Import MIDI File Dialog

Tracks

Select and configure the tracks you want import on the Tracks tab. The number in square brackets indicates the MIDI channel. Tracks that should be imported appear in bold. An H means the track will be considered for harmonic analysis.

Settings

Configure pre and post-processing on the Settings tab.

Merge All Tracks Into One

Merged all tracks into a single track before import. Good for drum patterns.

Import Entire Directory

In addition to the file you are currently setting up, Synfire will also import all other MIDI files it can find in the same directory.

Note: Please regard our notes on Batch Import Of Folders below.

Include Subfolders

Whether to include all subfolders recursively with a batch import.

Create a Library Folder Per File

Adds a folder to the library for each file that contains more than a single track with content. This groups imported tracks per file. You should keep this checked unless you want to merge all imported tracks in the same folder.

Labeling Of Phrase Pools

Select the components to use for labeling each imported phrase pool.

General MIDI Standard

If enabled, this will interpret the program change numbers found in the file according to the GM Standard and assume the instrument category and sounds associated with that.

Retain MIDI Channels

If enabled, an attempt is made to allocate the imported sounds on the very same MIDI channels that were found in the file. This will probably not work with the default sounds on the global rack, because many channels are already blocked by Global Instruments. You should therefore create a dedicated multi-timbral rack module with the Sound Wizard and assign the MIDI tracks exclusively to sounds provided by it.

Separate Channels For Equal Sounds

If the same sound is used on multiple MIDI channels (tracks), the sounds are probably supposed to be separate of each other for independent control and mixing. This separation may demand more dynamic channels than available. If your are importing MIDI files with more than 16 tracks, you may need to disable this.

Import Controllers

Import MIDI controllers to the corresponding parameters, if supported.

Tempo Changes

Import tempo changes to the Tempo parameter.

Disable Automatic Transposition

Tracks are transposed by octaves to ensure they meet the destination instrument's total playing range. This is vital for proper figure recognition. If you disable this, the playing range of the instrument is transposed instead.

Create Figures

Disable this if you want to import Harmony and Take only.

Create Phrase Pools

(Library only) Create a Phrase Pool for each track.

Keep Takes

Disable this if the file is huge and you want to save memory in the target arrangement. It is a good idea however, to always keep the Take, as you can re-run Figure Recognition and Harmonizer on it at any time.

Detect Keys, Chords, and Scales

Whether to create a Harmony parameter from all tracks with tonal content. Disable only for drum patterns.

Use Key Read From MIDI File

If the file contains key signature information, it will be considered (not all MIDI files contain this information)

Allow Key Changes

Recognize and import key changes. Importing files with only a single key is somewhat more robust.

Confirm Detected Key

Ask the user to confirm the detected key. You will have the option to select among the most likely keys yourself. Knowing the key is vital to harmonization.

Starting The Import

Press Start Import to start the process. Depending on the complexity of the file, this process can last for a long time. After import has finished, a new arrangement or library will open with the result.

Progress

On this tab you can follow the import process, which may take quite a while. You may terminate the process at any time with Cancel.

Batch Import Of Folders

You have two options to import multiple MIDI files as a batch.