Hi Vincent,

The problem is that there is not, as far as I'm aware, a specific standard MIDI message to indicate a MIDI port number.
(Please correct me if I'm wrong here.)
That information will be proprietary to the sequencing software that creates the file.
The only way of exporting it is to use the file standard associated with the program, e.g. .cwp for Sonar, xgw for XGworks, etc.
That sort of division of channels across ports should, ideally for an smf, be indicated within some sort of text meta data embedded at the start of the file.
If you would like to attach the file to an e-mail to me, please send it to garsidejl at yahoo dot co dot uk.
I'm sure I don't have to add please replace the at sign and the dots with the appropriate symbols.

For play back I believe Anvil Studio may (N.B. may) allow you to assign more than one MIDI port.
The basic version of the program is free. (I have no association with Anvil.)
John.

Hello again, John, I just sent you an e-mail containing the infamous file.

there is not, as far as I'm aware, a specific standard MIDI message to indicate a MIDI port number.

John, there are, in fact, two standard MIDI messages that represent a port in a MIDI file. Clemens mentioned both of them earlier in the thread. 🙂

Most DAWs and sequencers will support one or both of them, but few media players do. 🙁

Cheers
Eddie

Thanks for that Eddie, I'd overlooked that message.
Old age creeping on I imagine 😉
(No spring chicken any more.)

I suppose the FF 21 is the best catch all.
John.

Hi Vincent,

Thanks for the e-mail and attachment, it takes a while because we're in different time zones, I'm in the UK.

Now I can see what the author has done, and my second guess was correct. The MIDI file is designed to playback over multiple ports.
As is normal when creating a full orchestral core in a notation program, each instrument occupies a separate track, and 16 channels just doesn't come anywhere close to doing justice to it. Two ports can be enough, although three ports is not uncommon.

So, how to make this playback over just 16 channels?
Well, there are four horns "Corno in Fa" numbers 1 to 4. These could be combined into one channel.
There are three oboes, the same could be done with these. Three trumpets, ditto.

Clearly one would have to change the channel assignment, but make sure there was just one program change and other assignment of MIDI controllers, e.g. pan, channel volume, etc. for the group of instruments. Mostly with woodwind and brass, not strings, they are playing a chord, not in unison, or one is paying a melodic line.

Aha, not so with the horns, where they are playing in unison, likewise the celesta and harp.

Some are more problematical like the percussion sounds. I'm fairly sure there not tympani nor grancassa in the standard MIDI drum set, although a standard bass drum could be used for one.
There are two flute plus piccolo. These might be combined. Four clarinets, but one is in Mib rather than Sib and there's a bass clarinet too, as well as two bassoons and a contrabassoon.
With some fairly careful work it's possible that much of this could be combined to make a 16 channel file, but it would mean dropping a few instruments, so not a perfect rendering.
I'll do some preliminary work to the file for you and see how close I can get. It shouldn't take too long.
I'll drop the file back to you via e-mail.
Regards,
John.