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<div align="center"><span style="font-size: 22pt">MF2ROL - A MIDI file to .ROL file converter.</span><br />
Beta V1.1 04/08/91<br />
''Author: 'Alejandro Kapauan'</div>

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== <br />Description ==

'''MF2ROL''' converts MIDI files to .ROL files.  This beta version processes note, program (patch/timbre) and tempo information and ignores pitch-bend and volume (pressure).  The MIDI file parser is based on Tim Thompson's C Language MIDI routines found in MIDIFILE.ZIP.

== <br />Usage ==

To convert a MIDI file, simply specify it on the command line.  For example to convert a file MUSIC.MID to a ROL:

<blockquote>mf2rol music.mid</blockquote>

This will create the file called music.rol in the current directory.  The conversion will assume all notes should be played with the instrument "PIANO1".  To control what timbres (instruments) are used, you may specify a configuration file as a second argument to the program, for example:

<blockquote>mf2rol music.mid mt32.cfg</blockquote>

In this case, the converter will use the information in the config file MT32.CFG to assign instruments to patch numbers, tracks or channels.  The config file specifies an instrument bank file to use, percussion mode, and a set of timbre assignment rules.  Examine the sample config files for documentation.  You will certainly want to develop your own config files to emulate the more popular synths.  Some knowledge of MIDI would be handy. During the conversion, the program prints some important information on the screen about the MIDI file being converted, like the MIDI channels used, patches (i.e. programs or instruments) used, and comments (if any) about each track.  Sometimes, the creator of a MIDI sequence adds comments about what instrument is on each track, or at least tells you what synth(s) are used. You can use this information to create a custom config file for that particular MIDI file.

To convert the sample MIDI files in this package to ROLs, use the following commands:

<blockquote>mf2rol panama.mid panama.cfg<br />
mf2rol fantasia.mid default.cfg<br />
mf2rol rootbeer.mid<br />
mf2rol styx-32.mid mt32ins.cfg</blockquote>

When you play the ROLs, remember to tell your player to use BNK835.BNK, especially for MT32INS.CFG since that file uses unusual instruments not normally found in the default instrument bank file.  The converter uses a dynamic allocation method to assign sound-card voices to individual notes. If there are more simultaneous notes in a MIDI file than there are voices, the program cuts off the oldest notes currently playing.  Thus, if you convert MIDI files that have very many simultaneous notes playing, the resulting ROL may sound choppy.  Take note that many professionally sequenced files DO use a LOT of notes.  The styx-32 sample is included to illustrate this effect.

LISTBNK -

This program lists the contents of an instrument bank file.  For example, to list the contents of BNK835.BNK use the command:

	listbnk bnk835.bnk

This will list the instruments to the screen.  To save into a file or to print, use:

	listbnk bnk835.bnk > bnk835.lst
	listbnk bnk835.bnk > prn:

A listing of the contents of your favorite instrument bank file is handy when creating your own config file.

== <br />Download ==

* [[File:ZIP.PNG]] [[agi:Sound/MIDI_to_AdLib_ROL_(MF2ROL11).zip|MIDI to AdLib ROL (MF2ROL11)]]<span class="DLInfo"> ZIP File [65.6 KB]</span>

== <br />Credits ==

* [[Alejandro Kapauan]]

== <br />See Also ==

* [[Sound Resource|Sound Resources]]
* [[Sound Resource Tools|Sound Resource Tools]]

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[[Category:Sound Editors]]