FAQ page

Got a midi-related question? Put your question in the comments below, & it will be listed on this FAQ.

(Currently, questions related to midi hardware such as soundcards cannot be answered)

Q: How do I add information to the wiki?
'''A: There should be a blue edit button on the top right of the page. Clicking on it will load up an editor.'''

After the page editor has loaded, you will be able to add information, fix mistakes, add categories & add links to midi files. When you're done editing the page, click "Save page".

If you've added a midi link, you will have to prove you're not a robot & do a recaptcha puzzle, due to fandom/wikia's rules.

Q: Why did my page's changes get reverted?

A: Changes done on a page will get reverted for any of the below reasons: - Deleting crucial information (instrument information, midi comments, etc.) thinking that they were mistakes.
 * A link containing a virus was put onto the page; for safety, the page will be reverted, rather than the link being deleted.
 * Bad edits - There's nothing wrong about adding extra information, as any spelling errors or grammar issues will be fixed. But, any edits done to the page that are considered "breaking" a page more than fixing it causes confusion to visitors. Please note that if one page had a bad edit, then all other pages edited around that time by the same user will also be reverted, even if the edits on those pages were good. A few examples of a bad edit are:

- Trying to fix a grammar error, only to make it worse. However, this is likely to get corrected instead of being reverted, especially if the new, added information is useful or important.

- Adding wiki fanon about a midi page, such as a "Onestop Story". This will not be discouraged though; Fanon such as "Onestop Stories" can be added in the comments found below the page, or in the talk option above the page.

- Putting your opinion of the midi file on the page. Everyone has an opinion, and there's nothing wrong about having an opinion about midi files! The page about the midi file must remain being about the midi file, however. Opinions are not discouraged here; put any midi-related opinions or questions on the page's comments, or in the Talk log on that page.
 * Vandalism - No rude, crude content must be added to a page; this is a wiki about midi files, and people of many different age groups may visit Midi Wiki.

Q: It won't save the page! It gives a message saying that there's an "Edit Conflict". What should I do?
'A: Don't'' attempt to save the page again, as this may cause damage! Please use this work-around:'''
 * Just press Ctrl & A to select all the information on the page, and then press Ctrl & C to copy it.
 * Leave the page & don't save any changes.
 * Go back to the page you were creating/editing, and then press Ctrl & A again. Now press Ctrl & V and everything you typed will be back.
 * Now you should be able to save the page without any problems.

Q: I wasn't credited under the Credits (& Special Thanks) on the main page! I created/fixed a page, & added links, but my name wasn't there.
'''A: Don't worry, your username will appear there; no one is going to be discredited on this wiki! :)'''

The reason why your username hasn't appeared yet is either because it disappears from the "Recent Activity" thanks to all the pages being worked on, or because all the editors have taken a break & haven't noticed yet.

Link-related Questions & Answers
Q: Why isn't there a Black Midi on Midis Wiki yet? They are midi files too, so why are they not listed here?

A: There's an Official Black Midi wiki online, and listing Black Midis here would be stealing from them.

So, no pages about Black Midis will be listed here; only Windows midis, software midis, in-game midi files & meme midis.

Q: A page on this wiki has a broken link that leads to a 404 page! Is there something I can do to report it?
'''A: Yes there is; on this wiki is a "Pages with Dead Links" category. Here's how to report a page:''' Sometimes, but rarely, a glitch can happen that prevents adding a page to a category; the "save" button will be faded after clicking on it.
 * On the page with the dead link, scroll down until you see a bar that contains a blue "categories" link.
 * Click the "Add Categories" button, and then type "Pages with Dead Links", then press "Enter".
 * Click the blue "save" button, and the page will be added to the "Pages with Dead Links" category.

To get around this, click the "Edit" button on the top of the page. Next to the "Cancel" button is an arrow with three lines. Click on it, and then click on "Categories". Type in the category "Pages with Dead Links" & then press enter. Click "Apply Changes", then click the blue "Save page" button.

