MIDI Generator
This module creates a format 1 MIDI file from a main score or a single part score in symbolic version. It browses in the object structure of music translating in midi command the music information. The format 1 is the most used and nears to the symbolic representation, in fact there is a correspondence between midi tracks and staves. Thus, it’s possible to produce without problems a single part or the entire piece, to associate an instrument, set the channel and volume for each track.
Since MIDI language is an execution-oriented model of music, translation of a symbolic version into MIDI isn’t complete.
Not all musical aspects have a direct MIDI description for example ornaments, slur, dynamics, pizzicato, slapping, accents and other effects, so conversion needs to use a sort of specific translation rule for each of them.
To reproduce the pizzicato effect, the only way to realize it is to use an appropriate instrumental voice for example PizzString (in accord with GM standard), so when a string section has to play in pizzicato way it’s necessary to change voice temporary and then return to the previous. Moreover the voice change can request a new set-up of voice parameters.
Ornaments are more complicate to manage, because a way to translate them in MIDI is the expansion of semantic meaning of the symbol.
Dynamics are not absolute, because some musicians could decide to play a piano like a mezzo piano.
These examples show how MIDI is poor and not adapted to describe all the aspects of music, but using some artifices or specific rules it’s possible to cover a big part of them and generate a good MIDI file.
In this context, midi file quality depends on how many
musical details are considered and for this reason Midi Generator try to
cover the most important music symbols (ornaments) and more useful effects
(like slur, dynamics, some accents). Other aspects like reverb, chorus
and sound effects to add to a voice are often strictly linked to capabilities
of the midi instrument (electric keyboard, midi expander and so on) and
for this reason they can considered using appropriate and professional
applications.