VOGONS


First post, by marooned_on_mars

User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member

First off, I would like to apologise in advance if this question was asked before, I've tried searching and nothing useful turned out.

I tried recording MIDI commands from a game (TIM) that was set to the GM driver. I set DosBox to win32 as the MIDI device, and set timidity as the default MIDI handler in Windows with a custom soundfont (for both DosBox and Windows-side MIDI players). In the game, the music sounds perfect, but when I try to play back the midi files that were recorded, they don't sound the same, some instruments are replaced and some are missing. Am I doing anything wrong? What could I do to change the way the commands are recorded?

Reply 2 of 10, by marooned_on_mars

User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member

It is a plain DOSBox. I tried recording the audio, but since the source for MIDI playback (or render I might say) is external, so the resulting .wav files end up with no audio data, just silence.

Reply 3 of 10, by bloodbat

User metadata
Rank Oldbie
Rank
Oldbie

Record it with the stereo mix or such as source using Audacity or similar...I find it odd that the MIDI recorded by using commands didn't work as expected.

Reply 4 of 10, by marooned_on_mars

User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member

The problem with recording in Audacity or any other recorders is the fact that the music starts to stutter from time to time, as my machine is not that powerful (in regards to memory, which slows everything down).

Here's the MIDI section of the DosBox config file:

mpu401=intelligent
mididevice=win32
midiconfig=
mt32.reverse.stereo=off
mt32.verbose=on
mt32.thread=on
mt32.dac=0
mt32.reverb.mode=auto
mt32.reverb.time=5
mt32.reverb.level=3

Reply 5 of 10, by bloodbat

User metadata
Rank Oldbie
Rank
Oldbie

Well, that's a build with MT-32 support; you don't mention the version of Windows you use, but if it's Vista or 7, how did you select which device is used as default, are you sure it's Timidity?
I just tried MIDI recording (from Gabriel Knight) and they sound the same playing through DosBox and Windows with my X-Fi

Reply 6 of 10, by marooned_on_mars

User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member

My bad, Imm using Windows XP SP3. I also tried to capture MIDI commands on a vanilla DosBox.
I've set Timidity++ through it's own driver configurator, and then choose Timidity++ in the "Sound and Audio" section of the control panel (akin to this guide: http://www.doomworld.com/vb/thread/51868/ ).

Reply 7 of 10, by bloodbat

User metadata
Rank Oldbie
Rank
Oldbie

Actually I was asking because Vista and 7 removed a built-in way to select your MIDI output and maybe you needed an external program.
Can you paste the result (or a screenshot) of what you get when you type mixer /listmidi in DosBox?
Also, this happens with every game or just a specific one?

Reply 8 of 10, by marooned_on_mars

User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member

I now remember that I used to have this problem before too. Not sure if with the same game, and I'm not sure if the same thing happens with other games, but will try it out and edit this post.

The mixer /listmidi command replies with:

0                  "Timidity++ Driver"
1 "Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth"
2 "MPU-401"

Reply 9 of 10, by Mau1wurf1977

User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++
marooned_on_mars wrote:

It is a plain DOSBox. I tried recording the audio, but since the source for MIDI playback (or render I might say) is external, so the resulting .wav files end up with no audio data, just silence.

We don't want to record a wav, we want to record the MIDI commands. At least that's what I believe you are trying to do.

Not sure about the version you are using, but the plain DOSBox has an option for recording MIDI commands.

Check the user manual: http://www.dosbox.com/DOSBoxManual.html

Section 5: Special Keys.

My website with reviews, demos, drivers, tutorials and more...
My YouTube channel

Reply 10 of 10, by marooned_on_mars

User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member

You seem to misunderstand. What I want is to record the midi commands so I could later record/convert them to FLAC or anything lossless. I actually wouldn't mind if I would use the direct approach and record the wave, but the .wav files that get dumped have only silence since the music is generated by a external source (Timidity++ in this case). I know what the hotkeys are to start recording both wav and MIDI commands, mind you. And I repeat again: the midi files get dumped, but the problem is that the music doesn't sound the same in DosBox as in any oth midi player, and they both send commands to the same driver (Timidity++) with the same soundfont. Playing the midi file the song has missing or replaced instruments.

I think this might have something to do with DosBox running while I was playing the midi files as when I close DosBox, it sounds fine. I feel a little bit silly now...