Onestop

Onestop, also known as Onestop.mid is a midi file found within the Windows Media folder on most modern-day Windows OSes. It was composed by David Yackley, and is also found alongside two other two midi files, Town.mid and Flourish.mid.

The song has a duration time of 4 minutes, 8 seconds (4:08).

Onestop plays at an inconsistent BPM, with the fastest section of the song, Segment 6 (Classical Flute & Pizzicato) being at 144 BPM, and the slowest section of the song, Segment 5 (Classical Harpsichord, Strings & Horns) being at 62 BPM.

The midi file is a series of short songs that change into different genres every few bars, making it perfect for testing out soundcards and soundfonts (.sf2).

Originally, in Windows 2000 and any previous Windows OSes after Windows 3.0, there was Passport.mid & Canyon.mid hidden in the Media Folder instead., with Windows 95 having Clouds.mid as an extra third midi.

As of Windows ME and after, Onestop.mid can be found alongside the other two midi files (Flourish & Town) instead, with the comments on Onestop.mid saying:

“Add cool MIDI files to replace bad old ones." which refers to the old midis such as the RMI Classical midis found on Windows 95 up to Windows 2000, and also possibly Passport.mid and Canyon.mid.

If opened up with a midi editing program, the midi actually utilizes a feature known as "Program Change". where an instrument can change on a single channel/track. More midi files that use this feature can be found in the "Midis with Program Change" category.

Interestingly, the only Channel that doesn't use the Program Change feature to change instruments is Channel 10, the drums track. Drums work differently than Instruments, as drums have instruments set as Drumkits. Program Change is capable of changing drumkits into different ones using the Program Change feature. Strangely, Onestop, however doesn't use Program Change to change its drums.

Onestop's Genres
The sections of the song go like this:

Intro/Cinematic
A tense song that sounds similar to that of songs used in cowboy showdowns in films and animations. It also sounds similar to one of Gravis Ultrasound's midi files, HIDNSEEK.MID, but pitched up, shorter and arranged differently.

This part of the song is at 81 BPM.

NHRHS2010 describes it as an introduction to the song.

Groove Funk
A groovy and funky melody that uses mostly Slap Bass, Bass & Lead and Orchestral Hits. Genre: Possibly Funk.

This part of the song is at 100 BPM.

NHRHS2010 describes it as funky music.

Swing
A sneaky sounding swing-like song that sounds similar to that of songs that play in Spy and Espionage films.

This part of the song is at 114 BPM.

NHRHS2010 describes it as slow swing music.

Hard Bop Jazz
A jolly and fast paced song with loud Brass Sections that sounds like "casino music".

This part of the song is at 181 BPM.

NHRHS2010 describes it as fast jazzy music.

Classical Harpsichord, Strings & Horns
A slow and peaceful song that gives off the feeling of either exploring a English cottage or going on a cruise boat.

This part of the song is at an inconsistent BPM.

NHRHS2010 describes it as classical music.

Classical Flute & Pizzicato
A faster version of the 5th segment of the song. It has a Pizzicato and a Flute and gives the feeling of an animal running away, such as a dog or a rabbit.

This part of the song is at 144 BPM.

NHRHS2010 describes it as circus like music.

Blues Rock
A rock song that has loud and aggressive guitars and a jolly piano plays alongside, giving the song a funky and rocking melody.

This part of the song is at 120 BPM.

NHRHS2010 describes it as piano blues music (or some sort of rock music).

Dark New Age/Dark Ambiance
A tense tune that involves a choir who begin to sing lower and lower in pitch as the song goes on, alongside a Xylophone and a Harpsichord. At the end of the segment, a bell plays as the song fades out.

This part of the song is at 82 BPM.

NHRHS2010 describes it as some creepy music.

Pop-Rock
A happy ending type song. It first begins with a pad and a piano, and then drums play and then electric guitars and stings play alongside a choir pad. The song then fades out after this, and the midi file ends.

