Audacity Forum

I am unable to open a midi file in Audacity-but, it plays in Showtime, so I'm pretty sure the file is OK.
in Audacity. File>Open gets “Error importing.....If uncompressed try Raw Import”

Well, its probably compressed, because its such a tiny file. But, I try Import Raw, anyway, and it loads a really interesting graph, about 1.2 seconds,”TKT.”



When I try project>import midi, I get something that looks the right length, but it won't play?



“Error while opening sound device. Please check the output device settings and the project sample rate”

Audacity preferences>Audio I/O Playback device-choices in the drop down are:
“Microsoft Sound Mapper-Output” and
“Realtek HD Audio-output”
Audacity preferences>Audio I/O Recording device-choices: “Realtek HD Audio-input” and
“Microsoft Sound Mapper-input”


On my XP system> Audio device properties> Audio tab>Midi Music playback, the only choice in the box is “Micvrosoft GS Wavetable-SW Synth.”


Am I beating my head against a stone wall, or can somebody point me in the right direction?

nelsh wrote:I am unable to open a midi file in Audacity-but, it plays in Showtime, so I'm pretty sure the file is OK.
in Audacity. File>Open gets “Error importing.....If uncompressed try Raw Import” ...

Audacity 1.2 only displays MIDI. Audacity Beta (1.3 series) can edit MIDI as well as display it. Neither version can play MIDI. See http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Midi .

I think you have those images the wrong way round anyway. Import MIDI will give you the notes display with the keyboard on the left, and import Raw will give you garbage (it's meant for importing uncompressed audio). As per the link above, MIDI isn't audio, it's a set of instructions about how to play a series of notes.

If you want to work with that MIDI file as audio, you can play it in Windows Media Player and record it into Audacity, or use one of the other solutions on the Wiki Midi page.


Gale

Gale Andrews wrote:If you want to work with that MIDI file as audio, you can play it in Windows Media Player and record it into Audacity

Play in Nero & Record in audacity
Thank you for taking the time to sort through my inaccuracies and offer a solution. I was unaware of Audacity's record ability. I mean, I was aware of the red record button, but had never contemplated using it.
Thank you for opening a whole new world of possibilities.