I am making a simple game in order to learn a new language. I am in the process of collecting some music for the game and would like to use the MIDI format so that I can control the flow of the track (i.e., I would like to have an introduction that only plays once and does not play again when the song loops.)
I am having a tough time finding information on how to modify existing MIDI files so that they may send a control change signal to the synthesizer. Has anyone had experience with this?
Thanks a lot Jim, but I think that I should have been more clear with my original question. I am using an existing game engine which takes care of playing the music. I am under the impression that this control change value must be embedded directly in the MIDI file itself as I have no control over the synthesizer. From the manual:
"MIDI files are played via the DirectMusic Synthesizer. If a BGM MIDI file contains the control change value 111, that value is recognized as where the song will start repeating after it reaches the end."
I wish I could do it programmatically. I suppose what I am after here is some sort of editor which will allow me to modify the MIDI file that I already have. I hope that I have not roamed outside of the boundaries of this forum.
DirectMusicProducer is probably your best free option if you are playing using DirectMusic. I don't believe the MIDI record feature will include control changes, but your engine may support playing segment files which are much more flexible.
The only MIDI sequencer I use cost around $300 (USD) about 10 years ago (and no longer appears to exist), but I am not aware of any good quality free MIDI file sequencers. (Note that "MIDI editor" is probably different to "MIDI file editor" or "MIDI sequencer")