MIDI2ABC(1)MIDI2ABC(1)NAMEmidi2abc - program to convert MIDI format files to abc notation
SYNOPSISmidi2abc-f infile [-xa] [-ga] [-a acbeats] [-m time signature] [-ppu
parts per unit] [-aul denominator of unit length] [-gu] [-b bars] [-Q
tempo] [-u pulses] [-k key] [-c channel] [-obpl] [-bpl bars] [-bps
bars] [-o filename] [-s] [-sr units] [-sum] [-nt] [-splitbars]
[-splitvoices] [-midigram] [-mftext] [-nogr] [-title string] [-origin
string]
DESCRIPTIONmidi2abc takes a MIDI format file and converts it to something as close
as possible to abc text format. The user then has to add text fields
not present in the MIDI header and possibly tidy up the abc note out‐
put.
The output of midi2abc is printed to the screen. To save it to a file,
use the redirection operator, (e.g. midi2abc-f file.mid > file.abc) or
specify the output file using the -o option.
Use only one or none of the options -u -gu, -b and -Q. Midi2abc nor‐
mally converts the MIDI time units into quantum units normally corre‐
sponding to the abc 1/16th note or 1/32nd note. If none of these is
present, the program will use the PPQN information in the MIDI header
to compute the suitable conversion factor. For most MIDI files on the
web, it is recommended to rely on the MIDI header information and not
use any of the options other than the formatting options.
The program will extract the time signature information from the MIDI
file if it is present. Otherwise it will assume 4/4 or you could spec‐
ify it with -m. option.
If the tune has an anacrusis, you can use either the -ga or -xa option
to estimate the its length. Alternatively, you can specify its value
using the -a option. The anacrusis is specified in half unit lengths,
where the unit length is defined by the L: field. For example if L:
1/8, then a quarter note would be indicated by the value 4, (4 1/16
units).
OPTIONS
-a acbeats
where acbeats specifies the anacrusis in half unit lengths.
-xa extract the anacrusis from file by finding the first strong note
-ga guess the anacrusis by minimizing the number of ties across bars
-m time signature
time signature
-b bars
number of bars wanted in output
-Q tempo
tempo in quarter-notes per minute
-u pulses
Allows you to specify directly the number of midi pulses per abc
time unit.
-ppu parts per abc unit length
Normally, the smallest note unit that midi2abc can extract is
half the L: unit length.This is called the quantum unit. Thus
for L: 1/8, midi2abc can extract 1/16 notes but not 1/32 notes.
You can change this by specifying -ppu 4 for example. The number
of parts should be a power of 2.
-aul denominator of abc unit length
Normally midi2abc chooses a unit length of 1/8 or 1/16 depending
upon the time signature. For time signatures smaller than 3/4
the L: 1/16 is used and for larger time signatures L: 1/8 is
used. You can specify the unit length to be used using this
parameter. Thus -aul 32 will cause midi2abc to use a unit length
of 1/32 nd note.
-gu Tells midi2abc to estimate the number of midi pulses per abc
time unit from the note duration or spacing in the MIDI file.
-gk Tells midi2abc to guess the key signature by minimizing the num‐
ber of accidentals even if the key signature is already speci‐
fied in the MIDI file. By default the key signature is the one
specified in the MIDI file. If it is not specified, then the
program guesses the key signature by minimizing accidentals.
-k key key signature: -6 to 6 sharps.
-c channel
select only this midi channel.
-f infile
input file in midi format
-o output file
specifies the output abc file name.
-s do not discard very short notes.
-sr quantum units
do not notate a short rest smaller than the specified size after
a note. If the size (in quantum units) is zero, nothing is done.
For larger values, the rest is absorbed into the preceding note.
In other words, the preceding note is lengthened to include that
rest.
-sum print a short summary of the input midi file.
-nt do not look for triplets or broken rhythm
-obpl Print only one bar per line instead of 4. For complex music this
improves the readability and avoids some problems with some abc
to postscript converters. This option is deprecated.
