File Conversion Window (Utilities Menu)
Converting MIDIX Files
Midi Quest Pro only
Purpose:
The File Conversion Window (for Midix files) is used to convert MidiX files into Sound Quest file format. If the files are in this format then the software is capable of creating a macro which can convert from the MidiX format into Sound Quest's format.
It is important to note that the File Conversion window was developed before Midi Quest had sophisticated integrated MIDIX (.syx) and SMF (Standard MIDI File .mid) file import capabilities. If you have a file in one of these two formats, the fastest, safest, and easiest way to import it into Midi Quest is to simply open it using the File/Open or drag and drop the file into the Studio window. If you are technically oriented and want to learn how to write SQML macros and you have a lot of files in known formats to convert then the File Conversion window may be for you.
Directions:
The steps to converting a file are as follows:
| 1. | Open the File Conversion Window. |
| 2. | Load the Sound Quest Driver that matches the type of SysEx in the MIDIX file. |
| 3. | Press the "Create MIDIX Macro" button to create the necessary macro. |
| 4. | Select "Convert File to SQ" or "Convert Directory to SQ". |
| 5. | Load the new SysEx file to ensure proper conversion. |
| 6. | "Save" the new conversion macro to disk for later use. |
NOTE: With an existing conversion macro replace 2 and 3 with 7.
| 7. | "Open" an existing file conversion macro. |
Step 1. Opening the File Conversion Window.
Use the following steps to access the File Conversion Window:
| 1. | Bring down the "Utilities" menu. |
| 2. | Select "File Conversion Window" (item 8). |
Step 2. Loading the Sound Quest Driver
The Driver must be loaded into the File Conversion Window because this information is an integral part of every Sound Quest SysEx file. It also tells the File Conversion Window what kind of SysEx is being converted. A driver can be obtained from two locations, directly from disk or from the Studio Window. This driver MUST represent the SysEx stored in the MIDIX file or the program will most likely crash while performing conversions!
Loading the Driver from disk:
| 1. | Select on the File Conversion Window to activate it. |
| 2. | Display the Convert menu. |
| 3. | Select the "Load Driver From Disk" item. |
| 4. | Use the displayed File Selector to select the driver. |
| 5. | Select OK to load the driver. |
| 6. | The driver name will appear below "Convert to:". |
Loading the Driver from the Studio:
| 1. | Display the Studio Window (if necessary). |
| 2. | Select the Driver to load into File Conversion. |
| 3. | Select on the File Conversion Window to activate it. |
| 4. | Display the Convert menu. |
| 5. | Select the "Load Driver From List" option. |
| 6. | The selected driver will appear below "Convert to:". |
Step 3 - Create the Macro
Press the "Create MIDIX Macro" button to create the macro that will convert your files into that used by Sound Quest. The program will do this automatically meaning that you will require no knowledge of the MIDIX file format or Sound Quest's. The one exception to this general rule is that of Roland. Because their instruments do not dump SysEx in a consistent fashion, in virtually all cases, it is necessary for you to write a conversion macro.
After the macro appears, you may type in a comment so that you can remember the type of conversion that this file performs.
Step 4. Convert the File
To convert the file, select either "Convert File to SQ" or "Convert Dir to SQ". The program takes the following steps:
| 1. | Opens a File Selector |
| 2. | Choose the file to convert and Select "Ok" |
| 3. | A SysEx file is created for the Conversion Driver |
| 4. | The selected disk file is opened and prepared. |
| 5. | The macro is executed. |
| 6. | The Sound Quest SysEx file is saved to disk with the extension currently in the "Extension" box in the window. |
| 7. | If directory processing Loop to #3 for all files. |
If you wish to convert only those files with a particular extension, enter this extension in the "Ext Select" entry area. For instance, if you only wished to convert files with the ".DDF" extension, you would enter "*.DDF".
WARNING: If a directory/folder of files is being converted, ALL of the files in that directory MUST be of the same type.
WARNING: If there are two or more files with the same name but different extensions, all of the converted files will be lost except the last one converted. The files should be renamed before the conversion process is started.
Step 5 - Load the New File to Verify
After the files have been converted, the new files should be loaded to ensure that the process proceeded properly. This is particularly important when you have just written your own conversion macro.
Take the following steps:
| 1. | Bring down the "Windows" menu. |
| 2. | Select the "Edit Window" item. |
| 3. | A File Selector will appear. |
| 4. | Select the newly created SysEx file and press "Ok". |
| 5. | Verify that the SysEx has been converted properly. |
| 6. | Transmit the SysEx to your instrument. |
| 7. | Verify the data aurally. |
Congratulations, you have successfully converted file formats.
Step 6 - Save the Conversion Macro
Once the conversion macro has been tested, you can save it to disk for later use. When the macro is saved to disk, the Driver file in use is also saved with the macro and is automatically loaded with the macro. Before saving the file if you wish, you may add a comment in the comment box so that you may easily keep track of what this conversion macro does in the future.
Take the following steps to save the macro:
| 1. | Activate the File Conversion Window (click mouse on it). |
| 2. | Display the "Files" menu. |
| 3. | Select the "Save As... " item. |
| 4. | Enter a name for the macro. |
| 5. | Select "OK" to save the macro. |
Step 7 - Load a Conversion Macro
If you want to use a conversion macro you have written and saved or received from someone else, follow these steps to load it:
| 1. | Select on the File Conversion Window to activate it. |
| 2. | Display the "Files" menu. |
| 3. | Select the "Open" item. |
| 4. | Use the File Selector to select the macro. |
| 5. | Press "OK" to load the macro. |
| 6. | Midi Quest will load the selected macro for use. |
Note 1: the conversion macro file does not actually save the Sound Quest Driver it is using, only a path to where that driver is located on disk. If you obtain a conversion macro from someone else, make sure that you either have the requisite driver yourself or you obtain the driver as well.
Note 2: when converting a directory of MIDIX files with the 32 bit version of the software, the program will use only the 8.3 version of the file name. It will not use the long file name for the conversion. If any of the files use long file names, not only will you see a change of extension but also a change of name. If you wish to retain the full long name version, convert the files one at a time.
Available in:
Midi Quest Pro |
|
Midi Quest |
|
Midi Quest Essentials |
|
Midi Quest one |
|
