Re: There is no key signature in the generated Midi file ?

[Esko Teerilahti]

I also made a quick test with Finale Songwriter. 
I created a simple woodwind-quintet composition from the template and exported 
to midi file. Key signature is in the control track and has only one value,
eventhough there is e.g. one  Bb instrument in the quintet.

Finale Songwriter then fails to correctly import the same midi file.

So, after all, do  not know what is the correct way. It seems that midi files 
are not meant or thought-to-be-used like this.
The main thing is that they play correctly, because pitch and time  etc. are 
correct anyway. Notation is another issue.

Esko
   
Phil Holmes <address@hidden> kirjoitti 16.2.2016 kello 18.29:

> ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Kastrup" <address@hidden>
> To: "Esko Teerilahti" <address@hidden>
> Cc: <address@hidden>
> Sent: Tuesday, February 16, 2016 4:09 PM
> Subject: Re: There is no key signature in the generated Midi file ?
> 
> 
>> Esko Teerilahti <address@hidden> writes:
>> 
>>> David Kastrup <address@hidden> kirjoitti 16.2.2016 kello 15.30:
>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Your screen shot of MidiYogi _clearly_ shows you looking in the control
>>>> track.  WHEREAS THE KEY (WHICH NEEDS NOT BE THE SAME ACROSS TRACKS) IS
>>>> IN THE INDIVIDUAL INSTRUMENTS' TRACKS.
>>>> 
>>>> DID YOU BOTHER TO CHECK THIS?
>>>> 
>>> I Did many times but wasn’t smart enough, and nor is the MidiYodi.
>>> 
>>> In my own example, main window (in screenshot) shows ’no key signature
>>> available’, regardless which track I selected.
>>> 
>>> Then I tried with other midi file, and it shows the correct key value,
>>> regardless which track I selected.
>>> 
>>> Then I found the Event examiner.
>>> In my own example It shows the Key signature in the instrument track
>>> (as you pointed out).
>>> 
>>> Whereas, with the other midifile, Key signature IS in the control track !
>>> And the main window only seems to show the key signature, when it is
>>> in the control track.
>>> 
>>> So anyway, there is Key signature in the generated midi file.
>> 
>> i have no copy of the Midi standard so have to go by hearsay.  For
>> example, in <URL:http://www.somascape.org/midi/tech/mfile.html#meta> it
>> says
>> 
>>   Key Signature
>> 
>>   FF 59 02 sf mi
>> 
>>   sf is a byte specifying the number of flats (-ve) or sharps (+ve)
>>   that identifies the key signature (-7 = 7 flats, -1 = 1 flat, 0 =
>>   key of C, 1 = 1 sharp, etc).  mi is a byte specifying a major (0) or
>>   minor (1) key.
>> 
>>   For a format 1 MIDI file, Key Signature Meta events should only
>>   occur within the first MTrk chunk.
>> 
>> Note the last paragraph.  It may be that LilyPond is not heeding the
>> standard here (somebody would need to check a copy of the standard to be
>> sure, and the standard costs money).  A standard which, by the way,
>> would seem stupid since key signatures _may_ well be different for
>> different tracks.
>> 
>> -- 
>> David Kastrup
> 
> 
> If I use Noteworthy (my favoured entry program) I can enter different key 
> signatures for each instrument and this saves and loads them as entered.  If 
> I export as midi, the key signature for both instruments is changed to be 
> that for the first instrument.
> 
> With Sibelius, it appears impossible to use different key signatures: enter a 
> signature for instrument one, and it is copied to all the other instruments.
> 
> --
> Phil Holmes