This part of the song is at 79 BPM.

NHRHS2010 describes it as two different segments, firstly being some piano rock music and then some guitar rock music (along with a choir singing).

Instruments
Note: The instruments change in each section of the song! This is how it is able to fit many different instruments in the midi file without using up all 16 tracks.

Segment 1 Instruments
New Age Pad

Synth Strings 1

FX 4 (Atmosphere)

French Horn 2x

FX 5 (Brightness)

Pan Flute

String Ensemble 1

Acoustic Grand Piano

Distortion Guitar

Drums (Standard Kit)

Timpani

Seashore

Overdriven Guitar

Segment 2 Instruments
Orchestra Hit

Electric Guitar (Muted)

Slap Bass 1

Drums (Standard Kit)

Orchestra Hit

Synth Brass 1

Lead 8 (Bass & Lead)

Segment 3 Instruments
Muted Trumpet

Acoustic Bass

Drums (Standard Kit)

Vibraphone

Segment 4 Instruments
Alto Sax

Bright Acoustic Piano

Acoustic Bass

Drums (Standard Kit)

Trumpet

Brass Section

Segment 5 Instruments
Synth Strings 1

English Horn

Harpsichord

French Horn 2x

Muted Trumpet

Flute

Segment 6 Instruments
Clarinet

French Horn

Pizzicato Strings

Timpani

Segment 7 Instruments
Acoustic Grand Piano

Overdriven Guitar

Distortion Guitar

Slap Bass 2

Drums (Standard Kit)

Segment 8 Instruments
Tubular Bells

Pad 4 (Choir)

Acoustic Grand Piano

Sitar

Vibraphone

FX 8 (Sci-Fi) 2x

Drums (Standard Kit)

Orchestral Strings (Orchestral Harp)

Segment 9 Instruments
FX 5 (Brightness)

Acoustic Grand Piano

Rock Organ

Acoustic Grand Piano

Pad 2 (Warm)

String Ensemble 1

Distortion Guitar

Electric Bass (Pick)

Drums (Standard Kit)

Overdriven Guitar

Comments (Midi Information)
One Stop

David Yackley

©2000 Microsoft Corporation

Other Midis By David Yackley
DXDiag - Also titled as "Edge", DXDiag was the original test midi file for Direct X's midi test settings before Flourish was; DXDiag appears in any version of Direct X before DirectX9c.

Listen to Midi
Since the midi file was designed to run on a Roland Wavetable General Midi soundcard, the midi file will sound drastically different on older versions of Windows, since they use an OPL3 soundcard.

(Note: If you're using Google Chrome or Opera, the midi file will download instead)

Listen to Onestop.mid: http://famille-capo.com/Video/onestop.mid

Mirror Link 1: https://sites.google.com/site/musiccurios/downloads/onestop.mid?attredirects=0&d=1

Mirror Link 2: http://soundblaster16.net/midi-o/ONESTOP.MID

Last Resort Mirror Links
If all the links above are broken, these Archive.org mirror links are most likely to work. However, using right-click to download the midis results in the file becoming corrupted upon download. They can only be saved by left-clicking on them.

Archive Link 1: https://web.archive.org/web/20200402190346/http://famille-capo.com/Video/onestop.mid

Archive Link 2: Archive of Music Curios' link

Videos
OPL3 Onestop.mid on an emulated Windows 3.1 on Nintendo Wii: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQHTiWDHlsE&t=360

Other Soundcards
Microsoft GS/GM Wavetable Synth (Original Version): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPaQSXUxiwY

OPL3 (Soundblaster 16): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_vVEEqPr-E

OPL3 SB16 Voyetra SuperSAPI: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlXuImFMQxk

Gravis Ultrasound: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAwxAI7bKps

Sound Blaster AWE64: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWcx39CmK7U

Yamaha YMF724: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldDQ6xqw2NQ&t=973

DOSMID (MS-DOS): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYn561A9PMo&t=23s - It is completely butchered and sounds horrendous; you have been warned!

