MIDI Frequently Asked Questions

I receive lot of questions about midifiles. Let me repeat some here with the answers I have provided.

  1. How to split the track when there is only one track?
  2. I do this with CAKEWALK PRO AUDIO 9 and in this program you can run a program split channel to tracks. It works very well, but there are more programs that do this. You can also do this here: https://www.ofoct.com/audio-converter/split-midi-tracks-midi-splitter.html and i am sure there are more sites to do this.

  3. It would be nice to have the score from your midifiles so i can play it better. Do you have these or give me a solution how I can get the scores?
  4. You can do it yourself with a very small programm that you can download for free. You can get it here ( http://midisheetmusic.com/ ). This program shows you a keyboard and if you load a midifile, you see the score and the keys. But you can also transpose the midi or select 1 or 2 tracks. And, if you wish, you can print the score. This programm is portable, which means you only have to click on the downloaded file and it works. No install. Have fun with it.

  5. How do I get scores from the midi file?
  6. I do this with MUSESCORE (a free programm to download). It is also possible with CAKEWALK. Also here: https://melobytes.com/en/app/midi2sheet. And here is a free programm to use: http://midisheetmusic.com/. First, select the track from which you want the notes. Then, upload it and you get the score file back to download. You can put it on the laptop in musescore or cakewalk and print the score.

  7. How do I connect my Roland accordeon to a Tyros 5?
  8. The Roland Accordion uses the following midi channels for the keyboard, the bass and the chords: Midi channel 1 = KEYBOARD, Midi channel 2 = BASS, Midi channel 3 = CHORDS. Here's how to set up the Tyros:

    • Press the FUNCTION button.
    • Choose Midi (Button H).
    • Choose Edit (Button 8).
    • Go to the Receive tab At Ch1, put part on KEYBOARD.
    • At Ch2, you put part on LEFT (If you want to hear that from your Tyros, otherwise on OFF).
    • With CH3, you put part on STYLE CHORD 1 or STYLE CHORD 2 (just which one you want to hear from the Tyros).
    • Now you go to the Chord Detect tab, and there you make sure that 3 is selected.
    • MAKE SURE YOU DO E.E.A. WITH THE RIGHT MIDI, A OR B.

    Now you can play the Tyros with a Roland accordion.

  9. I play a midifile, but I hear a piano instead of drums?
  10. When you play a midifile, there are channels (16 or new 32). In all midifiles, the drum part should be on channe 10. So, look for each channel where you hear the piano with no melody and put it in channel 10.

  11. Gulio, in some midifiles, I see the words on my Tyros5 screen, But not in all files. What am I doing wrong?
  12. You are doing nothing wrong. There are some midifiles with words and some that do not have words. If you have a programm like CAKEWALK Pro Audio 9, you can see the lyrics. You can also add lyrics if you want that.

  13. When I connect the sustain pedal on my Tyros, it gives continous sustain and I can not switch it off.
  14. Goto your controller menu and change the priority for the pedal. On the right side of your screen, you can change it.

  15. I want to play several songs, one after another, on my Tyros. But, after each song, I have to manually start the next song every time. Is it possible to avoid this?
  16. Yes, you can do this with a playlist. Look in the manual, page 88 - 89.

  17. I would like to play more midifiles in one session. How can I do that?
  18. I use Winamp (a free download) and use it to make a playlist. It works wonderfully. Although I think there are other (free) programs that do this.

  19. I want to change the volume from a midifile on my Tyros. Is that possible?
  20. Yes, this is possible.
    On screen "BALANCE (1/2)" far left "SONG" change volume with the slider.
    Save to registration.
    Ditto for all the other items in "Balance".

  21. I am Frency and I am living in Belgium. I had a few nice midi files from you on psrtutorial. When I play these on my pc, there are some tracks that I do not hear. What is the problem?
  22. Hello, Frency. I think the way to the right sound bank is not correct. If you have a program to change this, then change the bank to zero (0) and then you should hear the track.

  23. Juul, I can not change the instrument from a midi track. When I change it and play it again, nothing changed in the track. I don’t see the instrument.
  24. First, download the instrument list (1 to 127) so you can see which number is which instrument. I only can tell you how I do it in Cakewalk Pro 9. Open the file and go to the event list. At the beginning, you see somewhere in the right row an instrument name and a number in color. Change this to the instrument number you want and then you hear it by playing. For example, the number 22 is accordion. All the midi instruments are given in the table below.

