and Software MIDI synths (Windows has one built in).
The other option is DriveWire which will play through your DW4 connection with no other hardware other than the DW4 setup. Both Lyra and Umuse3 will use the DW4 interface as will MFPlay.
The DW4 option is the ONLY MIDI option that works with emulators.

 

 

Bill Pierce
"Charlie stole the handle, and the train it won't stop going, no way to slow down!" - Ian Anderson - Jethro Tull

My Music from the Tandy/Radio Shack Color Computer 2 & 3
https://sites.google.com/site/dabarnstudio/
Co-Contributor, Co-Editor for CocoPedia
http://www.cocopedia.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

E-Mail: ooogalapasooo at aol.com

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Jack Carpenter via Coco <coco at maltedmedia.com>
To: coco <coco at maltedmedia.com>
Cc: Jack Carpenter <jmdlcar at yahoo.com>
Sent: Sat, Jul 21, 2018 12:27 am
Subject: [Coco] How to play MIDI files

What will I need or use to play MIDI files from here TRS-80 Color Computer Archive I like to play these files if I can. Right now I only have is the Coco3 and soon I will get Coco SDC or Drivewire but Drivewire will need a PC I have one but I will need about 60 feet of Cat 5 cable so I can have the internet.| | |  | TRS-80 Color Computer ArchiveTRS-80 Color Computer Archive | | |-- Coco mailing listCoco at maltedmedia.comhttps://pairlist5.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/coco