Re-arranging Midimart's midi files

[eljoe]

Hi there,
I have found certain midi files which is there in our forum not perfect (mostly which is done by Not MM). Is it OK to re-arrange them and post it back to you? I use Cakewalk for this purpose.
Eljoe

[rogerb]

Hi Eljoe,
I'm sure your question is directed at Glenn and the team so forgive me for responding to this before they do. We're two hours ahead of the U.K. here so I'm awake when they're possibly still sleeping.
A lot of us, I suspect, already "tweak" midis we download to suit our own particular needs so surely we put right any little "imperfections" during that process. I, like yourself, use Cakewalk for this.
I think without exception all the files I have either listened to or downloaded from midimart have been musically acurate and have not needed any correction in that respect, but then I don't claim to have listened to them all. To start altering files and then re-posting them, in my opinion, would not be a good idea. Surely music is all about how the musician and the listener interpret and hear the music. Glenn and the crew do an excellent job, so unless a track is obviously musically wrong, I would say leave well alone.

Regards, Roger

[rossi]

Eljoe/Roger,
I can understand Eljoe's point of view, but it would be impossible to tweak every file on the list to suit individual tastes. The list would be endless and the file catolgue bursting with different versions.
We all know that the files on Midimart are exceptionally good, and as Roger says,it is much easier for the individal to redesign his/her own download.
I've altered many to adapt to my own act. For example,I find that two verses of American Pie is ample for an average gig...and I have difficulty remembering all the lot anyway!!!
Horses for courses is a good motto.

By the way, Eljoe...if you've visited other sites for midi files you'll have loads of tweaking to do!

Rossi

[levi2]

HI Eloje
when you say some of the files are not perfect do you mean not perfect to you. Im like rossi i like to edit files that suit me. So if you downloaded a file then tweaked and upped it back up and then someone else downloaded the file you tweaked they might not like it and tweak it again so really its just your personal prefs. But there will be people on here who download files and dont really tweak them ie they might not know how to and would like something changed so if you are offering your services like Jazzcat who is another member i think it would really be appreciated by members and midimart

levi2

[levi2]

tihnk im starting to sound like a bird
tweak tweak tweak tweak

[Steptoe]

lajugeorge said:

Hi there,
I have found certain midi files which is there in our forum not perfect (mostly which is done by Not MM). Eljoe

When you say files that are not perfect, that is really in the ear of the listener, what may not seem perfect to you may seem perfectly acceptable to another person.

Any file that I have downloadeds from MidiMart has been IMO, to use your term, perfect (well close enough that only a little tweaking will fix.) From there I edit the file to suit my needs and taste, ie change key, delete any track thats not needed, correct volumes to my taste, adjust drums etc.

The files posted here are generally as good as any file I have bought in the past from sites such as bandtrax.
Any changes you would make to the Midi's here would most likely be re edited by the person who downloads it anyway!

Nice gesture just the same

[gibbo]

I agree, most MM files are right up there with the best.
It's probably not really the files, Eljoe, the real question is; what are you playing them through? What soundcard/module, how good are the soundfonts you're using etc. ?
As an example, any one file will sound completely different if I play it through a computer GS set or Sound Canvas, Virtual Sound Canvas, Roland XV5050 and so forth.
I always tweak files to suit my gig set-up and the sounds I'll be using... and I usually adjust them and fine-tune again after playing them live a few times until they sound right to me.
As Steptoe said; it's very subjective, just edit and change them to suit yourself if you think they need adjusting but as far as I'm concerned, MM files are usually as good as you'll find on the net.

[midimart]

I agree with all the replies you have gained Eljoe... To be perfect is to be GOD, we at MM are not gods.... We follow guidelines, IE... Sheet-music, of which is someones interpretation of the track, The best we find are "Rock-Score", each individual instrument on a different staff.... Including drums....

As for the Not-MM files, we have promised not to touch these as they are someone else's property. We do not edit or re-arrange files.