    MIDI Instrument Numbers
    Piano:
    1 Acoustic Grand Piano
    2 Bright Acoustic Piano
    3 Electric Grand Piano
    4 Honky-tonk Piano
    5 Electric Piano 1
    6 Electric Piano 2
    7 Harpsichord
    8 Clavinet
    Chromatic Percussion:
    9 Celesta
    10 Glockenspiel
    11 Music Box
    12 Vibraphone
    13 Marimba
    14 Xylophone
    15 Tubular Bells
    16 Dulcimer
    Organ:
    17 Drawbar Organ
    18 Percussive Organ
    19 Rock Organ
    20 Church Organ
    21 Reed Organ
    22 Accordion
    23 Harmonica
    24 Tango Accordion
    Guitar:
    25 Acoustic Guitar (nylon)
    26 Acoustic Guitar (steel)
    27 Electric Guitar (jazz)
    28 Electric Guitar (clean)
    29 Electric Guitar (muted)
    30 Overdriven Guitar
    31 Distortion Guitar
    32 Guitar harmonics
    Bass:
    33 Acoustic Bass
    34 Electric Bass (finger)
    35 Electric Bass (pick)
    36 Fretless Bass
    37 Slap Bass 1
    38 Slap Bass 2
    39 Synth Bass 1
    40 Synth Bass 2
    Strings:
    41 Violin
    42 Viola
    43 Cello
    44 Contrabass
    45 Tremolo Strings
    46 Pizzicato Strings
    47 Orchestral Harp
    48 Timpaniv
    Strings (continued):
    49 String Ensemble 1
    50 String Ensemble 2
    51 Synth Strings 1
    52 Synth Strings 2
    53 Choir Aahs
    54 Voice Oohs
    55 Synth Voice
    56 Orchestra Hit
    Brass:
    58 Trombone
    59 Tuba
    60 Muted Trumpet
    61 French Horn
    62 Brass Section
    63 Synth Brass 1
    64 Synth Brass 2
    Reed:
    65 Soprano Sax
    66 Alto Sax
    67 Tenor Sax
    68 Baritone Sax
    69 Oboe
    70 English Horn
    71 Bassoon
    72 Clarinet
    Pipe:
    73 Piccolo
    74 Flute
    75 Recorder
    76 Pan Flute
    77 Blown Bottle
    78 Shakuhachi
    79 Whistle
    80 Ocarina
    Synth Lead:
    81 Lead 1 (square)
    82 Lead 2 (sawtooth)
    83 Lead 3 (calliope)
    84 Lead 4 (chiff)
    85 Lead 5 (charang)
    86 Lead 6 (voice)
    87 Lead 7 (fifths)
    88 Lead 8 (bass + lead)
    Synth Pad:
    89 Pad 1 (new age)
    90 Pad 2 (warm)
    91 Pad 3 (polysynth)
    92 Pad 4 (choir)
    93 Pad 5 (bowed)
    94 Pad 6 (metallic)
    95 Pad 7 (halo)
    96 Pad 8 (sweep)
    Synth Effects:
    97 FX 1 (rain)
    98 FX 2 (soundtrack)
    99 FX 3 (crystal)
    100 FX 4 (atmosphere)
    101 FX 5 (brightness)
    102 FX 6 (goblins)
    103 FX 7 (echoes)
    104 FX 8 (sci-fi)
    Ethnic:
    105 Sitar
    106 Banjo
    107 Shamisen
    108 Koto
    109 Kalimba
    110 Bag pipe
    111 Fiddle
    112 Shanai
    Percussive:
    113 Tinkle Bell
    114 Agogo
    115 Steel Drums
    116 Woodblock
    117 Taiko Drum
    118 Melodic Tom
    119 Synth Drum
    Sound effects:
    120 Reverse Cymbal
    121 Guitar Fret Noise
    122 Breath Noise
    123 Seashore
    124 Bird Tweet
    125 Telephone Ring
    126 Helicopter
    127 Applause
    128 Gunshot
  25. I am Ingrid from Holland. Some midi files have only 1 track but I hear more instruments and I can not change them.
  26. Hi, Ingrid. In Cakewalk Pro is a cal program named Split channel. If you run this program, the tracks will show up.

  27. I am Marian and I live in Poland. I have a question for you. When I play a midi file, I like to play with the music. My music is not corresponding with the midi. It is to low. When I transpose it, nothing changes. My keyboard sound is wrong. Please tell me how I can change it.
  28. Dear Marian, if you use transpose and your settings are for everything, then that is your problem. Change your transpose options in KBD (Keyboard). Now, your midi will not be transposed but only your keyboard.

  29. I am very new in the midi world but now I see a lot of files on your site so I downloaded some files. I also have installed the Cakewalk Pro audio on my computer. The files play very well in my Tyros 3 but not on my PC. What is the secret of this problem?
  30. It is no problem at all. In Cakewalk, look to your midi settings. Under OPTIONS, you will find midi devices. There you choose one for output and it will work.

