Can't playback MIDI

[OmegaLord]

When I try to playback a MIDI track, even without anything else on it, it says:
Error while opening sound device. Please check the output device settings and the project sample rate.

When I attempt to save it as a .wav and import it, there's nothing on the .wav.
I have it set to Microsoft Sound Mapper Output.

What am I doing wrong?

[waxcylinder]

Your problem is that Audacity doesn't support the MIDI format.

You could try playing the MIDI file and recording it into Audacity ......

WC

[OmegaLord]

Can a sound converter do it neatly?

[alatham]

Can a sound converter do it neatly?

Nope, MIDI files have no audio information.

That'd be like converting sheet music into sound without using any instruments.

You'll have to use a program or piece of hardware to play the files and then record them while they're playing using Audacity.

[yhejem]

I don't understand! If Audacity cannot do anyting with a midi file then why put am "Import midi" on the menu?

[kozikowski]

"Import MIDI"

Some operating systems have a midi instrument machine built in.

You understand that midi files are instructions how to play an instrument, right? They're not sound files.

"Pick up your B-flat flute and play C-sharp below middle C at medium loudness for ten seconds."

That, greatly abbreviated, is a midi file.

I have a Windows machine that has a midi instrument module as part of its built-in sound system. If I load that instruction, the computer will play the musical note C-sharp for ten seconds through the speakers at me. I'm betting if I launched that instruction on that machine, Audacity would record that note.

If you're missing any of those parts, Audacity won't record anything.

Koz

[richardash1981]

Audacity has an import midi function so that you can display the notes in a midi file alongside the audio recording of the same file, which is really useful if you are developing software to try and work out the midi file from the audio (which was what the person who wrote that bit was doing).

[alatham]

Thank you, Richard. That's one more big mystery down the drain.

It would be nice if Audacity would tell you it can't play MIDI files.

[richardash1981]

The release notes for every version (one of those screens you ignored when installing it) do.

[alatham]

Ouch.

I read those notes, and I was aware of the problem before running the program the first time. But expecting most people to RTFM is leaning a bit too far in the "wishful thinking" direction.

I'd bet most computer users have never had a document named "readme.txt" open on their computers.