On saying this, your offer still stands. Any file NOT on the main listings or in our Not-MM collection, that you have re-arranged, please send in.... We would love to have them in our collection (NOT Copyright files). If they are good enough we will credit you with the Re-arrangement or edit of the file and post it with your preferred attachment.

Just like this

Delilah by Tom Jones
(re arranged by Eljoe)

On the main site...

[eljoe]

Hi everybody,
First of all let me say that, I am sorry for saying the word NOT PERFECT in the Not MM files. What I meant was, I had found somes files could have been done better. So thats why I gave a suggestion. What the midimart members need in the end is to have good files in their collection.
So Glenn, I'm just giving another suggestion of having another wing to do these kind of work. I know its a big job, but its a suggestion. Do the correction with the permission of the person who did the file. See guys, I'm just giving a suggestion, I dont want to offend anybody. So please forgive me and forget about it, if you all think I have come out with a crazy idea. I have great regards and thanks to all who have helped our forum to grow this big!!! and I am a great admirer of Glenn and his team too, without this forum I wouldn't have reached where I am now.
Eljoe

[midimart]

I think you got us wrong Eljoe.

This offer of yours is very viable, to this end and your willingness to edit - re-arrange - configure midi files is needed.

As you know, there are millions of files out there that are total rubbish to say the least, half files, files with wrong settings, files with fade outs files with bends where they shouldn't be etc etc... These files, we would love you to build to working midis (usable as a performance track). Your offer is invaluable.

[rossi]

Eljoe,
Just read through all the mail on this subject and I can understand you getting the wrong end of the stick so to speak. I don't think anyone is having a go at you, it's possibly that most of us realise what a good job has been done in the first place by MidiMart.
Your contribution in "tweaking " files would be a great asset to the site, and without suggestions...where would we be?
Rossi

[oldsage]

i quite often rearrange tracks and enhance them but i dont alter the actual song in anyway,just in the way that it sounds.a lot of midi files sound a bit flat and need what i call enhancing to give it a richer fuller sound.guitar tracks are the worse,quite a lot sound really flat no tremelo,or depth in them.these i enrich with some plugins to bring out a more natural feel to them.i try to get a track to sound like the real thing if possible.a bit like listening to a midi on a 2mb soundfont,or on a roland vsc3 ,quite a bit of difference.

[midimart]

That is the whole idea of midi. You can alter them (Enhance) to you hearts content.

I think the main problem is that, if a sequence is done on say a Yamaha then played back on a Roland, there will be a difference. I use the Edirol SD-80 and the tracks I produce sound fantastic, but when I receive files generated from members they seem overpowering on many counts. Therefore, many tracks that are produces WILL need tailoring to suite ones own sound module.

If anyone has purchased a different sound source, they will agree that, whilst the track was playing perfect in their old machine, the new one sounds different - yet it's the same track.

[rickmabus]

Hi Everyone on the forum! About the midi files here..IMHO..I think they are the best anywhere..my only displeasure with them is they seem to end very abruptly..however, sine one of our forum members e-mailed me and told me about the fade in fade out button that has solved the problem but it can be a real tick to always know just exactly when to hit that button..I always thought the fade button was only for styles on my Yamaha keyboard..anyway thanks Midi Mart for this great forum and to the people who send in and sequence the midis..you all do a super job!...Kaye and Rick

[midimart]

I think I speak for everyone....

WE AIM TO PLEASE.....!!

[shyamwestwind]

A really healthy discussion I must say. The sentiments of the Forum members are understandable - we are thankful to Midi Mart for all the good Midis and yes ... we tweak them to our likings, but having said that its really gracious of eljoe and jazzcat to help edit our files and it would be nice to have a separate section for those of us who want help. I had a problem with the distortion in "Crackling Rosie" and jazzcat fixed it for me I'm sure eljoe will be happy to help - he's a great guy !
We need all the help we can and we need all our friends to help us.
After all thats what Midi Mart is all about, isnt it ?
Let the music play on !