  31. I am Henry and I live in Paris. Thanks for your enormous resource of midi files. I download the files every time I see new ones. I have also an FR7 but there is no midi on my accordion. On your site you tell me that you have a midi in and out on your FR7 and play it on the Tyros. Where can i find these. Sorry about my English. Hope you understand it.
  32. Hello, Henry. Nice to live in Paris. Now you see how music connect people over all the world. If you want to play with midi to the Tyros, you have to buy a cable (not cheap) that you put on the big connector of the FR7. For example, here:

    http://elane-electronics.com/fr7x_accessories/FR-7x_breakout_cable.html

    This cable also has line out 2 x and midi in and out. And you have also this option on the same site (Cheaper):

    http://accordions-asia.com/fr7x_accessories/FR-7x_Midi_Connector.php

    This is only midi out. Have fun and keep playing your music, Juul.

  33. I am Ivonne and live in CZ and I have a question. It would be nice to have the score from your midi files so I can play it better. Do you have these or can you give me a solution how I can get these?
  34. Dear Ivonne (CZ). You can do it yourself with a very small programm, which you can download for free. You can do it here: http://midisheetmusic.com This program shows you a keyboard and if you load a midi file you see the score and the keys. But you can also transpose the midi or select 1 or 2 tracks. And, if you wish, you can print the score. This program is portable, which means you only have to click on the downloaded file and it works. No install. Have fun with it, Juul.

  35. I would like to see the notes from track 4 in a midi file on my Tyros. But whatever I do, nothing works. Do you know a solution? - Jean Washington DC
  36. You choose a midi file via button A to the left of your screen. If you have chosen the midi file, you press score, this button is on the Tyros5 near the audio player. You will now see your midi file in notebook. At the bottom of the display, you will see chord lyrics etc. At the bottom right is setup that you select by pressing button 6 below the sliders. Now you see another menu with the channel you want to see for your left or direction channel. If you want to see midi on channel 4, press button 2 down until channel 4 is selected. With button 8 you press okay. You will now see the notes of channel 4. I hope to have helped you on your way. Wishing you success and have fun with your music.

  37. I am Ivonne from Germany and I am 81 years old. I play midi files on my laptop and then I like to play the song together with my Tyros, but many times the tone does not match right. Can I change that on my laptop? On my Tyros I know how to do it.
  38. We live not far from each other! Ok, Ivonne, look here: https://midi-transposer.apponic.com/ Download the program and install it and you can transpose your midinfile.

    Viele grusse von Juul (jurgen sagt man in Deutschland).

  39. How do i connect my Roland accordion to Tyros 5?
  40. The Accordion of Roland uses the following midi channels for the keyboard, the bass and the chords:
    Midi channel 1 = KEYBOARD
    Midi channel 2 = BASS
    Midi channel 3 = CHORDS

    Here's how to set up Tyros 5: (I have a Tyros 5.)
    Press the FUNCTION button
    Choose Midi (Button H)
    Choose Edit (Button 8)
    Go to the Receive tab At Ch1 you put part on KEYBOARD
    At Ch2 you put part on LEFT (If you want to hear that from your Tyros, otherwise on OFF)
    With CH3 you put part on STYLE CHORD 1 or STYLE CHORD 2 (just which one you want to hear from the Tyros.)
    Now you go to the Chord Detect tab, and there you make sure that 3 is selected.
    MAKE SURE YOU DO E.E.A. WITH THE RIGHT MIDI, A OR B.
    Now you can play the Tyros with a Roland accordion.

  41. I play a midi file but I hear a piano instead of drums?
  42. When you play a midi file there are (16 or new 32) channels. In all midi files the drum part should be on channel 10 and, in some cases, channel 9. So, look for each channel where you here the piano with no melody and change it to channel 10.

  43. In some midi files I see the words on my screen (Tyros 5). But not in all files. What do am I doing wrong?
  44. You are doing nothing wrong. There are midi files with words and some do not have words. If you have a program like Cakewalk Pro Audio 9, you can see the lyrics and you can also add lyrics if you want to do that. Download the manual of Cakewalk and you can find out how.

  45. When I connect the sustain pedal on my Tyros, it gives continuous sustain and I can not switch it of.
  46. Go to your controller menu and change the priority from the pedal. On the right low side of your screen, you can change it.

  47. I think you use a Tyros5 and I have a question about it. I will play several songs, one after another, on my Tyros. However, after each song, I have to hit start every time to go on to the next song. Is it possible to play more songs at once?
  48. Yes! You can do this with a playlist. Look in the Tyros manual page 88 - 89 to see how to create a playlist.

  49. I would like to play more midi files in one session. How can I do that?
  50. I use Winamp, a free download, and use it to make there a playlist. It works wonderfully. But there are other (free) programs that will, I think, do this.

  51. My volume pedal works wrong. When I push, the sound goes down?
  52. Go to your controller menu and change the Priority from the pedal (+ and -).

-----------------------------

I get a lot of other questions and thye are all very positive about the files. Even from Holland because they don't have the dutch files. The nicest one came from Iceland! A lady, Yvonne, 91 years old and still playing a tyros2. She was very happy with the files, mostly the dutch ones, and could now play with old memories from Holland where she was born.  Very heartwarming reaction. Thanks to all those who have written me. I do appreciate your views.

-- Juul