Press it again, and the page will be added to the "Pages with Dead" Links category

Q: I was listening to some midi files on my Android phone. I downloaded a Classical music 90s Windows midi, but it won't load in my music app. Is the link broken?
A: Some midi files are a .rmi format, a different type of midi file.

They sadly don't work on certain midi players or other midi-playback devices.

Unfortunately, Android phones & tablets are some of the many devices that cannot play an RMI midi file.

Q: I downloaded a midi file from a page on the Passport Designs category, but it says that it "cannot play the file" in Media Player. Is the link dead?
'''A: No, the link is fine. When you downloaded the midi file, did you right-click to save it?'''

Some links are from Wayback Machine, & not all of them like to be downloaded using right-click for some reason. If the page warns you to save the midi file by left-clicking on it instead under the "Listen to Midi" section, then the file must be saved by directly clicking on it.

Q: I clicked on a link to listen to a midi file, & it gave me the wrong midi! Is there another link?
'''A: Oops, that shouldn't have happened! If you have found a page that gives the wrong midi file, then this is a mistake.'''

Check to see if a mirror link gives the correct file & use that link instead, but don't be afraid to mention it in the comments; as long as it is mentioned, it will be fixed as soon as possible.

Q: None of your midi links have viruses, do they?
'''A: They shouldn't do! They have all been scanned with Virus Total, and none of them have come up with any dangerous files, so none of them should contain anything bad.'''

If a dangerous link has been found by anyone on this wiki, it should be reported in the comments of the page it is located on, and it will be removed immediately.

Q: A link for a midi file on a page I used to use is gone! Why is it no longer there anymore?
A: Sadly, that link had to be removed for a reason.

Links are removed for a few reasons:
 * The link is dead & leads to a 404 page, or causes a "download failed" error. This has happened in the past, and is likely to happen again; this wiki lost a few midi file links when the large midi website, thewaitingroom closed down
 * The link turned out to contain a malicious file & had to be removed for the safety of wikia visitors. Hopefully, this will not happen.
 * The owner of that link requested for the link to be removed; not everyone shares the past of midi files. Hopefully, this will not happen, either.

Q: Why won't my midi file play?
A: A midi file may not play due to a number of reasons:
 * The midi file is corrup t; where is the midi file from? If it was downloaded from a link warning you not to use right-click, the midi file downloads as a corrupted file instead of the actual midi. Please listen to any warnings stated above a .mid link.
 * You used a Media Player that does not support .mid files
 * You tried to load a .rmi midi file onto a media player that does not recognize an .rmi format midi
 * If using VLC, it needs a soundfont (.sf2) file to work ; one can be downloaded from Musical Artifacts; make sure it is a good one, and not an incomplete/rushed .sf2!
 * If using a Virtual Machine to emulate an OS, a soundcard setting may be incorrect, or missing
 * Somehow, the computer's soundcard has died (which isn't likely the case at all!), or is too slow to keep up with a midi file

Q: How do I convert a midi file to an mp3? I want to use them on a video!
'''A: By using certain software or an online converter! A category that lists usable conversion tools & websites can be found on this wiki! '''

Here are some recommended midi converters:
 * Recording a Midi using "Line In" - A microphone setting, known as "Line In" is disabled by default in the audio settings on a computer; once it is enabled, it can be used to record the audio coming through the speakers in HD. However, the sound may be distorted on certain computers (has more bass/treble, lower quality, glitchy, or cuts out); only do this if your computer can handle a midi file!
 * VLC Media Player - Yes, it can convert midi files into any audio file! However, it requires a soundfont (.sf2) file to work. A good website to download a soundfont is from Musical Artifacts
 * SolMiRe - A popular, well-known online midi converter. It uses soundfonts to convert midis into mp3 files, but these soundfonts are embedded on the website, so no downloading sf2 files is required.
 * Garageband/Logic - If you own an Apple Mac, a midi file can be loaded into Garageband or Logic. However, Macs use VSTs to load them, making them sound dramatically different.
 * Mixcraft Studio - It has VST versions of every midi instruments. Mixcraft Studio can also export a midi file as an mp3 file using those VSTs. However, once the trial runs out, it has to have a license purchased to continue using exporting features, such as midi to mp3 conversion. However, using Line In can be used as a work around.

