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LMMS / lmms

Cross-platform music production software
https://lmms.io
GNU General Public License v2.0
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Sample Files don't export with Midis #4185

Open BrVendan opened 6 years ago

BrVendan commented 6 years ago

Hello! For some reason, midi samples (for instruments) don't export when I export a song that I use a sf2 soundfont with. In other words, everything defaults to a piano when I export my song as a MIDI. Is there a workaround until sample exporting becomes native to LMMS?

tresf commented 6 years ago

As far as I know MIDI export simply exports a plain "MIDI" file without any specific "instrument type" information. This means that the instrument mapping MIDI composers would use to are never going to make it in properly and this is by design since we wouldn't really know. MIDI is designed more as a way to export note information. MIDI export is not intended to work properly out of the box with a particular MIDI playback software.

To elaborate... in order for LMMS to produce generic MIDI instrument sounds with the exported file, we would have to categorize every SF2 and preset to match a particular instrument category. This won't happen. Devs, please correct me if any part of this is wrong.

Anonymouqs commented 6 years ago

The only standard you could really use is the GM standard, but even there, it can get pretty hectic in percussion instruments. (There's no standard encoding for Snare except a regular stroke in GM)

I have been able to export midi from MuseScore 2.0 and into LMMS and have it play it correctly with each of the instruments.

@ElectricBee1 Please give steps to reproduce, I don't know if you're talking about export from LMMS or from another program.

Umcaruje commented 6 years ago

we would have to categorize every SF2 and preset to match a particular instrument category. This won't happen. Devs, please correct me if any part of this is wrong.

Nope, you have a standardized MIDI sound bank across all manufacturers to ensure all files are played properly. This is what's known as the General MIDI Standard So I think we should be exposing a way for the users to set channels on their midi tracks as well as a desired patch number for the instrument.

Anonymouqs commented 6 years ago

So I think we should be exposing a way for the users to set channels on their midi tracks as well as a desired patch number for the instrument.

I feel like this is going to end up becoming an enhancement thread so I'm going to apply the enhancement label. On the topic of setting channels and patch numbers, I think that would be really helpful in importing midis from Musescore 2 and other Notation Software.