Apple Mac: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwGsWz4CVDE

Mixcraft: Sorry, there's no video of this yet...

Midi Devices
Roland SC-55: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcUYtvasztw

Roland SC-88: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuHe7UqnErk

Yamaha MU80 MIDI Device: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_omoN4UpYws&t=368s

Roland MT-32 (MUNT): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0niOU-KglBo

Keyboards
Korg MicroARRANGER Keyboard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAJMWdxhw60

Yamaha PSR-S950: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubrzEU1yDG4

Phones
Nokia x3-00 Phone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIrT6VpnbHQ

Android (SONiVOX EAS): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vb3oGG1OcSU

Android MIDI Soft Synth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cN3KhlfiCcU

Remixes of Onestop.mid
Staffcirc Vol. 6.1 - WINDOWS VARIAT~2 - by STAFFcirc: https://soundcloud.com/sexytoadsandfrogsfriendcircle/sets/staffcirc-vol-6-1-windows

An album consisting of extended-length arrangements of every segment from Onestop.mid, each created by a different musician.

ONESTOP.MID [Rock Cover] - by WASD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Oe3UdRn9rA

A rock cover of Onestop.mid created by WASD for the album "C:\WINDOWS\MEDIA"

Onestop recreated in Minecraft by bookkid900: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mp6YkMIeWGg

The tempo may be incorrect due to Minecraft's limitations of custom music speed, but it is very impressive due to how much effort was put into it.

Trivia

 * A security researcher named Aaron Margosis believes that Onestop is a hazard since "if an attacker can cause that file to be played, it will cause lasting mental pain and anguish to everybody within earshot," although this was probably just a joke.
 * Almost everyone believes (or at least believed) that Onestop is an Easter Egg, including Wikipedia, but this Devblog at Microsoft explains the midi's history and that it is actually for soundcard testing purposes.
 * This MIDI was added for product support.
 * Microsoft Millennium has this file installed as a sample file.
 * Special thanks to NHRHS2010 for stating what music each section plays.
 * In the 2nd segment, the Track 16 instrument turns into a Electric Guitar (Muted) just like Track 8 does, but Track 16 lacks notes at that point in the song. Instruments only tend to change when they're being used, so this may have been a deleted part of the track. This was likely was going to be a different pitch than track 8 (as a backing track).
 * The only Channel that doesn't use the Program Change feature to change instruments is Channel 10, the drums track. Even though Onestop is capable of changing instruments in different genres, Onestop doesn't change drumkits.

Onestop.mid can be found in Windows NT4.0?
According to a user called "sbmaner" at https://www.thewindowsclub.com/the-mystery-of-the-3-music-files-in-windows-7 ,he mentions that he heard onestop.mid in windows NT4.0, when the setup completed and a "Discover Windows NT 4.0" window appeared.

If this is true, then Onestop.mid dates back to Windows NT4.0, but every video so far hasn't had this happen. It may not be true.

Onestop.mid in Windows 98?
Again, someone at https://www.thewindowsclub.com/the-mystery-of-the-3-music-files-in-windows-7 a user called "Remote741" says this:"I first saw Onestop in windows 98 and I first saw Town and Flourish when windows ME millennium edition came out."

Now, the Town and Flourish midis actually do exist in Windows ME, and so does Onestop. But apparently, Onestop can be found in Windows 98? This needs proof in order to get this added to the information above.

Similar Midis
AMEDLEY - A midi file created by Voyetra in 1992, composed by Earl Gray Fowler. Exactly like Onestop, it has multiple genres and has program change, making it a "2nd version" of Onestop.

Almonds - Onestop's Blues Rock section slightly copies Almond's drums and Electric Guitar (Clean) if you listen carefully and compare the two.

HIDNSEEK - The music has a melody slightly similar to that of Onestop's tense intro section, having New Age Pads that are arranged in a similar way.