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Part V
Including Multimedia Elements
Standard MIDI files:
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This is the raw data of MIDI music files. Their biggest drawback is
that the Web author cannot know what kind of synthesizer the user will employ to play
back a MIDI file. If he is using older Windows machines, this synthesizer may not even
include actual instrument sounds, but instead use FM synthesis to come up with very poor
approximations. Standard MIDI files have a filename extension of
.mid, .midi, or .smf.
Occasionally, you may want to render a MIDI file as a digital audio file to play it in a situation where
a synthesizer is unavailable. Doing this the hard way involves playing the file through a synthesizer
and recording the output to a digital audio file. You have an easier way, however, if you have Quick-
Time Player Pro. Open your QuickTime Music or import your Standard MIDI file into QuickTime
Player Pro and then choose File ➪ Export and specify Music to AIFF. QuickTime Player Pro creates
a digital audio file of its “performance” of the music using the QuickTime software synthesizer. You
can also convert a QuickTime Music track back into a Standard MIDI file. Choose Music to Standard
MIDI when you export.
RMF files are designed to disallow this conversion. Always keep the original Standard
MIDI file when you create an RMF.
MP3 Mini-Primer
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