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.TH MIDI2ABC 1 "26. June 1999"
.SH NAME
\fBmidi2abc\fP \- program to convert MIDI format files to abc notation
.SH SYNOPSIS
midi2abc -f \fIinfile\fP [-xa] [-ga]
[-a \fIacbeats\fP] [-m \fItime signature\fP] [-xm]
[-xl] [-b \fIbars\fP] [-Q \fItempo\fP]
[-k \fIkey\fP] [-c \fIchannel\fP]
.SH DESCRIPTION
\fImidi2abc\fP takes a MIDI format file and converts it to something as close
as possible to abc text format. The user then has to add text fields not
present in the MIDI header and possibly tidy up the abc note output.
.PP
The output of midi2abc is printed to the screen. To save it to a file, use
the redirection operator, e.g. \fImidi2abc -f file.mid > file.abc\fP.
.PP
Only the -f option is compulsory. Use only one of -xl, -b and -Q.
If none of these is present, the program attempts to guess a
suitable note length.
.PP
If the MIDI file is computer-generated, you may be able to extract the time
signature from it using the -xm option. Otherwise you should specify it with
-m. Allowable time signatures are C, 4/4, 3/8, 2/4 and so on.
.PP
If the tune has an anacrusis, you should specify the number of beats in
it using the -a option.
.SS OPTIONS
.TP
.B -a \fIacbeats\fP
beats in anacrusis>
.TP
.B -xa
extract anacrusis from file (find first strong note)
.TP
.B -ga
guess anacrusis (minimize ties across bars)
.TP
.B -m \fItime signature\fP
time signature
.TP
.B -xm
extract time signature from file
.TP
.B -xl
extract absolute note lengths from file
.TP
.B -b \fIbars\fP
bars wanted in output
.TP
.B -Q \fItempo\fP
tempo in quarter-notes per minute
.TP
.B -k \fIkey\fP
key signature: -6 to 6 sharps
.TP
.B -c \fIchannel\fP
select only this midi channel
.TP
.B -f \fIinfile\fP
input file in midi format
.SS FEATURES
* The key is chosen so as to minimize the number of accidentals.
Alternatively, the user can specify the key numerically (a positive number
is the number of sharps, a negative number is minus the number of flats).
.PP
* Note length can be set by specifiying the total number of bars or the
tempo of the piece. Alternatively the note length can be read from the file.
However, by default it is deduced in a heuristic manner from the inter-note
distances. This means that you do not have to use the MIDI clock as a
metronome when playing in a tune from a keyboard.
.PP
* Barlines are automatically inserted. The user specifies the number of
measures in the anacrusis before the first barline and the time signature.
.PP
* The program can guess how many beats there should be in the anacrusis,
either by looking for the first strong note or minimizing the number of
notes split by a tie across a barline.
.PP
* Where a note extends beyond a bar break, it is split into two tied notes.
.PP
* The output has 4 bars per line.
.PP
* Enough accidental signs are put in the music to ensure that no pitch
errors occur if a barline is added or deleted.
.PP
* The program attempts to group notes sensibly in each bar.
.PP
* Triplets and broken rhythm (a>b) are supported.
.PP
* Chords are identified.
.PP
* Text information from the original MIDI file is included as comments.
.PP
* The -c option can be used to select only 1 MIDI channel. Events on
other channels are ignored.
.SS LIMITATIONS
midi2abc does not ...
.PP
* Supply tune title, composer or any other field apart from X: , K:, Q:, M:
and L: - these must be added by hand afterwards, though they may have been
included in the text of the MIDI file.
.PP
* Support duplets, quadruplets, other esoteric features.
.PP
* Support mid-tune key or time signature changes.
.PP
* Deduce repeats. The output is just the notes in the input file.
.PP
* Recover an abc tune as supplied to abc2midi. However, if you want to
do this, "midi2abc -xm -xl -xa -f file.mid" comes close.
.SH "SEE ALSO"
abc2ps(1), abc2midi(1), abc2abc(1)
.SH AUTHOR
James Allwright <J.R.Allwright@westminster.ac.uk>
.SH VERSION
This man page describes midi2abc version 2.0.7 from January 1999.
.SH COPYRIGHT
Copyright 1999 James Allwright
.PP
midi2abc is supplied "as is" without any warranty. It
is free software and can be used, copied, modified and
distributed without fee under the terms of the GNU General
Public License.
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