Q: I found an old website that I'm sure had a midi file playing in the background! Why isn't it playing?
A: Sadly, many newer versions of Internet Browsers don't support bgsound, which is the html code used to play a midi file on a website.

Using Internet Explorer, the midi file will open automatically in Windows Media Player.

However, using both Google Chrome & Opera will cause the midi file to automatically download to the downloads folder.

The lack of bgsound can actually be fixed using certain online tools, as a YouTube video shows Feross Aboukhadijeh, a computer genius using different tools to get bgsound to function again.

However, until the end of the video, the man uses complicated tools, so a viewer must watch carefully:

The Lost Art of MIDI – Bringing BGSOUND Back to the Web - Feross Aboukhadijeh (JSConf Colombia 2018): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DyCsY0vcxM

Q: Is there something different about an .rmi file? It seems like a normal midi file to me...
'''A: There are a few differences with rmi files, such as the format, size etc. The most major difference is how it is only supported by certain software. '''

RMI midi files will work in Windows Media Player & VLC, but some media players, midi-editing software & hardware will fail to play the file.

For more information on RMI midi files, please see Programs that can open .rmi files, the RMI Midis category & the Midi Conversion Software category.

Q: If I download a Windows midi file like Onestop on to an Apple Mac, will it play?
A: Yes it will!

In fact, it will play using a different soundcard. If you own both a Windows & a Mac, experiment all you like with midi files on those two machines, and compare which sound better.

Q: Can a phone play a midi file?
'''A: Of course it can! :)'''

A large number of modern Nokia phones & Android phones can play midi files. It also works on tablets with similar software. I'm also certain that Apple iPhones & iPads can play midi files.

They all have their own soundcards & soundfonts, too!

Experiment with your phone & midi files to your heart's content.

Q: Can an electric keyboard play a midi file?
A: Yes, a keyboard can also play a midi file!

But, it depends on whether the midi file can be transported on to the keyboard in some way, such as a USB. If it can't, then sorry, that particular keyboard cannot play a midi file.

Q: I listened to Passport/Canyon in VLC using a soundfont, but the drums play as pianos! Is there a way to get the midi file to play properly?
A: A page on this wiki mentions how a midi file's drums can be fixed for midi playback on VLC: 

How To: Fix Glitches in Midi Files using Anvil Studio.

Q: I dragged & dropped a midi file into Mixcraft Studio, but it's the wrong tempo! Is there a fix for this?
'''A: To fix this problem, click on file, then open to load the midi file into Mixcraft to avoid altering the speed. Don't drag & drop it, and don't use import either.'''

Q: What happens if I load a midi file into FL Studio?
'''A: It loads the midi file up like normal. If it is an .rmi midi though, it just shows an error message.'''

FL Studio works like a midi editing tool, and works the same way as loading up any song files into FL Studio.

However, FL Studio may not handle pitch-bending or program change in the same way as true midi-editing software. Please stick with true midi-editing tools, such as Anvil Studio, Cakewalk, etc.

Q: Can Audacity play midi files?
A: Yes, Audacity can load midi files, but no, it can't play them...

While Audacity can load up a midi file (but NOT .rmi midis), it just loads up the notes.

They can be edited & pitch-shifted, but you can't hear the notes, so Audacity is useless when it comes to midi.

Do NOT use Audacity as a midi-editor; please use a true midi-editing program, (such as Cakewalk or Anvil Studio) or a music sequencer like FL Studio, Mixcraft or Garageband.