minidisc to PC

[kemo]

Hey Guys just a quick question, I have a friend who is an individual artist and saves all his files onto minidisk (.mid). He is able to capture 35 midifiles onto one disk. He plays guitar along with the tracks. His question was he wanted to introduce a keyboard into his set using all his previousily saved files he would like to know a way that he can transfer the files from his minidisks onto his computer to save as midis and then to transfer to floppy disk for keyboard use... I have never used minidisk so Im unsure what process he has to go through to achieve what he wants..

Any help is most thankfull

(Kieran)

[gibbo]

As far as I know Minidisk format is md not mid and is a compressed audio format not midi data.
See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MiniDisc for info on the various formats (md, mdlp, hi-md etc).
Get some more info from your mate but I think he's gonna have to start from scratch with the midifiles he originally used or had recorded across to Minidisk.
Cheers, Dave.

[thingyy]

There are minidisks used for older Kawai sequencers like the G10 I dont think there is a card slot suitable on a PC you may have to re-record in real time into a PC with sequencer software.
If its a Sony minidisc then its just audio.

[levi2]

if hes talking about the normal hifi and walkman minidisc players it dont support midi files like gibbo says. basically all they do is record audio like a old tape but its digital like a cd .Ie you can record onto minidisc in realtime from any audio that has a line out ie CD PC and soundmodules. unless he means a mididata file player that plays midi from floppies

[kemo]

Hey guys he said he had a stand alone Sony minidisk player one of the MDS range. I think that in reading all your posts I think starting from the start is the only way for him. He has just stated that the guy he got the tracks from charged him £5 10 years ago per song and I have just had a listen to some of the tracks and they are .mid files which have been transfered by the guy via Keyboard to line in on the back of the mds machine... What a rip off If i'd of new that I could have done any number of files for him.. anyway guys thanks as always for your help..

Kieran

[levi2]

thought so all our backing are midifiles recorded on to minidisc from laptop thru a yamaha mu50 sound module to minidisc we record it flat ie no EQs then use the EQs on mixer for playback. what we do is edit files b4 recording ie change key maybe instruments we both play guitar so we take the volume right down. If hes got a pc what he will need to do is get the songs he wants to edit in midifile format get a decent sound module then record onto mindisk or if hes using a keyboard with a card slot just dump the midis on there

[thingyy]

5 pounds for using a copyright midi file, back to the thread again !

[kemo]

Hi thingyy, the thing about it is that they where not copyright files.... just standard run of the mill midis..

[JohnG]

Hmm, interesting discussion, if someone asked me to transfer backing tracks on MIDI files to a mini-disc player as a commercial service I'd reckon that a fiver a song isn't an unreasonable charge. If I had to spend some time editing the files to get them to sound right through my sound module (in this case keyboard) and maybe find the files for them in the first place. I suppose it depends how good a job you can do and what you think your time is worth. 35 files is probably 90 minutes recording time alone, getting overall sound levels of instruments correct in the files etc. will take a little time too. There's probably at least half a day's work there, if not more, plus use of the equipment, so 175 quid in total sounds a pretty good deal to me. You'd probably pay a great deal more if you went to a studio and asked for the same, but they've got to factor in wages and tax, local rates or premises rental, equipment wear and tear and maybe VAT.

If it's a friend then I guess it's a different matter.

Hmm, I wonder how many people on this forum have ever had to run a commercial business, either self-employed or a limited company, and succeeded for more than five years.

Ah well, back to the book writing.
JohnG.

[cptkay0s]

A good poiint JohnG - Present Australian statistics suggest that 70 - 85% of business fail in 1st year.

Warren

[kemo]

johng11 said:

Hmm, interesting discussion, if someone asked me to transfer backing tracks on MIDI files to a mini-disc player as a commercial service I'd reckon that a fiver a song isn't an unreasonable charge. If I had to spend some time editing the files to get them to sound right through my sound module (in this case keyboard) and maybe find the files for them in the first place. I suppose it depends how good a job you can do and what you think your time is worth. 35 files is probably 90 minutes recording time alone, getting overall sound levels of instruments correct in the files etc. will take a little time too. There's probably at least half a day's work there, if not more, plus use of the equipment, so 175 quid in total sounds a pretty good deal to me. You'd probably pay a great deal more if you went to a studio and asked for the same, but they've got to factor in wages and tax, local rates or premises rental, equipment wear and tear and maybe VAT.

If it's a friend then I guess it's a different matter.

Hmm, I wonder how many people on this forum have ever had to run a commercial business, either self-employed or a limited company, and succeeded for more than five years.

Ah well, back to the book writing.
JohnG.

A very valid Point John. I would be happy paying anyone to sit and edit tracks for my liking, but when someone does not edit the track just merely copy from internet to floppy then straight to minidisk, ie ending with fades, drums to loud, sound module wasnt up to scratch Id say the m8 was hard done by. But then as they say you learn as you go along.. probably the reason he asked me.....

Once again guys thanks for your comments.....

[JohnG]

Oh, crikey, you want the ends of each file editing without fade-outs too?
Sorry, price has just gone up again!
ROFL.
JohnG.

[kemo]

I think John, starting fro scratch is the best option... IMO

[JohnG]

Of course you're right Kemo, that is, if you know how to do it and if you've got the necessary bits of equipment and software to use.

However, many people are talented musicians but haven't a clue where to begin when it comes to the technology. I live with one of those people. She keeps my spirit alive with the amazing music she makes. I provide her with the support she needs to help her make her music. Sequencing, recording, mixing, PA etc. It's symbiotic and a great joy to us both.

Best regards,
JohnG.