MID2M3C

This chapter shows you how to:-

• use the MID2M3C Converter program

Running the MID2M3C Converter
The MID2M3C converter has been provided to assist users, with access to a PC, to be able to quickly produce MIDI3c formatted files for use with MIDI3c. The program is a simple DOS application and can thus be run on several platforms including DOS, Windows 3.1x, Windows 95, Windows 98, NT and above.

After starting the program you are presented with the following screen which is broken in to two sections:-

• The lower section provides information on the settings used by the MIDI3c converter. These should, normally, be set to the same settings as those settings in your MIDI3c program. In fact you can copy the configuration file from your Psion in to the same directory as MID2M3C.EXE.
• The upper section is the converter section where the status of the work in progress is displayed.

Whenever you start MID2M3C you are prompted to confirm if you wish to alter the displayed settings. Press <Y> if you wish to change the settings or any other key to continue.

MID2M3C settings
There are only two settings that need to be defined for MID2M3C:-

1. Midi Compliancy - this should be set according to the compatibility of your MIDI device with the various MIDI standards. Most modern day devices are as a minimum GM compliant.
2. File Compression you should set this to Enabled if you wish to compress the converted files. This is the recommended setting but please read the chapter regarding Zipper.

Converting MIDI files
Once you have set the settings for MID2M3C you are moved to the conversion window and requested to enter the name of a file to be converted. MID2M3C requires that you follow the DOS 8.3 naming convention and thus you should enter the name of the file accordingly (you do not need to type the .MID extension). MID2M3C assumes that all MIDI files have the extension .MID and will not accept files with any other extension. If you have a number of MIDI files to be processed then you may make use of MID2M3C's file listing feature. On starting MID2M3C it automatically creates a list of all the MID files in the current directory. By simply using the UP and DOWN arrow keys on your keyboard you can step through the list of files which is displayed alphabetically. MID2M3C will remember your position in the file list after each conversion allowing you to quickly process all the files in the current working directory.

Having entered the name of the file, M3C-DOS starts the conversion. The progress of this conversion is indicated by a timer display which shows the time of the MIDI events as they are processed. On a Format 0 MIDI file this will be the only stage involved before the option of compressing is taken. On Format 1 files there are two further stages. The current stage is displayed beneath the MIDI event clock with the first stage displaying the number of the track being processed.

Finally, if Enabled, MID2M3C will compress the MIDI3c formatted file. When done MID2M3C displays the message “COMPLETE !” and also displays in the lower window the sizes of the original MID file, the resultant output file and, if compression is Enabled, the size of the uncompressed file.

Pressing any key to continue at this stage will take you back to the input filename prompt. Alternatively pressing <ESCAPE> will exit the application.

Error messages are displayed in a pop-up window.