Scratch
archived forums
#1 2009-11-07 08:09:04
Supporting MIDI format
This feature would be an important addition for Scratch size wise. Having to convert all MIDI files to MP3 is a pain, and it makes them much bigger as well. Whereas having MIDI support would allow each music file to be, for example, about 30 kilobytes, rather than 2mb for a 2 minute converted song. This means projects run faster, bigger games with music can be uploaded, etc.
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#4 2009-11-07 22:52:46
- cheddargirl
- Scratch Team
- Registered: 2008-09-15
- Posts: 1000+
Re: Supporting MIDI format
BWOG wrote:
It's strange because the note blocks and stuff are MIDI, but Scratch doesn't support them. I'd like it if the Scratch Team added MIDI support.
If possible, I'd like to see Scratch support MIDI, too. Using MIDI files over mp3 files would save some file space. 
Everything is better when you add a little cheddar, because when you have cheese your life is at ease
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#5 2009-11-08 16:45:29
- technoguyx
- Scratcher
- Registered: 2008-10-18
- Posts: 1000+
Re: Supporting MIDI format
Yeah, some time ago I composed another song pack on TuxGuitar. But they were MIDI files so I had to convert them - and IMO, the original MIDIs were better 
Here's the link to the pack, and there's a link to the ZIP with the MIDIs in it: http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/technoguyx/744092
I also find strange that Scratch doesn't support importing MIDI files, yet it supports MP3/WAV/etc.
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#6 2009-11-09 09:37:13
Re: Supporting MIDI format
Maybe this is, what you need.
http://scratch.mit.edu/forums/viewtopic.php?pid=259439#p259439
A Scratch player, plays MIDI files from generated pictures / sprites
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#7 2009-11-13 07:52:41
- markyparky56
- Scratcher
- Registered: 2008-03-20
- Posts: 1000+
Re: Supporting MIDI format
Midi, and Wma format aswell!
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#9 2009-11-13 10:41:05
- markyparky56
- Scratcher
- Registered: 2008-03-20
- Posts: 1000+
Re: Supporting MIDI format
Question: Why does scratch convert all mp3 files to WAV files? they are massive!!! and also, we iv tried listening to them outside of scratch, (because i have some really nice music) i have to use either Audacity or Nero Showtime, which is kinda strange that i cant use Windows Media Player.
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#10 2009-11-16 07:53:34
Re: Supporting MIDI format
MP3 playback and MIDI playback with JAVA is not such easy. And many projects would have the same MUSIC-Sound on the internet. That's also the problem with WMA. Scratch is a free program. But some compression codecs for sound or pictures are not free. It's also a performance problem. To stream compressed files needs more perfromance and much more expensive hardware. Not all over the world the personal computers are so fast like maybe your computer at home. In many schools Windows 98 is using and processors with only 200 MHz. And playing MP3 will use up processing power.
Think about Low-Power PCs
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/OLPC_XO-1
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#11 2009-11-17 10:37:36
- markyparky56
- Scratcher
- Registered: 2008-03-20
- Posts: 1000+
Re: Supporting MIDI format
scratch converts Mp3 to a wav file though, so can't it do that with midi and wma and other audio formats?
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#12 2009-11-18 03:52:48
Re: Supporting MIDI format
The player that xaby posted or the converter mentioned by markyparky are all well and good, but wouldn't it be better to support it natively? Surely native MIDI support would use up less processing power than an MP3 or WAV file. Besides eliminating having to convert MIDIs to MP3s or WAVs each time, native MIDI support would also cut down on project sizes.
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#13 2009-11-18 05:17:29
- markyparky56
- Scratcher
- Registered: 2008-03-20
- Posts: 1000+
Re: Supporting MIDI format
fullwall wrote:
The player that xaby posted or the converter mentioned by markyparky are all well and good, but wouldn't it be better to support it natively? Surely native MIDI support would use up less processing power than an MP3 or WAV file. Besides eliminating having to convert MIDIs to MP3s or WAVs each time, native MIDI support would also cut down on project sizes.
Not as important point: Scratch converts EVERYTHING to wav format. But it would be good to have midi support.
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