VLC Media Player

VLC Media Player is a useful multimedia player that can support even the most obscure of media file types. Like Windows Media Player, VLC has no problems opening up a midi file; it can even load up .rmi midi files.

VLC has Fluidsynth, which supports Soundfonts (.sf2). This means anyone with later builds of Windows may be able to listen to OPL3 once again if they have downloaded an OPL3 soundfont.

Plus, VLC can be used to convert both .mid and .rmi into .mp3 files using a soundfont, resulting in high quality recordings of midi files being played using different soundfonts!

However, VLC requires soundfont files (.sf2) to function, which must be loaded using the VLC Audio Codec settings. If VLC doesn't have a soundfont loaded, midis will not load, and instead, VLC will give an error message giving instructions on how to set a soundfont up.

How to Load a midi file into VLC (Requires a Soundfont (.Sf2) file)
Here is a step by step guide on how to load a .mid or .rmi file into VLC:

1: Download a Soundfont; e.g: Eawpats (The Gravis Ultrasound Soundfont). You can get Eawpats from here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/4hftbg8e0erf4fj/eawpats.zip?dl=0&file_subpath=%2Feawpats.sf2

Alternatively, you can download soundfonts from Musical Artifacts (musical-artifacts.com).

2: Open VLC Media Player, and then click on Tools, and then, click on Preferences.

3: Click on the Audio tab (on newer versions, it's the traffic cone with headphones on).

4: At the bottom of the audio tab should be an option to Show Settings. You'll want to change it to All.

5: Find Input / Codecs. Make sure that the arrow next to it is pointing down to reveal all options under the tab. If you are struggling to find this option, type "Midi" in the Search Box.

6: Find Audio Codecs, and click on the arrow next to the option to reveal a list of Audio Codec options. If you are struggling to find this option, type "Midi" in the Search Box.

7: Click on Fluidsynth, and turn off both Reverb and Chorus (unless you want them on)

8: Click Browse. Find where you saved the soundfont (.sf2), and click on the .sf2 file to load the soundfont.

9: Click Save

10: Load a .mid or .rmi file into VLC by dragging and dropping the midi or rmi file on to the VLC Window. Now the midi file will play using the soundfont you downloaded.

Note: The soundfont will stay loaded in VLC, so if you only prefer using one soundfont, you don't have to repeat the instructions, unless you want to load a different soundfont.

Using VLC to Record Midis using Soundfonts (Sf2)
To convert a midi file using a soundfont, first, make sure you have loaded a soundfont first, and then click on Media, then Convert / Save.

Next, drag and drop the midi file(s) into the box in the Open Media window, and then click on the Convert / Save Button.

Depending on the number of midi files dragged into the conversion box will change the behaviour of how VLC will save the converted files: Next, click on the Profile box and either select Audio - MP3 to save the converted midi(s) as an .mp3, or Audio CD to save the converted midi as a .wav.
 * If you are converting a single midi file, then VLC will ask you where to save the converted file.
 * If you are converting multiple midi files, then VLC will automatically save the converted files in the same location as the original .mid files; this does not overwrite the original midi files, so don't worry.

Finally, click Save, and all the converted midi files will begin to appear. However, if you're only converting a single midi file, you will have to choose the location on where to save the file first, before you can click the Save button.

Have fun listening to many different midi files, using many different soundfonts!

In the case of midi files not loading drums or percussion correctly, here is a guide on how to fix this issue: How To: Fix Glitches in Midi Files using Anvil Studio. There is an alternative way available to play midi on VLC Media player.