-nogr (No note grouping.) Inserts a space between all notes. It makes
a less pretty postscript file but it is easier to edit.
-bpl nbars
Print nbars of music on every line followed by a backslash.
-bps nbars
When nbars have been printed (including those lines joined by a
backslash continuation) go to a new line (with no backslash).
-splitbars
This parameter changes the way midi2abc prints chords composed
of notes of unequal length (polyphonic chords). Normally,
midi2abc joins the longer notes to the notes in the following
chord using ties. A more readable output, can be obtained if the
measure is split into separate parts using the '&' feature in
abc notation. The algorithm for dividing the notes in a poly‐
phonic chord to separate voices (label_splits in midi2abc.c)
needs some improvement. I welcome any assistance.
-splitvoices
This parameter like above handles polyphonic chords by splitting
an entire voice into multi voices.
-midigram
When this option appears, all other options are ignored and no
abc file is produced. Instead a list of all notes in the MIDI
file are printed in a fixed format. Each line represents a pair
of MIDI note on/off event. The line contains the on/off time of
the note, its track number, channel number, midi pitch and midi
velocity. The last record indicates the duration of the MIDI
file in MIDI pulse units. The output is designed to go into a
graphical user interface which will produce a graphical repre‐
sentation (piano roll).
-mftext
When this option appears, all other options are ignored and no
abc file is produced. Instead a list of all the MIDI commands
are printed. The output is designed to go into a graphical user
interface provided by runabc.tcl.
-title string
Replaces the default title field following T: with the given
string.
-origin string
Adds an O: field with the given string.
FEATURES
* The key is chosen so as to minimize the number of accidentals.
Alternatively, the user can specify the key numerically (a positive
number is the number of sharps, a negative number is minus the number
of flats).
* Note length can be set by specifiying the total number of bars or the
tempo of the piece. Alternatively the note length can be read from the
file. However, by default it is deduced in a heuristic manner from the
inter-note distances. This means that you do not have to use the MIDI
clock as a metronome when playing in a tune from a keyboard.
* Barlines are automatically inserted. The user specifies the number of
measures in the anacrusis before the first barline and the time signa‐
ture.
* The program can guess how the length of the anacrusis, either by
looking for the first strong note or minimizing the number of notes
split by a tie across a barline.
* Where a note extends beyond a bar break, it is split into two tied
notes.
* The output has 4 bars per line.
* Enough accidental signs are put in the music to ensure that no pitch
errors occur if a barline is added or deleted.
* The program attempts to group notes sensibly in each bar.
* Triplets and broken rhythm (a>b) are supported.
* Chords are identified.
* Text information from the original MIDI file is included as comments.
* The -c option can be used to select only 1 MIDI channel. Events on
other channels are ignored.
LIMITATIONS
midi2abc does not ...
* Supply tune title, composer or any other field apart from X: , K:,
Q:, M: and L: - these must be added by hand afterwards, though they may
have been included in the text of the MIDI file.
* Support duplets, quadruplets, other esoteric features.
* Support mid-tune key or time signature changes.
* Deduce repeats. The output is just the notes in the input file.
* Recover an abc tune as supplied to abc2midi. However, if you want to
do this, "midi2abc -xa -f file.mid" comes close.
SEE ALSOabc2ps(1), abc2midi(1), abc2abc(1)AUTHOR
James Allwright <J.R.Allwright@westminster.ac.uk>
SUPPORTED
Seymour Shlien <fy733@ncf.ca>
VERSION
This man page describes midi2abc version 2.91 from March 09 2008.
COPYRIGHT
Copyright 1999 James Allwright
midi2abc does not work correctly if lyrics are embedded in the same
track as the notes. If you are producing the MIDI file using abc2midi,
use the -STFW option to ensure that the lyrics are put in a separate
track.
midi2abc is supplied "as is" without any warranty. It is free software
and can be used, copied, modified and distributed without fee under the
terms of the GNU General Public License.
10 March 2008 MIDI2ABC(1)
