Steps to load SMF GM midi file
2012-08-15 by intrepidpete
I was having issues previously trying to load SMF GM midi files into Command Station (CS), but I think I have it all figured out now. Here are the steps: Open the SMF midi file in your sequencer/DAW software. Save the song as midi format 1. Remove all sysex. Set all 16 tracks and channels to be in logical sequential order, with track and channel numbers matching, so for example track 9 is set to channel 9. If there are any tracks with volume set to 0, delete those, since it is probably something like a karaoke lead vocals track with notes that trigger lyrics that you won't be able to see on the CS anyway. Filter out all program changes from all tracks, since once you get the song onto the CS, you will choose your own voice patches depending on which ROM cards you have. Don't worry if the drum track (usually 10) sounds stupid, like being played using a piano voice. Once the song gets onto the CS, you can select a good sounding drum kit. If you have any tracks with strange sounding notes up in the upper 2 octaves, it is probably using Yamaha XG/XF voices. Those voices have "extras" like fret sounds and such in the upper octaves. Simply filter out notes above C8 on that track and then it will sound OK. Unless of course someone wants to program XG patches that have all those "extras" in the upper octaves :-) That's way beyond my skill level. Set the bank on every tack to 0, so when you get the song onto the CS, you don't have a bunch of tracks that won't play because of unsupported bank/program numbers. Note that if you have the ZR card, you can set it to the GM bank for that card, since I believe the ZR card is the only one with a GM bank. Now save the file and use E-Loader to put it onto the CS. As an aside, I got this idea from someone in the group and it works well: Use E-Loader to load a blank song into every slot, changing the name alphabetically every 10 slots, so you have "Artist A" in 10 slots, then "Artist B", etc. Later, load SMF songs into the appropriate slot, based on artist, using next open slot in the back of the section of 10. So if I want the Wilson Phillips song Hold On, I scroll till I see "Artist W", then scroll forward a few more till I see "WPhillips HoldOn". Note on E-Loader and midi interfaces: E-Loader does not work right with cheapo midi interfaces. My $10 Amazon USB midi interface would not work. I got a $50 M-Audio Midisport, and now E-Loader works. Since I use an old Win98 laptop in my midi chain to run old DOS based midi sysex and librarian software and do stuff with floppy disks, I chose the Midisport, since you can still download Win98 drivers for it.